After reading this prompt, I found myself unexpectedly stumped. I’ve always been a big advocate for self-reflection, but reading this daily prompt made me realise something—this year, I haven’t stopped.
This year has been a whirlwind. I’ve been pouring everything into creating news and content for STPL News, however I’ve also spent a huge amount of energy fending off those who, for whatever reason, feel threatened by me, by Somerville Times, and by Peninsula Local.
It’s a strange feeling to acknowledge where the core service—in our case, providing the news—isn’t necessarily the hardest part of our job. The real challenge has been dealing with people actively trying to undermine our work, destroy what’s been built, and stop what’s yet to come.
And in my determination to keep things moving while actively dodging hits—or recovering from them—I’ve completely overlooked the need to stop and reflect. I haven’t taken the time to assess what’s worked and what hasn’t. And I haven’t celebrated the victories along the way; I’ve just been too caught up in the grind. A continued cycle of one thing after the other. That’s not sustainable, not in the long run.
Thinking back to the prompt, if I could change one thing, it would be to give myself that opportunity to pause and take stock. To give myself permission to slow down and take it all in. To reflect, reassess, and appreciate the journey, instead of just pushing to get things done.
That said, there are some important lessons I’ve learned along the way, and they’ve kept me grounded.
Don’t stress about things you can’t change.
- Stressing about what you can’t change or improve is not helpful to anyone, and it’s bad for your health.
Every failure, every setback, has something to teach you.
- Finding the lesson in failure and knowing that it’s not always immediately obvious.
Next year, I’m making it a priority to breathe, reflect, and learn from the experience.
So, now I’m curious, and I am asking you the same question:
“What is one thing you would change about yourself?”
