At the end of a year, you get to close a cycle and begin a new one. This month’s challenges center around this powerful moment of the year.
In order to earn the badge, complete four of this month’s challenges, (which may include the weekly challenges). ♥
MONTHLY CHALLENGES:
/// ONE ///
The non-theological definition of “ADVENT” is “the arrival of a notable person, thing, or event.” Create an Advent-Of-The-New-Year Calendar. Have an entry for each day between now and next year, and fill them in with daily tasks or challenges to complete. They can all be around a specific theme (like Savings, or Kindness, or Craftiness, or Photography, Love Notes, Skill-Building, Gratitude, Silliness, Fuzzy Snuggles…), or your theme can be something to the tune of “Stuff I’d Love To Do Before The Year Is Out.” Just make sure that the tasks fill you with JOY or EXCITEMENT or FULFILLMENT… Not just chores on your to-do list. Feel free to get crafty! Bring Family and friends in on it! Share with us what you create! Then, if you’d like, submit it to our advent pageant, and where we all will vote for our favorite.
\\\ TWO \\\
Get a map (or print one out) of the area that you live in. Measure and trim it so that it’s a 25-100 mile radius around where you live. Now! Throw a dart at it. Or a marshmallow dipped in paint. Or some nearly cooked spaghetti. Or maybe drop a penny on it. Then take a road trip to the spot that fate chose for you. Spend at least an hour (or several) visiting this place. Discover something a) beautiful, b) memorable, c) surprising, d) ridiculous, and e) delicious. Then come into the group and share about your trip!
/// THREE ///
What would you regret not having done this year? (That you haven’t done yet this year.) Spend 5 minutes really giving it some thought. Make a list. Then choose the one that feels the most exciting or satisfying, and go do it!
\\\ FOUR \\\
An end-of-year scavenger hunt! Discover and document/collect, or create/take part in the following:
a) a place really decked out in festive lights
b) a garden with something in bloom, and something dying
c) actual real life carolers, or other musical street performance, not for money
d) a fire with three or more people gathered around it
e) food on a stick
f) three people with New Year’s resolutions
g) a selfie of you in a fountain #fountainselfie
/// FIVE ///
Take a look back on your year. Maybe get out your calendar and your photos. Really sit down and look through what you’ve experienced this year. Write down the major events, the things you’re most proud of, the challenges you faced and grew from, the things that you’re ready to forgive and leave behind you, the things you’re still working on, and the things you’ve created. Take a moment of stillness to really honor this past year and its place in your life. Then take that piece of paper and burn it, or bury it, or tuck it away inside a journal, whatever feels most appropriate for you right now. THEN! Get out a new piece of paper and write down your intentions for the coming year, and what you want to create. Find a little home for this one somewhere around your house where it can be a visual reminder to you moving forward into the coming year.
\\\ SIX \\\
Just because something is temporary or momentary, or ephemeral, doesn’t discount its value. Life is built out of moments. Maybe it adds beauty to the world, like desert wildflowers that bloom briefly every few years. Or a christmas tree that’s enjoyed for just a few weeks. Maybe it’s joy - a melting ice cream cone comes to mind. Or safety, or peace, or novelty, or any number of other things. Find the value in something temporary that you wouldn’t usually find value in. Then procure something temporary as a gift for yourself, that improves your life *right now* somehow, and procure one also as a gift for someone else.
/// BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE ///
This month also features a virtual holiday party! The details will be shared closer to the date, but if you’d like to join us for this gathering, mark your calendar for Tuesday the 18th at 8:30 EST/5:30 PST.