Did 2016 live up to your expectations? Even as I start to answer, I hear my inner voice, rephrasing the question to ask ‘Did you live up to your expectations of all you wanted to be and do in 2016?
And the answer comes back to me loud and clear : No.
Is that cause enough to be disappointed in myself? Yes.
Am I going to wallow in guilt and beat myself up? No.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned in the last few years, it is to accept myself faults and all. I’ve also learnt to live in the moment and be much more forgiving.
Am I making excuses for myself? No way. I don’t need to and don’t want to.
Does that mean that I’m not going to plan and dream for the next year? Absolutely not. Stay tuned for my word of the year linkup.
Here’s something that I found that I keep telling myself.
“Even at the moment of your failure, right then, you are beautiful … you don’t know it yet, but you have the ability to reinvent yourself endlessly. That’s your beauty.” — Lidia Yuknavitch
In many ways 2016 was a hard year for me. It forced me to make some difficult choices. But those choices helped to simplify my life.
I found that the best way to deal with situations was to be honest. Was I being dishonest before? Yes, when I chose to pretend that people didn’t hurt me. Or act as if it was open season for anyone who wanted to play games with me. 2016 was the year of no waffling. You ask me a question and you’ll get an honest reply even if you don’t like it.
“A ‘No’ uttered from the deepest conviction is better than a ‘Yes’ merely uttered to please, or worse, to avoid trouble.” — Gandhi” ― James Altucher, Choose Yourself!
I still have a long way to go towards complete authenticity but 2016 took me a little closer to it.
What about you, dear reader?
Did 2016 live up to your expectations?
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Well, 2016 was not a bad year but it wasn’t that great either. Learnt a couple of lessons, important ones about people and how they can be. No plans for 2017 as of now.
The lessons continue, don’t they, Naba? I’m still learning how to skillfully move away from some people, online as well.
I just said ‘No’ to something I knew would pull me down mentally if I had consented. We keep learning as life progresses. I had a mixed 2016 too and I happened to learn a few new things too when it came to my personal and professional life. I hope I could make use of those in 2017. I wish you an enlightening 2017 too, Corinne.
I had a mixed 2016. Sometimes I just didn’t have much time to think! My mother in law injured herself again recently (this time in the shower, so thankful she did not fall) and I am worried, once again, about her future of being able to live independently. But, despite not 100% living up to my word of 2016, I am going to try again in 2017.
Well I really had no expectations of 2016 as it began with unexpected events. So I took each day as it came and I must say all in all it didn’t turn out bad! So the one thing I’ve learnt is not to expect anything so you won’t be disappointed! Also things can be much worse than they are so be happy ….
Agree..we should set some expectations for ourselves and try to achieve what we want. Its ok to fail but its not ok t stop. Its important to try and keep going.
I did not have any expectations in the year 2016 nor did I have any resolution or expectation for coming 2017. I just want to “go with the flow” and want to explore what the coming year has store for me. Yes, I do have some personal and professional plans… Now, its time to gear up myself and start preparation for the same.
Honestly, I am probably the most laidback person, I have no expectations, especially from myself. A loser’s trait some would call it, but that’s how I am wired. That said, even for someone with no long-term expectations, it is impossible to exist without short-term plans. So yes, I take baby steps planning my day-today activities, but beyond that I am not much of a planner.
I think 2016 partly lived up to my expectations – some things worked, some didn’t. However, I’ve tried to get more in touch with myself, and it has given me a certain sense of peace. Hope 2017 is a year of happiness, health and peace – for all of us!
Truly inspiring words. 2016 has been a year of many changes and surprises in our household. I, too, could have done some things better. I am very happy in the moment, though, especially in my writing life. Now if I could just get back into exercising. And I wouldn’t mind if unexpected financial expenditures would stop cropping up every single month. Happy New Year!
2016 was a mixed bag for me. Happy days, best days and then the worst of the worst ones too. But I am not disappointed. I am hopeful that 2017 will be great and I will learn many more things about myself and other.
Have a great start to 2017, Corinne. Love and hugs.
2016 lived up to my expectations in very unusual ways… Little did I expect things to be so good in the second half of the year, when the first half was so difficult and messy….Made peace with the failures, celebrated the successes and lived every moment…