The end of the year has a unique impact on us. It makes us feel like we should be further along than we are.
We examine what we didn’t finish. We consider what we didn’t start. We also think about what we thought we’d have checked off by now. Suddenly, the calendar becomes a countdown. A quiet pressure builds, telling us we need to hurry up, catch up, do more, be more.
But a friend once shared something with me that shifted everything.
Her name is Jakia Wilson. She was my former YouTube accountability partner from 2020. She gave me an analogy I’ve never forgotten. She said:
“At the end of the year, people rush like they’re at a buffet.
Their plate is already full. They haven’t even eaten what’s on it. Still, they feel like they need to get up and refill it.”
That visual stopped me.
Because she was right.
We rush into new goals before we’ve finished the lessons sitting right in front of us.
We pile on resolutions without acknowledging the wisdom we’re still digesting.
We assume “unfinished” means “behind,” when really, it just means “in progress.”
You’re not late.
You’re simply full.
Full of experiences.
Full of growth you haven’t had time to name.
Full of small shifts that happened quietly.
Full of insight you collected just by living this year.
Fullness isn’t a reason to rush.
It’s a reason to pause.
Maybe this year didn’t give you everything you asked for. But it gave you something. Something you’re meant to hold, process, and honor before you pick up anything new.
And that is grace.
Grace for the timing.
Grace for the process.
Grace for the fact that growth doesn’t follow the calendar.
Grace for not being where you thought you’d be, because maybe you’re exactly where you’re meant to be.
Instead of refilling your plate just because the year is ending, maybe the real invitation is this:
Eat what’s already in front of you.
Finish the lessons you were given.
Let yourself be full before you reach for more.
You’re not late.
You’re aligned.
And that’s the only timing that matters.
Reflection Prompt
What is already on your plate that deserves your attention before you add anything new to it?
Author Notes
This reflection was inspired by a conversation with my friend Jakia Wilson. Her buffet analogy offered the perfect visual for understanding end-of-year pressure. I wrote this as a reminder that growth does not work on deadlines, and that grace has its own timing.
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By Tonia Tyler | #ConfidentStrides | Sweet N Social
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