I want to give a special thanks to this year for everything you've taught me, everything you've exposed me to, and all the ways you've helped me learn how to see better. I just want to take a moment to say thank you.

What's up, everybody? This is Drew Davis, your host of the podcast "Learn How to See Better." It's the only podcast out there that'll improve your vision the longer you listen. I want to take a timeout—a special time—to give a big thanks to 2024. Yeah, I haven't done that in a while. Thank you, 2024. Thank you for the year and the totality of its teachings.

It's important for me to express this gratitude, and it should be for you as well. You know what? You won't get another chance to say thank you to 2024 once it's gone. When you look at this symbolic moment in time as an opportunity to express gratitude in a collective fashion, it offers a unique approach to reflection and wrapping up the year.

So, that's what I want to guide you through today: a couple of things to think about that may help you put a nice little bow or ribbon on the year so you can close it out properly.

All right, so let’s get into this. The end of 2024 is here, my dear. So the question is, have you been filled with joy or fear? Taking a few moments to really run the tapes and look back on the year in its entirety is a good practice. It's a tradition that I like to do annually. Obviously, we can do this more than once a year, but taking a real walkthrough of the entire year is an exercise that not many do.

What were you doing last January? Do you remember Valentine's Day? How was St. Patty's Day? What were your Easter plans? It's not necessarily about doing this chronologically, but about thinking through the entire year and reflecting on what you're grateful for—the good, the bad, and the ugly. What did you experience?

Run the tapes and reflect on who you became this year. How did you grow? What was the biggest change in your world over the last 12 months? It’s kind of wild when you think about it. We can roll into a new year and feel like the same old us, not seeing much change from year to year. But hey, remember: positive outlook, positive outcome. That’s one of the sayings I’ve embraced for a couple of decades now.

However, we can also operate in a state of default. Most people walk around without a smile on their faces. It’s not quite a frown, but it’s definitely not a smile—somewhere in between. How many times do you see someone walking around with a beaming smile, the kind that makes you think they must’ve won the lottery? Isn’t that great?

So how do you get a great outlook? You start by looking out—looking around, looking inward, and reflecting on your experiences. Take the time to look back and assess all that you’ve experienced. For some, 2024 was a great year; for others, it was tough. Some found it to be just like 2023, which was pretty much like 2022.

To get where I'm going with this, sometimes you really need to run the tape, sit down, and analyze your activities. You may ask, “How do I do this? What’s the best way to go about it?” My wife and I have a practice we call "Win Wednesday," where we celebrate our wins. It doesn’t have to be a weekly thing, but if you carve out a day or two at the end of the year to slow down, it can be incredibly beneficial.

So, how did your year start? What was it like to hit your cruising altitude? When did you start bringing things in to settle down and coast to the finish? One exercise is to think about the most exciting moments of your year and the biggest surprises. I know I had a boatload of surprises this year. It’s exciting when you realize life changes are in the air.

On the flip side, in the cycle of life and our relationships, people come and go. Sometimes it’s in a physical sense, like life and death, and sometimes it’s symbolic, like the birth of new relationships or the end of old ones. Reflecting on what’s good for you and what’s not is crucial. Did you learn anything from the holidays?

Halloween was a reminder that the kids bring home a lot of candy, which can throw you off a bit. But I loved seeing the consistency of summer salads—those crisp, refreshing vegetables really help spur good habits. These are wins for us.

It’s about closing your eyes and thinking through the moments that put a smile on your face. There may be some tears, and it’s not about dwelling on those moments but about learning from them. If tears fell, what was the reason? Did it feel better once they fell, or did they serve as feedback for you?

Reflecting on the year isn’t about dwelling on the past; it’s about empowering yourself to look ahead without the cloudy lenses of emotion. We can enhance our perception of how we view things. Sometimes, we experience unexpected changes in our lives, and while we might not understand the reasons, we can learn and grow from them.

There are so many instances where we can continually enhance our vision—this is the whole premise of "Learn How to See Better." I’m sharing insights from my journey of personal development. The end-of-year reflection can be significant because we often overestimate what we can accomplish in a short time, like a month, and underestimate what we can achieve in a year.

Take the time to reflect on your year. Think, “Wow, I did some great things.” Celebrate your achievements in health or other areas. Recognize where you've made errors in judgment and how you can refine those for the future.

What about you? What have you learned? What decisions seemed great but came back to bite you unexpectedly? What unexpected turns became huge benefits? Capture those wins, as they can propel you forward as you realize strengths you haven’t fully embraced yet.

Reflecting on fear and overcoming it is powerful. Looking ahead, how can you move forward without the chains of fear? What steps can you take? This is a motivational message and a reminder to reflect and collect the gems of knowledge and experiences you’ve gained.

Cherish those moments, as you can channel all that good stuff into 2025 with new fervor.

With that, I wish you all happy holidays and a happy new year. Let’s make this one of your best ever. Until I catch you on the next one, this is your host Drew Davis signing off from "Learn How to See Better." It’s the only podcast that will improve your vision the longer you listen. Catch you on the next one!