A Tribute to You!

“May you look back on the past with as much pleasure as you look forward to the future.” ~Paul Dickson


Last weekend I attended a fantastic musical production of “The Rat Pack”, a tribute to Frank Sinatra and his gang who ruled Las Vegas in the 60’s. Being the Frank fanatic that I am, I was in heaven! And for a couple of hours, I was able to appreciate what it was like to be in Frank’s world.

The tribute was packed with wonderful moments and great performances; it also had its share of bad jokes and corny gags, all of which combined to create a one-of-a-kind experience.

The show made me think about how lovely it is to reminisce about the past and also reminded me how rarely most people pay tribute to their own lives. For many, thoughts about the past revolve around “mistakes” and self-criticism. Perhaps this is due to the very human tendency to discount one’s accomplishments in favor of dwelling on perceived shortcomings. If this sounds like you, it’s time to make a shift and learn to appreciate your journey. By doing so, you can gain wisdom from all that you’ve experienced.

Here’s a simple yet meaningful exercise to help you do just that. The purpose is to guide you in creating a tribute to honor your life over the past year. And for those of you who say it was an uneventful year and there’s nothing to honor, that’s a signal that you need to dig deeper!

So take a break from the holiday hustle and bustle to reflect on your year, using the questions at the end of this newsletter. For maximum results, mull them over thoughtfully and journal your insights.

I recommend that you pay tribute not only to your most shining and memorable moments of 2007 but the low points as well. The ups and the downs woven together create the rich tapestry of your life. As Frank recommends: “Think of your life as vintage wine from the brim to the dregs”. The fact is, you’ll often find the greatest wisdom in those dregs so learn to savor them, too!

And rather than getting caught up in what you didn’t accomplish or how the year didn’t turn out as you had hoped, take the advice Frank dispenses in “That’s Life”: “Each time you find yourself flat on your face, pick yourself up and get back in the race.” That means assessing your goals and deciding what you truly want to accomplish. You may find that you’ve been hanging onto old dreams that just don’t suit you anymore. If so, send them packing. Next, zero-in on what prevented you from achieving the goals that were important to you, yet remained unrealized. The point is to identify and remove roadblocks so you can set empowering intentions for 2008. You’ll want to steer clear of regret or “woulda, shoulda, coulda” since that will only hold you back.

Once you’ve reflected on the questions below and have clarity, draw a bath or find a cozy place to curl up, light a few candles and meditate on all that you’ve accomplished and discovered this year. Really drink it in because you deserve to be celebrated!

This is a terrific way to bid a fond farewell to 2007 and set the stage for the new year.

Happy holidays. See you in 2008. As Frank says, “The Best is Yet to Come!”

Until next time, keep refining!

Love, Melissa

Time to Refine Questions

For Reflection and Journaling

In 2007:

1. What was your greatest achievement?

2. What was your proudest moment?

3. What was your biggest “failure”? In coaching we celebrate failure because it means you took a risk, which provided a learning opportunity. So remember, no “woulda, shoulda, coulda”, only objective assessment to uncover the wisdom.

4. What was your biggest lesson?

5. In 2008, how will you apply what you learned this year?



“It Was a Very Good Year” written by Ervin Drake

“That’s Life” written by Kelly Gordon & Dean Kay

“The Best is Yet to Come” written by Carolyn Leigh & Cy Coleman

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