LOOKING FORWARD

By Mickey Skidmore, AMHSW, ACSW, FAASW

The  first  “Perspective” of 2025 comes a few days early, as I will be on holiday for the first several weeks of January. And while I will have access to the internet, and could technically post this as I normally would, it is an opportunity to acknowledge self-care boundaries as we begin an New Year. I choose to respect that I will not be working during a planned holiday and allow myself the good fortune to unwind, recharge and focus on quality time with family as the work will no doubt be waiting for me when I return.

And when it comes to this work, I note that reflecting on one’s professional practice is a crucial aspect of managing the numerous challenges that comes with these efforts. Having said that, as 2024 was winding down it occurred to me that often such reflective efforts involve an evaluation of something we experienced in the past. This observation is not intended to be a criticism. But the juxtaposition of the New Year has challenged me to also consider a different perspective.

There are many calendars highlighting the New Year of numerous cultures around the world. Regardless of the diversity, many if not all of them depict similar underlying sentiment — which is the hopeful, anticipated optimism and enthusiasm that new opportunities, challenges and dreams await us in the New Year. It is the one time of year where the focus is clearly future-focused; future-oriented and future-directed. It embraces a seasonal expression of hope, joy and possibilities as we embark on the next chapters of the narratives we are creating. 

So, while it is not my intention to dissuade the very important work of reflective review of how we navigated our professional practice last year; I do wish to point out the unique (structural) opportunity we have during this season to also contemplate, anticipate and reflect forward our hopes, dreams, wishes, desires, challenges and aspirations as we embrace another New Year and embark on this effort with enthusiasm and rejuvenation — fully recharged and ready for challenges, opportunities and celebrations that come with it.

Happy New Year!