[Flash] Who Knows the Birthday Girl Best? (Reflections to Ring in Your New Year)

At each person’s birthday dinner that year, I ceremoniously distributed pre-printed question cards and pens. Suddenly, we were discovering details about the people we thought we already knew best: favorite food, movie, singer, subject in school, vacation.

This year, when my birthday threatened to sneak past without fanfare, I decided to mark it with a modified version of the game.

In the week leading up to my birthday, I curated and considered a list of thoughtful questions… a deeply gratifying exercise that forced me to reflect on my year before it faded into my rearview mirror.

Below are the questions I used and my answers, so you too can know the birthday girl better (me!) and pause to celebrate your next sun-circling anniversary:

1. How do you feel as you’re turning one year older? Appreciated

2. What were you doing a year ago today? Attending a wedding and supporting my husband through chemo

3. What’s the biggest thing that’s changed for you this year? He survived cancer; I survived caregiving.

4. What are you glad you did this year? Expanded and empowered my team

5. What is a significant challenge you overcame this year? Reconciled with my sister following a few years of hurt feelings and misunderstandings

6. What’s one goal you achieved that you’re proud of? Visited one out-of-town friend in person every month

7. What is a memorable experience from the past year? The Grand Canyon 

8. What valuable lesson have you learned about yourself this past year? I tend to muzzle my thoughts and feelings when I’m powering through challenging situations which inadvertently pushes people away.

9. How have you grown emotionally this year? Slower to anger. Quicker to vulnerable. 

10. What’s one habit you developed this year? Food prepping 

11. What’s one thing you would change about this past year? My body bore the brunt.

12. What do you want less of next year? Clutter (physically and mentally)

13. What do you want more of next year? Sleep, muscles, patience

14. What hobby would you like to start? Knitting

15. What are you looking forward to in the next few months? African safari

16. How do you want to feel one year from now? Healthy, strong, connected 

17. What scares you most about aging? Losing time and people

18. Best advice you would give your younger self. Take notes at the end of each day. The details fade quickly.

19. What is one word you can choose as your inspiration going into your next year? Serenity

20. What fun birthday tradition could you start? Call people on my birthday instead of waiting for them to call me.

© 2026. Ann Tardy and MentorLead. www.mentorlead.com. All Rights Reserved.