Pausing, Reflecting, and Looking Ahead
As the year winds down, Hanan and I try to make time to take a step back and reflect. In my mind, this involves a lot of quiet time, a long walk to start the reflection ball rolling, and maybe a glass of wine at night to lubricate the conversation around looking back on a whole year. For Hanan, it usually involves a spreadsheet. Often a colour-coded spreadsheet.
Nothing strikes dread into my heart like a colour-coded Excel. Still, we agree to differ on that and slow down enough to try and notice the moments that shaped us over the last twelve months. What worked? What didn’t? And (Hanan’s favourite question) what can we improve for the year ahead? These aren’t just idle questions…they’re a springboard to really look, to be honest about where our attention has been, and where we need it to go.
Is it worth it? Is the unexamined life not actually worth living? I’m not here to preach a way to be, but for us, it helps to discuss some of the ups and the downs. This past year has been deeply tied up with the pain and oppression of Palestinians within occupied Palestine, and Hanan’s focus on our podcast, which aims to redress, in some way, the unbalanced mass media reporting by giving a face and voice to some remarkable people - artists, writers, activists - brought together by their interest in and dedication to, Palestine.
It’s also been a year in which I’ve been the lead director on two series - one for Netflix, one for the BBC - which has given me the chance to set the tone of each show (and life on each set!) Were there learning experiences on all these? You bet there were.
Reflection, for us, is usually not that tidy, but also sadly, rarely involves my glass of wine. Some moments it’s remembering a laugh shared over drinks with new friends, a creative breakthrough, or a world event that shifted our whole perspective. Other days, it’s uncomfortable: the pang of regret when we realise maybe fear took the lead over curiosity, or how we poured our energy into places that drained us instead of nourished us. But both offer lessons about where our attention really needs to be. And as we get older, and the years fly by, spending our time feels like the biggest expense we can incur. It matters deeply to both of us where and how and with whom we choose to spend it.
This time of year often brings health into sharper focus. We’ve gotten good about breathing and stretching (most days haha). And going for walks, something that gives us movement and a chance to see the world - which, at a time when we are quite nomadic for work, feels exciting. It’s also a time to talk. Walking together has become catch-up time for us. A time to think and talk and listen to each other. On occasion, we walk with a friend or two and love the same thing about that.
There are times when work takes over, and we knuckle down and grind out the pages or the reading or whatever’s needed because that’s the way of the life we have built - there’s no nine to five, but if there was, we’d both hate it. Then there are times when relationships come deeply into focus, with our sons or each other. Is it that simple? Of course not. Often we keep going and collapse because we’ve been running on fumes. Other times, it’s as simple as saying no to one more meeting.
Our top three New Year’s offerings:
Don’t Rush. We’re both natural rushers. There’s always another project, another email, another thing to do. What I learned most this past year is that that not rushing doesn’t lose you any time. You still get where you’re going and actually enjoy the journey.
Forget Resolutions. Honestly, they’re not our thing. Big, sweeping promises - there’s an unspoken weight attached to them, as if we’re supposed to be someone new, someone better, just because the calendar has turned. It’s a cycle of pressure to be perfect, and it doesn’t fit. Instead, we aim for small, meaningful shifts every day. Maybe it’s picking up the phone to call someone we care about. Maybe it’s starting - just starting - that project that’s been hanging over us for months. Stretch for 3 minutes. You can do it!
Go Smaller. What the heck does that mean? Well, a bunch of things. Shop smaller, even online. Want a book? Try sites like bookshop.org, which support indie stores near you. Find that roaster for your coffee or that company that makes plastic-free cleaning products. But also, when the world is on fire, tend your corner of it. Be kind to your family and community. Don’t try to do everything, pick a thing or two and do it well, and to the finish.
We learned mostly this year that standing up for what we believe in doesn’t mean abandoning the moments that nourish our spirits. We can hold both: the work and the rest. The outrage and the deep breath that lets us move past it to do something. The speaking out and the quietness. We must hold both. Sometimes that means recognising that one of us has been too immersed in work and the other has been too focused on everything but our own well-being.
So, as we step into the new year, our hope for you, and for ourselves — is simple: Notice where you give your attention. Choose it with care. Laugh when you can, reflect when you need to, and approach each day with quiet curiosity. The smallest gestures — a deep breath, a kind word, a pause can ripple outward, making life a little brighter, a little lighter, and a little more ours.
With warmth, laughter, and curiosity,
Shamim & Hanan
Thank you for these! I love slowing down at the end of the year and making time to reflect and look ahead.