As 2022 comes to a close, I asked the Lightward team to reflect on some points of gratitude that glittered their year. Here’s what they had to say.

Rebekah: 

Looking back on this year, I’m particularly grateful for the adventure of helping create Lightward Journal. Collaborating with our team and other magic-makers lighting up their own corners of the world, stretching ourselves in ways that felt exciting as well as aligning, was a process that was creatively rich, rewarding, and enlivening. Another highlight from this past year was welcoming Zadie, our new French bulldog puppy, into Orion and I’s home. Having her as a companion has been the best—I can feel my brain chemistry changing, having her around. Lastly, in sifting through these past twelve months, traveling to Cape Cod with my family to celebrate my mom’s 60th birthday was really special. Going on bike rides by the ocean, meandering through Provincetown, lingering meals, and Yahtzee over drinks are snapshots I’ll carry close.

Alicia: 

The word that keeps coming to mind when I pause and think about this year is “remaking.” I feel so grateful for the ways that life is getting remade. The playfulness of it—the exploration of it. I feel wildly grateful to work for a company that encourages the remaking of process, the exploration and the movement to constantly make things better. I feel grateful for this in my home, the ever-evolving creative space to cycle through making a space that feels native and fun. I feel grateful for this with Tony. To find our rituals that bring us to center and connection, and also constantly finding new ways to see the evolving self and connect to our nows. I feel grateful for that with this team—the ways we are learning together the core things that help us feel known and seen to bring our gold, and also the welcome for the ever-evolving self. Encouraged process remaking to bring us closer to self, closer to health. 

Matt:

This year has been amazing in many ways, and I am grateful that this is the life I get to live. My daughters are turning three in January, and watching them grow and become amazing people is a joy. My wife Megan is incredible as always, and it’s been an especially inspiring year with a career change into a job she loves. It’s been fun to watch her rewarded for all her hard work. Also, we bought a cabin this year, and I’m excited to build lots of new memories with family and friends at the beach. I am thankful for Lightward, for what we do here, the people here, and the opportunities it affords us.

Ian:

This past year has been one of exploration and creation. Both in the literal and metaphorical sense. My fiancé and I packed up everything we owned, grabbed the dog, and moved 600 miles away from Denver, CO, to Columbia, MO, to create the life we want.  Along with that, I explored my creative side a bit more and have been making the graphics for most of The Now volumes. This is a side of me I didn’t really know I had this much of it in me, but I do and it feels good. On top of that I helped design and build our merchandise website and run our brand new shipping department. After all of this I still have a large burning fire inside of me to explore and create more and it LARGELY has to do with the freedom and guidance that Isaac and Abe have created in Lightward. Here’s to 2023 and all the exploring and creating to come. Onward :)

Jed:

I'm grateful for my personal relationships, new ones and old ones, they've been a big blessing to me this year. I'm grateful for my health and my body and the ability to continue to explore the beauty of the outdoors. I'm grateful for my home and my lovely sunny city (Denver!) and my security. And I'm grateful for the freedom that comes with this job and for Lightward's role in that.

Tristan:

Reflecting on my 2022, I feel so grateful for the opportunity to travel internationally again, and to see the Lightward team, meeting many of them in person for the first time. I’m so happy to be included amongst this collection of remarkable people, to be able to explore so many different ideas with them and to share in a little bit of everything that happens here at Lightward. I’m also grateful for the space and time I’ve been able to give myself. It has felt like healing, needing to heal, feeling guilty for it or not doing it “right”, then accepting, normalizing, and living.

Abe:

I’m grateful that I had a lot of “pinch me” moments this year – both personally and professionally! Grateful for my health and my desire to take care of my body. I’m grateful that we moved back to Chicago this past month to be closer to more of our friends and family. I’m grateful for therapy where i’m learning so much more about my brain! :) I’m grateful for the ability to laugh and dance and cry and sing and play. I’m grateful that Lightward is a thing in this world. I’m grateful for Isaac and celebrating 6 years of marriage – I love our life together. I’m grateful for a successful creation of Lightward Journal. I’m grateful for the Lightward team - truly such an amazing group of humans I get to work with every day.  I’m grateful to live in a place where my rights as a gay man are protected by law. I’m grateful for my awareness and intellect. I’m grateful for everyone who has seen my potential and given me opportunities to succeed. I’m grateful I listen to my gut and follow my heart.