From the Year of the Snake to the Year of the Horse
Reflection & Renewal for Nonprofit Leaders
I’ve had a really challenging year — filled with intensity and uncertainty. It’s been a time when nothing moves in a straight line.
But I’m not an exception. Many of us in the nonprofit world have been running on equal parts passion, grit, and sheer willpower.
We have been navigating year-end fundraising campaigns, budget planning for 2026, donor meetings, community needs, staff transitions, board work, and more … sometimes all in the same day! Not to mention trying to take care of our mental, emotional, and physical selves.
Nonprofit leaders and professionals across the country — EDs, fundraisers, operations teams, board members — have shared stories of exhaustion paired with deep devotion.
This field asks so much of us because we care so deeply. And caring deeply is both our superpower and our vulnerability.
One concept that has helped me get through it all is knowing this is the Chinese “Year of the Snake” — a period of shedding, healing, transformation, and letting go. The snake teaches us to adapt, to stay close to the ground, and to trust that growth is happening (even when it isn’t visible).
So, if your year has also felt, at times, like a heavy, unpredictable, shitshow… you are not alone. Truly, you are not alone.
And here’s more good news: we will soon be moving into a new cycle.
Preparing for the Chinese “Year of the Horse”
The Year of the Horse begins on February 17th; it brings a completely different energy: movement, momentum, clarity, and forward motion.
The Horse is bold.
The Horse is action-oriented.
The Horse knows when to sprint and when to rest.
After a year of discarding and recalibrating, the horse invites us to reconnect to purpose, reclaim joy, and gallop forward with confidence.
As we prepare to step into that energy, December offers a powerful opportunity. Not just to close out the year, but to look inward with honesty and compassion, and to understand that everything happens for a reason.
With that in mind, below are eight year-end reflection questions, designed specifically for nonprofit professionals. These can be used personally, with your team, or as journaling prompts during quiet moments before the new year arrives.
Year-End Reflection Questions for Nonprofit Leaders
1. What did I shed this year?
Consider habits, expectations, beliefs, or structures that no longer serve you or your organization.
2. Where did I show resilience even when things felt uncertain?
Name the moments you adapted, listened, learned, or pivoted.
3. What relationships strengthened my leadership this year?
Think about colleagues, board members, mentors, or partners who helped you stay grounded.
4. What weighed heavily on me — emotionally, strategically, or operationally?
Acknowledging this is the first step toward deciding what changes you want to make.
5. What small victories did I overlook?
Nonprofit work often celebrates the big wins and forgets the hundreds of quiet ones.
6. What do I want more of in the new year? What do I want less of?
This helps set boundaries and intentions before the calendar turns.
7. If the Horse represents momentum, what do I want to move toward in 2026?
Think about bold ideas, mission-aligned risks, or long-overdue shifts.
8. What does a more spacious, joyful, sustainable version of leadership look like for me?
Imagine yourself stepping into the new year with more ease.
A Final Word of Encouragement
If this year made you tired… it means you gave your whole heart.
If this year felt messy… it means you learned.
If this year stretched you... you did not fail, you grew.
So if you’re ready for new energy, it’s coming.
As we transition from the introspection of the Snake to the forward motion of the Horse, may you find clarity, courage, and renewed inspiration.
May your work feel aligned and your purpose feel alive. And may you enter the new year not with pressure, but with possibility.
Here’s to you.
Here’s to our sector.
Here’s to the year ahead.
Now go make shift happen!