2026.01.13_Reflection: Looking Back_Defining Moments from the Pasr Year

January 9, 2026

Reflection: Looking Back – Defining Moments from the Past Year

January is a good time to __________ the past year and think about changes.

My main __________ this year is to feel less stressed.

My New Year’s __________ is to exercise more.

I feel __________ at the beginning of the year.

This goal is __________ for my lifestyle.

Waking up early is a hard __________ to change.

It’s difficult to __________ with exercise.

A. Past Simple – talking about specific events in the past

→ Last year, I changed jobs.
→ I met an important person in April.
→ I made a difficult decision during the summer.

Use Past Simple when:
- the time is finished or mentioned
- you are describing a specific event or moment

B. Present Perfect – talking about life experiences and personal change

→ I have learned a lot about myself this year.
→ I have become more confident over time.
→ I have grown as a person.

Use Present Perfect when:
- the exact time is not important
- the experience is connected to now
- you are reflecting on change or growth

C. Typical Reflection Pattern

→ I changed jobs last year, and I have learned to manage stress better since then.
→ I made mistakes, but I have become more aware of my strengths.

English	Pronunciation	Slovak	Example sentence
defining moment	/dɪˈfaɪnɪŋ ˈməʊmənt/	zlomový moment	Changing jobs was a defining moment for me.
experience	/ɪkˈspɪərɪəns/	skúsenosť	That experience changed how I see things.
lesson learned	/ˈlesən lɜːnd/	ponaučenie	The lesson I learned is to trust myself more.
mistake	/mɪˈsteɪk/	chyba	Making mistakes helped me grow.
grow (as a person)	/ɡrəʊ/	osobnostne rásť	I grew a lot as a person last year.
realize	/ˈrɪəlaɪz/	uvedomiť si	I realized what really matters to me.
challenge	/ˈtʃælɪndʒ/	výzva	Last year was full of challenges.
overcome	/ˌəʊvəˈkʌm/	prekonať	I overcame my fear of speaking up.
turning point	/ˈtɜːnɪŋ pɔɪnt/	bod obratu	That conversation was a turning point.
regret	/rɪˈɡret/	ľutovať	I don’t regret my decisions anymore.
appreciate	/əˈpriːʃieɪt/	vážiť si	I appreciate my free time more now.
take something for granted	/teɪk ˈɡræntɪd/	brať ako samozrejmosť	I learned not to take people for granted.

What was a defining moment for you last year?
→ One defining moment was when I decided to change my priorities.

What experience taught you the biggest lesson?
→ A difficult situation at work taught me to set boundaries.

Looking back, what are you most proud of?
→ I’m most proud of how I handled challenges.

What mistake helped you grow the most?
→ Making the wrong decision helped me understand myself better.

Have you changed as a person over the past year? How?
→ Yes, I’ve become more confident and calmer.

Was there a turning point that changed your direction?
→ Yes, a conversation with a close friend changed my mindset.

What challenge did you overcome?
→ I overcame my fear of saying no.

Is there something you appreciate more now than before?
→ I appreciate my health and relationships much more.

Do you regret anything from last year? Why or why not?
→ No, because every mistake taught me something.

What lesson will you carry into the next year?
→ I’ll carry the lesson that balance is essential.