As I thought about this end-of-year article, especially as a first-time contributor to the Colleen C. Barrett Institute, I kept coming back to three words—reflection, gratitude, and optimism. I’ve been part of the Southwest story for 18 years and am privileged to help lead, support and sustain our Culture initiatives, which, of course, began under Colleen’s Leadership. I remember her passion for Southwest history—reflecting on where we’ve been; her consistent focus on the present—being grateful for where we are; and her anticipation of the future—optimistic about where we’re going.