Hence, how is one supposed to step into New Year with a “New” perspective?
INTROSPECTION
As New Year’s night approaches, I can’t help but think of my sixth grader self that used to take out her journal excitedly to write down her New Year resolutions. It was such a heartwarming concept my teacher introduced me to. I remember my 2013 resolution was to score an A in Mathematics since I was really weak at it; my 2016 resolution was to get admission in a good high school and my 2019 resolution was to stay alive. So, as I grew up, my priorities changed and so did my resolutions.
At this time of year, as I scroll through my social media feeds, I see posts everywhere with different words, but the same meaning. All of them preach to leave the past and step into New Year with a fresh perspective which isn’t a wrong approach at all, but is it that easy to let go of the past? Is it as easy as us taking out our pens to pen down our resolutions on the first day of our school? Each year, all of us go through some irreplaceable losses, some unimaginable heartbreaks, some unexpected turns, and all of these things leave a mark on our hearts and memories. Some of these marks are so cavernous that they may never leave. Hence, how is one supposed to step into New Year with a “New” perspective?
As I mentioned earlier, when we were kids, each year our resolution was to get new toys as gifts as reward for good scores; or win that spelling bee contest; or get that scary ride in the park. Then, later in life, these cute resolutions changed into bigger goals like getting good results in final years of school, finding a good high school and then a good university.
We went through life-changing traumas and some of us were never able to become what we were before it. People did find the courage to move on because life is all about moving on, but the scars stayed. Time only reduced the intensity of those scars, but didn’t remove scars themselves.
The concept of hyper-productivity our generation tortures itself with is very exhausting. We must realise not all of us can complete multiple courses in a short period or get our dream jobs by 25 or start a business right after college or get married to the person we love. We all reach somewhere in life where we’re meant to be and it takes time, patience and consistency.
So, when you sit down to write your New Year resolution this year, appreciate yourself for surviving. Don’t step into the new year without the lessons you learned through the losses. Instead, wear them like badges - with pride; it will remind you of your courage, strength, and resilience. It will scream in your face “you did this, you can do this again” as a reminder in 2022.
Wish you a year full of contentment.
