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From Stagnancy to Serendipity

By Neshmeeya Abbas
04 February, 2025

Sometimes, the smallest habits hold the power to transform our lives in ways we don’t expect. A simple to-do list, once dismissed as a mundane tool...

reflections

Sometimes, the smallest habits hold the power to transform our lives in ways we don’t expect. A simple to-do list, once dismissed as a mundane tool, became my anchor as 2025 began - not with grand resolutions or lofty goals, but with a quiet promise to myself: if I wrote something down, I’d see it through. My to-do list wasn’t just a string of errands anymore; it became my way of getting unstuck, of turning the ordinary into the extraordinary. What began as a commitment to show up evolved into something far more profound: a roadmap to a life brimming with connection, discovery, and moments of serendipity I never saw coming. Read on…

It was one of 2025’s first mornings, and I resolved to approach my to-do list with diligence. Its contents were unremarkable: visit my favourite Amsterdam café, Lotti’s, to work on publishing my thesis, pick up some artwork I’d had printed, and edit a marketing video for a friend. These actions, while seemingly mundane, shifted the trajectory of my week in ways I couldn’t have anticipated.

For months before the New Year, I had felt an undercurrent of stagnancy. My life was moving forward - filled with travel, reflection, and outings with friends - but something vital was missing. Between the trips and moments of self-discovery, the weeks felt still, as though I was always waiting for something to happen to me. I just never knew what.

I can’t pinpoint the exact moment, but perhaps it was when the clock on my phone read 2025 or when my plane shakily touched down in Amsterdam’s windy Schiphol airport after my travels in Egypt. Something shifted. All of a sudden, I felt an intrinsic, almost overwhelming surge of motivation. I just had to do something about this sense of stillness, this sense of emptiness I felt. And the only person who could make that happen was me. It became clear that life doesn’t unfold by waiting; it unfolds through action - not grand gestures, but small, intentional steps that align with what you truly want and who you truly want to be.

The to-do list became my anchor, a way to channel intention into motion and regain the dynamic flow I craved. Suddenly, I was leaving the house earlier, reconnecting with old friends, discovering hidden cafes, and diving into new creative pursuits. My days felt fuller - social plans, weekend trips, gym sessions, better sleep, and even writing articles on topics I loved. Everything carried a sense of purpose, rooted in the simple commitment that if I said I would do something, I had to follow through.

On my way to the restroom at Lotti’s, I noticed a girl I recognised from my master’s program. For an entire year, we had shared classes without exchanging a single word. However, in this one moment at Lotti’s, we decided to have a chat. A casual encounter - born of nothing more than showing up - led to a conversation that revealed not only mutual friends but shared interests. By the end, we had exchanged contacts and set a coffee date to discuss her new event management project. The next day, following my to-do list again, I returned to the café. To my surprise, she was there again - this time with another classmate I had never spoken to. Hours of conversation unfolded, and by the time I left, I had made four new connections, gained fresh energy for future collaborations, and revived my enthusiasm for event work - a passion I had cultivated during my bachelor’s.

These moments weren’t coincidences - they were the natural result of motion. By showing up and engaging with the world through small but deliberate actions, I had created the conditions for connection and opportunity.

Tasks that once felt mundane - posting photography, framing artwork, responding to overdue messages - became opportunities for connection and motion. This simple practice turned stagnancy into momentum, and my days into something vibrant and alive.

The to-do list’s magic lies in its ability to align you with the rhythm of the world. Each action - no matter how small - places you in a specific moment, at a specific location, with specific people, creating opportunities for connection and discovery that might otherwise pass you by. Returning to Lotti’s wasn’t just about finishing a task; it was about being present, about inviting life to unfold in ways I couldn’t predict. These encounters weren’t random - they were the result of deliberate action, of engaging with the world and allowing it to meet me halfway.

Folding laundry, picking up groceries, or doing a favour for a friend might not seem transformative. Yet, these small acts anchor us in the tangible, moving us out of abstraction and into motion. Each item checked off builds a sense of momentum, a rhythm that extends far beyond the task itself. These actions are not about perfection - they’re about presence. Organising a room is not just tidying up; it’s reclaiming a space and creating clarity. Running errands is not just logistics; it’s engagement with the world outside your door. Each step forward, no matter how small, contributes to a life that feels lived, not observed.

The to-do list is more than a tool for organisation - it is a quiet architect of a life in motion. It doesn’t demand perfection or grand ambition. Instead, it asks for consistency, for small steps taken with integrity and intention.

For me, 2025 began with the decision to act, to show up, and to honour the commitments I made to myself. Through this practice, I’ve learned that the smallest actions - done deliberately - carry the greatest potential. They remind us that the richness of life isn’t in waiting for something extraordinary to arrive; it’s in creating the conditions for it to emerge. The to-do list, in its simplicity, holds a profound truth: the life you want isn’t waiting for you - it’s being built, one thoughtful action at a time. By showing up for your tasks, you show up for your life - and that’s where the magic begins.

The writer is based in Amsterdam, Netherlands. She can be reached at neshmeeya@gmail.com