More than just a fresh start; it’s another shot in life. That’s what the new year brings us.
Every time a year ends and a new one starts, we always get that sense of confidence that things will be better, and that the odds will, this time, be in our favor. We always feel hopeful. We think about the things we want to happen, and we dream about actually doing them. But we often forget to answer the question that comes along with these dreams — are we willing to put out the work needed to make them happen?
2023 may not be a good year for many of us. For some, it was a blip. A time when so many things were happening, yet none seemed to have truly left a mark. Except maybe for the latter part of 2023 when most of the newsbreaks picked and chased the last days of the year to drop stories that the entire country would talk about. From the onset of the Israel-Hamas war in early October to the breakups of celebrity couples who have been couples for as long as we can remember, the latter part of 2023, was nothing short of a rollercoaster ride. But arguably, it’s not entirely a bad year.
Remove all the background noise and solely focus on yourself. Were there things that you wish you could’ve done or handled better? Were there goals that you’d still take with you in this new year— positively hoping for a better outcome? If you could name a few, then don’t hold back. As we said, a new year is not just a fresh start, it’s another shot in life. We all get to have another chance to make this year better than the last. But it’s all going to go down to how much we are willing to do more. Less just dreaming things. More doing them.
WIN BY DOING
A new year is a blessing we all fairly and equally receive. Imagine yourself lined up on a track for a race. You all get the same start. But if you truly want to come first and win, you are going to need more than just your dreams, hopes, and aspirations. We live in a world that rewards the doer and not the dreamer. Like you, the others on the track are also aiming to win, but they should never be a vital factor for you to win. You all have weights to carry and thinking about how others are performing should be the least of your concerns because you have your own race to finish.
The world is your oyster. No matter how huge your dreams are, if you put in the work, even bit by bit, you still get closer to reaching them. So what, if people think you won’t make it? So what, if there’s a lot of work needed to be done? Do them anyway. Next thing you know, you might already be halfway through it. And when you’ve already reached that far, would you stop and abandon the journey?
When you’re young, you celebrate the new year for the spectacle. But when you’re older, you celebrate it because you know you get another 365 days to realize dreams and make them come true. Bask yourself in the spirit of new hope and tell yourself that this time, you’ll make it.
