When the new year starts, so do your lists. Should they?
I’m watching quite literally everyone I know busy working on their resolutions, trying to figure out which idea comes first, which goal gets the head start, and which plan from last year is worth crossing the new year’s threshold. Little do we know of what every year holds for us and what big or small hindrances will come our way.
Did your first 2024 week go as expected? From my end? I’d rather diplomatically answer with two letters: no.
At this point, we are blissfully unaware of what life has in store for us. We will never know that, but as the days go by, we fall under the illusion that we have this list of resolutions that will allow us to stay the course and walk the path.
But that’s not a plan, that’s a distraction that we keep roaming around to avoid the questions. Our plan should not be about resolutions, small tasks we set for ourselves, or big headlines we aim to fulfill. Our resolutions should be about walking forward, adapting swiftly, and living passionately. Days are seldom what we intend for them to be, as life passes us by, we get so caught up in the details and we miss the full extent of its beauty.
Find those big moments that you want your life to orbit around. Choose those people who lift your spirit. Build a life that you are so actively in love with. And pick a version of yourself that you would never want to give up on.
Two forces will make your world far better than those resolutions: desire and determination. Desire for yourself and determination for your dreams. What do you picture your life to be? How do you see yourself? What do you want? Who do you want? Where do you want your life to go? And how do you want to lead your life? These are the big questions you want to ask yourself; their answers should be your resolutions.
Yearly tasks might be thrown off and dusted around… they’re not essential. They change every day, and then when you look back, most of them are not fulfilled, and some of them you don’t care about anymore. So no, don’t scheme this list, of a new you, new year, new plans… it’s not about that.
The new year is a chance that your calendar gives you to reset, assess, and start. You will never be a new person or a different one… you grow, you learn, you adapt, but you never erase any of the traits that design your personality and build your inspirations. You are your person, your dreams, aspirations, and ambitions are your driving force. Lead with desire and build with determination. These are your powers…
As you wake up every day, come up with a daily list of resolutions that will take you from one moment to the next, a to-do list… But keep half of it open… keep your heart open for the unexpected, and your imagination intrigued by the unknown. We are creatures who believe they thrive better in controlled scenarios and expected outcomes. That is not true. We thrive when we’re put to the test when life unravels, and we chart new paths.
We keep pretending like we have time. Time is never on our side. We can lose in the blink of an eye, and make mistakes in the haste of a moment. Yet knowing that everything is finite, and time is of the essence, stop delaying, procrastinating, or finding excuses.
Be honest with yourself and set your feet on the path that leads you to your dreams. We are not here to just plan, we are here to live. Once you open up to yourself and the opportunities that life so abundantly provides you with; you’re no longer held back by guilt or fear. You’re liberated to learn about a truth that has been dormant for so long… this is the moment you break free.
I’m sure you’re familiar with the idea of “you have one life”… I’ve come to learn that we have two. One that stands as a lesson, and the other, the beautiful unraveling.
The first one teaches us and shows us the ins and outs, the mistakes, and the heartaches. It’s a life-shattering moment that catapults you from the past into your future. And here comes your second one; a second chance after you decide to ever-so-decisively not only turn the page but change the whole book. Once you’re there, you’re passionate about life, fascinated by its beauty, and left breathless by its flow.
Every change carries its melancholy, but what’s worse is to live a life where your soul is no longer blooming.
Exclusive Article of the Week
This is the "Exclusive Article of the Week" section. Every week, an article will cover development, trends, news, or information that has caught my eye. The piece will be published exclusively on this platform.
SYRIA AND TURKEY ARE NOW ABOUT THE PEOPLE NOT THE EARTHQUAKE
It might have started with the earthquakes and their immediate coverage, but now it's about rescuing and helping the people. Listen to them, focus on their pain, and let's help them survive.
The death toll is now at almost 46,000 souls, with thousands injured, and counting. The pitiless natural disaster that has ravaged entire neighborhoods between Turkey and Syria has shocked the world.
World leaders were quick to convey condolences and to dispatch the necessary aid and assistance to help set up rescue missions in and around the affected areas. Millions of Dollars in aid, equipment, and personnel are all making their way to both countries.
I’ve written about the dual earthquakes and their magnitude. The scientific, political, and journalistic approach to convey the size of the calamity and the response of the international community. But this piece is about the people.
It is in such times of need that the best of humanity can shine through. Do not cover Turkey, omitting Syrian pain because of political inclinations; do not come to Syrians' aid and forget Turkish lives because you’re making a point. This is a human calamity on an epic scale. If there was ever a time to allow humanity and common sense to take the lead; that would be today.
Videos have gone viral showing kids being pulled out from the rubble, making their way back into the light amidst flattened buildings and freezing temperatures. These kids have survived the total collapse of their home, the one place where they should be safe. They endured hours, by themselves, under dirt, rocks, rubbles and cold, wondering if they’ll ever see the light of day.
They spent hours, without the protection and love of their parents, without holding their mothers’ hands for security. How do these kids come back from this dark place?
The border between Syria and Turkey is home to families who have fled the war, who hear and know about it. Some of them, left their homes to find shelter there, just to see it now completely ripped from under them.
Fathers who have left everything behind in search of a better life, families that have relocated for a better future, and mothers who believed in the safety of a new place.
Wars are manmade catastrophes, that show the worst of humanity, yet they keep being repeated and instigated. The current headlines clearly showcase that. Mother nature can cause apocalyptic scenes within minutes and result in horrific tragedies with heart-wrenching pictures and inconceivable psychological trauma and PTSD. Humanity and the Middle East can't seem to catch a break.
The death toll is doomed to rise, the injured as well. People’s lives have been drastically altered, some of them lost their family, others their homes, and some their will to fight.
In the midst of it all, if we can take away one thing from those children whose faces were broadcasted around the world, protecting each other under the rubble, smiling at rescuers, and telling them where their loved ones are, is that strength, humanity, and hope can truly bring the world together, and make it slightly better, even in the worst of situations.
