The Year of Being
Sitting at the bar, sipping my espresso, I let my thoughts settle on the evening ahead. The Ralph Lauren pajama set was already decided, and I felt certain about the color of my underwear—a quiet tradition I embraced with confidence. The 12 grapes? Maybe, maybe not. There was no pressure, just the possibility of a small, thoughtful ritual. As midnight approached, I realized that what mattered most wasn’t transforming into someone new, but welcoming the year with a sense of calm and trust in who I’ve become.
In the world of resolutions and new beginnings, it seems we’re all seeking growth and renewal. But as the clock struck midnight, I realized that maybe the allure of a clean slate doesn’t need to be tied to one moment. Why wait for today? Every day offers a chance to embrace change, to reset, and to move forward with intention.
Could it be that I would rather see it through the perspective of brainwashing yourself into success?
We raise our glasses, making promises of fitness classes, stacking books we may never read, and vowing to spend less time online, as if the turn of the calendar holds the power to transform everything. But maybe we’ve placed too much weight on these expectations. What if, instead, we found comfort in simply honoring what the past year has given us—acknowledging both the growth and the grace it took to get here?
Maybe the true enchantment of the new year isn't found in extravagant self-improvement schemes but in the genuine gratitude that fills our hearts. Embracing the moment without a predetermined agenda, navigating through the unexpected challenges. The detours—the quirks, conflicts, endless emails, family obligations, being there for a friend, and that pilates class you're almost certain you'll cancel—perhaps these make up the genuine ingredients of an authentic life.
Rather than chasing change for the sake of it, I promised myself to lean into the person I am today. There’s a quiet kind of peace in simply being—and maybe that’s what authenticity really means.
If life and the mantra of 'progress over perfection' have taught me anything, it's that the most wonderful thing one can be is confidently and unapologetically oneself.
Maybe, this past year wasn't even about me; instead, it was about the ways I served others while embracing who I am.
Cheers to a new year.
May uncertainty invite you to discover, and may you have the spirit of adventure.
