A new start for 2021
Bula readers and welcome to the first week of January, where new goals and new dreams begin as we enter 2021. I am certainly aware that 2020 was indeed a very difficult time for all of us with the onslaught of COVID-19 and also the arrival of Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasa to name just a few of our setbacks and challenges.
Sometimes with determination we can take these challenging times and turn them into a positive, to relook at our goals, also we can take time to reflect on what we really want to achieve during our lifetime and what impact we want to make during our time here on earth.
I for one had a personal look at my own physical and mental health during 2020 and made some big changes in both these areas.
On the physical side as you may be aware, I decided to work hard, exercise and lose weight plus I followed a healthy diet. This bought about some good results, going from 117kg to now about 87kg which has helped me to enjoy my day to day life, where I am more alert and certainly have more energy, which in turn makes my whole day more productive.
On my mental health, last year I decided to disengage with people I felt were of a negative nature and it has bought great benefits and also great inner peace for me and made my whole outlook on life very positive indeed.
In fact, I am now re-energised for a very positive and meaningful 2021.
Last year, was certainly a challenge, but on a positive note I took great solace from firstly, watching my three children develop individually, one as a teenager and the other two as they start their journey into school life.
Secondly, it was most comforting to see a man I respect very much indeed, His Reverence the Archbishop of Fiji, Peter Loy Chong, continues to live by example in preaching love, compassion and forgiveness to his 100,000 plus congregation Fiji wide.
Thirdly, I was personally pleased to see Jerry Tuwai made the World Rugby Sevens Player of the Decade. I have met Jerry many times, interviewed him in multiple countries across the globe and we have visited local schools together, and he is a thoroughly decent human being.
This article is written from the heart and the purpose is to encourage everyone to look forward and be the best version of yourself during 2021.
Now is the time to pursue your dreams whether it is to buy a new phone or buy a new house, whether it is to tell someone you love them or make peace and show forgiveness to someone who has wronged you.
This is the year to make your dreams come true however big or small they are, remember all dreams are important to us individually and to achieve our personal goals is indeed great for our mental health.
My goal this year for 2021 is to finish off a large sporting and entertainment hard back book I have been working on for a while, which thankfully only has a few pages left to be edited before publishing.
Also, I will be more involved in media and human rights- based organisations. I am a member of Amnesty International and also involved in a wonderful global organisation for journalists called Reporters Without Borders which encourages freedom of speech and is a champion for human rights.
I believe organisations like this should be promoted and embraced as the world is changing as we look forward to a new wave of self-expression and thinking.
In a nutshell this is my bucket list for 2021 and I do hope while reading this you will also make your own personal list of goals for the coming year and remember however big or small your aspirations are, keep focused and I am sure you will achieve them.
Always remember to show love, be compassionate and if you want to be a true inspiration to others, show forgiveness.
Finally, my mother used to quote a great saying that I always live by which is “the weak can never forgive, for forgiveness is the attribute of the strong”.
God Bless, keep smiling and most importantly keep your dreams alive in 2021.