New Year, new beginnings

Iknow I say this almost every year end, but 2019 flew by. At the beginning of the year I thought I would achieve certain goals I had in mind, keep a journal and revert to it regularly, read more and learn new skills. I’m sure a lot of people set targets for themselves with all earnestness, but sometimes this doesn’t materialise for me.

Time flew by and once you lose the urgency of something, getting back that focus is impossible. Trying to maintain a work-life balance was harder than I thought. For 2020, that is something that will be worked on. While work is a part of one’s life, it is not one’s life. It is time us 20 something individuals realise that.

Another valuable lesson I learnt this year was that not everyone deserves your time and energy. And sometimes, no matter how much effort you put with people, you might not get back the same effort in return.

Whether it was a relationship or a friendship, if people do not understand you and add to your life, they don’t deserve to be there.

While that is life, and sometimes things do not work out, it is important to draw a line. Thinking about yourself isn’t selfish but expecting other people to think about you might be.

A goal for the New Year involves putting myself on the same pedestal once reserved for other people. Drawing a line when my self-respect and mental health is in pendulum is needed. Enriching my soul with positivity and things that make me happy is the agenda of the New Year.

However despite that, I had a wonderful time with friends and family. I managed well at work and I learnt a lot about myself. I even lost weight! I would like to wish everyone a very Happy New Year. I hope this year is as grand as you imagine it to be.

FROM MS ALIA S.

Dubai