by Wylie Farrugia
“New year new me”… it’s the same overused phrase we see plastered on facebook walls and draped beneath Instagram selfies. It is the phrase that brings us comfort knowing that last year we might not have stuck to our resolutions, but this year there is nothing stopping us from turning into the ideal image we have for ourselves . I find it all too easy to mock the ever so cliche remark, but if you look at it with a deeper perspective, you can see why so many use this phrase as a way to justify the journey of embarking into the new year.
I look back at the way my life was around this time last year. I see that 2015 shaped me in more ways than I could have ever thought possible. Although the New Year’s resolutions I made of living a healthier lifestyle were not fulfilled for more than a few weeks, I have found that the experience of getting through life’s challenges has slowly carved out a new path for my life that is worth so much more than a promise to eat less chocolate and work harder in the gym.
When I look back on memories that were made, I find the irony of being so full of joy that I was fortunate to have made these, yet heartbroken that they will only be relived in pictures. When I look at obstacles that I faced, I am amazed at how far I have come from being stuck underneath the weight of my world suddenly crashing down to slowly picking up the pieces and realizing that the predicaments that once held me hostage from comfort and peace, have turned into tiny blessings that bring me serenity today. It’s funny to me that we, as humans, make all kinds of plans for our lives, but somewhere along the way road blocks come up and make it daunting to go any further. I believe that these roadblocks are more like detours, the regular route is impossible to get to and you’re forced to take a slow ride down a different road than you may have considered taking.
One of the most important lessons I learned in 2015 is that life is different based on the eyes you are looking through. Although it is easier said than done, with enough patience you can choose which lenses you want to use. In so many instances many of us get into miscommunication simply because he said, “You look fine” but she heard, “You look ok, but you could look better.” This new year I want to challenge everyone to try and look at things from different perspectives. If we all slowed down our reactions and really discussed our feelings in a thorough and honest way, there would be a lot more reassurance and trust in our relationships.
We waste time, the one thing we have less of with each breath, by stressing and looking for the easiest way out. We begin to go through life overlooking what really matters. The simple and priceless gifts of this world are what’s really going to shape you this New Year. A smile from a stranger will instill in your heart that everyone has a story. A hug from the one you love most reminds you that your life is easier because of them. That feeling you get when you look up at the stars and realize just how big the world really is… these are the things that can never be replaced. Instead of worrying about what needs to be changed or what you need to do in the New Year, let us reflect and acknowledge what has already been done. We are all survivors, we have all been shaped in some way, shape or form, and we are all going to leave our imprint on this world, but I believe that before we can start making all these big plans for ourselves, we need to first take a step back and appreciate the simple things that life has already gifted us with.