New Year, Same Me?

As 2024 comes to a close and we step into the new year, one word that always comes to mind is "resolution." But I can’t help but wonder—how many people still make resolutions, and more importantly, do they actually work?

I remember doing resolutions every year since I was in Junior High, but to be honest, I don’t think I actually did any of the things I said I would do. I write them on my computer, first in Google Keep, then I transitioned to Notion, so I still have the list of all the promises I never kept. I remember the feeling of being really excited for the coming days and weeks, only to find myself scrolling through social media endlessly after a day or two and just completely forget what I had written.

It sucks. As I get older, I’m beginning to feel fear of an uncertain future. What if I don’t get what I want? What if the career path I’ve chosen isn’t the right one for me? A lot of "what if’s." But then I wondered, what do I really want to achieve? Is it to be a successful writer? If not, why did I go to Journalism school? Is it music? What do I want?

Problems don’t stop from coming. Along the way, every person on this planet experiences and goes through obstacles, so these can’t be used as an excuse for why I feel like I’m not making any progress. The stupid part is that I’ve been aware of this all along, but instead of taking serious, strategic, and consistent action, what I had were fleeting bursts of motivation that never lasted long enough to turn good actions into lasting habits.

I hate myself for this. If I took the necessary actions earlier in my life, I shouldn’t be struggling with this at this age. But I thought, nothing will change if I just keep hating myself for not doing these things. And I’m sure that if I had figured it all out earlier, I’d be struggling with something else now.

Acceptance is one of the most important things to do, and also the hardest. We can’t change the past, but we can shape the future we want for ourselves. But first, we have to accept that we’re at this phase right now, we’re at this page, this is what we have, and this is where we are in our careers. From there, decide how we will move forward toward the person we want to become.

2025 has just begun. For some, January 1 is just another day, but for others, it’s a fresh start—a chance to change the course of our lives. Don’t just aim to be a “better person,” work your ass off to get there. Read that book you've been putting off, write that blog post, start that creative project, or plan that adventure. Take small steps each day to create the life you truly want. There’s no perfect time like now, so do it now.

Cherish each moment. Live life, don’t just survive.

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This blog is dedicated to a friend who tragically lost his life in a motorcycle accident before 2024 ended. It reminded me how fragile life is and how important it is to be conscious of how we’re living it.

May your soul rest in peace, homie.

x, myle