Reclaiming Joy and Strength in New Year

At the beginning of this year, I was hopeful that it would bring peace and true love into my life but it was anything but. The days, weeks, and months have felt increasingly unkind, heavy, and quite uncertain at times.

But as the year winds down, I want to pause and reflect. Despite everything I went through, I’ve grown, achieved, and learned so much—even from moments I once thought were mistakes. But were they actually mistakes? Or were they lessons I needed?

I may not feel it every day, but deep down, I know there’s something magical in me. I’ve persevered through suffering, despair, and darkness. I’ve survived. I am a survivor!

I’m working on finding the courage to forgive myself—for everything I think I did wrong, for the goals I didn’t reach, and for all the timelines I missed. I want to let go of the guilt I’ve carried as this year ends and remind myself that it’s okay to take my time.

I hope the next year is gentler. My dreams matter. I matter. Even when I can’t see it, I make a difference in ways I don’t always realise. I need to believe that everything I’ve ever needed has always been within me. I’ve always been more than enough, even when I’ve overlooked myself. It hasn’t been easy, but I’m stronger than I think. Better days are coming—I can feel it.

I picture myself in a future where I feel truly alive, surrounded by people who value me exactly as I am. My cheeks ache from smiling, my stomach hurts from laughing, and my shoulders feel light, free of the burdens I’ve carried for so long. In this vision, my heart is full of love, my eyes sparkle with wonder, and the pain of past heartbreaks has faded away. I can’t wait for that time to come.

Until then, I’ll be gentle with myself. I’ll dare to begin again. Every tear I’ve shed has been preparing me for something beautiful, and I know it’s closer than I think.

A new year is coming, and I’m ready for it. I believe it’s going to be beautiful.