It is time to say goodbye to 2024

We are done with 365 days, and we have a few hours to reflect on the year it has been. There have been lessons to learn and changes we have had to accept. I came across this quote by Eleanor Roosevelt, which says, "Today is the oldest you've ever been, and the youngest you'll ever be again." That is a thought to entertain because it urges us to appreciate everything we have and had. Once again, there have been people we have had to say goodbye to. It is always difficult to accept the fact that you will never hear from them or see them again. Just as we start a new chapter with a new year, there is much to be accomplished and looked forward to, but there are also matters that require closure. It is not because somebody is sitting there to grade you, but for our own clarity of mind, which we often describe as peace of mind. Quite often, our mind is compartmentalised into pieces, and most of the time we jump from one to the other, reacting instead of responding simply because we have not planned what we want. We have desires, but we do not want to plan how to achieve them or plan what to do if we achieve them. At that moment, we think our investment is just our time. But if we only wish and do not materialise what we want, then we are just hoping, and we are wasting our own precious time. I was just reading about what a difference it can make to our lives if we were to write down our thoughts before we go to sleep. All we have to do is write our goals for the next day, recollect what we are grateful for, and jot down if there are any negative thoughts. If we can do this for each day, we can surely do so for a whole new year awaiting us as we cross the threshold. There might have been things we wished for that may not have been fruitful, but there is no point in carrying forward regrets. That space can be used for visualisations and manifestations. Of course, it is always better to do what we want to do when we have a chance. This moment will never come back. If it is a project, don't be surprised if someone else thought of a similar idea and did it before you did. On the other hand, what we like today may not be what we appreciate five years down the line. As time goes by, people grow, change, and think differently. It is the beauty of ageing. The author of The Power of Now stresses how we should be aware of the present moment instead of losing ourselves in worry and anxiety about the past or future. Eckhart Tolle's famous quote is, "When you lose touch with inner stillness, you lose touch with yourself; when you lose touch with yourself, you lose yourself in the world." It is wonderful to realise that each one of us has a special place in this world. The question is: should we just exist, or should we excel? The answer might vary depending on our age and experiences. But the best quality we can take with us into next year is resilience and, most importantly, the power of faith. We have to keep reminding ourselves not to indulge in the past because we are losing in the now. Maybe we could have been many things in the past, but if we do not have them now, what is the point of indulging in those moments? Instead, we can create the new version of ourselves now. Water changes forms, and change is the factor. That is how the world moves forward. The beauty is we are one of the links of the world. In the stillness of the mind lies creativity. Creativity is the fuel for the mind.