The end of the calendar year is the ideal time for self-reflection. Taking time to reflect on the past year not only promotes personal growth but also provides valuable insights that can guide future decisions.
Certainly, always move on from the past. Focus solely on the enjoyable moments and the insights gained from your experiences. I’m not suggesting you dismiss unpleasant thoughts; rather, find effective ways to address them.
Indeed, in today’s fast-paced world, where many of us are constantly busy and the boundaries between home and work often blur, it is essential to pause and quietly reflect during moments of peace.
I believe many of you reading this have already compiled an ambitious list of goals for the upcoming year. Several of you may have also pledged to correct past mistakes and improve yourselves.
To achieve your primary New Year’s goals, combine self-awareness, accountability, a growth-oriented mindset, and a clear, actionable plan. This approach creates a genuine opportunity for success and helps sustain your desired changes long after the celebrations have ended.
Acknowledge what you appreciate and take pride in, and then find a way to express it again. The future ahead is ours; everything that happens from this moment forward belongs to us. We are the creators of our lives, our successes, our happiness, our relationships, and our careers.
At the same time, we cannot satisfy everyone or be liked by all.
As this marks my final post of the year, I cannot conclude without paying tributes to members of my journalist fraternity who lost their lives in the exercise of their profession worldwide.
Journalists do not simply die while performing their professional duties—they are murdered. The number of slain journalists has risen once again due to the criminal activities of military groups, both regular and paramilitary, as well as organised crime.
The year 2025 became the deadliest for journalists since the start of the century, following 2024. According to the Press Emblem Campaign, 161 journalists lost their lives across 31 countries. In 2024, a total of 179 journalists died in various incidents.
"Killings and imprisonments of journalists are increasing in 2025, and it is profoundly disgraceful to observe the minimal actions taken by governments worldwide to protect them and uphold fundamental principles of press freedom,” stated International Federation of Journalists President Dominique Pradalié.
The Gaza conflict has consistently been identified as the deadliest region for media professionals, with some reports indicating that nearly half of all journalist fatalities worldwide in 2025 were linked to it. Additionally, various organisations have described the Israeli military as the "greatest threat to journalists".
These statistics emphasise the high risk in conflict areas and reinforce the “necessity to enhance the safety of media personnel and to hold accountable those who murder journalists.”
Now, I return to the point where I began as we transition from the final moments of 2025 into a new realm that encourages us to strive for greatness. Remember, true abundance in life comes from delving deeper into what truly matters, rather than spreading yourself too thin.
Paulo Coelho, through his compelling narratives that offer insight into the essence of a fulfilling life, states, “The suffering of the past is the power of the present.”
New Year’s Day symbolises happiness, resilience, and hope for a better tomorrow. It fosters a sense of renewal and unity, bringing together people from diverse cultures and nations.
I wish every Observer reader a joyful New Year 2026. May all your aspirations be fulfilled with fresh blessings and bursts of joy! Farewell, 2025—see you in 2026.
Samuel Kutty
The writer is a freelance journalist and author who worked in Oman and India
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