Opinion

And the new year begins

The year 2024 has begun and we began by wishing the best to each other. On Monday, the first day of New Year, saw 7.6 magnitude earthquake in Japan bringing in a Tsunami alert.

As the life is unpredictable as much as in nature so in humans too. How a person responds to circumstances depends on an individual’s capacity and state of mind during that particular moment. With nature of course an earthquake we might see today might have been going under pressure for a period of time. Just like a volcano that brews before the outburst. The change is not always announced. What we have to prepare for is to cope with the change.

Most of us would have gone through reflection of the year that has gone by and looked at the lessons learnt. If it was a difficult year, you might have been tired but you know you have become stronger because of the challenges.

And if we set our goals, how consistent are we going to be?

It almost felt like going to a new class for the first time with new books and bags. If you think about it we never actually complete our studies. It is a life long lessons that we go through.

First the knowledge that is tested and evaluated in a formal manner, then tested and heard to be given qualifications and then the test to thrive or survive in life. Animals are lucky that way their examination is mostly on finding food and survival by not being a prey to some one else. Quite a challenge coming to think of it.

We know it is not enough just to survive so why don’t we all thrive?

Consistency could be the answer.

Many of us tend to give up quicker than the ones who thrive. The ones who continue actually practice patience, and it is not mere luck. As they say it is that moment when you want to give up that requires to be coped and managed. There will be mountains to climb and there will be hills to descend, and plains to walk and settle. We all know life is full of ups and downs and it is these experiences that make each of our lives different like our finger prints.

The struggle need not be on your own and we need not know all the answers. It is perfectly alright to seek help from the right people, in fact it is the most sensible thing to do. Sometimes we struggle because we do not have the know-how. It is important to seek help and learn. Sometimes the topic is boring so much that we wish that someone else would do it for us.

But remember the exams never end in life we just move from one subject to the other and from one exam to another.

So dear youngsters, what you are going through is just the beginning, the good thing is you have elders around you now and later in life you have to find your own mentors and often you are the ones who are going to be guiding others.

For now it is interesting to look at the news headlines of different countries. Not many situations have changed because it is the mindset that needs to be changed. And the desire has to come from within and not forced upon because only then one can feel the true joy in achieving the changes that are required for us to achieve in life.

We have to be realistic in understanding what is that we lack in skills in order to reach the next level. When we can brush aside ego and learn in earnest understanding the need that is when we grow. If we fall in the trap of thinking we know it all that is when we find there is no space for improvement. It cannot be so because the world, society and technology are evolving on daily basis.

Just as our status on WhatsApp and status on social media’s timeline changes, the scenarios change in our lives too.

The only solution is to accept change, learn and adapt to new situations. Learning from others is not below the dignity. The person who learns from others become more agile.

Emotions are present in these situations and it is better we don’t ignore them. It would be great to acknowledge them, at the same time not be stuck there. It all goes to prove how wonderfully blessed are the people who have family members who do not judge and friends whom they can trust so they can voice out their thoughts aloud so they don’t have to internalize it all of the time and let it brew not knowing when it will turn to an outburst.

Let there be calmness and peace of mind while finding our path.