When the year ends, there are two types of people: those who set new goals and aim to turn their lives around; and those who stay consistent and never give up their goals to begin with. The first group is most often the majority, as discipline is something to be mastered. The second group usually has the discipline to slowly but surely achieve what they set out to do. Which group do you fall into?
Now that we’ve hit the halfway line of 2022, the last six months seem quite a blur. Life has passed us by faster than ever. How about we slow things down and look into ourselves; process what’s been going on, and how it did or didn’t turn out the way we had planned.
Taking stock of my year so far
My 2022 kicked off to a great start thanks to the New Year cruises on Sydney Harbour. It was one of my bucket-list activities for some time now and ticking it off was an excellent way to start the year. Now, the purpose of a yearly recap is not to sugarcoat reality and impress others. It’s about being brutally honest so that you can gain insights into your current circumstances, and in turn, work on a plan for the future.
Now, I’m not going to start off and reflect on every month. That’ll be a bit tedious and I look forward to reflecting freely, not bound by any predetermined standards. As I mentioned above, I started the year on a high, and ended the last day of 2021 aboard one of Sydney’s popular catamaran New Year’s Eve cruises. It was a core-memory moment as my family and I witnessed the incredible fireworks display that graced the harbour skies. It was a night of extravagance; followed with food and drinks that were out of this world. In fact, it was so good that I might actually go back just for the food!
Resolution to the rescue
Like every year before, I had set out some resolutions. Gaining extra pounds was one of them. I started off the year at 143lbs, set out to join the gym. But due to some personal reasons, I was forced to start a month late and I finally started lifting in February. Now after 440 hours of weekly training I stand at 163lbs. Proud? Beyond any shadow of a doubt! But then again, I did slack around a bit so there’s always room of improvement.
If you’re trying to write a yearly review of your own, you don’t have to scrutinise every aspect of an event. You can maybe jot down some of the things you did achieve even though it wasn't part of your plan at the beginning of the year. Maybe it was a remarkable accomplishment that you didn’t plan? Maybe you failed miserably at a certain goal, but achieved something different of equal or greater value? Or maybe, you were broke but still ended up meeting your soulmate? Yes, life sometimes has better plans for us than we could ever imagine.
New perspectives for the remaining months
Trying to control everything is one thing; looking back, reflecting and learning our lessons is another. There’s no right or wrong. I had my fair share of setbacks, but in my eyes it was always another opportunity for me to recalibrate and approach life with a new perspective. And that's exactly what I did when I lost my job in April. I was petrified about how I’d make ends meet. But thanks to a couple of friends and family members, and a few introspective sessions, I was back on my feet in no time. Now I work at a new company, happier and healthier.
There’s still five more months to go, and instead of pushing myself to achieve a lot more, I plan to use those days to kick it back a notch and wind down, celebrating how far I’ve come already. After all, life isn’t a race to the finish line, so it is up to you to take a few breaks and enjoy the ride.
