This year has not started as I imagined at all. I expected there might be another mandatory quarantine because of people wanting to celebrate the New Year the way they do every year. This year just seems like it’s going to be a very violent one if the first few weeks are any indication. I’m hoping this isn’t true. I’m going to continue to hope that people are decent, and will use this year to become more empathetic. I won’t lie and claim I don’t have any opinions on what happened at the Capitol. I’m just choosing not to share my opinion. I know that is a privilege, and maybe I’ll come to regret that decision one day. I’m tired, and I never expected my 20s to end this way.

My good friend from college always told me if I didn’t like the way the year started, I could always claim my personal New Year. I liked the concept that my year could start again on my birthday. It helped me stay positive, and not throw the entire year away because of a few bad days.

I told myself on New Year’s Eve that I wasn’t going to mess around with anyone who I felt was being disrespectful to others. I have spent too much time letting comments slide because the polite thing to do is to keep my mouth shut. I have learned now that while I might not change their minds. I will at least make them think, and stay quiet for a while. The only person we can hold accountable all of the time is yourself. 

Each day can be your own personal new year. I’m trying to hold myself accountable for my dreams. It’s okay to get frustrated with what is happening around you, but don’t let it detract you from your goals. 

The world is on fire, but we can only take it one day at time. It’s okay to not watch the news for a few hours.  It will be there when you are ready. The beautiful thing about technology is that if you really need to know something, someone will call you. Happy New Year, and if it’s not there is always tomorrow.

Featured image by Free-Photos courtesy of Pixabay.