Dear 2024, please be a little gentler.
Please!
There are times, actually, most times when the harsh realities of life and the relentless daily grind force us to bid farewell to our cherished hobbies, to burn the very means that once helped us vent out. Today, with a rare day off from the office, the aroma of coffee hung in the air, blending with the remnants of the cozy, foggy evenings of late December. Cupping my favorite coffee mug, I found myself with ample time to sift through old planners, notebooks, and daily to-do lists.
Initially, the memory of 2023 seemed hazy, a bit too harsh, a tad too challenging, and somewhat perplexing. It was like a dim fog lingering in my mind. Wait. What was I doing on January 21st a year ago? What emotions consumed me on that day? What challenges was I facing then? Life felt like a speeding car passing beneath the expansive shade of a mammoth tree, its pace so rapid that it went unnoticed by bystanders, as if it had slipped through the measure of time. Wasn’t it moving excessively fast? A silent siren that no one paid attention to.
Putting pen to paper has always been my solace, a way to organize my wandering thoughts. I have this habit of documenting everything. Running my fingers over the old pages of my 2023 daily planner, with the chill of winter settling in my bones, I revisited the events of January 31st, and tears welled up in my eyes. On that day, I was preparing for a significant exam scheduled for the next day — the exam I had toiled for, burning the midnight oil. Now, the realization hit hard; I had failed, and nature had not been on my side. The exam, for which I had locked myself in a room for months, must have left a profound impact on that year-younger version of myself.
A sudden, unexpected wave of sadness washed over me. I felt a deep sense of remorse for my past self, for all of us who have weathered wounds and heartbreak. I recalled the words of Haruki Murakami:
“And once the storm is over, you Won’t remember how you made it. Through how you managed to survive. You won’t be even sure, Whether the storm is really over. But one thing is certain. When you come out of the storm. You Won’t be the same person Who walked in. That’s what this storm is all about.”
- Haruki Murakami
Fortunately, it has all passed, and I was oblivious to it until I revisited my daily journal. Life seemed normal before I opened that book. The beauty of time lies in its ability to pass. Things have changed significantly now — I have a job and an office where I’ve found a beautiful work family. Suddenly, I feel mature and professional. Life has handed me another card to play, and I’m uncertain where connecting the dots of my life will lead me.
Years pass.
We cry.
We feel.
We love.
We laugh.
And we forget.
A year ago, I was engulfed in depression, and the days were arduous. However, 2024 promises new experiences for me, for you, and for all of us. The new phase of life has either made me forget the pain of the past or, at the very least, has made me strong enough to live with those wounds.
It’s time to warmly welcome 2024.
Let time take its time.
