Did we make it?

It's 2025!

A whole year has passed by and yet, it still feels like yesterday, doesn't it? One good thing about the new year is we get to crack the same old joke again, "I'll see you next year", on the night of 31st December and the fact that no one even gets mad at it makes it relatable even more. 

As the laughter fades, though, it’s worth pausing to think about what the new year truly means for everyone.

Did we really make it to a "new year", or is it just a moment where people share their achievements and reflect on what they could afford to do?

Well, it's good to have achieved things you have always wanted to, but before sharing it with anyone, pause for a moment and think of all the times you were still stuck somewhere, and your peers were achieving the things you once wished to. Is it fair to overlook those still struggling to make sense of life, survival, and existence? While it's wonderful to celebrate personal victories, it's equally important to acknowledge the diverse journeys people are on.

As many are setting their goals for the year ahead, others might find joy in simpler, quieter moments. For someone, seeing a full moon one night might be their biggest achievement. For another, witnessing snowfall for the very first time could be a memory so precious that it makes its way into their diary of life’s greatest moments. Why does happiness need to be measured by the size of the achievement? 

While some may celebrate buying a house, a car, or traveling the world, for others, the milestone might be as simple and profound as buying something they couldn’t afford as a child. Perhaps it’s a small toy they always dreamed of, a book they longed to read, or even a pair of shoes they once admired from afar.

Let’s celebrate those quiet victories. The ones that don’t make it to social media but mean everything to the person who achieved them. Let’s appreciate the courage it takes to keep going, even when the path feels uncertain and the finish line invisible. This year, perhaps we can strive for a little more empathy. A little more understanding that happiness isn’t always about doing more or having more—it’s about finding meaning in the moments that matter to us.

So, as we step into 2025, let’s remember this: not everyone is running the same race or climbing the same ladder. For some, waking up each day with hope is an accomplishment. For others, taking a break from the relentless pursuit of success to simply breathe and be present might be their greatest triumph.

So, here’s to the new year. To the grand milestones and the small, beautiful ones. To the goals we’ve set, the journeys we’re on, and the people we’re becoming. And most importantly, to the kindness and perspective we can bring to each other’s lives as we move forward, one day at a time thinking, yes! we really did make it.