Overrated Phrase of December

The year is 46 BCE - The streets are alive with preparation. Romans gather to honor Janus, the god of beginnings and transitions. They make sacrifices, offer promises, and look to the future with hope. Their resolutions are simple yet sacred: repay debts, return borrowed items, and seek favor for the year ahead.

I think we—creatures living in the 21st century—have taken it too far. We set unattainable goals that often gather dust within the first few weeks of January. And this is no one’s fault. We’re simply too blinded by overly influenced trends and social pressures that demand we become a brand-new version of ourselves overnight.

The intentions are good, but we miss the mark because we fail to diagnose. What did we do in the last 12 months to prepare ourselves for this "new you"? Change is not an overnight miracle. It’s the culmination of small, consistent steps taken over time—a rhythm of effort that eventually shows results.

This shouldn’t be taken as a discouragement to what you have planned or goals that you scribbled in your brand-new journal, to be absolutely honest, I don’t think I have the power to discourage anyone.

The truth is – commit to start with a step – take few minutes of your day to look back at 2024 - the year that passed so quickly it still surprises me. Ask – and identify few steps, What steps could I have taken to become a better version of myself? Better health? Better relationships? Better income?

I haven’t always been like this – I remember celebrating New Year’s Eve as any other holiday with no regard to what next. And all this changed with time as I realize – just like trees we have seasons, season to grow, to flourish, to get old and to shed leaves. Thinking about it given me the chills, but it’s life.

December to me signifies a time of shedding leaves – letting go. Allowing yourself to forgive, renew self-promises and stay hopeful that every small moves will pay off – if not in December in the new year. It’s all about celebration of life, not days, months or years. It’s a way we celebrate us, it’s a celebration of life—your life—and how far you’ve come.

So, as the last piece of 2024, here is to you. The version of you that you’ve been working hard to meet—the one who is healthy, wealthy, happy, and loved. When you sit to set your goals, remember this: it’s your journey. Forget the social frenzy. It’s your walk, your run, your climb. Start with what makes sense to you and grow from there.

I have never seen a tree start with leaves before growing roots – don’t expect to grow leaves right from the get-go. Find the right soil – in fact, prepare that ground, that fertile ground to be rooted in and see your roots stand firm and deep.

Here’s to you and I —steady, grounded, and growing—one step, one season, one year at a time.

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