New Year And New Hopes

Happy New Year 2080! Happy New Decade of the 2080s!

Friday, Baisakh 1, heralded the beginning of a new year, a fresh decade and, if we are to get philosophical about it, an invigorated life. We have lots to look forward to and a chance to start anew. 

At the national level, federalism seems to be finding its feet after two elections. The post-quake reconstruction is on track to be completed in a few years. We are set to graduate from the group of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and become a middle-income developing country. And tourism looks promisingly strong.

Of course, there are also many challenges but we can overcome them if we work together. 

On a personal level too, there is no reason to believe that the new year will not be one full of peace, prosperity and happiness. But, of course, that also depends on what we do and whom we share the coming year and decade with.

Let us make an effort to spend as much time with our family as possible in 2080. Time is precious and family is fleeting. Before you know it, some older members pass away while younger ones grow up, roles change, priorities shift and relationships transform (and not always for the better). Therefore, we must actively try to be with our loved ones, share our feelings and cherish little moments. 

Yes, there can be a life for us in a distant land in the company of new people. But is it worth giving up the love we already have and creating a distance between us and our parents, siblings, spouses and others for it? This is a question that we must ponder very carefully. After all, moments missed do not come back. 

As we head into 2080, let us also take note of the special days to come. Let us look at the calendar and mark our anniversaries, friends’ birthdays, days that carry sentimental value and occasions that deserve to be celebrated in a grand manner. In the bustle of daily life, it is easy for us to get lost and forget important days. So, we should map them out right now when we have the time. This will also help you to arrange events in the order of priority and see which days you need to prepare a little extra for.

Building on this, you can also set goals for each of the days you outline. For example, you may plan to lose two kilos by your anniversary or quit smoking before your birthday. These are basically new year’s resolutions packaged around emotions, so they may not be for everyone. But if we feel we can make and keep promises to ourselves, this may be the way to go. But remember to be flexible. We cannot always do everything we want the way we want to do them. We will need to adapt and manoeuvre. So, do not set your goals in stone. Leave some room to wiggle.

Also, at the end of every quarter, designate a ‘feel-good day’ for yourself. This may be a day to stay home in front of the TV, a day to go out into nature or a day to party with friends. Fix a feel-good day to do anything that makes you feel good. 

The best thing to do is to use a day that is already a holiday so that there is no need to worry about taking leave from work or school. Similarly, it is ideal to fix one feel-good day every three months because it helps prevent burnout.

We must plan these days at the start of the year because we may forget if we wait. Life gets busy and a day off starts looking like an unneeded luxury, which is not true. So, best to plan them early in the year.

May the new year and the new decade bring us all abundant blessings, new adventures and countless opportunities to pursue our passions and fulfil our dreams. May we have the courage to face the challenges that come our way, the wisdom to make the best decisions and the resilience to bounce back stronger than ever before. May we get to cherish every moment with our loved ones and may our hearts be filled with joy, love and peace. Here's to a bright and beautiful new year and a decade full of hope, happiness and success!