A New Year, and the People in it

 A New Year, and the People in it

Hello readers of this blog and welcome back. Happy Νew Υear! It has surely been a long time. Although I missed writing here about my latest reads, allow me to use this blog post to look a bit back into the year that just passed by and, perhaps, reflect on myself.

As any year that carries new experiences, 2025 taught its lessons, which, although still have me a bit puzzled, were very instructive. First, let me say not all people in our lives are meant to accompany us forever. People come and go, and that’s okay. No matter how much time we spend with them, they eventually serve their purpose for as long as they are present, needed, worthy of our time, company and thoughts, or just alive. 

Truth be told, it is not always a good thing when someone who leaves our life turns into a “lesson”. People close to us sure are meant to teach us things but the memory of them doesn’t have to be a reminder. But when it becomes one, we sure need to remind ourselves of a few important truths: what led us to drift apart and not what means they used to keep us close, what they meant to us and whether we received anything meaningful in return, how it felt one-sided until either side eventually gave up, and how our presence was taken for granted until our absence created distance. We can always look back and show respect where it’s due. But better do it quietly, for the sake of our own peace, as, sadly, not everyone can see through our intentions, value our reasons or communicate without assumptions.

What I’ve come to realize this year is that I focused too much on letting people go in this tough “lesson” kind of context, forgetting about how letting go can also be a beautiful, bittersweet thing. No matter how a link between two people breaks it can still create space for growth, new beginnings and new connections. Memories are ours to hold forever but time exists in our world to keep things moving forward, one way or another. 

While it is important to recognize patterns in others that we need to keep a distance from, what truly matters at the end of the day is to craft a more confident, knowledgeable, compassionate and mature version of ourselves. To move on from an attachment to a past relationship is to quietly forgive the wrongs of the other side, as well as to recognize and forgive our own mistakes. And with that knowledge in hand, we get in a position to wisely choose people with good intentions and empathy to surround us. Only with them can we gladly share happiness and success, as they can feel proud of us for achieving it, on condition that we do the same. 

However, we are not only defined by the friendships and relationships we make with other people, but how we treat ourselves as well. So, taking any time needed to relax, think -and not overthink-, introspect, take care of our body, is always beneficial and time well spent. 

I have now come to believe that everything indeed happens for a reason - but we are the ones giving that reason a meaning. Understanding this brings peace, but also responsibility. Best thing we can do is let the future unfold and move forward with caution that comes from knowledge, not fear. Enjoy eveyone that matters now, and make sure you let them know they do. 

take care x