Auld Lang Syne

Day 365 / 365

“Auld Lang Syne” is a Scottish phrase that translates to “days gone by”. It is also the title of the song which is sung all around the world to celebrate the New Year, in the spirit of raising a glass to reminisce the time spent in the year that’s about to end. So I thought it would be a fitting title to my last blog as well.

Out of all the new year’s eves that I have had in my life, I feel the happiest about today. Maybe it is because I was able to finish this daily blogging resolution that I put for myself. Maybe it is because I made some risky choices regarding my career that kind of paid off. Maybe it is because I took some control back over my life. All I am sure of is that I feel good about 2019, and feel even more hopeful about 2020.

2019 was the year I learned that it is possible to be happy before being successful, not the other way around.

It was the year I realized that it is possible to get rid of bad habits you might have had for years and to acquire new good ones.

It was the year I realized the importance of mental health, why one should take care of their minds just as much as they take care of their bodies.

It was the year I realized that there is no such thing as the ‘right’ way to live your lives. Just because everyone else is doing it, doesn’t mean you have to do it as well if it doesn’t feel right to you.

More than anything else, I think the biggest takeaway for me is that you and only you are responsible for your happiness. It’s not something that you will have to work hard to achieve. Hard work might be necessary for success, or money or good grades. But happiness doesn’t depend on any of those. Right here in this very moment, you can choose to be happy.

So that’s the thought I think everyone should enter the new year with. Take some time to enjoy life, don’t be so hard on yourself. Remember, other people might have it just as hard as you do, so be kind to others.

On that note, this is me signing off. Happy New Year!

“For auld lang syne, my dear,

for auld lang syne,

we’ll take a cup of kindness yet,

for auld lang syne.”

This post is part of my 365 Day Project for 2019. Read about it here

Yesterday’s blog — An easy new year resolution