Copyright © [Surabhi Parashar] [2024]. All Rights Reserved.¹

Happy New Year!!! A bit late for wishes, you think? Well, it depends. The new year is a time for a new job, a new life, new beginnings, new thoughts, new resolutions, and new everything. Personally, I believe that instead of winter, spring should mark the beginning of a new year, when our bodies and moods are both more attuned to work toward something fresh and new. Winter is meant to be lazy, and to nurture our bodies with healthy foods like nuts, hearty soups and of course, desserts. Winter is the time to pause and prepare our bodies and minds for what lies ahead. As the calendar ends, we reflect, we introspect, and we hope for a betterment in all aspects of our lives.

Every year, I take a moment to look back on the past and the experiences that shaped me. It’s a chance to honour all the ups and downs and to appreciate the lessons that come with them. 2025 was a busy year for me, and it went by so fast that I only realized it in November. November 11th was the day to manifest—more on that later. The point is, I realized that winter was starting, signalling that the year was coming to an end. I read somewhere that “as we age, the days are longer and years are shorter,” and it made perfect sense. In our busy lives filled with countless responsibilities, we accomplish so much each day. However, when we look back, the meaningful moments and events seem to be so few.

The past year was turbulent for many. As it drew to a close, news of sudden losses kept arriving—friends and loved ones grieving family members taken too soon. Though I wasn’t affected directly, the pain was real enough to feel the quiet weight of their sorrow. As someone who leans toward spirituality, I began questioning everything—God, faith, and the purpose of suffering itself. If God is there, why does this happen? Does pain bring people closer to belief? Would faith even exist without pain and suffering? I didn’t have answers—just thoughts that lingered longer than expected.

I kept pondering, and somewhere along the way, I inferred that everyone is carrying something. We all have our own problems, and we struggle in ways that aren’t always visible. It’s easy to look at other people’s lives and assume they have it all figured out, that things somehow worked out better for them. But even the lives that look perfect from the outside have their own quiet battles playing out behind the scenes. The truth is, struggle just shows up differently for everyone. No life is flawless, and no one stays lucky forever. And as it’s my habit to read, I found solace in a Korean philosophy that I want to share with you. It says that God gave us life, this earth, and the freedom to shape our own paths. He gave us a mind to think, a heart to feel, and the full range of emotions—joy, fear, love, and heartbreak. According to this belief, pain and suffering aren’t punishments but part of what it means to be truly human. Only humans can feel so deeply, and it’s through these experiences that we find our purpose and understand life more fully. Actually, the ability to feel pain is proof that we are alive.

The year 2025 strengthened me in quiet ways and taught me to see the world with new eyes. As I step into 2026, my resolution is simple – to carry these lessons forward and meet life with a more positive outlook. I want to choose positive words in my speech, look for the good in people, and trust situations even when they feel uncertain. What about you? I’d love to hear your resolutions and thoughts in the comments.

I like to end things on a lighter note and hopefully leave you with a small smile. My second—and very predictable—resolution is to exercise more this year. Realistically, though, that motivation will kick in sometime around spring, when cherry blossoms and sunshine do their magic. For now, I’m perfectly happy watching the snow fall from my window, coffee mug in hand, embracing the season as it is. ☕❄️

P.S. The day marks my 15 years in North America. 😊

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