The phrase “new year, new me!” feels almost inescapable every January. The older I get, the more I find myself drifting away from the idea that I need to reinvent myself each January 1st. Over the span of 2023 alone I feel as though I’ve lived a million different lives. That’s why in 2024, I’ve decided that instead of making plans to change my life, I’m committed to being the same person I was at the end of last year.
Growing up in Pasadena, I was raised with the idea that there was no bigger spectacle than that of New Year’s Day. Our annual Rose Parade meant the city was shut down and the streets were lined with gigantic, colorful floats. It gave me the mindset that the start of a new year was a day of rest, joy, and, more than anything, tradition. Rather than seeing it as the first day of a new me, I learned to view New Year’s as a celebration of the year before.
That being said, I have tried (and often failed) to make resolutions before. Nothing out of the ordinary: drink more water, get better at time management, read more books. But by the time December 31st rolls around, I never find myself looking back at the previous year. I am only excited for the year to come.
I am lucky enough to believe that I know myself pretty well. I am stubborn and emotional. I am passionate and driven. I am a daughter, sister, and friend. And most importantly, I will ALWAYS watch a new season of Love Island. It’s because of this that I choose to believe no matter what goals we set, it is our experiences that truly shape us the most. I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason – and rather than trying to plan my year out, I am content with sitting back and seeing what the journey brings.
So I am proud to say that with a new year, I am 100% the same me. However, if you made any New Year’s resolutions, I hope that you stick to them! The important thing is that you’re making them for YOU, not because you feel the need to change for anybody else. No matter where life takes me in 2024, I’m glad that I’m entering it on my own terms.