I do love the beginning of a new year. While I don’t make New Years’ resolutions anymore (I never stick to them), I always use this as an opportunity to step back and reflect. Five years ago at about this time, I had just arrived in the UK to begin building a new life after having lived in Dubai for 11 years. While I had some good friends in London, I had no idea what to expect. Would I be happy? Would I mature and evolve as a human being? Would I finally begin to feel more grounded?
Five years on, I am happier than I could have imagined. I am doing work I love and count myself lucky to feel energised (nearly) every day. I have meaningful friendships (including more than one elusive ‘British friend’ – which, when I studied abroad here 20 years ago, I was told were rarer than unicorns; Brits, according to our study abroad director, were wary about forming friendships with Americans). I’m engaged to a wonderful man, and I can see a future of endless possibilities. Obviously I have my challenges – we all do – but I also count my blessings every day.
I share all of this because the theme of this week’s poem by John O’Donohue is about potential. Regardless of what has happened in the past, each day, week, month, and year is a clean slate, a chance for a fresh start, if we’ll take it. We all contain limitless potential within us, if only we can learn to listen to and trust ourselves. I know this sounds cheesy, but I truly believe that we manifest our own future and that if we look for the potential in each new day, we will find it.
Happy New Year everyone – I hope 2022 is filled with new possibilities for you.
