As 2024 draws to a close, I sit quietly with a cup of coffee. I reflect on the months gone by. If I had to summarize this year, it would be difficult to express everything openly. There’s a whirlwind of emotions, and my thoughts feel tangled, like fairy lights after a long year in storage.

For some, this year was marked by loss – a dear one taken too soon. For others, it brought new joys – marriages, births, and milestones worth celebrating. But where do I find myself at this moment? Disoriented.

We travelled less this year, prioritizing plans for bigger things. A new international destination, perhaps? Or some other significant step ahead? Instead, the year saw upgrades – new gadgets, lifestyle tweaks, conveniences that made life feel shinier. But could we truly upgrade our lives? That’s a question I still don’t have an answer to.

There were highs, undoubtedly. I co-authored and published another book – a milestone that still feels surreal when I hold the finished product in my hands. And then there was my first music single, something I had dreamt of for years. These were moments of triumph, of quiet pride.

But alongside these achievements came the weight of expectations. The burden of being the “ideal” everything can be silent and sometimes suffocating. This includes being the perfect partner, the devoted son, the dependable brother, the loyal friend, and the efficient employee. It’s exhausting trying to live up to these roles, especially when they often feel contradictory or unattainable.

Perhaps this is what life is about – a constant balancing act where clarity is fleeting and certainty feels like a luxury. As I inch closer to 40, I find myself wondering what the next chapter holds. The future feels blurred, as though viewed through a rain-soaked window.

And yet, amidst the fog, there’s a quiet assurance. I know I will emerge stronger, wiser, and more in tune with who I am meant to be. Success, for me, is not about titles or possessions but about becoming a better version of myself each day.

So here’s to 2024 – the year it was. A year of milestones, muddles, and meaningful moments. A year that shaped me, challenged me and prepared me for what was to come.

And as I step into the unknown of 2025, I do so with hope – imperfect, fragile, but resilient. Because that’s what keeps us moving forward, doesn’t it?

Happy New Year! Let’s see where the journey takes us.