A year of lessons in my pocket
Well, it’s that time of the year, you know
When you look back at the wins and losses and assess the year.
You smile a little, cry a little,
and acknowledge the version of yourself that survived it all.
You reflect on the choices you made, the chances you took, and the moments that shaped you quietly.
Most importantly, you recognise the lessons this year taught you and choose to carry them forward
, not perfectly, not fearlessly, trying to move ahead with more awareness, more patience, and a little more hope,
to make things better in your own way.
Lesson No. 1 – Travel to a place that makes you feel a little less heavy and a lot more grateful.
For me, this year started with a small trip while I was home—to a nearby Ram Mandir temple. Don’t we all feel a little more relaxed there? We pray, we thank, we show gratitude. Being in that space helped me slow down and reset my thoughts. I also love clicking pictures when I travel, so yes, I took a lot of photos. Those pictures now remind me how grounding small moments can be.
Lesson No. 2 – Take your loved ones’ wins as your own.
This year, one chapter of a textbook written by my parents was published in Positive Psychology, and I could not be more proud of anything else than this. Watching their hard work get recognised felt deeply personal. It reminded me that success doesn’t always have to be about you. Keep your loved ones close and celebrate their small wins. Trust me—it matters more than we realise.
Lesson No. 3 – Get back and don’t give up.
This year brought a lot of anxiety. It began with bad experiences and a crying, sobbing start—for no fault of mine. I had to go back to that place and deal with things on my own. Showing up wasn’t easy when everything inside me wanted to retreat. I don’t know if I truly dealt with everything, but I know I didn’t give up. Somewhere in the process, dealing slowly turned into surviving, and surviving quietly turned into learning.
Lesson No. 4 – Travel with your family more.
A long-pending trip finally happened. I went to Kashmir with my family and made some of the best moments and memories there. Being together, away from routine, changed something in all of us. Trust me, you need each other a lot more than you think. In the end, it’s the love that matters—nothing else. I took a lot of pictures again, wanting to hold on to those moments forever—the beauty, the people, the place, and the warmth of being together.
Lesson No. 5 – Spend time with friends you can truly be yourself with.
Friends with whom I can open up, be myself, and pour my heart out without judgment. Where I can go unhinged, blabber my stupid stories, and still feel heard. Those conversations made me feel lighter. That’s what good friendships are—safe, mutual, and real. Talk to people who truly listen to you and show up for you. Friendships cannot be one-sided, and they shouldn’t feel exhausting.
Lesson No. 6 – Prioritize your mental health at any cost.
I took the hard decision to move on from a workplace that didn’t suit my interests and never really let me feel happy about the work I was doing. It took a lot of courage to admit that something wasn’t working. One of the hardest lessons was knowing when to step away from toxic environments and people. This was one of the worst phases of my career, and self-doubt followed me everywhere. But my family stood by me and reminded me that choosing peace is never a wrong decision.
Lesson No. 7 – Explore your potential and experiment more.
I tried to explore my creative side this year by being active on YouTube and other social platforms. I couldn’t be consistent, and many times I couldn’t show up the way I wanted to. But trying mattered. It helped me understand that exploring your potential doesn’t always lead to instant results. Sometimes, it’s about testing your limits, learning what excites you, and giving yourself the freedom to experiment without pressure.Along the way, I was also rewarded with a small token of appreciation by the community here at my place for my smallest achievements up until this year, which definitely boosted my confidence and reminded me that even small efforts are seen and valued.
Lesson No. 8 – Write more; it keeps me grounded.
Writing continues to be my safe space. I took up a 30-day reel challenge—writing every day and posting. It required discipline, time, and emotional energy. Some days felt overwhelming, but I showed up anyway. I was on and off social media because I wasn’t ready to face people, or even myself, most days. Alongside this, the Blogchatter challenge pushed me to stay consistent with blogging. Writing helped me process things I couldn’t say out loud.
In the middle of all this, my second book also got published. It’s a short one—30 poems written in 30 days—but it holds a lot of heart. It felt good to see something so personal come together, even on days when everything else felt uncertain. If you’re interested, you can find it here:
https://www.amazon.in/Fragments-Love-Caught-Tides-Heart/dp/9369541470
Lesson No. 9 – Take hard decisions and trust the process.
I took the difficult decision to leave a city, pack my things, and move back home. It felt like starting over in many ways. The transition wasn’t smooth, but it was necessary. Being closer to family made me feel supported and calmer. Slowly, things began to fall into place. I joined a new company, and so far, it feels like the right step forward.
Lesson No. 10 – Let loose once in a while.
I’ve started believing that things happen in their own time. Not everything needs to be rushed or forced. Some decisions take longer, and some endings hurt more than expected—but they still need to happen. Let go of toxic jobs, unnecessary people, and draining relationships. At the same time, let yourself breathe. I found comfort in the animals at my home—they became my therapy on difficult days. Be kind, be nice, but also protect your peace.
A lot of things went wrong this year, my failures, my anxiety, and moments that tested me in ways I didn’t expect. There were days when I questioned myself, my decisions, and the direction I was moving in. Some plans didn’t work out, and some situations took longer to heal from. But despite all of that, here I am—still standing, still learning, and still choosing to move forward. I’m carrying these lessons with me, not as burdens but as reminders of what I’ve survived. And with that, I’m ready to begin a whole new year again, a little wiser, a little stronger, and more aware of myself than before.I hope this new year brings joy and hope, smiles and success for all of you. Happy New Year.
Anindita Rath
@scrambledwriter
No responses yet