At this time of the year, we usually complain about everything and how tired we are every day. Everyone is patiently waiting for the clock to strike just to go on holiday, even if it is just for a few days or a week.
We all feel tired every morning and struggle to get up every day, looking for that courage to go to work and do our things. It’s not even funny when I say every friend of mine complains about the struggle to get up in the morning. I also feel exhausted and see the 80km I must drive every day as a mission to get to work and back home.
But when I pause, sink into the quiet corners of my mind, and truly reflect on the tapestry of this year behind me, I can’t help but feel guilty about why I’m even complaining. I realised that we tend to complain every day about minor things. So much so that we forget about all the blessings and little things we can be thankful for. We usually look past the small wins.
Personally, as bittersweet as it was, I got to spend quality time with my mom, which I never knew I needed. I’ve always been an independent person, away from my family since a young age, and never thought I would come to a point where I could go out with my mom like we’re friends, having fun and just enjoying ourselves.
I also got a new job, which I had prayed for quite a while. It came at a time when I really needed it. I also received the gift of love again, meeting someone I’ve been waiting for a long time now. Someone who ticks all my boxes and shows me that what I wanted is still out there. After many disappointments, I get to experience the “soft life” and “princess treatment” I deserve. There was a time when I thought I would never get to experience it.
My eldest and only sister finally got married after all the odds, and I got to experience every step of planning with her, making sure she had the perfect fairytale wedding. We also welcomed a new bundle of joy to the family. Now this, for me, is more than enough to be thankful for.
So, I just want to express that besides complaining this time of year while fighting the year-end blues, we should look back and see how far we’ve come. We should also try to be more thankful and give thanks for all we’ve achieved this year.
The fact that you can still see the end of the year creeping up on us means you’ve achieved something. The beauty of being at the end of a calendar year is that very soon we’ll have a chance to start over again, making better decisions, facing and overcoming new challenges, setting boundaries and deciding how we are going to face the new year head-on.
For now, give thanks and appreciate every little thing that has come our way. Remember 1 Thessalonians 5:18: “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
I know it’s not always easy giving thanks while dealing with so much happening, not only in your personal and work life but also in the world we live in.
Having to navigate the weakened economy, gender-based violence and child killings on a daily basis but appreciating the little things around us can make this all feel a little comforting, even if it is just for a moment or two. We’ll try again next year!
