Audaci vultu aspice

The end of the year. 

Because of this, I decided to write a few words here in my "garden of thoughts" as well. The year 2025 was a year marked by change for me. But not only that. It was an interesting year in terms of reflection. For several years now, I have had plans for each coming year. Sometimes they form a coherent whole; other times, they are a flash of needs which, if not fully realized, can lead to a sense of defeat and failure. And that is exactly why I am writing this post.

Yesterday, I heard an interesting phrase: that we set this boundary point from which we begin our transformation (or, more precisely, plan our transformation) because we feel a need to ritualize the moment of transition. "Starting Monday, I will..." "Starting with the new year, I will..." "Starting next month, I will..."

I don’t judge whether the ritual of transition is good, bad, necessary, or not. It is likely whatever it needs to be for each of us individually. My master once said that the measure of truth is effectiveness. If you need a date for change to occur in your life (provided you even need such a change), the question of whether such an approach is effective can only be judged in hindsight.

However, I recently had a thought that I’d like to share, as it is a positive one. Perhaps the change that takes place is not dynamic, but slow and static. It happens gradually. And one must look at it from the perspective of time. I am not the same person I was on December 31, 2024. To quote Heraclitus: "Panta Rhei" (Everything flows). The changes occurring within us happen on a micro-scale. Every single day. This thought seems positive because, when assuming change, we should look at what we have accomplished over time. Let’s not look at what we haven’t done, but at what we have achieved.

Furthermore, it is not worth setting unreachable goals. Just because you cannot fulfill a plan today doesn’t mean you will magically fulfill it tomorrow. I am a great advocate of small steps. I tried it once, and in my case, it worked. As a great lover of reading, I once decided that I would read 50 pages of a book every day. In the year I took on that challenge, the number of books I read tripled compared to the previous year. Small steps are effective precisely because they are small.

If I could recommend one book for the coming year, it would be Atomic Habits by James Clear. In 2026, this book will find a place in my reading for the second time.

I am closing the year 2025 by wishing you what I believe is important: 

Courage, because you have to be brave to be honest with yourself. 

Good relationships with your loved ones. Good relationships with people. It’s worth reflecting sometimes on what our relationships are like. I say this often, but I will say it again because I truly believe it: How often do we say "I love you" to those we love? How often do we say "thank you"? Amidst our daily anger, quarrels, and envy, we should pause for reflection. Tomorrow is not guaranteed. When you don't make it in time to say "I love you," you may regret it for the rest of your life. 

Good thoughts. The energy you send out into the world is what the world is built from. When there is anger and wrath within you, you build the dark chambers of your existence. Kindness, goodness, and a smile sent out into the world build a completely different picture. 

Let us not judge. Different does not mean worse. Yesterday, my son realized that people can have different perspectives upon which they build their image of the world. Empathy is a strength that cannot be overemphasized. 

Have a good one