20s Diary

Happy blog post Friday, everyone! Let’s talk about January. Now that the month is coming to an end, I have decided to write this week’s post on everything January. New starts, new year’s resolutions, dry January, and everything in between. Before we really get into a discussion, I have to say that I’ve decided that January is a myth. It is a pill we all take. We (at least most of us) believe we can take our lives and rebrand them in one month. That we can establish routines that will all stick. This year, I tried to make my goals less life-changing and more just things I believe I will be able to keep up with.

January is the month of beginnings. Also, can we talk about how this month specifically feels super long? Like, I feel like we are on the 80th day of January. I think this is because we do the absolute most within the 31 days of this month. New makeup routines, new forms of diet. While some people try to convince themselves they are definitely not alcoholics after college, as they do dry January, I have always been the girl who got really excited to turn my life upside down. I would make unattainable goals and then by the end of the month I would feel like shit. The myth of January is that everywhere on the internet, you would see people excited about it and also people who made life-changing decisions, and then you look at yourself with the gym membership you bought on the 1st, and now it’s the 30th, and you went once. January should not be about new beginnings, but continuing life. You do not have to flip yourself to feel good about the new year. This year, there is so much I am thankful for.

When I think about conflicts around the globe, as I see people whose home is being destroyed, I feel first of all privileged and grateful. That alone makes me feel happy to be here another year. Now I feel it is important to mention that I got my degree in International Relations because it is relevant to what I’m about to say. The situations around the world, or just  when I think of where I live (which, for the record, is not the best politically), I’m excited to make the situation better, to help people, and to understand the changes in our world as well. So this is number two, why I’m looking forward to this year now, having graduated, I feel like I can do even more.

So my main goals are to get into a master’s program, to find a job where I can do what I studied for (I mostly want a position at an NGO), and to take care of myself (journal, workout). No shiny new hobbies, just attainable goals and the knowledge that most things that can get better will in their own time. Everything will sort itself out if I feel like just like democracy, life also moves through waves. There are moments when we feel better and moments when we feel worse. But the worst is always followed by the better.

I don’t live in the US, and I know my blog readers (who I appreciate reading 💞) are not many, but I just want to make sure they know where I stand. Unfortunately, the US is going through a worse moment, and I feel it is horrible what is going on there, but just know it will get better; it might become worse first, but it will become better. This goes for Palestine, South Sudan, Ukraine and everywhere else where it is difficult to live at the moment.

Thank you for reading. Wishing you a strong finish to January and positive days ahead.