2016, and everything in between

I had a blast last year in 2015, facing life with ups and downs, tears and happiness — Everything came out in the same year, and I was glad it all happened. I’m very much hoping that 2016 will be the year of awesomeness, the year where I have been expected myself to be. The year of when I’m finally reaching my goal and making myself proud that all of my efforts will be appreciated. 2016 will be the year of my life. I’m young, and I mean — I’m still very young at the age of 22, and will be 23 in a month, I’ve got many things to do and explore. So much stuff I need to chase on and sometimes I’m afraid if I will be too late on catching up things that everyone already knows about. I learned so many things in 2015, and I was very thankful for it. For the first time ever, I have never felt really happy with myself that I begin to think more positively about life and its outcome. I feel more confident that everything I’ve been through is a lesson to be learned, not to be regretted.

I’m a big fan of Coldplay. I listen to their songs a lot daily and I have watched their live concerts a few times. I always feel their music moves me in a way of changing my personality and my life. Chris Martin, the Coldplay frontman, released an album ‘A Head Full of Dreams’ last December and I thought, at first, I did not quite like the songs, they sounded terrible. But after I got myself on repeat, I started to get addicted — and the songs are not really that bad! There’s this one song, well not exactly a song, it’s a poem that comes with a melody in it and it’s called Kaleidoscope. The poem that’s brought in this song has changed my life forever —Yes, I really mean it.

The poem is called ‘The Guest House’ by Jalaluddin Rumi.

“This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
As an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.”

I’m forever grateful this poem exists. It shapes me to think that everyone has different personalities, stories, thoughts that I may never know. It moves me in a way that I better not judge people by its cover, assume that everyone is kind and will be meaningful to me. This poem allows me to think about how people are so interesting. Being open with someone I can never say it’s an easy thing to do. It’s one of the things I have been struggling with, but when I allow myself to listen more to people, the more I appreciate them as a person.

2015, thank you for all the great memories. And 2016, let the new journey begin!