01/01/2025
It's a new year!
I was reflecting about how I feel about this coming year, and I have to admit there was a lot of heaviness in my reflection. I was pondering what I do with that.
I made myself dwell on some struggles that some people may have, that I don't have.
I know it's ok to feel and process my sadness, but I also know it's important to keep things in perspective and appreciate what I do have.
I decided to write a quick list, not thinking too much about it, filling two columns of A4 lined paper, of different struggles people may have (I'll share it below).
Whilst I could claim having some of these struggles, there's certainly a massive amount I don't have. For that I am grateful.
So, if you, like me, need a bit of help to keep things in perspective this morning, and want to be grateful for not having certain struggles, have a read through my thrown together, incomplete list.
Feel free to add your own too.' I'm grateful I'm not struggling with......... '.
😞Loneliness 😞 Financial problems 😞Bad accommodation 😞Poor health 😞A difficulty in a relationship 😞Loss 😞Not having people to do things with 😞Past trauma 😞Abuse (of any kind) 😞Regret 😞Disappointment 😞Guilt 😞Feeling uncared for/unsupported/unloved 😞Not being able to afford to do the things I want to/need to do 😞Feeling trapped 😞Being unhappy in my job or not having one 😞Broken trust 😞Lack of purpose 😞Things around my sexuality or identity 😞My faith/lack of faith 😞Disability 😞The challenges that come with neuro-divergence 😞Hopelessness 😞Feeling limited 😞Grief 😞Difficult circumstances of any kind 😞Shame 😞Feeling ill equipped 😞Confusion 😞Feeling lost 😞Transport problems 😞Feeling uncertain of who I am 😞Things going wrong/breaking 😞Having no peace 😞Feeling squashed or crushed 😞Things beyond my control 😞Pain (physical, mental and/or emotional) 😞A relationship break-up 😞Rejection or abandonment 😞Having had something stolen 😞Being overwhelmed 😞Crippling anxiety 😞Having to wait 😞Not having something I long for 😞Doubts or questioning things 😞The pain of failure 😞Having put on or lost weight in an unwanted way 😞Being scared 😞Intrusive thoughts 😞Lack of time, space or opportunity 😞Feeling not enough 😞Everything feeling a struggle 😞Being bored 😞Not being able to find joy in things 😞Having missed out on something 😞Uncertainty of a way forward 😞Lack of motivation 😞Having no plans 😞Not feeling accepted/acceptable 😞Feeling stuck 😞Being directionless 😞Poverty 😞Disliking my appearance
That was my 2 columns worth, but more and more keep popping into my mind. The list could be endless I guess.
What a difficult world we live in.
Let's keep being kind and looking after one another.
Let's know we're not alone in our struggle. It may be with different things, but everyone suffers in one way or another.
Let's keep things in perspective and let's be grateful.
May you know strength for this coming year, and many positive things in it to. Whether they just happen or you consciously make them happen, enjoy each good thing, however small.
