Another year comes to a close. Another reminder that time truly flies by; good times come to an end, and so do bad times.
This year, I turned 20. It marked the end of my age starting with the digit “1”. Most of my memories were formed during those ages, and so were most of my lessons learnt. This year, I have many things to be thankful for.
This year, I’m thankful for the opportunity to represent my university in a sport I loved since I was 4. I’m thankful that we made it to third place, one position up from last year.
I’m thankful for my roommate, my Best Friend. I’m thankful for all the goofing around in the room, and thankful for all the support rendered when I was in despair. I’m thankful for my classmates, my lunch buddies, people who took classes with me and who helped me when I was confused with work. In University, one thing I quickly learnt was that people come and ago all the time. There’s no fixed group of people, and it’s your own duty to find your friends. I’m thankful for these friends who have supported me along the way.
I’m thankful for finding a work opportunity during school term to have extra cash to spend. When money is tight, a spare $200 a month can really help a lot for a poor student. I’m thankful for nice supervisors, such that I’m able to continue the same work in the next year because I have been re-hired.
I’m thankful for all the random people I’ve encountered who have touched my heart in one way or another; the boy with an amazing talent to speak, the girl who struck a conversation with me just because she knew my Best Friend, the supervisor who talked TOO MUCH but is a joy as a supervisor nonetheless.
This year I have celebrated an amazing GPA for my standards, and I have despaired over my struggles to love myself and those around me well. I have learnt that love is patient and love is kind, and love is not manipulative. I have had a taste of what true love should feel like, and I have had a taste of God’s saving grace when I thought I was done for. I have had a taste of pure kindness, pure sincerity, and warmth from total strangers.
This year, I have reached out to some I have not reached out to for a long time. I am reminded that everyone crosses your life for a purpose. I am learning to appreciate good memories, but not be crippled by the loss of them. I am learning to love myself, so that one day I can truly love someone else. I am learning to not be envious of something that others have, but to appreciate what I do have and to work towards the things that I want.
This year, my heart has soared, been broken, and saved again. I have regained a faith that I thought I lost a few years ago, and this faith is only growing stronger by day. And in this faith, I know that every following day will be a brighter day. I know that challenges will come, and that I will be strong enough to overcome these challenges. I know that I will be watched over and cared for, and I know through it all I will find Eudaimonia.
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