As 2025 rolls around, I’m reminded of the yearly practice of making resolutions—a chance to look ahead, rethink, and organise. However, this year, instead of focusing on being a “new me,” I’m accepting the “same me” with affection and kindness. Rather than trying for reinvention, my 2025 goal is to reclaim. I’ve decided to make room for every aspect of myself—the resilient, the fragile, the joyous, and the painful. At the centre of this commitment is a thought: The Gratitude Box. It’s basic yet substantial: a box to save acts of thankfulness, both big and little, over the year. Each message will reflect an aspect of me that I appreciate and hope to keep in my life.
Healing through appreciation
Throughout years, I’ve tried to discard aspects of myself that I believed were blemished—whether they were blunders, worries, or instances of insecurity. But this year, I’ve decided to acknowledge those parts instead. Whenever I overcome a problem, I’ll put a message in my Gratitude Box to eemphasisethe learning from that event. If I fail, I’ll reassure myself that every mistake is a window for improvement. If I am unhappy, I will express my state of mind as an affirmation of my ability to feel sincerely.
How the gratitude box will guide me
- Designing the Box: It will be a unique container, painted with vivid hues and inspirational words that reflect my life. “Even an ordinary thing can be extraordinary” will be written on the cover encouraging me to discover amazement in the mundane.
- Daily Observations: Every evening, I’ll dedicate an hour or two to catch up on my day. Have I surmounted a hurdle? Did I exchange a nice word with an older person? Did I show myself the kindness I deserved? It does not have to be something iincredible;just a brief note—no matter how trivial—will be placed in the box.
- Integrating Imperfection: The box will contain thankfulness, not only for my accomplishments but also for my trials. Appreciation for the bravery to keep progressing, for my family and friends who encourage me that I am not weak, and for the courage I discover in times of helplessness.
- A rejoice of wholeness: At the end of the year, I will open the box and read each note. They’ll convey a tale together—an account of a year spent wholeheartedly, of transformation that didn’t force me to abandon any aspect of myself.
A journey of self-Love
The Gratitude Box is more than simply a resolution; it’s an affectionate indication that healing is about choosing to embrace sorrow carefully, like a precious thread sewn into the fabric of my life. By the end of the year, I wish to have a box full of memories that have provided joy, sobs, development, and healing. Above all else, I wish to develop a stronger relationship with all aspects of myself—the brightness, the shadows, and everything in between. So, as 2025 sets in, I’m purely pledging to be myself, full of tenderness, kindness, and an open heart.
Here’s to a year of thankfulness and wholeness, one message at a time.
Your Chance
As you explore your promises, ask yourself: What might it imply to integrate all aspects of yourself with kindness into the new year? Maybe like me, you’ll discover that your biggest transforming resolutions are ones based on kindness—for yourself and others.