A Meditation on 2024

Hindsight is powerful. The beautiful thing about hindsight is the opportunity it provides to reflect on how your life unfolded. We, as people, yearn for our future, always asking questions that no one can answer. It is a part of human nature; the balm for current discontent is hope for future happiness. It's like an explorer searching for all the pathways out of a labyrinth. How often does the voyager stop to examine the path he mapped? The clues to the exit can be found on the labyrinth's walls. My goal last year was to pause and search for the clues that life has left for me to discover.

It is said that the average person repeats 90% of their thoughts from their day-to-day life. I view this phenomenon as a tree maturing from seed to adult. I can't distinguish the minute changes in my thought patterns in the moment. Similar to the difficulty in determining a tree’s growth on a day-to-day basis. Unbeknown to us, our thoughts are shaped through routine and constant reminders. It’s only when looking back from a farther point in time that these changes compound enough for us to notice. This realization made me aware of the importance of habits. It takes a conscious effort over a long period for our minds to change.

The human mind also has a limited memory. It’s easy to become stuck in a select few memories. In periods of reflection, I draw upon memories that elect a strong emotional response. It's tempting to live life through these memories. To reminisce about a past vacation or let a failure hold me back from trying again. Through this year’s reflection, I realize that life occurs in the daily and routine. It's about creating a present when you are content enough to never look back at your past with envy. While I found it helpful to learn from my past, I am happier when I am not stuck in the endless loop of reliving memories.

I also look back to see the evolution of the SADD chapter within our school. It grew from a club with no members in its booth during the club fair to an incredibly active club. I am so proud of our members' work to turn the club around. I am excited to see how our club will grow and evolve in the coming years.

I entered this year as uncertain as I entered last year. That uncertainty no longer worries me because I trust that life will chart a course. Hindsight is great for putting events into perspective. The common denominator through the good and bad is to live in the present, remain humble, and follow a daily routine that allows me to improve.

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Looking to set some goals and get your chapter back in action in '25? Check out sadd.org/programs for all the chapter resources you could want OR jump into a MySADD course at sadd.org/courses!