Seems the year is quickly winding towards 2027. It can be hard enough to contemplate the coming week, let alone the coming year ahead.
I'm not suggesting we get into New Year's resolutions. It's not about claiming big goals and performance promises, so much as about giving yourself a moment to take stock. To look out at the landscape on behalf of 'Future' you.
I don't mean Perfect you, Utopia you, Success-story you... I mean just good ol' you in the future, who'll benefit and learn from the insights and decisions you make day by day. There are lots of small, meaningful ways that Current you can take care of Future you.
For me, that little act was making eye contact. For most of my life, I did a very typical city thing of deliberately avoiding eye contact with passers-by. I was raised to keep my guard up around strangers, and besides, I was introverted.
During Covid, I took a lot of neighbourhood solo walks to stay active and sane. At some point, without a goal or plan, I took it upon myself to meet eyes with people I passed.
It took a lot of effort in the beginning. I started with brief glances, and I didn't succeed every time. Unlearning a behaviour since childhood was about as awkward as you can imagine. But over time, I added a smile. Then people would say "Hi", so I started responding in kind. Now, sometimes, I'll even initiate the "Hi"s.
It's so natural to me now that I can hardly believe I had a lifelong aversion to it. Initially, I think I did this out of a need to be seen. But unexpectedly, it helped me see my neighbours. This made my street feel more open, friendly and safe, even though nothing had changed on the street. It was just me. I marvel at how long I'd let myself feel closed off and anxious about it.
If you feel like life got away from you this year, that life was happening to you rather than through you, not to worry. 'Future' you's life doesn't depend on epic quests to be meaningful; it benefits from the smallest of acts, even if we're not sure where they'll lead.