“I’m grateful that we tried.” – Kate Dibiasky, “Don’t Look Up” (Netflix)

As the final hours of 2021 wind down, the line above has been in my mind the whole day and almost this entire final week. I’ve always said that the holidays are my personal thanksgiving and I usually take time to pause and reflect how I made it to the very last day of the year, and about to start a new one.

That line speaks volumes as the whole world tried to get back on its feet after the debacle that was 2020. Though we’re not out of the woods yet, making it this far was better than most of us had hoped. And that in itself is worth saying that line. And in just hours, we have a blank slate to work with anew.

For me personally, it has been a “balanced” year. Even though my last entry somehow said otherwise, this last few weeks of reflection probably made me realize that with some events, maybe things evened things out. I was able to finally put closure on a very personal “baggage” that I’ve been carrying, and I was also able to reconnect with those who I considered friends, and also made new connections.

But probably what I noticed that every year, there has always been an instance or two when someone just either vanished, disappeared on–or using the more modern term, “ghosted”–me. They probably have their reasons, but that is not enough an excuse for you to suddenly bail out on someone; especially if you consider that person to be a friend or someone you care about.

What I can tell you who’s reading this right now, is that in order for you to earn saying that opening line above, is to make an effort. Yoda’s “do or do not, there is no try” line is not applicable in today’s setting. You make an effort worthy of your parent’s, teacher’s, boss’s, teammate’s, colleague’s, friend’s, or loved one’s respect. Results won’t always be positive or the way it’s supposed to be or how you intended them to be, but to exert that undertaking with maximum effort (as Ryan Reynolds would say), will be enough.

And that is my continuing takeaway as 2022 arrives. Do what has to be done or die trying. Same goes with my relationships with people. Though I’m also thinking of letting go of some who, to put it bluntly, don’t really give a damn. I mean, I continue to treat them how I want to be treated, but all I get is silence. Again, I understand that there probably are reasons, but I can only speculate. The rest is up to them.

Thank you to everyone who was part of my 2021. I’ll thank each of you individually later tonight which means you have made a good impact on me this year. Here’s to efforts fulfilled and wasted, but made nonetheless. And here’s to resetting and starting over again… all at the stroke of midnight.

Happy and safe New Year, everyone.