When we thought 2020 was our worst year, 2021 stormed us like a trainwreck —shattering our goals, putting our hopes into jeopardy.

2021 has made us realize plethora of things, actually more than how 2020 did. This year, it furthered our minds into more possibilities of what our lives could become — from best, to worst. We lost a loved one, we had to let go of a dream, and we had to compromise our plans. We witnessed how the pandemic wreaked severe havoc in our country. Most of us were extremely aghast with how our government erroneously handled the pandemic. Hence, causing us more stress and anxiety.

In 2021, we were so busy focusing on surviving that we had already forgotten the good in genuinely falling in love with living. We were so busy catching up with deadlines, we were so busy making our days productive, we were so busy trying to keep ourselves busy.

For some, 2021 can be deeply draining, but they can also be deeply magical. Some might think that this year only caused us to become a lost cause, but 2021 was a preparation to become the better version of ourselves. In 2022, I hope you tell yourself that it’s the perfect year to bounce back and begin to prioritize yourself again.

2022 means another year and another chance to continue pursuing your dreams and things that will provide you happiness and contentment. You owe it to yourself to make it up to you this coming new year. You can never procrastinate with yourself. Don’t let your future self be disappointed by your present self. You have so much potential hidden inside yourself, and you deserve to explore it this coming year.

At the end of the day, you need to do whatever makes you the happiest. Carve out a path for yourself that will lead to the most satisfaction. If you allow your fear to get the best of you and make this year just like the past years where you just let yourself to survive the same old days, you’re never going to forgive yourself. You need to start prioritizing yourself and explore your full potential. You have been giving the same encouragement to your friends, so why aren’t you giving yourself that same push?

In 2022, you have to take the life the past years had stolen from you. In 2022, I hope you realize that you always have a choice. That you can walk away from things that diminish your worth. That you always have the power to end things — when it makes you feel like you are not good enough — when it makes you question your value — when it no longer serves you well.

Don’t feel guilty for cutting toxic people out of your life. Even if you love them and they matter a lot to you, even if you had wonderful times with them in the past, you have to do what’s right for yourself in 2022. Remember, this year, you aim to take your glow back, and staying in the same place where everybody dims your light would not help to better yourself.

Always remember that you are capable of doing greater things. And in 2022, I trust that you keep winning. Keep winning come what may.