2019 is soon to come to a close, marking the end of the decade. Even though we’re likely to live many more decades in the future, we still try to make each one special. Instead of reflecting on just this year, we’re encouraged to reflect on all of the past years and think about how much we’ve changed. 

It’s a little intimidating, honestly, because you start to realize how much time has passed and how much you’ve grown–physically and mentally–over the years, and it’s a lot of information to process and evaluate. For some people, there’s some good memories to be had despite the ups and downs. Then there’s some people who’ve only had downs with very little ups. 

It’s still the first week of December, so it’s a bit early to discuss this. But with the emphasis of a 2020 being the end of the decade (some people consider 2019 to be the end instead, but that’s besides the point here), you can’t help but give into it and think about the past, as well as how to use your past as guidance for your future. I think that when we implore people to do this, we should consider that not everyone had a spectacular, memorable decade to look back on, and that doesn’t make them a boring person for not wanting to celebrate the occasion like other people.

It’s not as deep as I make it out to be, I know. There’s just that weirdness of wanting to have at least one thing to reflect on, or having at least one resolution for the new year, because everyone else has one and it feels like they expect you to have one. 

We need to remind ourselves that it’s okay if you didn’t have a special decade. 

It’s okay if you simply don’t want to reflect on the past and want to focus on the present and the future. 

Don’t be overwhelmed by something that sounds big, but in the end has very little impact on who you are or who you will be as a person. 

And even if the idea of resolutions is more of your concern rather than the decade ending, the same advice applies. It’s okay if you didn’t do any of the resolutions you came up with last year, or didn’t come up with any for the new year.  

They’re optional little goals for yourself, just another thing you can use to push yourself to work harder or grow as a person. It’s okay if you don’t notice or don’t want to acknowledge a change–just because the year changes doesn’t mean you have to as well. 

Change in a person is something that doesn’t happen instantly.