Happy New Year!

 

As we’ve just entered a new year let me first wish everyone a happy new year!

Ever since my sophomore year of high school teachers have emphasized to me the importance of setting New Year’s resolutions. As a result, I’ve developed a regular habit of drafting a list of goals each January to lay out an annual plan.

Setting New Year’s resolutions can be a daunting task because of the disappointment that comes with realizing you haven’t been able to do everything you originally wanted. But I see it differently. By year’s end, even if I was able to accomplish some of what I hoped to do, I still feel a tremendous sense of delight. Just knowing that I tried to make the most of my time is very rewarding.

Making goals and striving to complete them is important. I’ve heard countless successful people say that having a plan doesn’t guarantee success, but it’s impossible to succeed without a plan.

How does one go about setting goals? Before deciding anything, I think it’s important first to know for yourself what the meaning of life is and to understand what you hope to do with your life. What is meaningful in life and what is worthwhile? Some people try to adopt other people’s definitions and values to gain “success” or “wealth”, but be careful—depending what you adopt, you might find this ends up being a waste of time or even harmful.

Besides knowing what it is that I want to achieve in a new year, I ask for God’s guidance. I believe He knows what is best and most suitable for me, and this step helps me to better understand the real needs and desires of my heart and then to set my goals.

In executing the resolutions, it’s a good idea to accomplish your goals in order of most importance. Work on those things that give the greatest sense of pleasure and would make one’s life more fulfilling. Do first those things that you wouldn’t want to regret.

There have been many rumours and speculation lately that 2012 will be “the end of the world”. Inevitably, during these types of conversations, I hear someone ask, “If this was your last year how would you live it and what would you do?” This question is worth considering now. As for me, I believe that life and time are in God’s hands, and when He’s a part of my life it means I can live each day with faith and hope.

Regardless of whether there’s a next year or not, make this year your best and live life to the fullest.

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English Translation by Haymen Leong  中文原文

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Originally posted on the Amira Culture website

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My other articles on Amira Culture:

大自然的奧妙和啟示 The Wonder and Lessons of Nature

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新的一年來到了,首先祝大家新年快樂!

 

自從中學二年級那年,班主任教導了我們訂立新年大計的重要性後,我便開始每年也會為新的一年,訂下計劃和目標。

到了年終,雖然並不是所有的計劃和目標都可以如願地實現,但也總能夠完成其中的一些,所以始終也是有所收獲的。

聽過不少成功人士說:「有計劃並不一定會成功,但沒有計劃就一定不會成功。」這話甚有道理。

不過在訂立任何計劃之前,我認為首先要為自己的人生下定義。要清楚地知道,到底對自己來說,怎樣的人生才算得上是活得有意義和有價值?若把其他人的人生定義和價值觀套在自己身上,又或者為了成就別人眼中的「成功」和「富有」而去訂立目標的話,結果很可能會徒勞無功,甚至為自己帶來傷害。

此外,我也會禱告,祈求神的指引和帶領,因為我相信祂知道甚麼才是對我最好和最適合我的東西。這使我能夠更清楚地瞭解得到自己心底的真正需要和渴望,讓我可以朝着這個方向,去訂立計劃和目標。

至於在實踐的時候,應該優先地完成那些對自己而言是最重要的事情,也即是那些讓自己的人生不會感到遺憾的事情。

最近在網上看到許多人都在談論和擔心,到底謠傳中的 2012 年世界末日的「預言」會否真的實現。而在這些談論中,常聽見有人問:「如果這是你人生中的最後一年,那麼你將會如何地渡過呢?」這問題值得我們現在去思考。然而,我相信生命和時間都在神的手裡,只要有祂的同在,我們就可以有信心和盼望地去過每一天。

無論還有沒有下一年,今年也要盡情地活得豐盛美滿。

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English Translation by Haymen Leong

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文章收錄於:吳蔚蔚 2015 年 散文集《愛從小事開始》

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原文刊載於 Amira Culture 網站

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其他 Amira Culture 專欄文章:

大自然的奧妙和啟示 The Wonder and Lessons of Nature

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