Reflections from the young on what it takes to be happy

By Isabel Lerma

As I lingered in the post-Christmas calm after the holiday rush, the days seemed to blur into one. All that was seemingly left to do was to make the most out of what was left and count down to a brand-new year. During those moments, we often catch ourselves in a state of both reflection and anticipation and, no matter how the past year had unraveled for each of us, it seems that it is simply human behavior to look at what’s to come with blind optimism. After all, this season tends to ignite within us warm feelings of hope and so with a sigh of gratitude begins my recount of how 2021 turned out for me.

If I’m to be honest, I went through a phase of unwavering fear and anxiety that I was aging way too quickly during the height of the pandemic. It felt as though life was just passing me by and that I was missing out on my “best years,” as they call it, being stuck at home day in and day out. I recall frantically messaging my friends claiming, melodramatically, that I was getting old and that I missed “being young.” Silly especially because I was (and still am) only 22. But in my defense, I am certain that a lot of people had the same thought as well no matter what stage of life they are in. I guess it was just a side effect of being in quarantine—it makes you a little crazy.

This unpleasant feeling, consequently, has helped me gain a better understanding of what matters to me. This varies from person to person, but I believe that people generally just want to experience life to the fullest. Regardless of the circumstances, we all just want to grasp what it truly means to be alive. I—and I am sure most of us—have learned that the key to achieving this is to live not despite, but because of what is.

I now feel rejuvenated knowing that life has only just begun and that it always can as long as you allow it… Understanding that everything is as it should be and accepting that is unraveling the secret to happiness.

Now looking onto 2022 with a fresh set of eyes, all I desire is to be content. What a cliché, I know, but it has taken me years and years to comprehend that I can be at absolute peace with everything I already have. If I had to name only one resolution for the new year, it would be to let go. What I mean by this is I want to begin striving for success but with no expectations, having fun doing what I love without obsessing over the outcome, and even just being a decent person for nothing in exchange. Letting go is finding your bliss, even in what might feel like an eternity of having to disconnect from the world you once knew.

To most, a new year is synonymous with a fresh start and more room for greater opportunities. I might just be riding the holiday high but I feel like a little kid again, ecstatic to know there is so much in store for me peeking right behind the horizon. Though I may have once felt as if my soul was disintegrating, leaving a mere shell of who I was, I now feel rejuvenated knowing that life has only just begun and that it always can as long as you allow it. Moreover, no matter how young or old you are, what you have, and what you’ve lost, understanding that everything is as it should be and accepting that is unraveling the secret to happiness. After all, our emotions come from how we choose to respond to the situations we encounter.

So, with a light heart I say: Cheers to 2022! To commemorate the start of a new year, I curated a playlist of songs to help lift your spirits as we embark on yet another journey around the sun.

Welcome to your life, there’s no turning back.