Stepping Into 2026 With Hope and Courage

I definitely feel like 2026 is going to be a very different year for me and in a good way, in an amazing way, because it marks my journey in a new country, learning new things, making my way in life, pursuing something that I really love. And I really do believe that it's going to be great.

So I moved to Germany from India two months back, and I'm just trying to have a careful balance between excitement and responsibilities. Traveling, exploring new places, meeting amazing new people. Along with juggling my university work, household chores and the learning the basic requirements of living in a new country. Not gonna lie, I've been having a lot of fun, and I see a lot more of it coming next year.

Of course, it is going to be challenging since I'm pursuing my master's. There will be workload, long study hours and a difficult schedule. Not just that, I'm also getting adjusted to a new routine, a new way of life, and mainly, a new climate. The cold itself feels like a test sometimes. I know there will be bad days but there will also be good days. And I'm hoping that the good moments will outweigh the bad ones.

It definitely is going to be a scary year because I have taken a big leap of faith of going to a new country and doing my own thing. And there are many people who have supported me in this. My parents who have poured their efforts to make it possible for me to be here. And it definitely scares me that I will disappointment them if I fail. Failure, of course, is always scary. To anyone. But the stakes have never been so high for me. So failure right now is surely not an option. And I'm certainly scared about that, but I'm also excited to challenge myself to grow and to make them happy. Like, I could worry about disappointing them, but on the flip side, I can imagine their happiness when I actually succeed. And that will be awesome.

One big change that I've definitely noticed in myself, emotionally, is that I have become very closed off to people. Very closed off to forming deep friendships. And, I think the reason behind that is adult friendships are really hard. When you're in the same city, and you see each other every day, its all great. But then you move away, and you drift apart. I just had lost sight of the reason of why it was even important make friends anymore. But I think, I will try to change that mindset this year, and be open to newer connections, better friendships, and yeah, I'm excited to see if I can find more people who add to my inner circle.

One thing that I need to start, is taking more care of my health. First step being exercising. I have never really been a person who exercises. There was a time during lockdown when I had become obsessed with exercising. I used to exercise a lot. I used to do it daily, without fail, and I truly liked it. It kept me alive during those few depressing months. But then as I got back into my daily routine, and the world opened up, and I just gave up. The exercise lifestyle was completely left behind, and this year I feel like I need to start with it. I feel like I really do. Because taking care of my health is also really important since I'm alone in a new country, and I cannot afford to be sick. And I would rather exercise and be tired every day than run towards hospitals. So definitely that.

One thing that I'm going to stop doing is procrastinating and putting things off till the last moment. Because I have this incredible opportunity, and I do not want anything, any little thing to jeopardize that. So I'm not going to procrastinate. I'm going to do everything that needs to be done, take care of everything, and give my best.

2026 is not just another year. It is a promise to myself. To grow, to try, and to become someone I am proud of!