It’s that time of year when everyone starts saying, “This year went by so fast.”

So I guess we can all agree that the year goes by quickly. Some people do a lot throughout the year and accomplish much, making it feel like the year went by fast. Then there are those who don’t do much at all and didn’t accomplish as much as they planned, which makes the year feel like it went by fast.

If you’re someone who is active, sets goals, and achieves them, you should be optimistic about a fast year. You know what you can achieve, and you’re excited to get there.

If you’re someone who doesn’t do much at all, a fast year can be discouraging because it reminds you of how little you accomplished in the year.

Ultimately, the best thing about the year going by fast, whether you did a lot or not, is that there’s another year that follows. It’s a fresh start and a chance to conquer the year however you please.

The more you learn, the more you’ll get to know yourself.

There are a lot of unanswered questions we have about ourselves, and sometimes it simply comes down to a lack of knowledge.

Learning about health and nutrition can teach you what your specific body needs. Learning about leadership styles can help you understand what type of leader you are. Learning about psychology can help you understand your own psyche and so on.

Sometimes, I learn something new without intending to learn about myself, but I still gain insights into my own being.

In my 8th-grade science class at a parochial school, we learned that the purpose of science was to better understand God by better understanding God’s creations. The same principle applies to ourselves.

Whether it’s sports, career paths, or life in general, it’s the intangibles that hold the most significance.

Qualities like character, resilience, adaptability, creativity, leadership, and problem-solving abilities are important intangibles when discussing personal or professional development.

We often overlook these things.

Being physically gifted only gets you halfway to becoming a professional athlete, if even that. The same applies to other areas of life as well. When we see someone successful in their particular field, know that they possess many intangibles that brought them there.

So, don’t get too caught up in all the measurable things in life. Ensure you are well-rounded and continuously work on improving every aspect.

Truth is, you may always have that monkey on your back.

It’s about getting stronger, so you can bear the monkey on your back more easily. It’s about knowing your triggers, recognizing when you may be in a weak moment, and finding things that will help combat your cravings, addictions, and proclivities.

The monkey on your back only wants you to think in the moment. Think a few steps into the future. How will this next move affect you in the future? What decision will make you the happiest in the long run? What would your future self want you to do in the current moment?

Remember that the monkey is on your back; you’re not on the monkey’s back. That means you have the ultimate power.

We have dominion over everything. Make sure you use that power. Don’t let that monkey on your back have the power. Let it stay on your back and show it who’s really in control.

“Show, don’t tell”

It’s a storytelling principle that means a writer should use actions, dialogue, and sensory details to let the audience experience the story instead of just stating information.

When we show a story instead of telling it, it makes the audience feel involved and helps them understand and remember it better.

The same applies to life – we should show, not tell.

Instead of just talking about our values, beliefs, or intentions, we can demonstrate them through our actions, behavior, and choices, allowing others to experience and understand who we are.

Nobody wants to hear about what you plan to do or want to do. Show, don’t tell.

Every day, I look at my baby, and I’m amazed at how much she’s growing and learning.

I’m always eager to introduce her to something new and teach her valuable skills. She’s acquiring new words, learning how to roll over, crawl, and walk—everything.

This leads me to reflect on everyone’s journey. Everything we do is learned. If you’re reading this right now, you learned how to read. If you understand the message I’m conveying, you have developed comprehension.

Our morals, values, and even religious beliefs are all learned. Even our negative behaviors or mindsets are learned.

The crucial thing is to never cease learning. We are all beginners in some aspects of life. There is no limit to what we can learn, and like babies, the more we learn, the better off we will be.

Babies are granted grace when it comes to learning. A baby may not start crawling at eight months, but with time, they may crawl at ten months. We should extend this same grace to ourselves and others.

I don’t mean tolerating non-negotiable things, but rather treating ourselves and others with the same love and patience we show babies. We should purposefully make daily efforts to learn something.

In high school, we learn about six to seven subjects a day, and that doesn’t have to stop. The beauty of learning is that we can even relearn things.

So, find an area where you feel like a novice and continue to learn and develop in that field.