New year, same old happiness

The start of the new year was unspectacular and tranquil, which was exactly what I was looking for in these troubled times.

I sometimes wonder whether it’s the times we live in or my advancing age that leaves me a little disillusioned about the new year. I’m starting 2024 with no particular expectations or resolutions, which doesn’t mean I’m hopeless. On the contrary. Firstly, I have to say that I am now living a life in which I have largely realized myself and secondly, that I am constantly looking at where there is potential for optimization, where something is bothering me, where something is somehow wrong with my feelings. And then I take action to eliminate the problems.

366 gifts in 2024

I don’t have to wait for the new year to do so. Every day is there to make a change. Nevertheless, it was a nice feeling to unpack the new calendar and replace the last remaining page of the old one. 366 days to live, to love, to be happy. Even if you don’t realize it in the end, every day holds something special to discover and is worth getting up for and looking forward to. And every day is a gift that we are unfortunately not always aware of.

Starting physically active

I started the new week and the new year with thoughts like these. This year, both, the beginning of the week and the beginning of the year coincided. Also something small to be delighted about, even though it has no relevance. Otherwise, this week wasn’t much different to the last few weeks of last year. The weather continued to be gray, often wet, with a few sporadic sunny moments. For a moment, I had the feeling that I had seen it all and there were few times when I felt the need to pull out my phone to take a photo.

Nevertheless, I was outside a lot, whether on longer walks or on my jogging rounds, which I also did regularly this week. In between, there were days with workouts and one visit to the sauna to relax, heat up and recharge my batteries. It feels also amazing to swim naked on a cool day in a warm outdoor pool full of salt water, while clouds of steam rise from the water and envelop you.

The days were also filled with many encounters. Hours spent together with long-time friends. Eating, drinking, laughing, playing boardgames and talking together: The small, big moments of happiness.

A highlight at the end

Finally, towards the end of the week, I found time to realize a painting that I had been developing for a few days. If I have made an unofficial resolution, it is to give more weight to artistic work in the future. Because nothing makes me happier and fills me with such satisfaction and positivity as standing at my work table in the studio, mixing colors, painting surfaces and engaging in the creative process of painting. 

I wish everyone a wonderful new year. 365 plus 1 days filled with health, contentment, confidence and creativity. …and the awareness that it is in our hands what we make of our lives.

Matthias

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