“No one who conjures up the most evil of those half-tamed demons that inhabit the human breast, and seeks to wrestle with them, can expect to come through the struggle unscathed.” — Sigmund Freud
We are harder on ourselves than anyone else whether that be family, friends, or enemies and maybe that is just part of human nature. When we hear things being said either to us or about us, we immediately go into this mode of what we could have done different to avoid it. And sometimes the answer is actually nothing. Maybe it was the individual’s own internal battle or shortcoming that forced them to say what they did. However, if we start sitting and analyzing the words and the situation, very rarely does that thought surface itself – maybe it wasn’t me. And maybe that is just what Freud meant when he said the quote above. Sometimes you should just let things go and not wrestle with the words that were said internally – all you will do is cause harm to yourself and it will probably turn out that what was said had nothing to do with you at all.
If there is one New Years’ resolution you should make, it should be to judge yourself by your own standards and ignore anything said to you by those around you. You are the only one that knows the paths you have walked to get where you are in life and your motives behind each and every action you took and word you said. The same holds true to everyone else. Not only is it important to judge yourself by your own standards, it is equally important not to judge anyone else for their words or actions. Because just like you are the only one that knows your own struggles in life that may have been the cause of your action, the other individual had their own rocky roads that led them to say or do the things they are doing.
December is a great time to self-reflect and see what you would want to improve upon yourself. However, make sure your resolutions are truly coming from your heart as things you want to improve about yourself and not things that others want to change about you. Those that love you will love and understand all of you – the good, the bad, and the ugly. And those that do not, there is no amount of change you can bring about that will cause them to love you because they are fighting their own demons, not you.
2016 was a spectacular year! And, we are eternally grateful for all the support the community has given us with Asia Today and our annual Diwali Mela. As we step into 2017, we are excited about bringing some new changes. Asia Today Arizona’s website has a new face – a complete redesign which will enable us to take website advertising, as well as the ability to flip the digital PDF on your laptops, tablets, or mobile devices. The print edition will continue for those that prefer the feel of a newspaper in their hands but we hope to attract a wider audience with the digital changes.
Thank you for your continued support. Wishing everyone a safe holiday season and a very Happy New Year!
