new year, new me?

on curating a vision board for 2025, the art of detachment and habit making for new years

It’s a recurring thing, a sentiment I often express to my friends. I am a firm believer in a new canvas, a fresh start every January the 1st. “I’m going to finally get my license” I assured my mother while spreading buttercream on the celebratory cake. Fireworks screech outside the balcony of our Islamabad home. She scoffs.

Ambition is at the very crux of who I am as a person; there is so much I want to achieve (prime minister by 50, for instance) but so little time. Each year, I pour a cream drenched mug of hot chocolate and start frantically saving every pin to my personalised vision board. I tell the whole world that this is the year I finally lose weight. Instead, it fluctuates. I find myself constantly taking note of the lack of ambitions coming true. “I just know Rand,” I told my best friend wistfully last December. “This is the year I’ll find my soulmate.” Instead I babysat a man-child for five months and was convinced he’d be my naseeb¹. Side note: God SWT saved me there.

Upon entering my twenties, a decade I controversially love, I found myself becoming increasingly careless and uninterested. I am detached with goals I had once obsessed over. I no longer know what career path I should pursue. I am extremely repulsed with most men my age, especially those at my university (they are all the same, i truly do not care). Most of all, I am satisfied with allowing things to play out as they are supposed to. If something happens, it happens. And if it doesn’t, there is always a reason.

This year, I have carefully curated my vision board as per tradition. Some things never change. I am hopeful that things will pan out in my favour. Perhaps even excited.

The idea I seek to emphasise here is that sometimes, detachment is the best way forward. If you don’t overly obsess over certain goals and avoid assuming absolutely everything is a freaking sign, chances are you’ll actually achieve every resolution. Things don’t always play out in grayscale, rather they tend to manifest in technicolour. There are so many ways in which your dreams can emerge. Most of the time, they occur when you least expect them.

Before 2025, here’s what you’ll do:

1. Obtain the drink of your choice. Scalding cocoa with a generous dollop of fresh cream is always the best during the winter season.

2. Curate your own vision board for 2025. Time to make a Pinterest account, or maybe you’d prefer physically gluing images onto canvas.

3. Assure yourself that you’ll get everything you want if it is good for you. Shut your eyes now…

4. Master the art of detachment. You’ve done everything you need to do and now forget. It’ll happen on its own.

a glimpse into my vision board for 2025

While the start of the calendar marks a fresh start and a new beginning, change is always possible before. Allow ambitions on your board to manifest at their own pace, it doesn’t concern you. But begin change earlier, whether through integrating small habits (i.e. gua sha daily before you sleep) into your routine or forcing your arse onto the Stairmaster at 6am. A single day on the Gregorian calendar should never dictate your lifestyle.

I am hopeful for 2025. Perhaps this is the year I achieve my desired body type. Or maybe I’ll have a glistening marquise cut ring. There could be pain and trauma and heartbreak, but they happened for a reason. I must learn to grow. 2025 is another year of navigating my twenties while ignoring the temptation to masseter botox. I’ll make friends and lose a few. I can already see me strutting with my VS tote at the airport, excited to celebrate my twenty first in the city of love. Nevertheless, I detach. I will let things play out as they must.

A sweet and short post dwelling on the impending new year and the art of detachment. You’ll see me soon, I promise.

— yours truly,

the fig tree :)

1. concept of soulmate in islam. if you are destined for love, your name is written next to someone around 50,000 years before the creation of the universe.