2021 is a year to be remembered and treasured. While there are many events on the world stage that warrant attention, personally, I am filled with gratitude as I look back on 2021. There were life events that I could have never predicted, and miracle is the only word that I can think of to make sense of them. (No, I did not win the lottery)
For many, similar events might be explained by dedication, perseverance, grit and hard work. While those attributes helped, there are so many more things that are beyond our finite control, and there are far more events that cannot be explained by causality.
There’s also the frame of reference or the lens where we make sense of the world around us. Do we adapt a growth mindset or a fixed mindset? Do we see opportunities or challenges in situations? What frames do we have at our disposal, and what frames do we want to add to our toolkit as we progress linearly on the time axis? In the same way that special relativity provides a frame to think about objects travelling at the speed of light, there could be different frames that are better suited for different situations.
It is the assimilation of diverse opinions and the collision of different ideas that help us thrive as a society. Similarly, the adoption of different frames, being empathetic to the needs of others will help us understand what is required of us. More often that not, I find that we are all looking for the same things.
For 2022, I strive to become a better person by being more empathetic, and to continue savouring the little things in life that spark joy. Perhaps the miracles have always been there, but it takes a certain frame to see it.
Additional resources:
Siang Khor 