I have always liked the old Patti LaBelle song “New Attitude.” I know it’s about love but I think it can be applied to this upcoming year as well. We have a lot of changes on the horizon. Lots of items to be thankful for and excited about and with the incoming regime in Washington, D.C., lots to be apprehensive about as well. Knowing that the future is uncertain, it is important to remember that the future is always uncertain and we actually don’t control as much as we think we do. Keeping that in perspective is helpful for me to stay relatively calm and move forward in a productive manner.
Some of the lyrics that replay in my head: “I’m feelin’ good from my head to my shoes. Know where I’m goin’ and I know what to do. I tidied up my point of view. I got a new attitude. I’m in control, my worries are few…” I know it will be easier said than done on certain days, but I must try to remember that I have been blessed with a new year and a new opportunity to readjust my mindset and my habits. Not only do I have a new year ahead of me, I must remember that each day is a new opportunity to dust myself off and try again.
As I envision what I want my 2025 to look like, I must remember that the more grace and compassion and patience I practice with myself, the better I am at extending it to others. I must also remember that as I get older, I must adjust certain habits and begin to add and subtract certain things from my life such as more time in nature and exercising and possibly a little less time having cocktails. Everything in moderation of course…
What goals have you set for 2025? Are you thinking of finding a new job or starting a new passion project that has been on your mind? Are you planning on traveling more or is this a year to tighten the belt and save money? I am eager to do more journaling and personal writing. I love traveling internationally and want to plan more trips with friends and family. I also need to think about my next big academic writing project and set some goals for myself for the months ahead.
As we think about all of the potential and possibility in the year ahead, we must also remember our neighbors and the well being of the larger community. We must resist the rhetoric that immigrants and our neighbors are the enemy taking resources from us. We must remain vigilant in our desire to do better and be better as individuals and Americans. Happy New Year!
Christina Greer, Ph.D., is an associate professor at Fordham University; author of book “How to Build a Democracy: From Fannie Lou Hamer and Barbara Jordan to Stacey Abrams” and “Black Ethnics: Race, Immigration, and the Pursuit of the American Dream” and is co-host of the podcast FAQ-NYC.