Most important day of a year, Mt. Seung-ma, South Korea, December 31, 2020

Most important day of a year

In many countries, I know that December 31st is not a holiday, but New Year’s day is. I haven’t felt too natural about this for years, but now I know for sure that the last day of a year matters much more to me than a New Year’s Day.

Meeting a new friend can be exciting, especially with hopes of building a great relationship together. Yet I feel that properly saying goodbye to an old one is something I want to do first and better. Remembering the good times and also embracing the tough memories is a way to remind me that I HAD a life to live, which is something I always want to be grateful for.

In my country, I believe more people go see the first sunrise of the new year than those who catch the last sunset. But I definitely belong to the latter group, and I am happy to make this my annual tradition. I like the way looking at the setting sun makes me feel about the last moment of the year.

2020 was not a particularly easy one for me. By popular standards, I’ve failed multiple times in a row, which ironically gave me the strength to plan my life around the values I do care about, not around those that the external world seemingly expects of me. Living with family was also very special, knowing that this is most likely the last time we spend an extended period of time together. Finally, discovering how much I need dancing deserves mention. As an ‘animal’, being attentive to what my body needs is something I will make sure to incorporate into the daily routine.

@ Mt. Seung-ma, South Korea, December 31, 2020