As the year comes to an end and a new one begins, I find myself doing a lot of thinking, not the loud kind of thinking where you announce things or make dramatic decisions, but the quiet type that happens when you are alone and replaying moments in your head, The truth is, growing into a new year makes you reflect on the people around you and how they make you feel. And yes, if I’m being honest with myself, there are people I know I cannot carry into the new year the same way I used to.
This doesn’t come from a place of anger or hatred, I am not mad at anyone, I have just come to understand that not everyone who starts the journey with you is meant to finish it with you, some people were good for who I was then, but they don’t really align with who I am trying to become now, and that realization alone is heavy, because letting go is never easy, especially when you have shared laughs, secrets, and memories.
There are people who drain your energy without even trying, you talk to them and instead of feeling lighter, you feel tired. Conversations always revolve around complaints, excuses, gossip, or negativity, at some point, I noticed that after interacting with certain people, my mood would change for no good reason, I would start doubting myself, my plans, or even my progress, that is when it hit me that peace is too expensive to be traded for familiarity.
So yes, this new year, I will be distancing myself from some people, not cutting them off dramatically, not blocking or fighting, just reducing access, sometimes the healthiest thing you can do is step back quietly, everyone does not deserve full access to your thoughts, your plans, or your energy, I am learning that boundaries are not wicked, they are necessary.
At the same time, I do believe I need a different circle going forward, a circle that understands growth, responsibility, and accountability, people who don’t mock your dreams or make you feel like you are doing too much just because you are trying to do better, I want to be around people who talk about ideas, progress, and solutions, not just problems, people who will push me when I feel tired, and remind me of who I said I wanted to become.
Changing your network doesn’t mean you are proud or ungrateful. It simply means you are intentional, your environment plays a huge role in your mindset, the things you hear constantly eventually shape how you think, if you are always around people who settle, complain, or give up easily, it becomes normal, but when you are around people who are intentional, disciplined, and focused, it pushes you to do more with your life.
I’m entering this new year with a clearer mindset, I know what I want, and I know what I don’t want anymore, I want peace, I want growth, I want progress, even if it is slow, I want people around me who understand that life is not always easy, but still choose to show up and try.
So yes, there are people I’m letting go of, and yes, I am open to new connections, not just any connections, but meaningful ones, the kind that add value, not stress, the new year is not about having many people around, it is about having the right ones, and for me, that change of network is not just good, it is necessary.
Image Is Mine
