As the year comes to an end, it’s only natural that many of us find ourselves reflecting. This is the time when we think about where we've been, what we've learned, and how we've changed. And just as jasmine flowers bloom at the cusp of the year’s close, we too have our moments of clarity, of blossoming into a more complete version of ourselves.
Reading Kalpesh Desai’s Jasmines in Her Hair, there’s one poem that I believe is very integral to this. In “I Raise My Glass to Another Year”, the poem raises a toast not to grand achievements or fleeting hopes, but to the quiet, often overlooked process of becoming. This transformation, slow and deliberate, is the kind of change that is noticed only when we stop to breathe, to take it in.
I raise my glass to another year,
No flights of fancy, no delusions, no fear.
It takes a moment to recognize that face in
the mirror,
Blurry-eyed, and yet a vision clear.
Graying temples, crowfeet around the eyes,
Weather-beaten hands, tell-tale signs of the
wise.
No longer indestructible in body and soul,
A boy that's turned into a man that's whole.
The end of the year is a reminder that reflection is not always centered on chasing dreams or imagining what could be. It’s also about noticing where you are and who you’ve become. The past year, no matter how much I tried to plan or anticipate, was full of unexpected twists, and looking in the mirror, I can see that I’ve changed. I’m not the person I was last December, and I’m okay with that. Some things are clearer now. The blurry-eyed moments are fewer, and the lessons are slowly but surely sinking in.
Forgiveness comes easy,
I've learnt to let it be.
Determination ingrained, energy a skill,
Have I reached my pinnacle?
I doubt I ever will!
When do we become our “best” selves? Sometimes this pressure mounts up on ourselves, making the weight we carry even heavier. The simple admission of doubting you’ll reach the pinnacle is not of regret but of wisdom. Life is a journey, not a destination. We don’t need all the answers; we just need to be open to learning more and evolving.
I revere those who've held me,
The bonds that tied, and ones I've set free.
I've walked down life's highway,
Made a difference and found my way.
One of the most striking elements of this poem is the emphasis on relationships: “I revere those who've held me, / The bonds that tied, and ones I've set free.” The relationships we form are often the most profound catalysts for our transformation. Whether through love, loss, conflict, or simple companionship, they shape who we are and how we see the world.
The poem also speaks of “walked down life’s highway,” which feels fitting. We all do this, don’t we? We find our way, step by step, sometimes unsure, sometimes sure, but always moving. Looking back, I’m grateful for the roads I’ve traveled, even the ones that were difficult or uncertain. They helped me grow, even if I didn’t fully understand it at the time.
I have my sights on what I'm looking for.
I'll steady my pace; I'll be ready for more.
Grateful to those who put in their lot
To build a life's dream.
A prayer for those who chose to step back,
In the fear that the ship would lose steam.
Growth is both an individual and communal endeavor. We become who we are by drawing strength from the lessons of the past.
Looking back at a past time,
Lives that I have touched, loved, or lost.
Doors once open, now bolted fast,
Or bridges burnt, that I'd once crossed.
Sometimes, I find myself reflecting on those moments in life that felt like crossroads. For how much everything influences our becoming, we, too, influence other people’s journeys. It’s a great reminder of how much bigger we are than we realize.
I've got the sun in my eye, and the wind on
my face,
Every challenge shall be countered,
Every opportunity I shall embrace.
I am now the beacon and the shore,
I've caught my breath, and ready for more!
Every milestone achieved,
will be a goal fulfilled,
Every bridge crossed,
will be one that I will build.
As I raise my glass this year, I’m not just toasting what’s to come. I’m toasting to the quiet transformations that happen day by day, to the person I’ve become, and to the people who have shaped me along the way. Just like jasmine blooms one last time, we bloom too. Here’s to all the changes, the big and small ones, that happen when we’re not even paying attention. Here’s to becoming.