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# Entering the New Year #

By on • ( 54 )

This poem reflects a quiet, honest transition into a new year—acknowledging scars, gratitude, and growth.

It honors survival without glorifying pain, and hope without denying hardship, embracing the courage it takes to continue with an open heart.

# Entering the New Year 2026 #

I arrive at the new year
carrying less fear
and more truth.

The year behind me
left its marks—
on my skin,
in my thoughts,
in the way I now pause
before I trust.

Yes, the oldest thing I wear
is my skin.
And the scars on my face
are signatures of survival.

They say:
I was here.
I endured.
I did not disappear.

Some days taught me joy.
Some taught me patience.
Some taught me how to stand
even when I felt unfinished.

Through it all,
there were people,
there was kindness,
there were shared moments
that carried me farther
than my strength alone could go.

So I step forward—
not unmarked,
not unbroken,
but deeply grateful.

I do not ask the new year
to be easy.
I only ask it
to be honest,
and to let me keep going.

With my scars.
With my hope.
With my heart still open
enough
to begin again.

# Happy New Year #

(Vijay Verma)
 www.retiredkalam.com

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54 replies

  1. sudha verma's avatar
    sudha verma
    January 1, 2026 • 7:41 am

    Happy new year .

    Liked by 2 people

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  3. SRIKANTH's avatar
    SRIKANTH
    January 1, 2026 • 8:25 am

    This is a beautiful and profound reflection for the new year, Verma ji. The poem captures the essence of authentic growth—not as a forgetting of the past, but as a conscious carrying forward of its lessons and marks. The lines about scars being “signatures of survival” are especially powerful; they reframe our vulnerabilities as testaments to our strength.

    What I admire most is the balance it strikes—there is no naive optimism, but a quiet, resilient hope. It honors the kindness of others, the grace in shared moments, and the courage it takes to step forward with an open heart, even when it bears the weight of experience.

    Thank you for sharing this thoughtful piece. It sets a sincere and meaningful tone for the year ahead. May 2026 be honest, deep, and kind to you.

    Happy New Year, Verma ji.🌷🤝🙏🏼

    Liked by 2 people

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    • vermavkv's avatar
      vermavkv
      January 1, 2026 • 9:49 am

      Thank you so much for reading so deeply and for sharing such a thoughtful response. Your words truly touched me. I’m grateful that the reflection resonated with you in the way it did—especially the idea of carrying our experiences forward with awareness rather than erasing them.

      Your kindness, insight, and generosity of spirit mean a great deal. May 2026 indeed be honest, deep, and gentle with us both, and may it offer many moments of shared understanding and quiet strength.

      Wishing you a very Happy New Year as well. 🌷🤝🙏

      Liked by 1 person

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  4. Vijay Srivastava's avatar
    Vijay Srivastava
    January 1, 2026 • 9:58 am

    Heartfelt thanks.
    The warmth of your good wishes has truly touched my heart.
    May the year 2026 bring health, peace, harmony, and the light of meaningful actions into all our lives.
    May this year be filled with new possibilities, deeper awareness, and inner joy
    this is my sincere prayer and शुभकामना.
    – Vijay Srivastava

    Liked by 2 people

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    • vermavkv's avatar
      vermavkv
      January 1, 2026 • 10:00 am

      Thank you so much for your heartfelt message, Vijay ji. Your words radiate warmth and sincerity, and they are truly appreciated. May 2026 return all your शुभकामना manifold—bringing you good health, inner peace, harmony, and the quiet joy of meaningful actions. Wishing you a year filled with awareness, purpose, and gentle blessings. 🙏✨

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      • Vijay Srivastava's avatar
        Vijay Srivastava
        January 1, 2026 • 10:22 am

        आज सिद्धबलली धाम, पौड़ी गढ़वाल की पावन यात्रा पर हूँ।
        साधना और मौन के इन क्षणों में शब्द विराम पर हैं,
        इसलिए आज उत्तर न दे पाऊँगा।
        आप सभी को नववर्ष की हार्दिक शुभकामनाएँ।
        आपकी सद्भावना सदा साथ है। 🙏

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        • vermavkv's avatar
          vermavkv
          January 1, 2026 • 2:45 pm

          आदरणीय,
          आपकी यह पावन यात्रा और साधना के क्षण अत्यंत सुखद एवं प्रेरणादायक हैं। सिद्धबलली धाम की ऊर्जा आपको शांति, शक्ति और स्पष्टता प्रदान करे—यही कामना है।
          मौन में भी आपकी सद्भावना स्पष्ट रूप से महसूस होती है।
          आपको भी नववर्ष की हार्दिक शुभकामनाएँ। यह वर्ष स्वास्थ्य, संतुलन और आंतरिक प्रकाश से परिपूर्ण हो। 🙏

          Liked by 1 person

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  5. Expansão e Percepção's avatar
    Expansão e Percepção
    January 1, 2026 • 10:24 am

    Encouraging and admired! 🙂🙏🏻
    There is so much strength in this serene and truthful writing. You transform experience into presence, and vulnerability into courage to continue. Thank you for sharing such a human perspective on moving forward. May 2026 be honest, as you ask, and generous as well. Happy New Year!🙂🙏🏻🥂🎆

    Liked by 2 people

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  6. Sadje/ Sadie's avatar
    Sadje
    January 1, 2026 • 10:56 am

    Best wishes to you for this new year Vijay

    Liked by 2 people

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    • vermavkv's avatar
      vermavkv
      January 1, 2026 • 2:27 pm

      Thank you so much! 😊
      Wishing you a very Happy New Year as well. May the year ahead bring you good health, peace of mind, and many moments of joy and inspiration. Looking forward to sharing more thoughts and conversations in the days to come. 🌟

      Liked by 1 person

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    • vermavkv's avatar
      vermavkv
      January 1, 2026 • 2:28 pm

      Thank you so much! 😊
      Wishing you a very Happy New Year as well.
      May the year ahead bring you good health, peace of mind, and many moments of joy and inspiration.
      Looking forward to sharing more thoughts and conversations in the days to come. 🌟

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      Reply ↓
  9. Preeti Kumar's avatar
    Preeti Kumar
    January 1, 2026 • 2:46 pm

    Happy new year to and your family 🎊

    Liked by 1 person

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  10. luisa zambrotta's avatar
    luisa zambrotta
    January 1, 2026 • 7:15 pm

    Warmest wishes for a wonderful year ahead!🎉

    Liked by 1 person

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  11. Jenn's avatar
    Jenn
    January 2, 2026 • 3:39 am

    I like this poem. 👏🏾✨️ The parts that resonated with me the most are “the oldest thing I wear is my skin” and asking the new year “to be honest and to let me keep going.”

    I never looked at my skin that way before — it is the oldest thing I wear. How true!

    And to ask the New Year to be honest and let you keep going is profound and humble at the same time. You’re not asking for riches or material possessions. Instead, you humbly ask for a chance to keep moving forward and live your best life. Very inspiring reflection on 2026!

    Liked by 1 person

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    • vermavkv's avatar
      vermavkv
      January 2, 2026 • 6:52 am

      Thank you for such a beautiful and thoughtful reflection. I love how you lingered with those lines and really let them open up—the idea of skin as the oldest thing we wear carries so much quiet truth, and once you see it that way, it’s hard to unsee.

      Your reading of the New Year request is especially moving. Asking simply for honesty and the grace to keep going feels both grounded and brave, a reminder that forward motion itself can be a gift. I’m grateful you shared how the poem spoke to you—it adds another layer of meaning and makes the reflection feel shared rather than solitary.

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  13. Mary K. Doyle's avatar
    Mary K. Doyle
    January 13, 2026 • 3:28 am

    We take in the good and the difficult and simply keep moving on, don’t we, Vijay?

    Liked by 1 person

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