The year 2008 for me as a whole was mingled with joys and sorrows. I think this year brought a change in the entire nation as Nepal was declared a republic country. Bidding goodbye to 2008, I am welcoming 2009 with an optimistic attitude, happiness and a smile. I have kept a vow to myself to live positively in the present moment no matter what happens because each day turns out to be brighter and more beautiful when the heart is happier and hopeful. I will only think about the present. I won’t recall the dead past and won’t be anxious about uncertain future events. I have committed to be cheerful, dedicate myself towards service of poor and needy people and share my smile with anyone I meet.

— Aagya Dahal, Jorpati

I am really grateful for this year since I was lucky to have read so many good Nepali and English books of different varieties and so got habituated to reading and also replying to Question of The Week of THT.

The only change I would like to bring in myself is to be more open and frank as I believe it will strengthen relationships with people.

— Bikram Neupane

In the year 2008 I made an important decision by choosing the subject of my interest for studies. The only change that I would like to make in my personality is boosting up my self-confidence so that I can do better in the coming year and make the year a cherishable one.

— Ritamvara Aryal

First of all, Happy New Year 2009, may this year be kind to you all in every sector of your life. The year 2008 taught me the lesson of life. ‘Thank you very much year 2008.’ I learnt that, ‘We should depend on our own hands and feet’ through 365 days of 2008. This year made me familiar with terms like self-esteem, confidence, courage, hope, pain, struggle. These will surely be very helpful for my coming days.

Well, I would be free from a great tension if the special person in my life would reveal her thoughts towards me otherwise it would invite unnecessary problems in the journey of my life. I do have a request not only for my relatives but everyone, ‘Please don’t try to see things from your own view point only but at least for a single minute try to see things from others perspective as well.’

— Pooja Thakur

I am about to say goodbye to year 2008 with mixed reactions. Though life was full of struggle throughout the year, still I am grateful as the year was full of learning opportunities. In the beginning, I had to work as a volunteer with no pay in various NGOs and INGOs. It brought a lot of resentment in me as I was working so hard but receiving salary was out of question. But now I am happy and believe that hardwork pays. My devotion to work impressed many working in field concerned, they started to know me and saw my potential too. It really made me happy. My job to counsel street children from different backgrounds is indeed a challenging one. Eventually, I was offered a job in a reputed INGO working for street children. Now I have made up my mind that I will never refrain from my duties. In fact, counselling is strengthening my skills. The resentment, disappointment and reluctance to work have all drained out. The only resolution for 2009 is that I will devote my time to children from all walks of life and help them be free from drug abuse, try to stop child abuse and make them responsible citizens of Nepal.

— Ranju Shrestha

We have bid goodbye to 2008 and are starting a new year with new hopes and positive feelings. The year 2008 was quite good for me. It gave me a chance to learn a lot of things. One thing that I am grateful for this year is that I learnt to live my life. Previously, I used to be sad and unhappy most of time, but now I am quite satisfied with my life. I don’t do any such work in which I regret. And all the credit goes to The Himalayan Times family for their articles and my yoga guru for his words. I always start my day with great enthusiasm and positive vibes. If there was one change that I could make then I would like to forget all the faults of my friends and remember only good things about them for which I like them. I know friends are part of life, life without them would be like a year without summer. I want to maintain good relations with them and with everyone I know.

— Aanjaan Thapa, Banepa

The year 2008 has really been generous to me. Some of my dreams and wishes came true this year. Resolutions and I don’t get along very well. My resolutions never get implemented. I never work on my resolutions. Therefore, this year, I want to be rather strict in following my resolutions for the year. That is the only change that I want in myself from the year 2009.

— Krisha Amatya, Kumaripati

I spent a long span of time in teaching. In May, 2008, I left teaching job and joined GFA (Gospel For Asia), a Christian Institution. I am grateful to Bishop Narayan Sharma, the Head of Believers Church Diocese and GFA in Nepal, because he gave me an opportunity to serve in a Christian institution. Being a Christian, it was my long cherished dream to serve Nepali people. Here, I am glad to say, my dream has come true in my life.

In fact, one of my draw backs, is I have at times found difficulty in getting along with my friends. This is one thing; I would like to change in myself in 2009.

— Krishna Pradhan, Jawalakhel

Many memorable things happened in the year 2008, but . the most memorable thing was that I received the prize for the best student award from my college. It was the most wonderful moment of my life. When I was a kid, I had dreams of receiving such an award. For me, this award was a dream come true. I hope this award will bring good fortune in the future. There are no such changes to be made as such in me for the year 2009.

— Sushobhit Pokharel

First of all, Happy New Year to all my friends and readers of The Himalayan Times. With the curtain down on the year 2008, I have only flashes of memory of anonymity and having lots of fun with friends. In 2008 I went on India tour with friends and many tours around our country. My new year resolution is to be concerned about my health and to avoid habits that would deteriorate my health.

— Ishmit Dahal

The one thing that I’ve been grateful for, this year was the election of Barack Obama as the President of United States. It is not that it has helped me or my country in anyway that I am obliged to be grateful for, but it definitely became a source of immense satisfaction due to a feeling that the people, the Americans to be exact, are still conscious of doing the right thing and are fully aware what a democratic country should be like. At least my exaggerated fear that the world has forgotten ethics, is gone, well, in the same exaggerated way, because war, hunger and environment destruction still prevails. But it does serve as a good example for the rest of the developing democratic countries, though, such vague attempts like appointing an illiterate person a post just because he or she happens to be of “inferior” caste, or happens to be woman , isn’t exactly my idea of democratic norms. In my own country, there is no significant thing that I am grateful for, except that this year, the SLC course

was reduced, unfortunately, it didn’t actually prove to be much of an advantage considering the late arrival of books, and the relative confusion because of that. 2009, I hope, is going to make me stronger as a person, more focused and able to overcome any temptation that would’ve got the better of me before, because, it is high time that I realise my priorities and work according to them.

— Rhea Gurung