Hello everyone. I'm Tamara, and honestly, sitting here in this room, I don't feel like I'm about to give a speech. Nope. I feel like I'm just trying to share some snacks with a bunch of people who might just be staring at me. But seriously, we are here. For what exactly? For the New Year. That's all it is. Let's be honest. It's been a long year. Or at least, the year has been a shitload of red tape and meetings. I spent my twenties mostly working, figuring out how to pay bills, and trying to not get fired. It's exhausting, okay? I remember staring at a spreadsheet until my face turned into a brick wall. And now, here we are, staring at a blank screen, wondering if I can actually do anything about it. But hey, the year is over, and I promise you, it doesn't matter if we did everything right. The fact that we survived the chaos is a victory in itself. Plus, there's something really beautiful about the way the world looks at you right now. It's not the scenes from the movies where love conquers all or the guy in the suit who just smiles. It's people like you and me. Normal people. People who are tired, people who are hungry, and people who are just trying to get through the day without trying too hard to impress anyone. So, what are we going to do? Well, usually, we wish that it rains again. But I'm not worried about rain. I'm worried about fires. Or maybe we should be worried about something else entirely. Like, let's just talk about the economy for a minute, because I need that data to back up my points. Okay, let's get that straight. In the last few years, the cost of living is absolutely brutal. Look at this: between 2020 and 2023, the average household income in the US stagnated while the cost of groceries, housing, and insurance skyrocketed. If you look at real estate prices in cities like New York or San Francisco, they've gone up by nearly 500% over a decade. That's not a rise, that's a disaster waiting to happen. And yet, we still buy houses, we still borrow money, we still expect a raise. It's a society that's holding its breath while the world burns outside. But here's the thing: the numbers don't tell the whole story, and they aren't the most important part. They're just the starting point. What matters is how people feel. People are starting to realize that the "old" rules are breaking. You know the rules where marriage needs to happen before 25, or where people just work until they turn 60 and expect a pension? Those are gone. People are starting to date in their forties, move to other countries, or just rethink what they want from their lives entirely. Take Sarah. Okay, let's create a character. Sarah is like any other person. Ordinary. Maybe she works two jobs. Maybe she cooks for her kids and cleans the floors. Maybe she feels like she's falling behind everyone else, because everyone else seems to be living in luxury. But Sarah isn't okay. She's tired. She's tired of pretending that she's "hustling" when she just wants a quiet weekend. She's tired of the noise. She wants peace. She wants to just exist without trying so hard to fit into a group dynamic that doesn't value her time. And that's where the change is happening. People are realizing that being "successful" doesn't mean having the most money. It means being kind. It means showing up when you don't have to. It means speaking up when the pressure is too high to stay silent. And that's a huge shift. Just imagine if more of us felt that way. Just one person standing up for what they believe in, even when it's difficult, and suddenly, the culture changes. I remember talking to a friend last week. He was talking about how he hated the new administration for cutting funding for elderly care or for breaking the mortgage guarantee for renters. He sounded angry, sure. But then he stopped and said, "Actually, I have to admit, the system is broken, but it's also been a lot of fun." Yeah, right. He just demonstrated that the system is broken, but it's also been a lot of fun. And I think that's a good start. We need to stop trying to fix everything overnight. That's impossible. No one has the power to change the whole system in a few days. But we can start changing how we think. Instead of feeling like we're doomed to rot in the system, let's start seeing the cracks, and let's try to widen them. We don't need to be perfect or rich to be valuable. We just need to be real. So, here's my wish for 202
4.I don't need you to have perfect careers. I don't need you to have everyone's money. I just need you to know that it's okay to say "no" to something that drains you, even if it means you lose money in the process. I need you to know that your feelings, your anger, your sadness, and your joy matter more than your bank account. I also need you to know that you don't have to be a hero. You don't have to do everything yourself. It's okay if you need a hand. It's okay if you feel stuck. I just want you to remember that you are not alone in this. There are people out there waiting to help, not because they owe you anything, but because they want to. And for our friends and families. Don't forget to cook a nice dinner. Don't forget to laugh at funny things, even if you're not supposed to. Don't forget to stay safe. I know you're busy, I know you're tired, so please take care of yourselves before I lose track of time. So, here's to the year ahead. Let's make it a good one. Let's not give up on ourselves. Let's keep moving forward, even if it's just a little bit. Let's celebrate the small things, like a sunrise over the horizon, or a shared meal at a local cafe, or just sitting in silence with a cup of coffee. Remember, the world is big, there are so many places to go, and there are so many things to do. But it doesn't have to be perfect. Just try to be yourself. Be kind. Be honest. Be brave. And maybe, just maybe, have fun. Thank you. Thanks to everyone who made it through the meeting last week. And to anyone who is going to be late, or too busy to show up, I'm still proud of you. Even if you didn't make the gym, even if you didn't go to the shop, even if you just stayed in bed for a few hours. You are still part of us. So, let's go. Let's live. Let's enjoy the moment. And let's make it count. Because showing up for yourself is the most important thing of all. Okay, I'll stop talking. I'll go get some coffee, and maybe I'll try to figure out how to fix the spreadsheet. But I promise you, we'll get through this. We're all here to stay. So, happy 202
4.And for the best. Okay, that's all. Thanks for listening.