Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Pagan
Home and Religion
Welcome 2023

Welcome 2023

Last updated on: January 8, 2023 at 6:01 pm by Bader Saab

Welcome 2023 2023-01-08T18:01:53-04:00 Bader Saab

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

It’s still surreal to be in 2023. 2022 wasn’t what I expected it to be, but it did allow me to understand many things, realize things I was doing the right and the wrong way, what I should start and stop doing as well. It was insightful, and now I’m reflecting about it all. It could have been better, but it was what I made it to be and what it had to be.

“I couldn’t do all the things I wanted, and I wasn’t actively working for them either.” Panoramic view of Ayn al-Bayda in the countryside of Latakia, Syria. Cropped. Source.

A big disappointment

People often say a year comes with 365 opportunities. It’s an idea I’m tired of because it gives you the impression that you need to be productive every day. I am not, and I don’t think anyone in their sane mind can. However, for me, being productive doesn’t mean doing something that gives you money, but doing something you actually enjoy, working on your passions, your dreams, and goals.

Late Anne Rice used to say she didn’t believe in writing everyday, that she didn’t write everyday, and being one of the best-selling fiction authors of all time, she sure knew what she was talking about. I don’t write every day, although I try, but I also do something related to writing every day. And that’s my focus for this year: focus on my writing.

2022 was a big disappointment for me because of how disorganized I was while aiming too high. I couldn’t do all the things I wanted, and I wasn’t actively working for them either, so I’ll expect to do something better to compensate for the lost time, get frustrated, and so on. It was a vicious cycle I couldn’t break on time.

“I grew up surrounded with so many stories I love and respect Syria. That’s part of what I want to do.” Al-Sukhnah desert, Syria. Cropped. Source.

New year, new friends

I want 2023 to be different. I don’t need it to be the best one so far, I don’t need to get rich and famous (but if it happens, who am I to complain?) But I do want it to be good, enriching, and full of growth. And for me writing goes hand in hand with reading, so I also want to read more about Arabian Paganism, practice more, be the person I was when I started with this blog.

These days I made a new friend and we’ve been talking so much, I’ve remembered how passionate I am about Pagan Arabia, myths, folklore, and days before I went to the library to get as many books I could about those topics. He made me look back to who I was before, the kind of person I want to be, which is also the same person I want for this year: passionate about his beliefs, responsible, and well-studied.

It is not a secret I like studying, and while I also need to make a living with a job that puts food on the table, I don’t want to forget this again. I come from a multicultural background, but my family is mainly from Syria. I want to honor that, remember that, get to know more about that country even if it’s impossible for me to go visit it. I grew up surrounded with so many stories I love and respect Syria. That’s part of what I want to do.

“There are several people that make me want to get better, people I envy for how dedicated they are. That’s the kind of person I want to be.” View of Apamea, Syria. Cropped. Source.

2023 can be any amount of opportunities and surprises, it can be whatever it has to be, but I want it to be better, and I’ll make sure of it. Thanks to everyone who’s been in this path to me, those who’ve stayed, and the ones that inspire me non-stop. There are several people that make me want to get better, people I envy for how dedicated they are. That’s the kind of person I want to be.

If I were to think about a word for 2023, it would be that one: Dedication. Dedication to me, my beliefs, my crafts, my ancestors, my studies, my writing, my growth, and myself. Most of all, dedication to myself.

Home and Religion

About Bader Saab

I’m an Arabic witch and journalist, also with a master’s degree in digital research. I have worked as a book reviewer and written about pre-Islamic folklore. You can connect with me by Private Message on Instagram: @saab.bader. You can read more about the author here.

Previous Post

December 25, 2022

Happy Holidays

Next Post

January 26, 2023 Divine Speed Dating

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Ancestors Book review Books Deities Divination Folklore History news Practice Spirits Uncategorized Wellbeing witchcraft Writing

Select a Month September 2026 July 2026 March 2026 December 2025 November 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 February 2025 January 2025 September 2024 July 2024 March 2024 February 2024 November 2023 September 2023 July 2023 May 2023 April 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What baby was placed in a basket in the river?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Joseph Samuel Jesus Moses