Time is a concept that, while constant, leaves a different impression on every individual. There are those who view time as a precious commodity where every second dictates the future, while others choose to focus solely on the unfolding moment—to "Carpe Diem."

However, looking back at the journey of 2025, many of us have faced various obstacles in one aspect of life or another, whether great or small.

As we all understand, 2025 was certainly not a year that offered a smooth ride, especially toward its end. Indonesia was struck by various natural disasters, from volcanic eruptions and flash floods in several regions to the ongoing issue of land subsidence. Furthermore, geopolitical shifts and the implementation of both global and domestic policies have impacted the pace of growth and the emancipation of society toward the future. 2025 was not an easy year for any of us.

In response to the changes that constantly shape not only nature but also our individual characters, we naturally strive to ensure that no time is wasted or consumed by negativity.

By nature, we are built with an instinct to adapt, which inherently involves the will to survive. However, as with anything done in excess or driven by an obsession for the "optimal," obsession can consume us. It can cause us to lose time despite our best efforts to secure a bright future, at the cost of never truly existing in the present.

While we always hold a vision of finding a better life ahead, that vision should not consume our identity, our essence, or how we embrace the current moment.

In the writing "Takut Kehilangan" (Fear of Loss), a piece centered on time, we are introduced to the figure of Heraclitus and his philosophy of "Panta Rhei." In short, it suggests that we should let time flow as it must, without resisting too fiercely or becoming obsessed with an ideal vision of the future—be it for ourselves or those around us.

In "Takut Kehilangan," life is likened to a river with branches flowing toward different estuaries, with currents that change every second.

"No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man."

Even if we are shadowed by the hardships of nature or the stories of others who crossed our paths in 2025, we must not let past experiences dictate our movements.

Acceptance (Keikhlasan), one of the core messages of "Panta Rhei," must be rooted not only in letting go of the stories that passed through our lives but also in embracing those stories as lessons to find peace with ourselves and our situation. Experience is neither a torture nor a threat. Whatever happens in the present is a gift, which—with the passage of time balanced by acceptance—will become a gift for the future.

Together, let us shape a better 2026, however small or slow the progress may be, with the belief that no current we navigate is ever the same. Life is a constant flow, and it is we who must steer our small boats as best as we can, with tranquility, toward our destination.

Happy New Year 2026 Students of UNDIRA and everyone!

Source of References: 

Hidayat, Komaruddin. 2025. Takut Kehilangan. Jakarta, Indonesia.

Muslim .id - Tafsir Surat Al ‘Ashr: Membebaskan Diri Dari Kerugian

(Danang Respati Wicaksono / Humas UNDIRA)