Auld Lang Syne: What We Carry, What We Set Down, and the Year That Awaits Us

Auld Lang Syne has always carried a kind of ancient ache, inviting us to pause at the year’s edge and consider what we have carried and what might be ready to set down. In healthcare, these transitions matter. Patients and caregivers often feel the emotional weight of the year only once the pace slows, and the science of narrative identity, cognitive off-loading, and relational continuity helps explain why. This New Year’s reflection explores how memory, kindness, and durable connections support well-being, and how releasing unnecessary burdens can make the year ahead more humane and more sustainable.