In his final New Year's address, President János Áder urged Hungarians to strengthen their will to act in 2022.
“Let’s not only reaffirm, but also strengthen, our will to act in the new year, and let’s not allow apathy and resignation to get the better of us,” President Áder said in his speech televised at midnight. Quoting Hungarian-American psychologist Mihály Csíkszentmihályi, President Áder said: “We can live our lives as chess pieces, controlled by outside forces, or we can take the reins … We can see ourselves constantly as victims but there is also the option of gaining satisfaction from immersing ourselves in work.” The president said many had succeeded in overcoming feelings of helplessness and despair this past year. Many see the new year as a clean slate, the president said, warning however that when “we look to mark holidays, family events and important deadlines … our plans are often altered by reality.” The president also referred to the times of war experienced by past generations “whose lives diverged from their natural course”. “The situation today is similar in the second year of the pandemic.”
Photo credit: MTI