Synchronized Chaos First of January 2026: What Makes Us Human

Silhouette of an adult person out at night near some pine trees with a view of the Milky Way
Image c/o Gerard Lipold

First, an announcement: published poet and contributor Tao Yucheng would like to host and judge a poetry contest open to all readers of Synchronized Chaos Magazine.

Synchronized Chaos Poetry Contest

We seek short, powerful, imaginative, and strange poetry. While we welcome all forms of free verse and subject matter, we prefer concise work that makes an impact.

Guidelines: Submit up to five poems per person to taoyucheng921129@proton.me. Each poem should not exceed one page (ideally half a page or less). All styles and themes welcome. Deadline for submissions will be in early March.

Prizes: First Place: $50 Second Place: $10, payable via online transfer. One Honorable Mention. Selected finalists will be published in Synchronized Chaos Magazine.

A second announcement: poet and regular contributor J.J. Campbell has a new book out, to live your dreams.

From the back of the book: J.J. Campbell’s work is an unflinching look into a life spent alone with the bottle and the page readily at hand. It is raw, honest, and uncompromising in every sense of the word. You are keyed into the fact that this is a writer who doesn’t sugarcoat a single line to ever soften the blow. Campbell’s work is perfect in that sense, and in this newest collection, you are getting a writer at the top of his form.

Now, for our first issue of 2026. This issue explores what makes us who we are, physically and psychologically, as individuals and as communities and nations.

Young light skinned man doing the breaststroke or butterfly stroke in a pool on a sunny day
Image c/o Vera Kratochvil

Nicholas Gunther explores what makes him human, where in his body his consciousness might be located. Kassandra Aguilera also speculates about her consciousness, considering what makes her feel alive.

Xudoyberdiyeva Mohiniso explores some Eastern and Western philosophical conceptions of what it means to live a conscious human life. Morley Cacoethes’ haikus also explore where and how we find inner wisdom and knowledge. Nilufar Mo’ydinova outlines themes of free will and the search for truth through experience in Goethe’s Faust.

Brian Michael Barbeito crafts a lyrical winter meditation on a person’s holding onto nature and his identity in an alienating new world. Satimboyeva Risolat echoes the importance of maintaining one’s personal values. Mahbub Alam urges people to draw on the wisdom they possess to make the world more just and healthier. Türkan Ergör considers the unpredictable nature of our lives and the need to choose kindness. Zeki Celic reminds us to make the most of the limited time we each have on earth as Stephen Jarrell Williams depicts characters choosing freedom, peace, and love.

Aliyeva Aziza Utkirovna points to the eyes as a place where humans reveal their inner feelings. Nurbek Norchayev’s evocative piece celebrates the power of poetry to convey emotion and sensibility. Aliyeva Zulaykho highlights the role of breath in vocal expression while reading texts.

Chloe Schoenfeld delves into Walter Gramatte’s painting of German artist, art historian, and social activist Rosa Schapire. She wonders how much of the craft of creating a likeness is about the subject and how much is about the associations the artist draws on to help them imagine and understand the person.

Painting of a gray haired woman seated in a wooden chair with necklaces and a white buttoned coat.
By Walter Gramatté

Shomurodova Dilafro’z Bahodir qizi explores approaches to Uzbek linguistics that focus more on the people creating texts rather than merely on the texts as isolated objects. Fayziyeva Hafiza Alisher qizi also looks at human life and culture’s influence upon languages.

J.K. Durick reflects on the seasons of life where we are observers, contemplating those around us or what has happened. Taylor Dibbert considers his own role in the dissolution of his marriage. Bill Tope’s short story depicts family pulled apart, then back together, then apart again.

Dr. Jernail Singh urges parents to let their young adult children learn and work for their own dreams in life. Also, he reminds us to consider the legacies we leave behind for the rest of the world once we become successful enough to care for ourselves and our families. Tolqinova Marifatoi Shavkatjon qizi outlines research into approaches to social and vocational training for young adults.

Lan Qyqalla recollects his romance with his late wife as Adalat Eroglu versifies about a tender romance and Özcan İşler urges his love to remember him. Nasser Alshaikh Ahmed Arabia’s poetic mind wanders through the jasmine-scented depths and alleyways of love. Ramona Yolanda-Montiel considers an old and warm poncho as a sign of her family’s love. J.J. Campbell writes his way through another lonely, disillusioned holiday, wishing he had love and a close family.

Aleksandra Soltysiak wonders at gentle miracles at Christmas, within nature and within families. Gabriel Bates reflects on the ways he distracts and enjoys himself during holiday celebrations. S. Afrose sings of the joys of the Christmas season. Til Kumari Sharma highlights the beauty and value of the Christian faith at Christmas as Maja Milojkovic expresses gratitude to the archangel Michael. Kalipada Ghosh celebrates life, faith, love, and joy at the holiday season. Sardar Makhmudova’s short story shares how a little girl’s brave adventure lets her discover the meaning of the season, sharing love with others. Dr. Prasanna Kumar Dalai goes into poetic rapture about romantic love, world peace, and personal stillness.

Light skinned 30 something year old man in jeans and a gray sweater seated on a windowsill looking out at trees and the moon at night.
Image c/o Mahmoud Mohammed Hassan

Ahmed Miqdad laments the cold winter endured by Palestinian refugees in a call for global peace and justice. Pat Doyne reflects on the United States’ gun violence epidemic and the lack of progress to tackle it. Also, she speaks to the political chaos in America and its negative effects on consumer prices. Giulia Mozzati Zacco mourns the deaths of children in school shootings through the ancient form of the ghazal. Ziyoda Muradilova reflects on cultural pressures that social media has placed on the craft of journalism, to be fast, interactive, and appealing to readers, and how that poses challenges to the task of delivering truth.

Eva Petropoulou Lianou reminds us that true freedom is a society where people can live safely together, not merely the chance to serve ourselves at others’ expense. Dr. Jernail Singh reminds us that what goes around, comes around, both in terms of the legal system and the religious concept of karma. Duane Vorhees points out that concepts such as justice and poetry and perception should not remain purely abstract but carry practical meanings in the real world.

Abdulrazaq Godwin Omeiza considers how formal education taught him the facts of history, but poetry showed him how to survive it. Ruqaya Mehran, interviewed by poet Eva Petropoulou Lianou, discusses her work as a museum guide, influencer, and historian of ancient Egypt. Dylan Lloyd speaks to the emerging, burgeoning magic of creativity. Taro Hokkyo’s short story illustrates the power of self-belief in overcoming oppression and obstacles. Zaxina Tohirova highlights the lessons we can learn from failure and perseverance. Aziza Xasamova urges us through piercing prose not to give up, whatever happens in our lives.

Ahmed Farooq Baidoon revels in togetherness and merriment at the New Year. Kujtim Hajdari expresses high hopes and dreams for the New Year as Imran Khan moves forward into 2026 with optimism and Jacques Fleury tosses in his New Year wishes for all of our readers. Bruce Roberts contributes a splash of whimsy in his Wacky New Year poem. Valentina Yordanova’s poetry, translated by Yoana Konstantinova, reflects on the joy of Christmas and the self-reflection encouraged in the New Year as Dr. Ratan Bhattacharjee marches forth into 2026 with hope and strength. JoyAnne O’Donnell renews her hopes and dreams as time marches forward. Argentinian poet Graciela Noemi Villaverde takes joy in her December 21st birthday, the summer solstice where she lives, and Fernando Jose Martinez Alderete reflects on nature’s rest and preparation for regrowth during winter.

Synchronized Chaos contributor Jacques Fleury, a young Black man in a black suit and red tie and dark sunglasses, on a golden Christmas ornament with red and green decor, on a Christmas tree.
Image c/o Jacques Fleury

Elza Hansen celebrates the maternal and paternal love at the heart of the Christmas holiday. Abu Rayhan Beruni connects the importance of strong families to a strong nation.

Dildora Khojyozova highlights the cultural renaissance of the nation of Uzbekistan as Diyorbek Elmirzayev looks at Uzbekistan’s increasing government debt as an outgrowth of economic growth and investments in modernization. Lolaxon Sodiqxonova highlights the importance of gender equality and initiatives to empower Uzbek women in economics and education. Dilshoda Nodir qizi Nurboboyeva presents strategies for educating and raising children without gender stereotypes. Priyanka Neogi urges women around the world to move forward with self-respect, creativity, and independence. Ashraf Al-Mismar provides a literary analysis of gender, identity, and migration in his novel Soul Shards.

Communication is integral to intercultural understanding and migration. Shaxriniso Savranboyeva outlines various approaches to translating idioms across languages and cultures. Saminjon Khakimov points to how language instructors can harness the phenomenon of code-switching, reverting to one’s native tongue, in the classroom. Abdurashidova Sabina Eldarovna highlights teen code-switching, from normal language to chat-speak and slang. Eshpo’latova Xilola highlights the role of audiovisual teaching aids in enhancing students’ foreign language acquisition. Ruziyeva Sitora outlines why and how English is still considered a global language as Ubaydullayeva Saodat discusses the role of English in international travel.

Abdullayeva Feruza suggests visual activities that help accentuate young children’s learning. Yusupov Otajon Ulug’bek ogli outlines various creative approaches to teaching and learning foreign languages. Gulsevar Amirqulova encourages teachers to practice and develop their own creativity as part of professional development. Jo’ranazova Dilobar Dilmurod qizi highlights different ways to teach young children their mother tongue. Nasulloyeva Feruzabonu expounds on the value of science and technology education for society in ways that go above and beyond the practical. Dr. Jernail Singh Anand urges society and our educational system to teach wisdom and the humanities rather than simply focusing on speeding up students’ financial success. Bahora Akmalova considers approaches to teaching preschool children social skills in a classroom setting. Rupa Rao interviews writing mentor Balachandran Nair about his work with emerging authors.

Eva Petropoulou Lianou interviews Dr. Reda Abdel Rahim, inspector of Egyptian antiquities at the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, about his work with artifacts of his nation’s past. Jeffrey Spahr-Summers’ digitally altered photographs glimpse a more recent past, giving homes and street scenes a hazy, nostalgic feel.

Artistically altered and hazy image of a yellow skyscraper bank building. Blue awning below for a Ben and Jerry's.
Image c/o Jeffrey Spahr Summers

Sayani Mukherjee’s imagistic work explores nature, love, loss, and the concept of home. Natasha Leung draws on oceans and canoes as a metaphor for a couple who are separated all too often. Eleanor Hazel Hill reflects on physical mementos of summer fun. Yusufjonova O’gilxon revels in the chill pleasantries of winter. Soumen Roy looks to a river metaphor to express consistent flow, purpose, humility and resilience. Kujtim Hajdari highlights ecological themes in his review of Eva Petropoulou’s poetry. Axmadqulova Sapuraxon shares ideas for educating preschool children about the environment. A group of youth in China submits various short poems inspired by natural scenes. Alan Catlin patters out imagistic pieces inspired by various Japanese words for rain as O’rinboyeva Zarina speculates on life on a planet where rain is a rarity. Robert Beckvall reflects on his life’s winding path and how it deposited him on the lush big island of Hawaii. Mesfakus Salahin looks to the longer-lasting natural world for absolution from his complex memories. Riley Winters laments human exploitation of animals and the wilderness.

Mykyta Ryzhykh evokes the inextricable natures of life and death. Alyssa Trivett graphically renders the aftermath of a car accident. Nilufar Yoldoshova outlines similarities and differences between Uzbek and Korean funeral customs. Tea Russo’s work dramatizes the soul-killing effects of grief, loneliness, and shame. Gabriel Kang’s work exposes exploitation disguised as progress and love. Robin Beernaert outlines the psychological impact of a griever’s journey through poetry and prose.

Jessica Vanderwall composes an emotionally complex love letter to herself. Daniela Chourio-Soto reflects on the power of dreams to express and warn us about feelings in our waking lives. Joshua Obirija paints a lower-case portrait of the grief and lostness driving his writing.

Adrina Esparas-Hope crafts a graphic image of visceral love that could be a metaphor for creative pursuits. Brian Barbeito lets go of the need to understand everything before he can experience beauty and mystery. Texas Fontanella’s work revels in color and improvisation, reminiscent of jazz and electronica. Mark Young artistically alters geographical maps of checkerboards and Australian regions. Grant Guy intentionally erases parts of painted and typed texts as an artistic experiment. Zamira Moldiyeva Bahodirovna encourages readers and students to take up a refreshing and creative hobby. Federico Wardal explores the career and casting decisions of artists’ manager Adriano Aragozzini.

More practical fields can be creative as well. Shahlo Rustamova explores the role of discrete mathematics, particularly combinatorics, in understanding biological structures. Farangiz Musurmonova urges Uzbek accounting frameworks to match those of international professional standards. Medical student O’roqova Nargiza outlines the importance of salivary glands in the human body. Normurodova Salina Saitkulovna discusses how the medical field prepares for pandemics. Ahmedova Dilorom Mahmudovna highlights the progress of medical therapies for cancers caused by human papillomavirus.

We hope that this issue will inspire your creativity!

Essay from Dr. Jernail S. Anand

Older South Asian man with a white beard and mustache and pink/magenta turban and coat and tie reading his own long book.

THE FALL OF THE PHILOSOPHER

When we look back at the turn of the 20th century, we are flooded with a general feeling that the old times were good. The people were good, and its reason too was obvious, they were God-fearing, believed in goodness, visited holy places, undertook pilgrimages, and, it was joint family system, which was helpful in nurturing fellow feeling, empathy and compassion.

As the time passed, modernism took over, which meant the fall of the agrarian life, and the onset of the mechanical age. The peace of the village life was lost to the lure of the market town. As the times moved forward, the village was discarded and the people started migrating to the city. Villages were left barren and this process has kept pace even today. Migration from the villages to the cities is still going on unchecked.

What I am going to focus here is how the quality of man has dwindled over time, as machination has increased. Prosperity appears to have grown but along with it, men who enjoy thousands of amenities, have lost something very precious. I can draw a line too, with which many perceptive readers may not be in agreement. There was a generation which started working during the seventies. Before them, there was a generation of great scholars who inhabited the universities. The 2nd generation starts with seventies, in which the young men who joined services, were still touched with some sort of idealism. Actually, sixties and seventies were the times when in our country the socialist movement was in full swing, and reading Russian literature was in vogue. These young men found idealism injected into their blood and their thought too.

The generation which took to work in eighties too was touched by that idealism. They had a feeling of being true to their profession. These were the times when people felt that copying was a moral aberration. Teachers still believed in teaching the students most of the times without getting any remuneration. Morality was still a subject of debate in Colleges and Universities.

However, nineties saw an abrupt change in the sensibility of the people, and it transformed the sensibility of the time as well. This was the moment when ultra-modern times had set in. Desktop had given way to the laptop, mobiles to smart phone. These were the times when people realized there was a city called Kota in Rajasthan. Now, the race was between money and success. The more the money, the greater the success. The students were after packages. Teachers were after tuitions. It was a world of the go-getters. Those who had money could get seats in medical colleges.

It was here that the growing civilization completely shed its idealistic credentials. Now, the teachers, the students and even parents had only one passion. Job. Money was no consideration. And during these times, we gave legitimacy to a thousand things which were considered taboo in previous times. The most important thing were money and success, followed by a sense of freedom, which shook the family from its foundations.

Today, the teachers have lost all idealistic orientation. Religiosity has increased, though its internal content is missing. There is more and more knowledge and great and great success, yet students and even teachers lack basics of human behaviour. In other words, knowledge has given them fat marks sheets, top positions, without bringing to them the most precious virtue which was essential to make life meaningful: wisdom.

Today, we have a generation which has no faith in wisdom. We have administrators who have no faith in creativity. Paperwork, data, and keeping the teachers busy is the basic framework of educational policies. We know a thousand things, without understanding the basics of human character. The electronic revolution and now the AI have further reduced the man-hours which man could use for himself. The great issue today, in my opinion is, man has no time for himself, for his family, and for his mind. It is the phase when philosophy is dead, the philosopher is dead. The academic has been reduced to a paper tiger. He is forced to become a scholar where his only job is to cut and paste the available knowledge, which makes no sense to the man in the street.

We are passing through the worst phase of human development where facilities have increased, but man’s humanity is in decline. We need to arrest this fall. We need to return to a routine where we have free time for ourselves. Where we could slow down the pace of time. We need to revert back and retrieve the values we have lost in our passion for growth.

Dr. Jernail Singh Anand, with an opus of 180 plus books, is Laureate of the Seneca, Charter of Morava, Franz Kafka and Maxim Gorky awards.  His name adorns the Poets’ Rock in Serbia. Anand is a towering literary figure whose work embodies a rare fusion of creativity, intellect, and moral vision.

Poetry from Adrina Esparas-Hope

A Girl Named Ars Poetica

My bathroom tiles have seen, heard, felt, and suffered

through more tears than your busted up, popped out shoulder

I so desperately reach to stabilize and claw into

With my poorly uncut finger nails.

If salvation is the feeling of my saliva dripping off my tongue

Settling into the grooves of your own,

Then maybe, suddenly,

I do want to be saved.

I’ll read to you until the vocal fry in my voice sounds like tv static

As if you fell asleep on your mama’s couch watching Full House,

The connection between the antennas and power altering drastically

Like the longing when our hands aren’t locked.

We will listen to the soft pitter patter of the rain

Gulping up water that’ll clog up the storm drain

Until I have found you asleep on my bathroom floor

Tear stained shoulders, bubbling foam, crystalized eyes and all.

I reach your tear stained, clawed up shoulder

And brush the cuts with my spicy stained finger tips

Until you jolt up just so I can say it’s the medicine to cure

The pain— and you’ll remember my finger tips.

Can you touch my skin with your own until there’s a film

Of deep red coating the fairness, so that no one can see the beauty

Other than your crystalized eyes that I inhabited in

The second you said “I love you.”

Essay from Ziyoda Muradilova

The Impact of Social Media on Modern Journalism 

Ziyoda Murodilova 

Fergana State University, Faculty of Foreign Languages, Department of English Philology 

ziyodamuradilova@icloud.com 

Abstract: In today’s digital information landscape, social media has profoundly influenced journalism. This article explores the role of social networks in journalism, emphasizing their speed of information dissemination, interactivity, and integration with traditional mass media. It also discusses the main challenges faced by professionals — disinformation, manipulation, and the impact of algorithmic filters. The findings reveal that while digital platforms encourage the development of journalism, they also threaten its traditional values. Therefore, it is essential for journalists to adapt to new technologies, apply fact-checking methods, and establish stronger connections with their audiences. 

Keywords: social media, journalism, disinformation, media technologies, information dissemination, fact-checking, audience. 

Over the past decade, social media has become an inseparable part of everyday life and has brought radical transformations to the field of journalism. Information now spreads within seconds, and users not only consume news but also take an active part in its creation and distribution. This has blurred the boundaries between professional and citizen journalism. 

The main objective of this research is to analyze the impact of social media on journalism, focusing on information reliability, interactivity, and the evolving relationship between the media and the audience. As traditional journalism faces new challenges, understanding how digital platforms reshape journalistic values and practices has become crucial. This study applies a qualitative research method, analyzing academic sources, expert opinions, and practical examples from platforms such as Facebook, Telegram, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter). 

Comparative analysis was conducted between traditional media (newspapers, television) and social media-based journalism. Fact-checking practices, information verification mechanisms, and the influence of algorithmic filtering on audience behavior were also examined. 

The research involved reviewing reports from international media institutions (e.g., Reuters Institute, BBC, Oxford University Press) and local media outlets (Kun.uz, Daryo.uz) to identify trends in digital journalism. The findings indicate that social media has reshaped journalism in several ways: 

1. Speed and accessibility: Information circulates in real time, increasing the demand for rapid publication. 2. Interactivity: Journalists now engage directly with audiences through comments, messages, and live sessions. 3. Disinformation threat: False or manipulated information spreads faster and more widely than verified news. 4. Algorithmic control: Social media platforms filter content according to user preferences, creating “echo chambers” that limit exposure to diverse viewpoints. 

These changes have led to both positive and negative consequences. While social media has democratized access to information, it has also raised ethical and professional concerns in journalism. 

Social media has opened new opportunities for journalists by offering direct communication channels, instant feedback, and access to global audiences. However, it also presents challenges that question the very essence of professional journalism. 

The increasing number of “fake news,” clickbait culture, and the pressure of advertising and sponsorship weaken editorial  independence and accuracy. Journalists must now not only report but also verify, interpret, and defend the truth amid an  overload of online information. 

Digital literacy and fact-checking skills have become fundamental competencies for modern journalists. Media  organizations must invest in training and technological tools to detect misinformation and protect ethical journalism. Furthermore, collaboration between media outlets and technology companies is essential to combat algorithmic bias and  promote transparency in information flow. 

Social media represents a turning point in the evolution of journalism. It has accelerated the dissemination of information  and strengthened audience engagement, yet simultaneously exposed journalism to disinformation, manipulation, and  declining trust. 

The future of journalism depends on how effectively professionals integrate new technologies while maintaining truth,  accuracy, and ethical integrity. Journalists must evolve into digital communicators who not only inform but also educate  and empower audiences in the age of information abundance. 

References 

1. Karimova, D. (2023). Foundations of Digital Journalism. Tashkent: National University of Uzbekistan Press. 2. Jenkins, H. (2019). Convergence Culture: Where Old and New Media Collide. New York: NYU Press. 3. Kovach, B., & Rosenstiel, T. (2021). The Elements of Journalism. New York: Crown Publishing. 4. President of the Republic of Uzbekistan. (2022). Decree on Measures to Ensure Information Security and Counter  Disinformation. 

5. Castells, M. (2020). The Rise of the Network Society. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing.

6. Kun.uz. (2024). “The Problem of Fake News on Social Media and the Responsibility of Journalists.” 7. Reuters Institute Digital News Report (2023). Oxford University Press. 8. Shiraliyeva, N. (2022). “The Role of Social Media in Modern Journalism.” Journal of Philology and Mass Media, No. 2.

Essay from Zaxina Tohirova

Young Central Asian woman with curly dark hair in a bun, brown eyes, and a blue suit coat and tie.

Why is failure the first step to success?

Most people grow up believing that failure is something to be ashamed of – a sign of weakness, a symbol of defeat. We avoid it, fear it, and do everything we can to prevent it. But what if the failure is not the end of your story, but the start of something greater? What is the first fall you take is actually the beginning of your rise?

Failure is not a wall that blocks your path; it is a doorway that leads you forward. Every person who has achieved something meaningful has, at some point, stumbled, struggled, and started again. The truth is simple yet powerful: failure is the first step to success.

Failure and Success work together. We often think failure and success are opposites – that one cancels the other out. But in reality, they are two sides of the same coin. Think about the most successful people in the world – entrepreneurs, athletes, artistes, or scientists. What do they all have in common? They have all faced setbacks, rejections, and failures. But instead of giving up, they learned from their experiences, adapted, and kept moving forward. Failure is not proof that you cannot succeed – it is evidence that you are trying. Every mistake, every “no”, and every setback is simply a part of the process that shapes your future achievements.

Failure teaches us valuable lessons. When you succeed, you celebrate. But when you fail, you reflect – and that is where the real growth happens. Failure teaches lesson that success never could. It reveals what does not work, highlights your weaknesses, and forces you to find new ways forward.

Thomas Edison once said after thousands of failed attempts to invent the light bulb, “I have not failed. I have just found 1,000 ways that will not work.” Those “failures” were not wasted – they were experiments that led him closer to success. Failure gives you feedback. It helps you adjust your strategy, sharpen your skills, and develop patience. The greatest advantage of failure is the wisdom it leaves behind. Each mistake carries a message – if you are willing to listen. Failure builds strengths and resilience

If life were easy, success would lose its meaning. The obstacles you face and the failures you experience are what make your victories valuable. Every time you rise after falling, you grow stronger.

Resilience – the ability to bounce back – is one of the most powerful traits a person can develop. It does not come from comfort; it comes from challenge. When you fail and keep going, you prove to yourself that you can endure disappointment and still move forward. Just like muscles strengthen through resistance, your character strengthens your adversity. With each setback, you learn persistence, self-discipline and courage – the very qualities needed for lasting success.

Failure helps you find the right path. Not every failure means you are unworthy – sometimes it simply means you are going in the wrong direction. Failure is often a signal, a form of guidance. It pushes you to rethink your goals and adjust your course.

Take Walt Disney, for example. Early in his career, he was fired from a newspaper job because he “lacked imagination.” That same man went on to create one of the most imaginative companies in the world. His early failure did not end his dream – it redirected it.

Failure often helps you discover what truly matters to you. When something does not work out, you are forced to ask yourself, “Is this really what I want?” That self-reflection can lead to a clearer vision and a stronger sense of purpose. Courage comes from daring to fail. It takes courage to face failure with an open heart. Many people never achieve their dreams simply because they are afraid to fail. But courage is not the absence of fear – it is the decision to keep moving despite it.

When you dare to fail, you give yourself permission to grow. You stop waiting for perfect conditions and start learning through experience. You realize that mistakes do not define you – they refine you.

Those who succeed the most are not the ones who never fall; they are the ones who refuses to stay down. Every great inventor, artist, and leader has failed more times than they have succeeded. But each failure taught them something that made the next attempt stronger.

Failure is temporary, but its lessons last forever.

Failure might feel final, but it is never permanent. The pain or disappointment you feel today will fade – but the lessons you learn will stay with you for life. Success often appears right after your hardest fall. The problem is, most people give up one attempt too early. They stop just before the breakthrough. But those who keep trying, who view failure as temporary, are the ones who eventually achieve greatness.

Failure teaches resilience, patience and humility – all qualities that prepare you for success when it finally arrives. It shapes you into a stronger, wiser version of yourself.

Turning failure into fuel Once you stop fearing failure, you can start using it as fuel. Every “no” becomes motivation. Every setback becomes an opportunity to improve. Instead of asking “Why did this happen to me?” ask, “What can I learn from that?”

People like Albert Einstein, and J.K. Rowling all faced rejection and failure before achieving success. What set them apart was not luck – it was persistence. They kept moving forward, turning failure into momentum. The truth is failure is not your enemy. It’s your greatest ally, if you let it be. It sharpens your focus, strengthens your will, and shows you how much you truly care about your dream.

Conclusion: Failure is the Foundation of Success

Failure is not something to hide from; it’s something to embrace. It’s the price we pay for growth, for knowledge, for mastery. Every successful story is built on moments of defeat that were transformed into lessons.

So do not let failure to stop you – let it shape you. Every time you fall and rise again, you become wiser, stronger, and closer to your goal. Remember, the first step to success isn’t a perfect start — it’s the courage to begin, fail, and begin again.

Because in the end, success is not about never falling; it’s about always getting back up. And that journey – the one that starts with failure – is where real success begins.

Zaxina Tohirova is 12 years old, born in Kashkadarya, Uzbekistan. She is 7th grade student at Karshi Presidential School. She is passionate about drawing pictures, writing/reading articles and reading books. In her spare time, she usually searches some interesting things, watches action movies and goes for a walk. She spends her weekends with her family. She started writing articles recently and found it very interesting. She is going to write more articles in the future.

Poetry from Imran Khan

Middle aged South Asian man with short dark hair, beard, and mustache and a gray, black, white and red sweater standing in a field of grass at dawn or dusk.

New oath 

New year anew 

calling again, 

Forgetting past memories 

Be careful now. 

As wrong as before 

Clean it up, 

First for the country 

go ahead. 

In a new day of new light 

Take a new oath, 

No matter how many obstacles come 

No one will be misled. 

Name: Imran Khan Raj 

Writer And Journalist.

Alumni, B.B.S., Padma Government College, 

Dohar, Dhaka, Bangladesh. 

Imran Khan Raj was born on 12th October to a noble Muslim family in Dohar Upazila of Dhaka District In Bangladesh. He Passed HSC from Government Padma College of Dohar Upozila and completed graduation from the same college. Later, he enrolled in Masters in Management Department at Sheikh Borhanuddin Post Graduate College, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

So far, many stories, rhymes, poems written by him have been published in various newspapers and magazines. His favorite hobby is writing.

His published collective poetry books are – 71’s Raktasnat Bangla, Padma, Konkhane Rakhib Pranaam, Shrestha Bickeler Kavita, Bhasha Shahid, Diganter Neelima, Susheel Kavyasambahar, Humanity’s Demand and his published collective story book is – Nagar Phul.

The e-books published by Imran Khan Raj are destination unknown, motivation to move forward, illuminated rhymes. More of his books are on the way.

Poetry and art from Jacques Fleury

Synchronized Chaos contributor Jacques Fleury, a young Black man in a black suit and red tie and dark sunglasses, on a golden Christmas ornament with red and green decor, on a Christmas tree.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

— From regular Synchronized Chaos contributing poet and author Jacques Fleury

              May your New Year be full of synchronistic

      songs of unwavering wonder…

         as you continue on your often Herculean paths to 

        your happily ever after…

Through all you’ve been 

       and yet not seen

Let new beginnings be your scene

Dew drops make all come anew

           Sun clouds will surely see you through

fantasies fanning mermaids and their memes

Open hearts can make wishes drive-thru

Cheers to Hope Horning in on Pipe Dreams 

                               and a Happy New Year to YOU!

Jacques Fleury is a Boston Globe featured Haitian-American Poet, Educator, Author of four books and literary arts student through Harvard University. His latest publication “You Are Enough: The Journey to Accepting Your Authentic Self”  and other titles are available at all Boston Public Libraries, the University of Massachusetts Healey Library, University of Wyoming, Askews and Holts Library Services in the United Kingdom, The Harvard Book Store, The Grolier Poetry Bookshop, Amazon etc…  He has been published in publications such as Spirit of Change Magazine, Wilderness House Literary Review, Muddy River Poetry Review, Litterateur Redefining World and Cooch Behar anthologies out of India, Poets Reading the News, the Cornell University Press anthology Class Lives: Stories from Our Economic Divide, Boston Area Small Press and Poetry Scene among others…Visit him at:  http://www.authorsden.com/jacquesfleury.

Silhouetted figure leaping off into the unknown with hand and leg raised. Bushes and tree in the foreground, mountains ahead. Book is green and yellow with black text and title.
Jacques Fleury’s book You Are Enough: The Journey Towards Understanding Your Authentic Self