Undoubtedly, Muharram is a very important, significant, and virtuous month. Moreover, Muharram signifies the beginning of a new year and the end of a long year. The appeal of beginnings and endings holds deep resonance in human life. Just as the initiation and closure of life bear profound significance, similarly, there exists profound meaning and importance between the commencement and conclusion of a year, a month, a week, a day, and every action of a believer. Everyone desires—and indeed, everyone should desire—that the entirety of life, or at least all beginnings and endings, be beautiful, pure, and holy. 
In the context of beginning and ending, we find a touch of Islamic consciousness in the various supplications narrated in hadiths for the morning and evening. Apart from this, contemplating the act of beginning every task with the name of Allah and concluding with seeking His forgiveness and gratitude, as reflected in the various sentences of duas, reveals a deeper significance. Today there is no room for a long discussion on that. However, I am mentioning here one of the duas recited by the Prophet, peace be upon him, upon seeing the moon of the new month.
Narrated by Sahabi Talha ibn Ubaidullah (RA): The Prophet, peace be upon him, used to recite this dua upon seeing the new moon:
اللّهُمَّ أَهِلَّهُ عَلَيْنَا بِاليُمْنِ وَالإِيمَانِ وَالسَّلَامَةِ وَالإِسْلَامِ، رَبِّي وَرَبُّكَ اللهُ.
"O Allah, let this moon rise on us with blessing, faith, peace, and Islam. (O Moon!) My Lord and your Lord is Allah." (Jami at-Tirmidhi, Hadith 3451; Musnad Ahmad, Hadith 1397)
If this dua is recited upon sighting the new moon of Muharram then dua will be made for the new month as well as the new year. However, reciting another dua at the beginning of the new year is mentioned in Sahih Sanad (authenticate source). Sahabi (a companion) Abdullah Ibn Hisham (RA), said about that dua-
كان أصحاب رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يتعلمون هذا الدعاء كما يتعلمون القرآن إذا دخل الشهر أو السنة.
That is, when a new month or year begins, the Sahaba used to learn this dua in a way (with emphasis) as they would learn the Qur'an al-Kareem.
The Dua is-
اللّهُمَّ أَدْخِلْهُ عَلَيْنَا بِالأَمْنِ وَالإِيمَانِ وَالسَّلَامَةِ وَالإِسْلَامِ، وَجِوَارٍ مِّنَ الشَّيْطَانِ، وَرِضْوَانٍ مِّنَ الرَّحْمنِ.
“O Allah! bring this month/year upon us with security and faith, peace and Islam; and protect us from Satan and grant us the pleasure of Allah the Merciful.” —Mujamus Sahabah 3/543; Al-Mujamul Awsat Tabrani, narration 6241; Al-isabah 4/256.
At the beginning of the month and year, all these duas, as stated, should be recited with emotion and feeling. It is not merely the act of uttering the words, but understanding the meaning and significance of these duas is important and these should be recited with the intention of seeking Allah's blessings and guidance.

Let's think for a moment!
Muharram of 1445 AH is beginning today. Exactly ten years ago, Muharram of 1435 AH started in the same way. At that moment, today’s date seemed far away, just as Muharram after ten years from now seems far away. If you think about 1455 AH, twenty years later from today, it seems to you far. But if you look back at 1425 AH, twenty years earlier, it seems like just yesterday! Such is the reality. Childhood memories feel like they just passed, while old age seems like a very long distant future. 
Poets and writers often refer to the beginning of the year as different stations in the journey of life. From birth to death, life is like a path, and every person is a passenger on this road. Its seems as if people stand at each station on their birthdays and at the end of each year. From there, the journey starts again towards the new station. In the meantime, there's a bit of calculation about life - how far I have come, how much of the way remains! How much have I achieved, and how much is left to be done! How well-prepared am I for the Hereafter and how have I organized my life?
In this regard, I am citing some parts from an essay by the eminent Arabic writer Shaykh Ali Tantawi. He writes—
The traveler stopped for a little while crossing a certain path on the way. Looking back, he reflects on how far he has come and how far he has yet to go.
A businessman calculates his wealth at the end of the year, examining how much profit or loss he has made over the past year!
A new year is a new station. We pause here for a moment as we walk the path of life. We understand, another year has passed in our lives! Coming here, should we not take account of our lives! Should we not reflect a little?.....
Our situation is like a passenger on a steamer or an airplane. Generally, their target is to reach beautiful cabins or comfortable seats. One travels in first class, eats excellent food, flips through the pages of newspapers and magazines and enjoys the beautiful scenery around. But it is only for a few hours or a few days! So, wouldn't it be better for him—to think about the luxurious houses and fine food at the destination? Is it not more beneficial for him to endure a little discomfort for a few days of the journey, be thrifty,  save some money, and then, after reaching the destination, relax for a  long time?
And if the enjoyment of the journey makes him forget the purpose, if the beautiful scenery along the path makes him indifferent to the destination — how painful is that?'
In the next part of this essay, he describes his two feelings and experiences. The two thought-provoking feelings are—
While working on the book "Saidul Khatir" written by Ibnul Jawzi, a sentence suddenly caught my eye. He said—
إِنَّ لَذَائِذَ الدُّنْيَا تُعْرَضُ وَلَا تُقْبَضُ.
'The pleasures of the world can be displayed; cannot be accepted.
That is, the enjoyment of the world is like some things displayed on the billboards and advertising, which cannot be bought, nor can be collected in any way. You can only gaze at it, not own it.
Consider the world's greatest enjoyment and pleasure. You will see, in reality it is only a minute or two minutes of pleasure. That joy is such that it is lost as soon as it is obtained.
In reality, these pleasures and enjoyments are merely a faint reflection of the pleasures and enjoyments of the Hereafter. What is momentary here is actually everlasting in the hereafter.
Just as the shopkeeper offers a small amount of food on a tiny spoon to taste. If desired, the buyer will buy it and eat it with satisfaction. However, the matters of this world are somewhat similar. In the world, you will only get a glimpse of its pleasures. There will be contentment and fulfillment in the hereafter. That's why you will see the sinner, he is unsatisfied even after enjoying forbidden pleasures. When he sees new delighting materials, he becomes unsettled again. As if he had never experienced it. In this way, even if he becomes completely weak, his thirst does not decrease. He is like a thirsty man drinking the salt water of the sea. The more he drinks, the thirstier he becomes.
Thirst of wealth is like that. The poor man who lives in a mud house, eats barley bread, walks in worn clothes, walks barefoot or rides in a donkey cart, he thinks - if only he could sleep in the bed of the rich just for one day! If only he could eat at the table of the rich just once! If only he could ride in the millionaire's car for a while! Then he would gain all the happiness! But the rich man, accustomed to these luxuries, finds no pleasure in them...
The pleasures and joys of the world are akin mirages. Do you know what the mirage is? From a distance it appears as a big pond, but as you approach, it transforms into dry desert land. There seems to be a lot of water, but it is merely an illusion from afar!...'
Here, a vivid description of the world and its enjoyments emerges.
He explains the context of his second feeling thus—
'Once upon a time. I went on a trip from Bairut to Jeddah with my younger brother. Sitting at the airport hotel having breakfast and waiting. The hotel is full of people. Everyone is busy eating and talking. If you observe closely, you'll feel that they are close friends. It seems that they will never be separated from each other. Their unity seems unbreakable...
But every four hours at that airport, a plane takes off, another lands. Suddenly, the speaker announced that the BA201 flight was leaving for London shortly. As soon as the announcement was made, a group of people left their food and drinks and ran away.
Then it was announced that the flight to Jakarta was leaving shortly. Immediately, another group of people left their meals and got up to leave. Another plane is leaving for America, another towards the Congo, another towards Iran, another towards Moscow.
Seeing this situation of people, I said to my brother, this is our life. We are absorbed in eating and drinking and various pleasures. In the meantime, whenever the call of the announcer comes, someone goes to the forest of Africa, someone to Siberia, someone to Paris, someone to New York.
The person who has made full preparations for the journey, completed the necessary tasks, organized belongings, and lightened their load, he calmly departs on the journey. And the one whose turn has come but he is still unprepared. He, who has not yet completed the necessary preparations, is also departing; without preparation.
Let's take a look, have we completed the preparations for the biggest journey in life? Do we carry the necessary provisions with us? Or are we pretending to forget the death? Or do we think that death is too far away?
Here, we are praying the funeral prayers (Janazah), burying the deceased, bid farewell to so many. Yet, even after all this, still our thinking about the world is so much, it seems as if we will stay here forever! As if death is for all except me alone!' — Suwarun Wa Khawatir, p. 5-12

Last word
Today, at the beginning of this new year, let's think about ourselves for a moment and make firm resolutions. Let's endeavor to make our life more beautiful again. Let's make our faith, actions and character beautiful. Let's make the utmost effort to attain proximity to Allah. Let's fervently pray for success in both this world and the Hereafter. Let's remember the words of the Prophet, peace be upon him-
كُنْ فِي الدُّنْيَا كَأَنَّكَ غَرِيبٌ أَوْ عَابِرُ سَبِيلٍ، وَعُدَّ نَفْسَكَ فِي أَهْلِ القُبُورِ
In the world you live like a stranger or a traveler and count yourself among the inhabitants of the grave. (That is, remember that you will surely go to the grave.) — Jame Tirmidhi, Hadith 2333

We also recall this wise advice of Hazrat Abdullah Ibn Umar RA -
إِذَا أَمْسَيْتَ فَلَا تَنْتَظِرِ الصَّبَاحَ, وَإِذَا أَصْبَحْتَ فَلَا تَنْتَظِرِ الْمَسَاءَ, وَخُذْ مِنْ صِحَّتِكَ لِمَرَضِكَ, وَمِنْ حَيَاتِكَ ِمَوْتِكَ,[ فَإِنَّكَ لَا تَدْرِي يَا عَبْدَ اللهِ مَا اسْمُكَ غَدًا.
When you reach the evening, do not wait for the morning. When you arrive in the morning, don't wait for the evening. Prepare for sickness during good health and prepare for death while living. O servant of God! You don't know what your title will be tomorrow (dead or alive)! —Sahih Bukhari, Hadith 6416; Jame' Tirmidhi, Hadith 2333
May Allah, the Most High, grant us all the ability to overcome all types of negligence and indifference and bless us to lead a beautiful life oriented towards the Hereafter. - Ameen.

Translation: Rasel Khan