The Reset Year!

Year 2022 - the year where the world started its reset from a pandemic that had almost obliterated the last 2 years. And we are already at the fag end of the calendar - that last festive week when people travel to meet their loved ones, to escape from routine, they get together with friends and family to celebrate endings and welcome new beginnings.  

As with each year, 2022 has also been a ride - perhaps it was a roller coaster for some whilst it was smooth sailing for the luckier ones. But a ride is a ride - it always takes you somewhere. And what better time than now to look back and see how far we have come? 

I have now completed 2 years since I gave up my corporate life and the transition, whilst not quite what I had planned, seems complete. And I have zero regrets!

The best way for me to relive the last 12 months is to look through my photo album on my phone (anyone who knows me will know why!!) and what I see reminds me of how blessed I am - as I see so many happy memories at home, in our villa, with my numero uno (my daughter who is more and more becoming a partner) and our Luke (who brings so much joy and unconditional love), with the colorful flowers in my garden and with Nature; I see so many beautiful moments with a handful of really precious friends that I have chosen to spend my time with; I see travels again to near and far places with family and friends - I see concerts, picnics, walks. I see a lot of happy connections and I see a lot of disconnected me-time - time for retrospection, of learning, of growing. 

And yes, I have grown. And yes, I have learnt. 

I have grown older and hopefully wiser. I am more grateful and thankful than ever before. I no longer push for anything that seems a struggle. I have always accepted what is - now, I have learnt to celebrate it as a blessing. I have understood that “growth” does not always have to be visible to the world - deep growth often is not. I do not need to show or prove anything to anyone. As long as I know I am not stagnating, I know that I am expanding my roots deeper and deeper - as if to connect to that very core of existence - I am growing. My mind is still full of ideas, concepts and whilst my efforts at making something out of them may not always turn out the way I would have liked, I haven’t stopped thinking or dreaming - I doubt I ever will. 

As for lessons learnt, I could go on till the cows come home! There have been so many. 

First, I have realized that for a few life lessons to hit home, you need to completely bring yourself and most of your systems to a halt. We, modern day humans, place far too much importance on the need to always be doing something. I have discovered this year that there is much to be learnt by just being there - by just being and by being there for those that matter. 

Being. Just being. Breathing and simply acknowledging your breath and all that it does for you. I have never been able to begin serious meditation, though I have wanted to - but this year has taught me the power of just being - being in the moment, being present in the now - the only thing we have, actually. I now have a couple of routines that may not qualify as meditation, but grounds me and makes me feel part of a much larger whole at any given time. It has taught to me sit back and watch how life strives and how life shines and it’s all a part of that ride we call “living”. 

Being. Being there. Being there for someone who needs you to do just that for him/her to carry on. I have always strived to “be there” for those who have needed me but this last year, due to a lot of free time and zilch stress on my mind, I have been able to be there for those that have needed me. And I consider each of these occasions as my blessing. And I have learnt that in life, you don’t always have to play the leading actor - sometimes, the supporting roles are more important and critical to other’s success. It doesn’t make you any less of a person; it doesn’t mean you aren’t doing enough - it is meaningful and amply rewarding. 

Finally, I have learnt to be gracious and open in accepting that not everything needs to be done by me, as it has always been in my past. I am blessed enough to receive so much care, affection, attention - and learning to accept them with humility and gratitude has, I believe, made me a larger person. In doing so, I feel more connected with my world and with those who matter to me. I am able to balance so much better my need to be with myself and with those I care for. 

2022 has indeed been a watershed year with new ways of living and working and loving evolving as we learnt to readjust to the new normal and made adjustments to our eco-systems. It has been a reminder of that indomitable spirit we humans possess to overcome ordeals and surge ahead. And I am proud I was able to witness this, be a part of it. 

As life progresses and we get ready for 2023 and all that it has in store for us, may each of us go forward with hope, empathy and resolve. A life is well-lived when you continue to look forward ….. let's not take ourselves and everything around us too seriously and strive to have as much fun as we can while we start yet another ride..... the trick is to always keep moving, come what may! 

Onwards and upwards, as always <3

Happy 2023 to all your wonderful people out there.