This year has finally brought an end to my blogging exile. The last blog I wrote was in 2021 and the last year end blog was a decade back in 2014 ! So much has changed since then that I can't begin to fathom how quickly the time elapsed!
Every year doesn't have to be about big achievements and milestones. Quietly growing and evolving, moving towards your goals, learning new skills and getting out of your comfort zone also tantamount to a successful year.
End of year and beginning of the new year is always overwhelming for me... Mainly because it hits me that I survived another year without some very special people... So when everyone is posting about their achievements and milestones, I sit back and retrospect... And amaze myself that I got through for 18 years when I thought I couldn't stand 18 seconds.. and I pat myself on the back that I did pretty damn well even if nobody acknowledges it. Some people always ask me, after all this time? And, like Snape, I answer - Always. Somehow the past always haunts me even after all these years. Passage of time doesn't take the grief away. Often the new year and festivals amplify it. And so I have not been able to measure life in any other way but by how many times I showed up when I wanted it desperately to just end. And my success rate is 100 percent so far.
Professionally, 2024 was a blessed year. I got a decent appraisal, handled multiple clients and got some real appreciation from the client as well as my boss. I excelled my excel skills a bit more and even got something called a mouse hand syndrome because of excessive workload ! But I think all of this looks worth when your work is acknowledged. But what's even more rewarding was the work life balance that I was able to get albeit pulling off some all-nighters!
If you don't know, the thing to do is not to get scared, but to learn.- Ayn Rand.
On a personal front, I feel I have grown to be a more spiritual person relying on myself for healing the pain that doesn't seem to diminish and the baggage that I somehow seems to be getting heavier even after all these years. I used to believe communication is the key but I learnt this year that over-communication can also be devastating! So, equipping myself to keep my insanity to myself in 2025!
There are a few learnings from 2024 that I'd like to carry forward:
1. Show up with the brightest lipstick and boldest eyeliner when you don't feel like getting out of your bed. It's amazing how our mind plays games so just fake it till you make it.
2. Work hard so that you can fulfill your childhood dream of exploring as much as possible of this little wonder called Earth.
3. I finally let go of my laziness and started doing some real yoga. It was high time that I took my health into some serious consideration after I kept vomiting almost 5 times a month. So, cleaned my diet and started some relaxing yoga. Hopefully, this is going to carry forward in 2025 with some more zeal!
4. I don't have to go above and beyond for people who never show up for me. And I can't emphasize enough on this but DON'T feel guilty about it even for a bit. Anything that gives me stress (I am VERY prone to emotional stress) needs to vanquish. Period.
5. My shopping bills shot up exorbitantly high this year! I think that Myntra earns the highest revenue from me! Although, I don't really understand why this happened. I mean, I barely get out of my oversized t-shirts and lounge pants ever since I got WFH. Somehow, I am not feeling very bad about this :P So, I might try just a tad bit to limit my shopping in 2025 :D
6. I don't have to be the bigger person all the time and try to fix something that wasn't really there. What flows, flows. There is no space for forced relations and friendships in my mind anymore.
7. It's crazy how peaceful life becomes when you remove yourself from toxic vibes and sneaky manipulations. If people think your presence is a nuisance out of pure envy and spite then believe them and simply remove your presence. Let happiness prevail in lives of all the concerned parties! Peace.
8. Keep the kid in you alive because adulthood sucks big time! Thank God for some fun-loving nephews & niece in my life!
9. Grateful for family & friends who are love & sunshine! Made some new friends, lost some old ones and reconnected with a few who I had lost touch with thanks to instagram & whatsapp! Technology is not all that bad!
10. Never get tired of saying this but extremely thankful for my husband. A peaceful partner is all you need to face life. It's an icing on the cake when he doesn't mind your hefty credit card bills. :P Praying for patience for him all the time because he needs to handle a taurean with a bad case of mood swings & tantrums :D
11. Learnt how to drive. Those who know me well are aware that having lost a family member in a road rage accident made me averse to vehicles per se! I had difficulty crossing roads for so many years. But some divine sign led to my determination to finally let go of my inhibitions and learn the skill. I am so proud of myself for overcoming my fears and I don't think anybody except me understands what it means to me... what a confidence boost it has given me...more importantly, I could feel some pride being showered from above the heaven for being brave one more time.
12. Somehow, I survived another year as DINK (God, these Gen Z terms! This one is a favourite though!) although some of my very close friends succumbed ! I am in awe with them because I feel that changing every aspect of your life for a new blessing requires some serious sacrifices and determination.
13. Perfected my culinary skills. I can modestly say that I am a good cook now and this is saying something because there was a time when I considered cooking to be a rocket science. I feel extremely proud & happy when the family says that my cooking comes straight from the heart!
14. Accepted ageing as a natural aspect of life and embraced grey hair with grace! I decided this year to never use hair colour or chemical dyes to hide the greys ! Although I have started taking some serious interest in skincare and haircare now that I am on the other side of 30! Accepting my frizzy, haywire hair and open pores without any complaints now!
15. Still learning to trust the process and surrender to the Supreme Power. I have to continuously keep reminding myself that what's not in my control is not my problem. The Ultimate CA has his own ways and means to balance the Balance Sheet and I have no business worrying about the profit & loss.
Starting 2025 with only one prayer - Dear God, lead the way. Manifesting only positive energy, good vibes and health in 2025! Striving to make this year about living life to the fullest, fulfilling some more dreams, ticking off some bucket list items, keeping my expectations low from others and extremely high from my own self in every aspect of life and more importantly, be a good human being.
