A Hopeful Eye on One

Life, as we knew it, changed forever in 2020 with millions suffering personal loss and suffering. Yet I, at least, have much to be grateful for and send out a big thank you to the Universe for being able to bid adieu to 2020 with equanimity. A quick look at the little lessons and happenings from a year that the entire world (including yours truly) is fed up of.

Be careful of what you ask for!

I began 2020 with resignation from my day job. Why? Well because I wanted to – work from home. Honest! I am not kidding. My request and resignation were both denied. You’ll never guess what happened soon afterwards! 😀

I have to confess, I enjoy WFH (just not the means I got my wish) and quite dread the thought of going back to traffic battles and regular office schedules. But then again, at home, there is no off office hours. And that’s another take home message – can’t have your cake and eat it too.

Shedding baggage

After decades of vacillating, I had just set in motion a workout plan and intermittent fasting schedule when lock down was imposed. With no distractions or excuses, in a first, I lost 5 kg. Close encounters with the coronavirus helped me lose another 2.5 kg which, I have since re-appropriated. I just hope I don’t catch the virus again for although the first one was a mild infection, the post-covid phase weakness, fatigue and muscle pain took over four months to resolve. Makes me wonder how the other survivors are faring – get well soon!

And Breaking Free

I broke free of the self-imposed shackles of anonymity and apprehensions of being a pretentious story teller and took the plunge. I self-published a collection of my short stories and despite misgivings and dropped the pseudonym too. I learned that I had needlessly worried the fall out of coming out as a fiction writer. Nobody even blinked! Ah well such is life.

I am grateful that despite everything, friends and family have bought the book (and waited endlessly for the paperback). I am particularly grateful to all those who took the pains to leave a review on Amazon and Goodreads. I was very touched with their kindness and generosity, particularly from my little ones (when did they grow up so much!!!) and couldn’t help creating a little slideshow. Thank you for making me believe, keeping my spirits up and not regret breaking free.

Que sera sera

As an indie author, there have been phases where I felt stuck and boxed in as I struggled to showcase Breaking Free and was met with high flying assurances but no action. It is interesting that the negative reinforcements were more powerful and overwhelming than the positive ones. But I have since made my peace with it and have no resentment, only gratefulness. Whatever will be, will be. As the Bhagwad Gita says, “You have a right to perform your prescribed duty, but you are not entitled to the fruits of actions.” Released, I have found a new (well, actually the original) obsession – watch this space!

Predictions do come true!

According to ancient Maya predictions dated more than 2,200 years ago that the world, as we know it would end on December 21, 2012. According to this vision (and/or imaginings), there would be fires and floods, planetary collisions, extreme global warming and mass extinction, and explosions large and small. But, of course, the world didn’t end then, did it? Yet now, I can’t help think that perhaps that prediction did have some basis to it as the world as we know it has ended and there is now a buzz of the new normal. Besides, it was probably a miscalculation (or misinterpretation) of just 8 years. Interestingly, a friend accurately predicted I would break free this year, right down to the month!

Frippery apart, I am keenly aware and deeply grateful that I am among the blessed ones in these pandemic times with its uncountable deaths and immeasurable misery and suffering. For those who have suffered and lost, allow me to offer you my heartfelt condolences and hope that we all find peace and have a healthy 2021.

Here’s hoping for a happy, healthy, safe, enjoyable, productive and happening 2021 🙂