So 2016 is now officially over and all we can do is look back at the year gone by, think about all the experiences we had and all the pain and happiness that this year brought. I am not one for resolutions so I don't do too much of those but at the beginning of every year, I try to imagine how that year might be. Of course, the best thing about life is the unpredictability and the highs and lows of a year are often much more than I can ever imagine. So today, I will think about all that 2016 brought and as always, imagine how 2017 might be (only to be proved wrong by life)!
If I have to put it in a nutshell, 2016 was one of the most eventful years of my life. There was so much that happened that I could probably write a series of blogs about it (and I have written a few). The year started with a lot of uncertainty as I struggled to get a job in US. At that time, I had no idea what the year would bring or where I would eventually land up! Well February answered that question for me and sent me to Stamford in snow-covered Connecticut. The next nine months were a continuous stream of new experiences and it almost seems like a short story about a small part of my life. Now that I am back in Florida, it seems a little surreal that just a couple of months ago, I was in a completely different city living a completely (well almost) different life. But if there is anything that my time in Stamford has taught me, it is to always be open to new opportunities. You never know what it would lead to and the new friends you might make! The time also taught me how to deal with a long distance marriage and it's difficulties. It was tough but it made us realize the importance of communication and the extra effort it takes to keep the romance alive. And when I finally moved back to Florida, I also experienced the happiness of returning home. The year ended on a great note with my family coming down from India and Canada to celebrate the holidays. Amidst all the celebrations and the good times, I also learnt that family gatherings are not always picture-perfect but they are still beautiful! I can sum up the year in my favorite line from Sex and the City (well this line always makes sense)... "After all, seasons change. So do cities. People come into your life and people go. But it's comforting to know the ones you love are always in your heart. And if you're very lucky, a plane ride away."
So now that an amazing year is over, it is time for the more interesting part - imagining how the next year would be. Would it bring some unexpected happiness? Would there be troubles that I can't even think of right now? Would I have to let go of people (which incidentally is my biggest fear in life)? The questions are never easy nor can I ever answer them confidently. And whenever I try to answer, life changes the questions. So all I have learnt is to prepare myself and vow to always try and be a better version of myself. A new and improved version if that even exists. After all, isn't that all we can do... take our experiences and try to make our lives better? In fact all I know for sure right now is that I have to be back at work tomorrow after a week of vacation and my inbox is overflowing...! Everything else is a mystery and the unknown is always fun! But here are a few things I have thought of:
Things I'm looking forward to: Getting settled in my new job, seeing the world more, going to India to meet my parents (more of a wish than anything more)
Things I'm not looking forward to: Turning 30!!!
And that's all I know right now... 2017... I don't know everything that you would bring. And to tell you the truth, I love surprises. I might not be prepared for all that you put in my path but I will not stop walking and who knows... I might even end up running!
If I have to put it in a nutshell, 2016 was one of the most eventful years of my life. There was so much that happened that I could probably write a series of blogs about it (and I have written a few). The year started with a lot of uncertainty as I struggled to get a job in US. At that time, I had no idea what the year would bring or where I would eventually land up! Well February answered that question for me and sent me to Stamford in snow-covered Connecticut. The next nine months were a continuous stream of new experiences and it almost seems like a short story about a small part of my life. Now that I am back in Florida, it seems a little surreal that just a couple of months ago, I was in a completely different city living a completely (well almost) different life. But if there is anything that my time in Stamford has taught me, it is to always be open to new opportunities. You never know what it would lead to and the new friends you might make! The time also taught me how to deal with a long distance marriage and it's difficulties. It was tough but it made us realize the importance of communication and the extra effort it takes to keep the romance alive. And when I finally moved back to Florida, I also experienced the happiness of returning home. The year ended on a great note with my family coming down from India and Canada to celebrate the holidays. Amidst all the celebrations and the good times, I also learnt that family gatherings are not always picture-perfect but they are still beautiful! I can sum up the year in my favorite line from Sex and the City (well this line always makes sense)... "After all, seasons change. So do cities. People come into your life and people go. But it's comforting to know the ones you love are always in your heart. And if you're very lucky, a plane ride away."
So now that an amazing year is over, it is time for the more interesting part - imagining how the next year would be. Would it bring some unexpected happiness? Would there be troubles that I can't even think of right now? Would I have to let go of people (which incidentally is my biggest fear in life)? The questions are never easy nor can I ever answer them confidently. And whenever I try to answer, life changes the questions. So all I have learnt is to prepare myself and vow to always try and be a better version of myself. A new and improved version if that even exists. After all, isn't that all we can do... take our experiences and try to make our lives better? In fact all I know for sure right now is that I have to be back at work tomorrow after a week of vacation and my inbox is overflowing...! Everything else is a mystery and the unknown is always fun! But here are a few things I have thought of:
Things I'm looking forward to: Getting settled in my new job, seeing the world more, going to India to meet my parents (more of a wish than anything more)
Things I'm not looking forward to: Turning 30!!!
And that's all I know right now... 2017... I don't know everything that you would bring. And to tell you the truth, I love surprises. I might not be prepared for all that you put in my path but I will not stop walking and who knows... I might even end up running!
