Au revoir 2020 - Bienvenue 2021

This year 2020, I would call it a year which went on mute. A year so uncomfortable, so painful, so scary, so raw - that it finally forced us to grow is what I felt this entire year. A year that screams so loud, finally awakened us from our ignorant slumber. A year we finally accept the need for change, declare change, work for change, and become the change. And we all bond together, instead of pushing each other further apart. For me, 2020 isn't cancelled, but rather the most important year of them all.

This year has taught me so much that it has made me more self-sufficient in many ways. It has taken out the better version in me. Today I choose: calm over chaos, flow over frustration, peace over perfection, faith over fear, heart over hustle, and alignment above all else. I am thankful for all the nights that turned into beautiful mornings, friends that turned in to family and dreams that turned in to reality. The commitment I took over upon self unveils the best version in me now. In the rush to return to normal, I used this time to consider which part of normal is worth rushing back to.

Today I am thankful and think how rich I am not in terms of the material accept, but in terms of my family and friends are priceless to me. And my time is gold and have learnt health is wealth. In this small life, I have always tried dreaming big. And this year has allowed me to fulfil those dreams. Starting a few months of this year when the pandemic was on its high and when we all were facing our first-ever lockdown when nothing was accessible and we all under house arrest. Where nobody was allowed to go out. Meeting our loved and dear ones were just a question mark.

It was not a cakewalk for me as well. Handling my 6-year-old son and along with whole house chores without daily helpers, family people working from home. No offices, no schools. Completely locked inside the house without even stepping out and meeting my aged old parents, who were earlier on their regulars visits to meet me and their grandson, which now turned in to video calls. All our normal life has taken a set back. Initially, it was difficult to get used to this new normal and make my son understand about this new lifestyle. But he was very soon on his track and much settled, calm ever before. For months we didn't step out of our house. And my son was totally fine and happy inside the house learning different things and staying happy with us.

Slowly I started to get myself and my son occupied in whatever way I can. I turned this time as a blessing in disguise. We started learning new things. I engaged my son in many online courses, like yoga, chanting slokas, drawing. I started teaching him cooking too. I wrote many articles as never wrote before. I have a closed group of bloggers, where we together help each other in keeping ourselves busy in expressing our ideas and this helped me in expressing my views and feelings. And yes this is where I published my first ever two books. My first book on Shayari's and another book in Kindle edition, which I never dreamt I would make it this fast. Apart from writing, I started painting too after a long gap. Baked and cooked varieties of dishes. Became more regular in exercise, yoga and meditation.

This new normal lifestyle gave me more peace and happiness than never before. Relished the food cooked at home. Our health got much better and our immunity increased. Didn't eat outside food for almost a year. All this happened because of this pandemic, which helped us in keeping connected with our roots which we all had left behind in our busy hush-hush life. Now we all know the value of food, relations, and most importantly got to know the importance of time. There is no better or best time to start anything new which one love to start. This year taught me the importance of Now.

Lastly, as we are on the last day of the year, I want to thank everyone who made me smile this year, supported me in the times when I went completely off. Let's pray and wish that coming 2021 will be all about good vibes, more happiness, less pain, stronger relationships and being more focused. Bring it on 2021, we are ready as never before.

As quoted by my master Gurudev Sri.Sri.Ravishankar: "Time changes people, but there are people who change the time. May you be one of them."

Wishing you all and your family very Happy and Prosperous 2021.