As the last week of December draws in, it's time to draw lessons from the year about to finish and make resolutions for the year ahead. I do this every year, only to realize nearly half of them remain unfulfilled. May be it is difficult to plan for an entire year, not knowing what life holds for us the very next moment and what circumstances await us.
2019 taught me many things. While I have always known this, it was only over the last year I understood how a small piece of news can change our life completely and everything we dreamt of. It even made me look at the world from an entirely different perspective. I consider it an important lesson in humility- in the grandiose scheme of Universe, my life is but a tiny speck of dust. It also made me realize the pretentiousness and shallowness of everything we strive for- position, fame, riches, comforts. Being able to live the difference is a huge source of strength for anything that comes next.
Each year I hope and dream and (earnestly) plan for things I wish to do in the year ahead to make my life richer and more meaningful. Yet, it is often the things we need to stop doing which will bring an immediate palpable change in our lives. Difficult as they may sound (and habits do stick hard!), the entire process of exercising restraint is a mammoth boost to one's will power and strength.
And then there are the 'in' words- hygge, lykke, ikigai, lagom, fika and the likes. No checklist can tell us the source code of happiness. Neither the books. Nor another person. We are all unique- so are our needs, likings, aspirations. And so should be our resolutions- for another year, for marriage, for our children and for life ahead.
With this newly acquired clarity, for once I will strive to achieve the tiny goals I set out for myself in the soonest measure of time (not necessarily a year).
Of all the things,
1- I shall not offer any unsolicited advice and bite my tongue if I feel compelled from within. And by same token, insulate myself from people's opinions (shaped by their understandings and experiences) thrust upon me. Most days, our intuition knows the correct path.
2- I shall limit any of my purchases to days which are multiples of three- 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30. Any purchase of clothes, accessories or toiletries to be preceded either by giving away an equivalent(or greater) quantity or recycling an empty container of the same. By all means, declutter.
3- 20 minutes digital break every waking hour. Social media confined to hours when both kids are out of the house. Social media and online shopping guillotine at 9 pm.
4- Trying a new bake every week- with diversified but locally grown (and available) ingredients.
5- Growing more and more plants at home, at office, all around myself. I have an 'urban jungle' in mind.
5- Devoting atleast 4 hours each week to hobbies- writing this blog, drawing, photography, running.
6- Doing a new thing each day- new route, new food, new work out.
7- Blocking negativity in all forms- emotions, thoughts, people. Impossible things happen only if imagined at some point by someone. Anything is possible.
8- Pray. Meditate. Observe.
9- Undertake one bucket list journey each year- a trek, a drive, a pilgrimage but a must!
10- Lastly, appreciate and feel grateful for my blessings each day.
