Dear Friends,
Christmas is over and we’re approaching the New Year.
Looking back at 2017
There were ups and downs, surprises and shocks, smiles and tears and LEARNING! Loads of learning!
If I had to give the year a name like the Chinese do. You know like “the year of the monkey”, “the year of the snake”; for me it was ” The year of learning”. I passed some. I failed some. But I learnt a little more about myself, about life and about what was truly important, through each of them- the good, the bad, the ugly.
With husband away for most of the year on work, I couldn’t have managed home, work and teens without a few God-sent souls. Through this post I’d like to thank all those who helped make 2017 easier for me.
A BIG THANK YOU
The first thanks is to google! Yes google. From answers on symptoms of illnesses to answers to school projects on Medieval History to solving the mystery of opening a salsa bottle, it was there at my finger-tips. I finally learnt the knack! Simply take a knife, tap the edges of the lid on the top, then turn it upside down, put the knife between the lid and the bottle and it goes “pop”. No rocket science at all 🙂 but the ease amazed me especially after all the tugging with a cloth around the lid, twisting, turning and heating the lid did nothing at all. No need to be nervous at all. Old grandmotherly advice, modern science gizmos, teen jargon all in my reach thanks to Uncle Google!
Thanks to the grocery man in the shop around the corner. In my heart I thanked him several times. Every-time I placed an order and he understood with no multiple choice questions on brands, sizes making my life easier and every-time I remembered to add just one more item after I had put the phone down. Courteous, patient and helpful, this grocery would deliver even the smallest item as soon as I requested for it, even if that call was made at unearthly hours and for something as small as celery leaves. No matter how much I planned on avoiding that call, I somehow always ended up running short of onions or milk or bread in the midst of everything. This grocery shop was so instrumental in helping me juggle.
Thanks to the maintenance guy in the building deserves my gratitude too. He was not only extremely helpful in fixing the clogged kitchen drain and the air-conditioner when it stopped cooling during the summer month but also arranged a very reliable car pick so I could take the children for their tuition classes even when husband wasn’t around.
Thanks to my colleague at office. If not for her, I may not have continued or been able to keep my sanity in the midst of a crazy year with projects, unwell team members, teen pressure and audit. She isn’t comfortable with calling herself my friend. It’s one of those relations without a name. She’s been my sounding board, my well-wisher, my diary. You know who you are😊
A big thank you to my friends who’d drop a call, a message to check if things were fine at my end and who invited me to dinners and lunches even when I could not extend invitations because I was simply too exhausted managing the daily stuff. Thank you for being there and for adding the much-needed fun to an otherwise mechanical life.
A very big thank you to family who’ve been with me in spirit through what’s app and skype and have sent me prayers and strength and given me loads of space to find my way. Thank you for not asking questions, for keeping zero expectations and for letting me be. Love you all and am truly grateful to have you.
A big, big thank you to all my wonderful readers on WordPress who read every post I wrote, understood how I felt at the time and shared your feelings with me. Your comments made me smile just before I put off the lights and retired to bed and helped me smile when I woke up in the morning and found it waiting for my moderation. Your comments reassured me that my voice was heard and you’ll cared enough to drop in a line. I look forward to getting to know you more in 2018 through the written word. Wishing you’ll loads of writing, creativity and imagination in 2018.
Takeaway
While the year had a number of twists and turns, every turn leaving a lesson in it’s wake, there were thrills and there were heartbreaks.
One major takeaway for me from 2017 is not to be judgmental. This year taught me through ways more than one that I must not be quick to judge. Just as they say “Don’t judge a book by it’s cover”, so I too must not judge. While I do know all about ” you don’t know another man’s journey”, I have been guilty of doing so. I have been proved wrong and I am not ashamed to accept that I have erred.
2018 Resolution
To get back to reading with a vengeance. To write more. To look at life with an open mind. I’m going to make “Exploration and More Learning” my mantra for 2018.
To my readers
- What’s your 2017 takeaway? Looking forward to reading your comments. Share it and maybe we can all learn a little from each other’s experiences so we don’t need to make the same mistakes.
- What’s your resolution for 2018? If you haven’t made one, then check out my post Make those Resolutions in December
With these question, I’d like to end this last post for 2017 and I’d like to wish each one of you a wonderful 2018!
I truly hope and pray the coming year brings with it loads of happiness, good health and peace your way.
Loads of love,
Smitha V
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