It’s customary for me to write a New Year post, reminiscing on how the year went by. It normally comes up before/on New Year’s Eve. But since change’s the only constant, here I am, doing it on New Year's day.
Looking back, it’s one of those years that flashed by. Well, I said the same about last year too. Is it something about the life we live today? I guess it is. Each day gone even before we realize it dawned. The fast pace of life coupled with being busy at work, makes you live life from one weekend to the other (and still it seems so transient). Minutes rushing into hours; hours into days; days into weeks; weeks into months – and then into a whole freakin’ year! When it ends is when it suddenly dawns – a year actually did pass by. What did I do?
I remember the last New Year. On Jan 1, 2012 I watched a movie – Sherlock Holmes 2. They say what you do on New Year’s Day in an indication of what lies ahead. And I did end up doing that for the rest of the year; and in plenty! I think I watched more movies at a theatre this year, compared to what I had watched in my entire life till then! I was disappointed, surprised, depressed, bored, impressed…
Yes, my list of movies at the theatre include the kinds of JTHJ, Mausam and Heroine (yes, I do make bad choices!) to Talaash, Barfi, Ustaad Hotel, Thattathin Marayathu; to a bunch of animated 3D ones too – Ice Age 3, Brave, Hotel Transylvania et al. And I closed the Year with a movie too – The Rise of the Guardians. This came as a surprise plan – I really didn’t have anything cut out for New Year’s Eve. But I am glad I watched it. It is an endearing movie which makes me reaffirm my belief in hope and goodness.
If I had to summarize my year – it was like the movies I had seen. This year, I have been disappointed, surprised, depressed, bored and impressed – for reasons that affect me, my family or friends. I don’t remember being put on such an emotional roller-coaster any time in the past. There’s a part of me that died; a part of me that grew; a part of me I saw, which I didn’t know existed. I've been pushed into the abyss; I have been on the clouds. It’s been quite a year – nothing much has changed at the face of it – I still work at the same place, I still live in the same place, my marital status is the same, I pretty much look the same (except for some weight I managed to gain!). But something inside me has changed; and hopefully it’s for the good. And I enter this New Year on the note of hope and optimism, just as in the last movie I saw. The headlines, ‘breaking news’ and general bleak outlook notwithstanding – I hope for the best; because as one of my favourite quotes go, “I hope for the best, since hoping for less doesn't seem to improve the results.”
So here’s to a New Year sans resolutions, only hope. Let it bring all what you need, and not what you want. Cheers!
