2023 in 23

At the end of the year, when I look back in retrospect, I feel that I haven't done justice to this space. I started last year in high spirits, determined to write regularly and keep the blogging mojo going. I was fairly regular until March and then life took a U-turn. A big risk at work paid off and I was looking at a new role with truckloads of responsibility. It was something I hadn't dabbled in, so it needed all my focus. Everything else automatically took a back seat. 

It has been such an experience that I cannot begin to articulate it. It was an emotional roller coaster and in the end I came out a better person. That's all that matters, right?

2023 has been fascinating in more ways than one. It has been a motley of emotions, high, low and in-between. Having been away from the writing space for a long time, it will take me a while to get back the creativity to flow. For now, I'm going with the most unoriginal concept of trying to summarize 2023 in 23 points.

1. Busy. If I had to describe 2023 in one word, that would be it. My entire life turned topsy-turvy and the first thing to go kaput was my work-life balance. Like a chain reaction, this took down my mental health.

2. I learned that multi-tasking is a myth. You can't do multiple things at once and ace everything. Also, something always gets missed out, no matter how much you do. Once I accepted this, things became clearer and better.

3. As much as I hate it, I'm someone who associates her self-worth and identity to the professional work I do. Coming from a family background like mine, this job gave me everything that I have today. It is almost impossible for me to not be heavily vested in it. But yes, I'm working on finding a right balance for my own sanity.

4. There was a decent amount of travel this year too. Before taking up the new role, we went on a holiday to Europe. It was one of the best experiences of our life. Travel makes you humble and teaches you so much. There was a good amount of other travel too, most of which included road-trips and staycations with our furry boy.

5. Trying to restore a semblance of normalcy in my busy life, I turned to reading before hitting the bed every night. This was the only me-time I had for myself and I cherished it. Now, when I look back at my Goodreads account, I see that I've read 105 books this year. Considering the year that I've had, if this is not a victory, then I don't know what is.

6. Honestly, it is not like I did not have the time to write. I guess my mind was so occupied with other things that I could not put my actual thoughts to paper. I have more than 8 draft posts at the moment. Posts I intend to get to this year.

7. As I grow older, I'm feeling the need to go slower and disconnect. I'm more closer to my 40s than my 30s now and I've realized a plethora of things over the last five years. A smaller social circle, good conversations, family time with my boys - this is all I need to stay content. Everything else is irrelevant. 

8. I've become a much calmer person. Work pressures and being responsible for 50+ people will teach you that. It also is the need of the hour. I've been a volatile and impulsive person for most of my life. I've seen myself change the last decade. For the good.

9. I've mastered the art of indifference. This is what helped me become a calm person. I've learned to not react to the unimportant things and only focus on things that matter to me.

10. Not everyone you know, will be happy for your success. Some people only watch you to see what you are doing and how. 

11. You are never truly alone. Chores will always be there for you. It is only when you stop doing a few things at home, you realize how much you actually do. Gosh, it actually is exhausting to be woman. A woman working outside and inside the house, at that.

12. It is hard to detach. As an highly emotional individual, I tend to get emotionally involved with the people I work with or those in my personal life. I've learned to draw a line now and be okay with letting them go. This has made me a much stronger person.

13. At the risk of sounding a fossil years old, I'm going to say this. I find social media noisy and unnecessary these days. Not to mention that it is filled with vitriol. My love for reading and writing is the only thing that is keeping me there. Blogging entirely depends on readership, without SM it almost becomes impossible for your posts to reach your readers. I run a fairly successful book page on Instagram. That is something that I cherish and intend to continue. 

14. Privacy has never mattered more to me than now. I'm trying to stay as low profile as I can and keep my life guarded. People have been calling me boring for this. So be it.

15. I've realized the importance of networking in a professional environment and genuine connections in personal life. Quality over quantity, any day.

16. Unlearning is probably more important than learning new things. When you come from toxic households, unlearning is the first step in trying to lead a normal life.

17. I no longer feel the need to debate or argue. I still am a highly opiniated person, but, I've learned to keep it to myself now. 

18. Apart from marrying the love of my life at 26, being voluntarily child-free has been the best decision of my life. People often ask me if I regret it, especially as a woman. Not one bit.

19. This year, I've seen that women don't stand-up for women as much and as often as they should. It is sad to see that, but it is a relief to realize that I'm not one of them.

20. Maturity makes you an introvert. It also makes you realize how toxic you have been in the past. That's when unlearning matters the most. You can't go back and correct those situations, but you can ensure that it doesn't happen again in the future. At least, you shall not be the cause for it.

21. People ask me to make up with the people who have wronged me, as life is too short. I decide to stay away from them for that very reason. Life is really short, I'd rather spend it with the people who matter.

22. I took a sustainable approach to life a few years ago. This year on, it would be simplistic too. Materialistic possessions do not excite me anymore. My focus remains on the needs and not the wants. 

23. If there is one thing that 2023 has taught me, it is to believe in yourself and work smart while working hard. Be it in a professional or personal space, never let the work in front of you consume or define you. You are an individual first, with passions, desires and interests. Everything else is secondary.

That was 2023 in a nut shell. I intend to write more regularly this year and keep this space thriving.

Here's wishing you all a very Happy New Year and hoping that 2024 will be the best year of our lives.