New year cheer ...

The regular blog feature at this time of the year is perhaps the round up. And I am attempting mine as well. Perhaps, that really is the biggest reason why a new year’s eve must remain larger than life – just so that each one of us can take stock of life, like we lived it in the past 365 days. Now why 365 may be a good question at this juncture. Let’s just say it’s convenient and a common milestone, so easy to benchmark.

Having rested my case on why write now, I proceeded to think about why I was writing at all. It’s definitely not a habit, nor a ritual or a tradition passed on. No one really is going to read what I did with my life in the past year and feel particularly elated or depressed, or smaller or bigger. Nah, my life hasn’t been life changing to anyone at all, perhaps, anyone except me. There it was! That is why I write! Optimistic me feels there is enough to put on record, enough to look back and feel happy about, definitely enough to look back and regret!

I made the great transition this year – from student to corporate junkie. To my mind, it’s significant. I wonder why the 4 ashramas of the Hindu faith didn’t consider this one as big as the others – perhaps it is enshrined in the getting married after studying one – you’ve got to feed a family or whatever, right? Anyways, to me, it’ll remain one of those moments, or periods, more likely – when I stepped out quite literally from the sheltered yellow run down walls of Pilani and then the staid red bricks of Ahmedabad into the work life.

As many variables as could change, did. My first job, my first job outside my country, my first brush with consulting, my first brush with my firm, my first time in a city with no close friends around to lament about everything to, my first travel like mad job, etc. etc. And what a roller coaster ride it’s been! All that yada yada about learning every day, is quite true fellas, and learn I did! And whether I chose to or not, rather quickly! There were other firsts as well – living in 5 stars, travelling business class when I got lucky, actually being able to shop in the duty frees, using the taxi recklessly (and hoping for a Mercedes cab each time …) – little joys in life, I guess.

I travelled, and how, especially given my mostly non-flying past. I am glad I did, and then not so much as well! So now, at the end of 2006, the US (NY, Chicago, and Boston), Vietnam(Hanoi). Hong Kong, Thailand(Bangkok, Pattaya, Hua Hin), Singapore(well, I could list the neighborhoods) are ticked off. I could’ve done more, and then I could’ve done less. So, that part of the work-be23/24-and-do-random-travelling worked out well, I guess.

On the personal front, Hari and I crossed the one year milestone – super kicked about it, and well, still smitten and touched. He moved to Singapore from London, and I can’t wait to finish on my project in Bangkok, and hope to work out of Singapore next. It’s funny – in one year, we’ve made the transition from having no money and all the time, to having all the money, and no time! Guess life’s like that.

There are other little things, like hunting down and renting a house I share with Megha and Parijat; bickering over provisions and other groceries; paying bills, bills, and more bills; and living the whole Expenditure expands to surpass income theory. At the very end, I am well-equipped with a long list of New Year resolutions on that front!

Now, I guess it’s time to move on from being so self obsessed! A lot of things happened to the people I love loads – Reddy got married right at the start, in February. She’ll stay my absolute darling, and I’ll never be more glad than when amazing things happen to her! So did Apu, to her PS sweetheart – how cute! And then Tikli in December – the first from the IIMA gang – wild times in Chennai, and a picture perfect wedding. Champi did as well, in June, and delightfully is in Singapore! So did Nana, and scores of others! Guess, it is the start of a new era, this year, haan?

Of course people made lovely jobs, and wonderful things happened to them, their lifestyle, their confidence, their lives, in general, and it’s heartening, and warm!
Friends fell in love, can’t remember any close ones who fell out, thankfully; friends apped to big schools, and are most definitely headed there, sooner than later.

In a nut shell, it’s been a happy year, or at the very least, neutral, if I look at my immediate world in general. Trust there is enough to crib about, as far as the world at large goes. Will save that for another one.

But as I finish, I realise, my wishlist has never been longer for the new year; my list of resolutions is so long, it makes all expectations unrealistic; a run through in the mind of complications is impossible to complete – so complicated are the expected ones – indeed I sign off, not too optimistically. And yet, the new year’s cheer I feel sure will eliminate any doubts/hangups/worries about life in the next 365 days – and leave me feeling yet again, that life is beautiful indeed; and can be as lovely as you want it to be.