Curtains getting drawn on another year, we go around the sun once more, and the proverbial time once again proves that it is flying so fast. Tempted to say that the rat race continues ... tempted more to assess whether I am in the race or watching from the fringes or better still enjoying the show sitting outside. One thing the year has successfully done - it has given many more occasions and acknowledgements for familiar ruminations - "there is no end", "why are we doing what we are doing", "what is the purpose", "this makes no sense" ... the best - "really?".
Having said that, one thing that perhaps changed, or at least seems to have changed, is the fact that life is no more on an auto pilot. Many things either getting delayed because of procrastination finally happened - like the long overdue family vacation abroad; or things actually taking place on time (or as someone said, it is now or never), and happening perfectly, like the thread ceremony of my younger son. Many acts never ever done before, like two theater movies on consecutive days, with the family, one of them in the front seat just to ensure that we have to do it come what may. Then you feel why the heck did the "first time" had to wait so long - but you immediately take a step back and repeat to yourself, again the cliched, better late than never.
The feeling of being blessed in the true sense made its presence felt, more so after the realization on so many occasions, but also once in a while when you end up being a typical human being and feel better when you compare yourself with others. You don't get the sense of entitlement - you sometime just feel you are blessed (or lucky, depends which frame of mind you are in). And if this becomes way of life, reasons to believe that life is beautiful.
Repeated assertions of gratitude over last so many years has meant that it has started becoming a part of the gene pool. Other than what I said above, this is the stage in life when you start valuing certain relations much more than others, you start "moving on", you have a clearer understanding of which relations deserve investment of your time, you start truly enjoying those small moments, your growing kids and their dreams, planning for life beyond a certain age ... life is beautiful and is worth living!
Top it all - a great ending for the year - I will be in my birthplace for the last three days of the year. Missus is not far behind - she was in her birthplace just a fortnight back.
Looking forward to the next year - more gratitude, more thankfulness, more family, more dreams - and a promise to take care of oneself, getting back to reading days, and yes, no more last-week-of-the-year blog posts
