This is it. Time to say goodbye. Good riddance too, maybe?

At the time of publishing this post, I’ve just stepped out of isolation as I had tested positive for Covid-19. Literally, the last day of 2020, 31^st December, is when I can call myself free.

While spending the final two weeks of 2020 in isolation is not something I had ever imagined, I’m grateful that I got through this phase, safe and healthy without any complications. During the quarantine period, I got enough unadulterated quality time to reflect on all that happened throughout 2020. Infact, I went into a digital detox by uninstalling all the social media apps (Facebook, Instagram & LinkedIn), Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Hotstar, from my phone for some mental cleansing. After this detox episode, I’m convinced and certain that I won’t be going back to my old ways of social media consumption. Truth be told, this year broke me mentally, emotionally, physically and financially. I could write all the positive hokum and overlook everything unfortunate that happened; but I want to allow myself the space and take a moment to acknowledge just how difficult and turbulent the year has been.

As my friend Simon Taufel, writes in his book, Finding The Gaps, ”A vital part of moving on from an error, a setback, or a failure is having the honesty to acknowledge it. Having the courage, internal or external, to be honest, and admit it is one of the first steps to being able to move on and bounce back by focusing on what comes next.”

To my close ones, I thank you for standing by me in times that I was down and on my knees. Thank you for being patient. Thank you for listening to me when I needed to share the most. You all know who you are.

From starting my year with interviewing one of my favourite business legends, co-founder of Infosys, Mr.Narayana Murthy, to launching my website, where you are currently viewing this article, to being invited as a Virtual Guest Speaker to share my career journey with EU Business School – Munich, Barcelona & Geneva community, to starting my podcast – ‘Jamsters’ with the podcasting network Ep.Log Media, to being a jury member for the virtual Navratri competition – Digital Global Garba, to playing different characters as a voice actor in Spotify’s original thriller audio drama – Bhaskar Bose, 2020 did sprinkle some intermittent moments of happiness and satisfaction on the professional front. To all my clients, partners and podcast guests, with whom I got a chance to collaborate this year, thank you for your faith in me. I’m truly grateful.

On the personal front, my brother Harshit’s marriage with Jinal in early December, was the most beautiful highlight of 2020. Happiness has a way of expanding when shared with people who matter. In September, both my parents had tested Covid positive at the same time, but are now absolutely hale and hearty. Thanks to god.

One of my favourite lines from the iconic movie Rocky Balboa, “It ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward; how much you can take and keep moving forward”, always acts as a reminder of the attitude to adopt towards life.

You’ve got to keep moving forward. 2020 may have thrown us off course, but that doesn’t mean we stop living. It doesn’t mean we can’t course correct and get things back on track. This year has been marred with constant doom and gloom; but it has made me deeply realize and appreciate the value of life that I’ve been given. It has certainly been a period of adapting and transforming; whether by choice or force, that’s for you to decide. Every morning that we get, is a chance to live our day as fully as possible. Attaching our happiness to an imaginary goal post is not an ideal living.

May you heal and bounce back stronger from all the curve balls that life has thrown at you this year. I wish you a happy, healthy and a resilient 2021! See you on the other side.

Thanks for reading.