Reflections of the year gone by

As I sit now and reflect on the year gone by, I have nothing but gratitude in my mind. While 2020 has been rough for many due to loneliness, sickness and the loss of livelihood; it also has been deadly for some who lost their lives due to the covid pandemic. However for those of us who were lucky to have survived the pandemic with a job we love, a home to live in and a loving family, I feel this has been one of the best years ever.  While it sucked that we could not travel or visit loved ones or interact with colleagues in the physical world for most part of the year, in many other areas this year has been a real blessing in disguise. 

Despite the most unusual circumstances we all have seen during our lifetime, I have come to realize how happy I have been going out even for a small walk with family, enjoying the long hikes without the crowds, appreciating the beautiful planet that we live in, having the time to take photographs and taking the time to appreciate them, having enough time to read the books I have wanted, having enough time to cook with the ingredients that we already have at home, having enough time in the day to meditate and do yoga, having time to play board games with family, having a lot more face time talking to family, friends and colleagues albeit virtually, having the time to enjoy every room of the house, having the time to savor tea time and every meal with family, enjoying gardening and the backyard, enjoying every festival and holiday, enjoying every bit of office work and working with colleagues, enjoying each of the four seasons come and go by, getting a month back in my life without the commute, fully utilizing every gadget in the house, learning new skills, enjoying each and every possession that I have. The list goes on and on. 

Now tell me which other year we would have been able to enjoy life so much. Which really begs the question why weren't we doing all of these in normal years? We humans are in constant search of happiness somewhere and are always trying to acquire the next best thing in the market. However happiness is here with us. Life can't be more beautiful!

p.s. As I look back, in March of last year, how silly we all were thinking that the world would come to an end as we shopped to death. As these photos below indicate, I went to some supermarkets to capture the insanity for posterity. In my mind, those of us who are lucky already have more than enough to survive for long periods of time.