happiness and food

Wow. Another 365 days of each of our lives will now be counted as time that was the past. Sitting and typing this on the last day of 2019, I am not wondering about the speed or where the year went. In some ways, I am happy that it’s over. I am scared for what’s to come but I am also hopeful.

2019 was a sine wave this side. Constant ups and downs with a nagging in the heart when you know things will change and then they do. But here is what I have realized. No one can escape those crests and troughs of the sine wave.

Like I have shared with you readers over the monthly gratitude posts, this year was all about people. In hard times or the good ones, it was people who kept us stronger and hopeful. Reflecting on that, I think it is important that people remain at the core of who we are.

Like 2018, I would like to wrap 2019 by sharing moments across the months that are worth remembering and learning from. Those that made me happy and I am grateful that these were a part of my last 365 days.

January

In all my enthusiasm, I took up the vegan diet for a week that lasted five days. The fun part was knowing that I can do away with meat in my diet but eggs were the hardest. I got promoted at work which was sure encouraging. January also had moments that were hard for us. VT traveled home to be with his family and we were able to play our part. The month taught me that nothing is permanent.

February

I traveled early in the month to be with VT. We spent our days shuttling between the hospital and hotel in Chandigarh. During the day, we also volunteered at the local gurudwara to help the community and use our time effectively. It was our way to contribute and seek some blessings. The month made me immensely proud of VT. I don’t know of many men who would do all that it takes to care for loved ones. I am also grateful to both of our work places that accommodate personal emergencies without batting an eye. This month my parents celebrated 38 years of their wedding and I love what a cute couple they are.

March

March brought back colors in our lives. Things started looking up back home and we were relieved. We celebrated Holi, the festival of colors with friends and I was able to follow through my yearly ritual of making gujiyas at home. This year, March was also the month Papa completed 41 years of being a teacher. When Mum told me, I thought about his employment stories that my brother and I have heard as kids. Good times sure fly by.

April

VT and I took up swimming in April. We wanted to pick up the skill so we set out for weekday classes that were very exhausting. But then I started enjoying floating and backstrokes. We also traveled home for Papa’s retirement. He wanted this to be a no frills day so it was just family and some memorable time. We flew to Lucknow and drove to Azamgarh which was a new way to reach home this time. Enroute, we explored a bit of Lucknow and stopped at Faizabad to show VT my maternal home.

May

Learning to swim wasn’t easy so we took up weekend classes. It also helped me on my fitness journey and I knocked off a kilogram. Yes, just one but it is a BIG deal this side. I felt stronger and that month I worked out on 24 days of 30 which was a personal record. VT and I completed 13 years of love and I went a little mushy counting the years. 13 feels long but I don’t know where did all these years fly. I am grateful that we met and chose each other.

June

June was a happy one on the blogging front. I wrote a few non-fiction pieces and also found a mention at Yeah Write. I was grateful to get some good feedback on my writing (thank you, Asha). This blog was selected as a Top Indian Blog third year in a row that made me very happy and grateful to you readers. Swimming on weekends and working out on week days kept me going.

July

In July, life was cruising and my hands were full. Workouts, work and usual chores at home kept me busy. Weekends were with friends or being a couch potato. But then, a friend lost her husband and that shook me to the core. This was sudden and he was all of 35. Losing loved ones is my biggest fear and when I hear of deaths, I go to a zone from where I need time to come back. As much as I am grateful for life, I wish life wasn’t that cruel.

August

August was full of (good) action. I traveled for a conference to Gurugram and stayed back a few days in Delhi to meet friends and family. I had some good time with my brother and I noticed that his quirks continue. For the first time in Bangalore, I celebrated Rakshabandhan with my cousins. My house was full and so was my heart. Towards the end of the month, VT and I flew to Delhi to start our road trip to Kinnaur and Spiti Valley from Kurukshetra.

September

Early in the month, we explored Spiti and also braved major car troubles on our road trip. All is well that ends well so we had a good share of Himachali hospitality while up North. After wrapping up our trip, we had time in hand with family which was sure relaxing. This month, the blog got picked up for the best photo blog and like you can imagine, I was a happy kid on the block.

October

October gave us time with family and friends. My work counterpart Mike visited India and we had some good time at work and off roaming around Bangalore. I got to meet Casey (an old friend) who was also visiting India. I am grateful for the friends I have from my workplace. Then, it was time to head home for Diwali for our yearly family trips. I met my parents and then went to my in-laws for the festival. The month wasn’t without a few lows including the ill health of loved ones.

November

I turned a year older in November and it was a birthday to remember. Along with our friends, we spent the morning at Cubbon Park which is my favorite green patch in India Bangalore. We played, laughed and chatted to our heart’s content. Cakes were my favorite part of the week. And as it may be obvious, I am still eating a lot of cake. I am grateful for a loving set of friends, family and VT.

December

The nip in the air brought out my winter-wear (read sweatshirts in Bangalore). The month had gifts in store from many people who played Santa for me. Thank you! You know who you are. There was more cake and a few pictures this month. VT and I clocked in 9 years of our wedded life together and for a change we took a day off to relax and roam around. December was good until around mid of the month. VT had to travel up North for a family emergency and December became like none other. I don’t know whether lows are done yet or not but I am grateful that as a family we came together.

So you now know how the sine wave shaped through the year. I kept myself distracted, motivated and going as much as it was possible. I worked out, took care of myself and stayed calm. Some days it worked and on some I had to look for another strategy.

For 2020, I am looking forward to facing life with courage, keeping fit and staying positive. Like you know, I don’t make resolutions but I focus on broader themes. So I continue to look inward and outward.

I wish you all a happy 2020. Be kind to yourself and continue to spread the warmth and love you have in you.

Tell me how was your year? Is there a word that can describe 2019 for you?

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Linking up with Vidya’s Gratitude Circle.