And just like that, the year is almost over.
It’s a cycle… just like a birthday, anniversary or menstrual experience of women. Well, something that happens longer than 28 days, anyway.
Somehow, deep in my subconscious, despite having had a positive outlook before 2022 ended, I had a gut feeling – a weird feeling to which I decline to describe as negativity. I couldn’t fully believe and accept then, that the year 2023 would be much better.
Alright, perhaps I am being bias, but I can explain. This is my own personal insight from the recent happenings on what is going on globally, be it pandemic, war or political and civil unrest in different parts of the world. Remember the 2020 pandemic that supposedly originated from China to which the Chinese tried to send out signals that it came from somewhere else and was only discovered by them. This, just like the Spanish flu that happened way back in 1918 that cause millions of deaths around the world. This also halted the economy and caused a lot of businesses to fail due to the complete lockdown. The whole world stopped. Nothing was generating income and government had to subsidize for the people to survive. People had to live a life in seclusion for almost two years, at least those who lived and survived. But millions of people also died – a death so lonely because they couldn’t be with their loved ones till their very last breath expired. So sad for the families who got left behind, feeling so helpless that they were not allowed to be with their ailing family member till the very end.
Although I wanted to remain positive about what the changes 2023 would bring to our lives, somehow, after having experienced the pandemic times, I deeply believed that 2023 was not much better than 2020 and 2021.
Remembering 2022, just when normalcy slowly crept in, a sick and twisted fate shocked the whole world once again. Come February 2022, Russia attacked Ukraine and the vicious cycle started over again – my gut feeling started to become a reality.
Worst was, going down towards the later part of the year, “the war between the Israel and HAMAS in the Gaza on Oct. 7, is the latest in seven decades of conflict between Israelis and Palestinians that has de-stabilized the wider Middle East. In Hamas’ rampage, some 1,400 Israelis, mainly civilians, were killed and 229 were taken hostage” (Reuters 01.11.2023).
And whilst this unrest was happening in the western hemisphere, on the other side of the horizon people were struggling to survive the natural calamities that also wanted to take part in the party of tragedies. Earthquakes, heavy rains, flooding and landslides, name it all. Mother nature also wanted to be recognized. She is like the CEO of it all, suddenly joining the Board meeting unannounced. She arrived in grace and style. As if to say, “Show me what you still have. How do you plan to surpass all these? Give me my worthy share of respect in attendance.”
We still have less than two months until we welcome 2024, and who knows what else would come. Somehow, I feel like the cream topping of it all has not yet dawned on us.
Considering all these unimaginable changes that came together with 2023 I hope that when the year changes, just like weather, I hope it will also bring a nice breeze of Spring wind and healthy sunny days with it. Hopefully, when 2023 ends, with it the war and political conflict that has affected thousands of people around the world will also stop. It has done more than enough damage. The whole world has had enough of deaths be it from the war and or from the pandemic.
I hope 2024 brings with it a good change.
On a personal point of view, it was overall a good year for me. I could survive being on furlough from two months. Whilst all my other colleagues were obliged to stay home, my immediate superior and I had to continue working both remotely and partly on site. So, I could keep my sanity intact trotz the lockdown. I also got the opportunity to learn another aspect of the business that my company has been handling. For this, I am really forever grateful to the people who entrusted the job to me. When the operations was recalled, the whole team had to undergo a big change as well. Our relocation was the main part. A couple of colleagues were scheduled to go on a long term maternity leave, so we had to hire newbies. From the interviews, trainings and helping the newbies settle in, as well as organizing a smooth relocation was just part of the action that I had to undergo after the the calm had passed. All in all, everything has been established well. Of course, all of it would not have been possible without the support of my whole team.
Now, towards the end of 2023, I am already looking forward to the year 2024 and the surprises that it would bring. Though it might be a given that the new year could also bring in a bit of unnecessary bad luck, I am still more optimistic than before.
So, as early as now, i am preparing myself for the new ME and what 2024 has planned for me. (This may sound selfish and egoistic but hey.. this is my humble abode in the web, so bear with it đ )
Get rid of the old, the clutter and negativity!
Shoo away hatred, bitterness and animosity,
The New year will soon be here, oh 2024 bring me…
Fill my jar of wealth with brand new hope and more prosperity.
Day six: Eever hopeful, let us be!