Hanging In There 2025!!!

Catalogue of 2025, a yearly ritual!!! 

Alas! the year has gone by and it's time to unfold the mysteries of 2025. The last few months have been interestingly uncanny in itself. 

January was the month of newness.  On the NYE of 2024, I spent a delightful time with my besties chit-chatting, gossiping and enjoying some calming live music to welcome the year with open arms and wide smiles. The year began with a bang as I got a call for an interview in less than a day's time. On 1st of January 2025, I obliged and hopped onto a flight from Mumbai to New Delhi to take a chance on my luck. It felt more like taking a blind shot and hoping luck would favor me. Had to rush back to Rajasthan to attend to a family member's medical emergency. And then reality suddenly got me back to the routine. The routine nature of daily errands, coupled with the complexity of an impending major decision, remained a persistent concern in my thoughts. 

February was the month of anticipation. There was an instant waiting period after the damned interview. The hopes were high and so were the stakes, more so at the personal level. This phase involved heavy discussions I wasn't prepared for initially but managed through out. There was sternness in my head and scaffolding make-shift plans running parallel and sounding impractical to almost everyone around. At the gradual building up of the situations there was only support and care flowing my way. So irrespective of the outcome I had my people on my side, and I could only feel beyond blessed—that my family gets my intentions and backs my ambitions wholeheartedly. Alas! towards the end of the month, received confirmations of joining a Central Government Project under the Ministry of Health of India. And before I blinked, I was loaded with work too. 

March began with a bang. I was now a part of a fancy launch ceremony of a National Initiative by Indian Council of Medical Research and Launched by the Honorable Health and Family Welfare Minister of India. It took me a while to digest all of it at once. The scale and grandeur and reach were the most magnanimous work I was personally a part of so far. It took considerable time to fully comprehend everything. Then came the big shift, moving alone to New Delhi.  I must admit that I was deeply apprehensive about making this transition, as it pushed me beyond my comfort zone and had a direct impact on both my family and personal life. The luck was by my side, and we could manage to find a decent place to stay and got done with the formalities within no time. Here I was navigating through my dreams realise I ever imagined to only understand my homesickness and yet I loved to continue working. 

April apprised the reality of the life I choose. While I was still accommodating myself to the new city, new environment, new people and new work the weather conditions began to show its true colors. The extreme dryness of Delhi Summers and effect of pollution is for real. These were testing times for real. As if the soaring summers were not enough torture, what added was my determination to visit home every weekend. So, through the weekdays I was in Delhi, and Friday evening left for Jodhpur to succumb my weekends enveloped in my comfort zone. This was a crazy self-adapted schedule, but the thrill of shuttling between cities was good fun too. I was merely embracing the life of a consulting professional—something I had never imagined I would choose. As the choice was a difficult one, so were the weather & cultural conditions. Amidst all of it I was learning to adapt to the circumstances as when they appeared. 

May stayed in its may-high in all means. there was a high in possibly every aspect of life... professional, personal, national, international and universal aspects too. Living in the capital of the nation comes with its fair share of down sides too. This was the month where our country enacted the most audacious act of self-defence- 'Operation Sindoor'. Effects of which lead into war like situations around the country, especially in Delhi. For the 1st time in my life, I was away from home, and family and a state of national emergency had occurred. I wanted to be by the side of my family asap, and at every movement it was scary cause my home is in Jodhpur which is even more affected and at the receiving end of these scenarios. All of it was delt with a mere saying that- this too shall pass. 

June kept jarring with strong emotions. As much as I wanted to stay practical in life, this period prompted me to choose feelings and emotions at every feasible stance. My beloved dadisa's demise added to the emotional turmoil I was going through already. The bubble of overthinking would only enlarge leading to nothing effective or productive. I was uncovering a vulnerable side of myself that I had been unaware of for years. Or rather avoiding facing my own vulnerability was my thing, but this time around I had no choice but to confront it all. To only realise the magic of gentle tenderness of my own emotions. And now I proudly wear my proneness on my sleeve.   

July meant just julying! I don't even know what this word means but it felt nice. Oh! it was all about passing time with a bring it on attitude. Cause I was half-way through the year on calendar, but I remained clueless as to what direction this route of life is leading me to. The workplace was layering its diplomacy in action, and I found myself moving along with the flow, almost unconsciously. Often wondering through a hundred thousand aspects that will all of this be really worth it. There were days that went by draining myself into the usual errands of life and then some random day when I was casually having a conversation with a Union Minister on a train journey. Eventually I maxed out my cringe-o-meter by enjoying into Himesh Reshamiya concert. Indeed, it was a dissimilitude period of the year. 

August was moist and gullible. With far and few rains in Delhi, the whole season I felt happy. The rainy season definitely knows to get my mood board corrected every-time. It's like some palliative water flowing and healing through my wounds. Amidst the chaos, a short trip to Landour and Haridwar was soul soothing. The mountains are my happy place- the magnanimity humbles me and teaches that there is so much glory to the nature to imbibe strength from the magnificent structures. The scare and serenity they bring to me is unfathomable. I secretly to work around the beautiful Himalayan mountains ranges someday. 

September was at its best pro-max. This could also be because it's my birthday month and thus being my most fav. time of the year. This time around it was indeed hectic and loaded with work commitments. The brisk aftereffects of my job made me understand that I did bite more than I could ever chew, nevertheless learnt a lot in the process. This particular phase brought all the possible emotions a human could feel onto my plate. I have learned to relinquish control over matters beyond my influence. It was joyfully frantic yet deeply satisfying, all at once. Alongside the best wishes of my peeps, a working birthday and a simple gourmet dinner with amazing company made the day endearingly memorable for me.   

October was lit AF, month of the brightest festival. The happiness to have the holiday mode was evidently reflective. This month sprinted like a marathon series of travel. I was practically shuttling between Delhi-Mumbai-Jodhpur-Lucknow-Udaipur-Kesariyaji-Delhi throughout the month. Being a travel enthusiast, I did not mind going the extra-mile to get work done, make memories (some sweet, some sour); eventually adding to my talent of chaos management experiences. Diwali vacation was a pleasant break from the monotony of everything around. A much-needed break for me, came with the beauty of Diwali preparations, festivities, get-togethers and good food. Ultimately, the sparkling beauty of life lies in the joy of spending meaningful time with loved ones and brings the true essence of goodness around you. This does sound filmy but nevertheless is truthful. 

November felt like a flash of novice hurdles. It’s that perplexing season where you’re torn between looking inward and living outward. I decided to embrace both. While I was constantly thinking about what lay ahead, I was also enjoying the happiest news of the year as my baby brother deciding on his love life. Often, I wonder of such drastic dichotomies of life I live into. At the brim As I began to discover more about myself through this month that I have a big-sister syndrome, love to find productivity in everyday working errands, foolishness gets onto my nerves, zero tolerance for nonsense, the control fanatic that I am and the art that I have endured of letting go off anything that is not in my control... the list is endless, I think I should stop here for now.     

December endured the delightful- delusional- diplomatic- dhurandhar-DELHI. With each passing day this month has been snugged into winter chills alongside cheap thrills. Is it holiday season yet? Nevertheless, the year 2025 is will surely come to an end. The erring actualisation of the calendar year ending and stepping into the new year as if things will change drastically in the new year. Funny enough, the same thing unfolded at the beginning of 2025, bringing a whirlwind of changes my way.  On that note, exiting this year with an optimistic attitude having approximately minimum visibility yet hopeful accomplishments of my future in 2026.  

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!