2024 Reflections: A Pause Year

🌟 The last day of 2024 feels like the perfect moment to pause and reflect on what has been an unexpected and transformative year. As I look back, I vividly remember the final week of 2023, entering 2024 with moderate enthusiasm and a sense of steady anticipation. However, the year unraveled in ways I could not have predicted, bringing challenges on professional, personal, and familial fronts from the very first week of January. 

🎒 The year unfolded as a mixed bag of deep experiences and travel. There were highlights, including one international trip, three visits to Goa, several visits to Delhi, and journeys to Uttarakhand and Sikkim. Yet, these moments of travel and exploration contrasted with an overarching sense of internal reflection and reconciliation.

🛑 2024 became a "Pause Year" for me—a time of slowing down, both physically and mentally, to prepare for the next decade of life. It was a year marked by introspection, as I grappled with errors, unmet expectations, laziness and the lingering pains of past experiences and coming to terms with the fast change in societal customs and traditions. I faced the consequences of overthinking, over analyzing, and at times, making myself unavailable. Yet, this stillness in thought brought with it the opportunity to process, heal, and find clarity.

🌱 The most profound lesson of this year was the shift from a mindset of overthinking and control to one of surrender, humility, away from situations- persons and places triggering negative energy and openness. This transformation was not without its moments of discomfort. At times, the pause felt unbearable, filled with longing and uncertainty, especially in close relationships. These challenges pushed me to confront the interplay of anxiety and yearning, to better understand my inner world and the dynamics around me.

🌀 Midway through the year, I realized I didn’t know myself as well as I thought. This recognition brought a cascade of emotions: the heartbreak of unmet expectations, the simplicity and beauty of ordinary moments (a true Maru Mori experience), and the bittersweet realization that I was evolving as a person (an Apolytus moment). These reflections revealed old problems I had outgrown and new possibilities waiting to be explored.

🎭 One recurring theme was the sense of Wends—moments where I struggled to fully engage or enjoy experiences. This lack of presence highlighted the importance of living in the moment, a lesson I am determined to carry forward into 2025.

 ✨ By the end of this year, I find myself lighter, freer, and more prepared for what lies ahead. The Pause Year was not only necessary but invaluable, offering the clarity and resilience to embrace life with renewed purpose. As I step into 2025, I am committed to pursuing long-awaited projects and embracing more travel. My goal is to savor life’s moments fully and live with an open heart and mind.

 ðŸ’– At sixty, this year has taught me that pauses are not setbacks; they are regenerative and affirmative. They prepare us for the next chapters, equipping us with the insight and courage to move forward. With gratitude for the lessons of 2024, I am ready to embark on the journey ahead.



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