Dear 2020

2020 was a year unlike any other. Well, I probably have said that for all the past years as well, haven't I.

Alright, but honestly 2020 was quite a handful. And yet, I have had quite a remarkable journey.

Although, none of my travel plans materialized, nor was I able to get my tattoo done, but still I did end up having quite a few feathers up my sleeve.

For starters, like one of my friend said "I Survived Covid". And managed to stay healthy and safe - physically , mentally and financially. That's a huge accomplishment.

But then thanks to all the lockdown and confinement to "your own home", I had to find way to liberate myself.

I wrote a lot in 2020. I started writing short stories. I also bought a fountain pen and started recording hand-written poems in my poetry book. Some of my posts on insta and blog touched few of my readers hearts, and that was a bonus for me.

And I read a lot. Yes. I was inclined to traditional reading, smell of the book and feel of the pages. But this year I tried Audible and local library audio app Libby. I read 85 books, with over 32500 pages between audio and printed books. That's at least 20 times more than the number of books I have read in last 15 years.

Yes, that's freaking crazy. It's to a point that now I cannot call it a day, if I haven't spent 1-2 hours reading a book. And oh, I have learnt so much, I am just amazed how I never made time to read books before.

And I walked a lot. I used to always go running. Come winter, due to icy pavements, I would resume to indoor activities. But this year due to lockdown of gyms, I started walking. And it's quite addictive. Walking and listening to audiobooks, is like a divine combination. I walked on an average 8-10 Kms every day on weekdays and about 20Kms on weekends.

And that's another habit, which has become hard to break. I clocked over 2385 Kms in 6 months. I lost over 10 pounds in the process, not something I targeted for, but was a bonus.

And then there were usuals, painting, sketching, cooking, photography, guitar lessons, etc...

I grew my hair back. Or rather I never went to the salon this year. So, I have a new hairstyle now.

I spent a lot of time letting my mind wander, exploring my thoughts and expanding my imagination. For me 2020 was liberating.

Well, for that, thank you 2020, for making me who I am now. And below is my short letter to you from this morning.

Dear 2020,

I can’t say you will be missed. But rest assured, you will never be forgotten.

You showed us humility at a scale beyond our comprehension. You realigned our priorities.

You showed us how to smile through eyes while our faces hid behind masks. You made us value our sense of freedom that we took for granted.

You emphasized that holiday spirit in shopping malls is not by it’s decorations, but by it’s people.

You brought us closer to the family and community. You showed us how to be strong while still fighting our fears.

You left with some of us in grief and loss, some of us in relief and safety, some of us lonely and stranded.

Never thought, we could not do much and yet do so much in 10 months, that time can be stuck in March while days flew by.

We are hopeful that you will be taking the worst of our times with you, and 2021 will be a soothing balm on the scars you have left. But we cannot be fully sure of the future, hope is all we have.

I love you the same anyway. Like all the previous years, you had a lot to teach, although your style was different, unique; and I tried to take in everything I could.

I cannot speak for others, but from me, you have been another eventful year. Thank you 2020, for showing me these bizarre times, and helping me survive it gracefully.

(You took away hugs and kisses from us, so here’s a virtual goodbye hug staying 6 feet away from you.)

-Me.

Comments

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खूबसूरत ग़ज़ल

महफ़िल वो सजी थी शाम ए ग़ज़ल की बैठा वहाँ था मैं बस चंद कदम दूर उस से | सजी थी खुद वो एक खूबसूरत ग़ज़ल की तरह अकेली जगमगा रही थी वो किसी जुगनू की तरह | शायरों का हर वो लब्ज़ जो गूंज रही थी वहां, मैं पढता गया उन्हें उसके दिलकश चेहरे पर, जैसे हर ग़ज़ल की रूह उसमें बसी थी | कभी वो ओझल सी उसकी आंखें, जिनके किनारे आ रूकती एक छोटी सी बूँद, बयान करती, की वो दर्द महसूस किया है उसने भी | कभी वो हलकी सी उसकी मुस्कान, होंठों के किनारे आ रूकती, इशारा करती, की वो हसीं पल जिया है उसने भी | ना जाने कौन थी वो | पर हर ग़ज़ल के हर एक जस्बात की गेहराई, उसकी आंखो में झलक रही थी उस रात | आज भी दिल याद करता है उस शाम को, जैसे अल्फ़ाज़ों को मिल गया था एक हसीं चेहरा, जो आज भी दे जाती है एक अजीब सी सुकून इस दिल को । सरीता 6th Feb 2020.

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