The Year That Quietly Reset My Life.

A lot has happened this year and a lot went unaccomplished. 2025 once again reminded me of how unpredictable life is, how life happens when we are busy making other plans. Life surprises us and life shocks us.

There were many good things this year - backpacking entire Central America for a month and half, meeting new people, reconnecting with old school friends, learning Japanese and many other such memorable moments.

But earlier this year while training for dragon boat race competition, I was diagnosed with a idiopathic health condition, that threw a wrench in my lifestyle. All those lab tests, scans for a person who rarely saw a doctor for years was stressful. Although it got diagnosed early because of my attention to health stats; not knowing the root cause for the illness nor being able to determine the length of the treatment plan disheartened me. At the time, I kind of understood a non-smoker’s reaction to being diagnosed with cancer; that reaction of “But I never smoked once in my life”, made sense.

For someone who followed a healthy & active lifestyle, being impacted to a point where I was restricted from any cardio heavy activities; disturbed me. My mind was always in overdrive mode. Eventually I made peace with my condition, looking at the brighter side, that at least there was a treatment plan and that I wasn’t bed-ridden, worse things could happen to one.

I started engaging in Yoga and meditation; tried to focus on the here and now. Got acclimated to the new routine.

I know better than to complain. I have never been the kind to moan and groan about any hardship. I see them for what they really are - opportunities. Settling my heart took a bit of work but with time and patience, both heart and mind are in harmony.

I now understand and empathize with people struggling to come to terms with life changing events. It’s so easy to go down the dark hole of nothingness, feeling everything else in world is worthless, where there’s no inspiration to keep going with daily routine or anything productive. Especially when you are single and living by yourself, it’s your inner strength that pushes you through the tough times. For everyone struggling, I hope this new year will bring the light you seek.

For all the beautiful memories and new experiences this year has gifted me with, I am thankful. Thank you universe for always being kind to me, for teaching me resilience, for filling my life with incredible moments. You have been good to me 2025.

2026, here I come.

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तेरा सफ़र , तेरी मंज़िल..

जिस राह पे तू चलता है राही, कभी उसकी मंज़िल को पेहचाना है तूने जहाँ तक तेरी नज़र जाती है, बस वहीँ तक का सफ़र नहीं है तेरा वो जो अनदेखा छिपा है उस मोड़ की आड़ में, उसकी भनक भी नहीं तुझे फिर कैसे तू केहता है " मैं जानता हूँ कहाँ मेरी मंज़िल है" कभी सिर्फ धूप में चला तो कभी शीतल छाओं में कभी दोस्तों के संग मस्ती में तो कभी अकेले अपनी तन्हाई में कभी मेहबूबा की मुहोब्बत में डूबा तो कभी अपने गमों के सागर में पर चाह के भी रुक़ न सका तू, चाह के भी मुड़ न सका तू जिसे तूने मंज़िल समझा वो तो बस एक पड़ाव निकला लाख कोशिश की तूने पर उस पड़ाव पर डेरा ना डाल सका वो सब जो तुझे प्यारे थे पीछे छूट गए , चाह के भी तू उनकी राह पे चल ना सका नए लोगों से नए रिश्तों से बंधता टूटता चला, अपने आपको डून्ड़ता चला तू मुसाफिर है तो ये क्यूँ नहीं मानता की जो राह में तुझे मिले उनका कोई भरोसा नहीं जिस राह पे जिस मौसम में तू चल रहा है वो भी बदल जायेंगे जब तू अपनी मंज़िल पे पहुंचेगा तो पता नहीं किसे संग पायेगा. ...

When Silence Speaks...

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