2 Things I Learnt in 2022

There goes the year 2022 with all its drama! When the year began, while we got some respite from the facemasks (thanks to the slowly subsiding pandemic), the Russian invasion of Ukraine came as a big jolt, weighing down the global economy to possible recession.?

Queen Elizabeth died at 96 years of age after 70 years on the throne, making her the world’s second longest-ever reigning monarch, while Rishi Sunak made history as the first person of colour to become Prime minister of Britain.

The richest man on earth and CEO of Tesla Elon Musk added to the spectacle as he bought the Twitter for forty-four billion dollars!

And came the the FIFA World Cup finals where Lionel Andrés Messi mesmerized the whole world! 'He tried, he waited, he cried, he fought, and finally it was his as the World Cup was his true love!’ wrote the tabloid. He married his childhood sweetheart, became father thrice and his two teammates who debuted with him are now in the coaching staff. His win may not be a surprise, but an enormous coup, who at 35 had already crossed his peak and just reached the average age at which footballers retire!?Inspirational!

While on the subject, France's Stéphanie Frappart, 38, made history on?Dec 1, 2022 when she became the first woman to take charge of a men's World Cup finals game during Costa Rica's Group E match against Germany, leading an all-female refereeing team thus ending a 92-year wait for a female referee at a men’s World Cup!

Added to this glory, Victoria’s Secret featured a Puerto Rican model Sofía Jiraumodel with Down syndrome! She appears in the fashion company’s Love Cloud ad campaign, which emphasizes diversity and inclusivity.

And the diversity and inclusivity reminds me - back home this year I was lucky to be part of an electrifying team of women workers at our Pune Plant as part of Gender Diversity celebrations!

Now, that’s a wrap! More power to women in 2023 too! And my Takeaway from 2022?

1. Think Positive! Positivity is a choice. The happiness of our life depends on the quality of our thoughts! (I learnt it the hard way this year!) As my golfer friend says ‘In golf whenever I aimed at the fairway/green beyond the water, I always hit there! And even for a second, whenever I paused ‘what if the ball hits the water’, 10 out 10 times it hit the water!' So focus right, and think positive!
2. Thank Your Stars! Recently I met our 42 able+ employees – (hearing and speech impaired they work along with our regular staff in our Pune Plant – the only differentiator being their radium jacket for identification). As we conducted some games, I was spellbound! The discipline! The enthusiasm! They danced to a music they cant hear, smiled, and thanked in their unique sign language, asking 'when will you come next'? The spirit! Unfathomable! Nothing to complain in life! Thank your stars!

Here's hoping that the new year brings you joy, happiness & prosperity in all the little things that you seek! Happy New Year!!