2020 : The year that was
In a year replete with shock, horror and personal losses, these are the things I did, to survive and thrive, and sometimes, simply get by.
In January 2020, I promised myself that I would slow down. The last few years-especially since I had started Aglet Ink, had been very exhausting. I remember being in Bombay and getting a phone call from my mother saying, "Learn to live in the present." Ironically, 2020 has forced every one of us to keenly examine our lives, and at least think about making the necessary changes that will help us lead sustainable and happy lives.
Every year, I challenge myself to do new things but this year I did whatever I felt like.
January- I was delighted to have four new clients to work with for Aglet Ink, from sectors such as advertising, law, and a couple of very young students applying for undergraduate programmes in the U.S. January kept me busy with Aglet Ink clients.
February- I did my Sahapedia-UNESCO art walk again, little knowing that a pandemic would strike and it would be my last physical walk for the year. When I understood that this would be the case, I worried about my income, how I should pivot, and what I should focus on.
March- By March, I made up my mind to take things easy, but with all the time freed up (without the walks), I started writing again. I won a few awards (including an honorable mention from an International Body for Storytellers), and I am slated to be published in a couple of anthologies next year. My Aglet clients remained steady.
April-The only thing that made me happy was cooking, making Aglet Ink videos where I talked about how to apply for jobs. I continued to work with clients who at this point were grappling with their own fears and concerns about job losses and how the market would change. The ones who were not as digitally savvy, worried even more. In 2017, I had appeared on 104.8 ISHQ FM to talk about Aglet Ink, but this time I appeared on Radio Quarantine, to sing (fun fact : am trained in Indian classical music) and to read poems.
May- In May, Cyclone Amphan hit and destroyed the lives of many in the State of West Bengal. This time around, I did not sit and watch helplessly. I pushed for MPLADs funds to be released, I urged everyone I knew to contribute, and supported whichever local organizations that I could support. An architect friend of mine wrote about what we need to build capacity and robust frameworks, and through this brutal experience, I also made several new friends. Scientists, cartographers, really a lot of people who put their heads together to come up with solutions. I also came up with the #100lettersproject, where we write letters to each other drawing upon our memories.
June : In June, I was featured by Midday- once for maintaining a gratitude journal, and the second, for the #100lettersproject. I was also given an award by ESTAH society for mentoring first generation entrepreneurs from farming communities.
July- September :This is when Aglet Ink work really picked up and I spent my days writing resumes, cover letters, Linkedin profiles. I was also commended for my work in the following publications- Voice of Woman, Wonderful Woman and Overachiever Magazine.
October- I became an Honorary Life Member of the Women's Economic forum and a Member of the ForbesWomen Forum.
November- Was a finalist for a Poetry competition under my writing pseudonym (more details on that in the months to come!) I also participated in the UNCTAD-Empretec Primer 55, which was funded by the WBIDC as part of a bright, young, entrepreneur cohort. I also founded Jeong Jams and Jellies, a passion project that I have decided to take forward in the long run. I was also nominated for the Globant Awards, in the category of Gamechanger. Although I did not win, the coolest bit was the fact that it was EDGE who was handing our the awards (well, virtually.) A story to tell the grandkids.
December- Like last year, I taught at IIM Lucknow this year as well, but unlike last year I did it digitally instead of physically. Also, I won a tour guide award this year, making both Aglet Ink and my tour guide work award winning ventures. I am someone who focusses on process rather than outcome, but years of tears and hard work have gone into both, so this time I can say that I am truly proud of myself. My art was also featured in a magazine. And last but certainly not the least, am ending this year as a commissioned music critic.
WHAT!
Happy Holidays :)