2021: Random Thoughts and Reflections

It’s never easy to look back at a year and reflect on it without a fair bit of navel gazing, a bit of hindsight, and a ton of optimism; not just for the things that one has done well, but also the things that one hoped for but for some reason or other, did not happen.?

2021 is no exception, with the added complication of the world thinking that the worst would be over post-2020.?

Reality however, deals differently and 1 year on, we are still in the middle of a pandemic (with all its variants), and no tangible end in sight. While there are certain periods of the year where we had a little respite and a sense of normality, large swathes of the time were spent under restrictions in their many forms.?

One major theme that came up repeatedly this year, was how Covid-19 has exacerbated the differences between the haves and the have-nots.?

Inequality has always been a societal phenomenon the day man discovered that there was a need to feel superior to their fellow men, from prehistoric societies to feudalism, from Edwardian economies to modern hyper-capitalist societies.?

The stark differences in the levels of vaccine distribution across the world have done nothing but shed further light on the viability of the modern economy to uplift its participants. Do we still believe in trickle-down economics anymore??

For instance, while a country like Singapore is pushing for booster shots, we have countries in Africa still combating abysmal levels of protection from Covid-19.?

With WHO being a relatively lame duck in the whole process of vaccine distribution, I can only hope that the world can actually come together and protect the most vulnerable in our global society. Unless we are able to eradicate Covid-19 in the poorest parts of the world, variants will continue to rear their ugly heads and will never be eradicated.?

At a personal level, 2021 is the year that I have grown to appreciate what we have in Singapore. While we have had to deal with restrictions throughout the year because of Covid-19, we have to give immense credit to the government for maintaining a relative coherent stand, and timely communication to the people when changes have to be made to the strategy against Covid-19.?

While there can be disagreements on how certain policies were made rather arbitrarily, it is undeniable that we are ending 2021 on a relatively safer and much more open position than when the year started, even after factoring the impact of the Delta variant.?

The lack of travel has also given me the time to explore various parts of Singapore in more detail, to understand that behind the economic considerations, there exists a rich reservoir of history, culture and a way of life that has evolved over time. It has made me love my country more.?

My hope for Singapore is that as we continue into 2022, we can continue our openness and bear in mind that as a young nation, we are essentially either migrants, or descendants of migrants decades over. We should not give in to the rise of xenophobia and right-wing politics - where we descend into tribalism and populist policymaking.?

On the work front, 2021 is the year that I had to step up and take on more responsibilities that I had envisaged at the start of the year. However, I am grateful to be able to tap into the experience of the firm, the leadership, and those who have guided me in my career over the past 5 years, and am confident that when 2022 comes, I will be ready to bring a high-performing team to the next level.?

For the folks above, my gratitude is immense and I will always be thankful for all your inputs over the years. It has made me not just a better employee, but also a better human being as well.?

What have I learnt in 2021?

That we are never alone. If we reach out to the folks around us, help is always around the corner.?

If we approach the world around us with a sense of curiosity and child-like gratitude, we will also start to appreciate what we have around us, and become better human beings.

It is with this spirit that I step into 2022, and to all who have managed to reach here and get this far, it is only fair that I wish everyone happy holidays, and a happy new year!