2024 : Another Year is finally getting over!

?I have never written a year end post, so thought why not attempt one this time. It's been an interesting 2024, hasn't it? This new animal called Generative AI surpassed lots of expectations from writing repots, to researching, to writing love letters, to the weather playing Gilli Danda with our sanity (heavy rains, hot summer etc ), and the economy? There is always a surprise, lurking in the corner.

Socrates once said, "The unexamined life is not worth living." But as someone had said it earlier, let's be real, Socrates probably never had to deal with the morning chaos of WhatsApp forwards, Instagram reels and overzealous office colleagues sending in mails at 2am. If he did, he might have just rolled over and gone back to sleep.

This year, things have been changing faster than you can say "chai garam!" It's enough to make you wonder if adulting keeps on becoming a “its just one more long improvisation session”. But through all the chaos, we're starting to realize that we need something more – be at it and try to keep on finding those little bits and pieces of meaning in this crazy world.

1. Pados Mein Hai Pyaar (Love Thy Neighbour)

Remember the good old days when you knew your neighbours’ names? Well, that's making a comeback! We're craving some real human connection – joining local groups, doing some seva (volunteering), and catching up with old friends is back with a vengeance . Maybe it's nostalgia, or maybe we've finally realized that our houseplants aren't the best conversationalists. Whatever the reason, community is cool again. At least this year I got to catch up with a lot of old friends. And if you can bond over chai and some crispy pakodas while you're at it, even better!

2. Mann Ki Baat, No Longer Shush-Shush

Mental health isn't a taboo topic anymore, thank goodness! It's on the news, in our workplaces, and even popping up in casual conversations. From meditation apps to therapy sessions, there is a lot which has started finding its place out there on this topic. Whether we like it or the conversation on prioritizing our emotional well-being is at least now on the table. Turns out even a lot of youngsters are saying no to surviving on chai and Maggi at 2 AM, it is exactly " not self-care" (though we've all been there, haven't we?).

3. AI: Dost ya Dushman? (Friend or Foe?)

AI isn't just for boring calculations anymore. It's writing poetry, making presentations, and for creating content. Thanks Chat GPT, Google Gemini and Perplexity AI for help on this article too. You boosted my confidence and your presence itself was a great emotional support while I was penning this ??. The lines between human creativity and machine efficiency are getting blurrier than so called morning fog/smog and bad AQI’s in Mumbai. The key question is “Are we still in control? ?The debate is still on, on this one. But hey, at least AI can't make a decent plate of mutton curry yet, though I heard the guys at Rebel foods (Behrouz Biryani) are using AI and advanced automation in food making

4. Climate Change: Garmi Badh Rahi Hai! (The Heat is On!)

2024 turned up the heat – literally! This summer was hotter than a Bollywood dance number, and sustainability isn't just a fad anymore, it's a necessity. From ditching plastic to embracing eco-friendly lifestyles, we need to start taking climate action seriously. And yes, carrying your own reusable water bottle is officially cooler than ever (pun intended!).

5. Work Life Harmony

The 9-to-8 grind has also got a makeover. Remote work, flexible hours, and job titles that sound like they came out of a sci-fi movie are becoming the new normal. In amongst all this, at least there are conversations around us, where people are becoming increasingly wary of burning out and are paying more attention to taking care of themselves. As Jeff Bezos aptly put it, it is about "work-life harmony” now. And honestly, fewer pointless meetings might be the biggest win of all. Plus, who doesn't love having more flexibility to carve out their office work times.

6. Milkar Rehna, Bhai! (Let's Get Along!)

Political drama is at an all-time high, and fake news is spreading faster than rumours in a small towns. The amount of new fact check websites which are now available shows the potential market for this too. Amidst all the noise, there's a also growing desire for empathy and understanding. It's not about agreeing on everything – it's about keeping those lines of communication open. Sometimes, even agreeing to disagree over a plate of samosas can be a step in the right direction.

So, What's Next?

2024 has been a year of existential questions and "Kya ho raha hai?" moments. But maybe that's not such a bad thing. In a world that feels like it's constantly changing, even teh oncept and context of meaning itself is evolving. Searching for those time bound bouts of meaning, and further looking to what could be the next newer bouts of meaning, has become a shared adventure.

So, let's keep asking questions, keep laughing, and keep taking things one step at a time. Because finding meaning isn't a solo performance – it's a jugalbandi, a beautiful collaboration between all of us.