Human beings and organisations are like the coastline. It is the storms that shape and define us

At the start of this year, I chatted with a good friend who is a fantastic?Feng Shui master and has wonderful intuition. She explained that this was the ‘Year of the Wood Dragon’ (a combination of the dragon animal sign and the element wood). According to Chinese astrology, this is a year of prosperity, symbolising authority, abundance and good fortune. It also represents power and vitality.

Dragons are notorious for their strong leadership qualities and determination to succeed, which inspire us to chase our dreams. She explained to me that, whilst this would be a year of challenges, it would be very positive. She also explained that the first three to four months, because of the position of the stars, would be also be a period of potential accidents and health scares.

I am writing this piece to share my own experience of the year so far, as I’ve?realised that many others are having a similar year to me. I?want to highlight that what you are potentially going through is not only personal to you, but also something that many are facing at the same time. We are going through a tough and challenging period. However, at the same time, it can be fortuitous and lead to greater enlightenment and future success. So, let me share my experiences with you.

Personally, it has been a difficult?time, and I have had a few health challenges. During the Christmas?holidays, Eva and I?stayed at the COMO Suite at the COMO Shambhala Estate in Bali. The COMO Suite is a stunning villa and we absolutely?love it; the design and the location are fantastic. We also love the fantastic food created by COMO Chef, Amanda Gayle. It is a perfect example of what we aim to achieve at Soneva. We don't compromise: we don't believe in "either" or "or", rather ?we always consider "and". In other words, serving food that is delicious, but also very healthy for you and highly nutritious at the same time. ?

Unfortunately, while I was staying there, I lost my footing while walking downstairs in my villa, falling about half a metre onto the marble floor and breaking my fifth metatarsal. It turned out to be quite a serious fracture.

But that was just the beginning?of my health challenges. I?have had lymphoma?twice and managed to recover without missing a day of work thanks to the fantastic?help of my oncologist in Turkey and the wonderful wellness team we have at Soneva Soul. At the end of November 2023, I?noticed a lump on my neck. By the time I?got back to the Maldives?and carried out an ultrasound and an MRI with contrast, it was clear that it indicated a relapse of the lymphoma. This time around, I am seeing if I can avoid the chemotherapy under the guidance of Dr. Ahmed Elsakka, a specialist in clinical metabolism and oncology. So far, it has been a challenging few months, but the good news is that this fast-growing cancer has not grown at all and, if anything, has shrunk.?

On the company?side, business?has been very good, but there have been continuous challenges: nothing has been easy and we have had to push a lot.

And yet, on a personal level, I?feel that I have learnt so much, evolved and developed. Arguably, these past five months have been my greatest-ever period of personal change. As an organisation, we have also learnt, adapted and grown.

So, for those of you who might have had similar challenges so far this year, I?would like to leave you with two quotes from wise men who have inspired me:

Lao Tzu: “Good fortune has its roots in disaster."

Calvin Coolidge: "Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent."