Weekend Musings: Things I missed in 2020

We are now at the last leg of 2020 and looking back I remember the excitement with which we welcomed this new year. Like many others I too, had plenty of plans and was looking forward to it as the year started. Isn’t it amazing, how life breaks the momentum, and re-establishes order in the universe? Then again, if we weren’t to be thrown off the track every once in a while, it would take away from us the opportunity to learn and grow - something year 2020 gave us in abundance – as individuals and as a community. Still, even after realizing this and being appreciative, I have still got this feeling deep down in me about having missed some things.

The first and foremost is the social animal in me that spent the whole year in caution. I am thankful for the advances in technology that have enabled us to ensure continuity in the professional as well as the personal space and retain a sense of normalcy – which was both important and relieving. The only thing that I can’t help but, miss are the face-to-face interactions that prevailed in the ‘good-old days’. As convenient as virtual conversations might be, you cannot deny the fact that it lacks that personal connect present in one-on-one meetings. Seeing my people, fellow colleagues, in-person helps exchange positive energies, infuse a different kind of enthusiasm and happiness to the mind. It breaks up the monotony of the everyday work life and gives us moments to cherish. Along with these, I also massively miss being physically present at events and launches. As good as a virtual event might be, it would never have the charm of real-life gatherings.

The thing I miss the most however, is travelling to new places and revisiting some of the old ones…By now, I’m sure you all are well-versed with my wanderlust and #Shotstories from my travelogues. From discovering hidden gems in India, to witnessing abundance of natural beauty everywhere, to relishing the local cuisine wherever I travel, to observing and learning from diverse culture which prevails across the world, it never fails to teach me new things. The exhilaration I experience while exploring new places and meeting new people is irreplaceable. Another thing which I surely missed out this year and for which we, the “Batch of 95,” were waiting for, was our reunion at the college campus. Sometimes the plans don’t follow the way.

Given the situation at hand, I'm extremely thankful for all the rules, regulations, and restrictions in place to ensure our safety and would continue to urge everyone to follow them for everyone’s safety. I do however realize that our wishful thinking wanting things to get back to normal is completely alright. This certainly doesn’t mean that we get complacent with our efforts to stop the spread of the disease and make situations worse. We only need to hold on and be careful, hoping to see a positive change in the upcoming year. As I wait for a brighter 2021, I will continue adding on to my bucket list of things I would do as soon as things get better. It sure will be a long one!