The year that was and the one ahead!

The year is drawing to a close soon. With just one more day left, it’s time to reflect upon how the year that went by was and making new resolutions for the upcoming year.

I have blogged very little this year. An average of one post per month, that’s it! But I wrote a lot into my diary and poured out my grief and happiness on those pages, rather than the blog.

I saw this doodle from introvertdoodles.com and could totally relate to it. That is so me!!

Well the writing helped me for sure. 🙂

2015 was a good year on the work front. I learnt and worked on a lot of things independently in my previous team. I was appreciated for as long as I was there. The last part of the year saw me move into a new team and new project again and I am back to square one. The un-learning and learning process gets taxing. I haven’t got a chance to work for any product for more than 2 years. When I actually get into the groove in a product, I am moved. 😦

It was a good year for my hobbies too. I explored new things that I had on my mind and made some progress. Hoping to spend more time on it in the coming year and work on newer ideas.

I also spent a lot of time gardening. Read a lot of articles about it and tried to put it into practice. I have a collection of potted plants now, which I am proud and happy about. I had read about a few workshops on gardening that happen in the city. Would like to attend at least a few in the coming year.

We visited my maternal home on most weekends and spent good time with my Mom and grandma and will miss that house terribly. Yes, the much mentioned change of home finally happened on the 25^th of this month. We had a herculean task of packing, moving and re-arranging on our hands. We sailed through it quite well and Mom’s new house is all set up now. I sort of like the new place too. I had expected that I will find it hard to adjust to, strangely it wasn’t so. I felt that my Dad was happy too, seeing his smiling face in the photo. 🙂

Travel-wise too the year was decent. Unlike the first two years of marriage, where we hardly went on a trip. This year we went on three trips. Stream of Joy and Ooty trips were planned and executed due to my coaxing and the Kodaikanal trip happened thanks to my sister and BIL. I have now understood that depending on my husband to plan trips is of no use. So I have decided to take the onus going forward to plan, book and pull him along. Let’s see how that goes.

My personal life suffered in 2015. The frustration caused by the in-laws and co-sister’s behavior was vented out in front of my husband. I avoid arguments with my MIL for the plain reason that she raises her voice and continues to argue, repeating the same thing over and over again at the top of her voice. At the end of it all she starts weeping and gains everyone’s sympathy. The other person becomes the villain. No reasoning works with her, she turns a deaf ear and blind eye to stuff. She wants to have things her way in most matters. The keeping quiet and avoiding argument starts piling up the frustration in me and my husband has to bear the brunt. Bg returns late in the night from office and I leave early in the morning. So essentially that leaves us with very little “together” time. We get only about a half an hour on the working days. I stay up late despite having woken up early just to get that half hour. The built up anger and frustration doesn’t help the situation. L Things are nicer on the days he works from home. I can connect better with him. I really want to work on this aspect in the coming year!

Last year I made no resolutions. But this year I have a long list, that I hope I work on –

1. This is going to be a year for ME. I will focus on myself.
2. I want to quit being a pleaser. Stop doing things to please others. Stop thinking that they will be offended.
3. Cut down on caffeine.
4. Learn more.
5. Read more.
6. Stay fit.
7. Be happy and smile more. Stop sulking!
8. Work towards leading a minimalist life. Stop buying stuff for the heck of it. Utilize the stuff I have and give away the ones I don’t use. Spend time in having a richer experience in life, spending time with people, closer to nature, explore places and new things to learn or do. Help more people.
9. Spend time in having personal conversations and not be on the phone chatting or browsing
10. Learn something new.

I have met a lot of people who tell me, what’s great about Jan 1^st , it’s just another day. Nothing will change and things will continue as they are. That may be true. But we humans need a psychological shift every once in a while to understand ourselves better and to try doing things differently. I always believe that a New Year gives that shift, it’s an opportunity. It’s like an indication that you are getting a new year to do things that you wanted to do, but kept putting off. It’s a chance to restart.

Wishing everyone a very Happy New Year – 2016! May you get all that you wished for, in the coming year! 🙂