What life would be if not eventful: Recapitulating 2024 !

Whilst the outside temperature is chilling -10 degree Celsius, Satinder Sartaj playlist is playing in the cozy warmth of my room at Leh. As the song Ikko Mikke played, the following lyrics struck to my mind:

Sab mitt gaye ne atak adike

Dasso ji hunn ki likhiye haaye

Hoye main te sajjan ikko mikke

Dasso ji hunn ki likhiye...

Intrigued about the meaning of the lyrics, I discussed them with my friend and colleague Mohit: all the obstacles on my way have vanished, tell me what do i write now; I and my lover have become one, tell me what do I write now, he explained.

What a beautiful song I exclaimed; the philosophy of life is summarized melodiously ! 

What would our life be, if its not eventful, full of twists and turns, I thought ! What would one have with to write or tell  others about his/ her journey if the life is monotonous, isn't eventful ? Thank God, we have eventful lives, full of happiness, sorrows, anxious moments, heartbreaks, failure, success, accomplishments etc. That joy and sense of pride after achieving/ accomplishing something worthwhile; that adrenaline rush while taking risks; the remorse and stressful moments during failures; setbacks- life is full of experiences ! With these thoughts, I started recapitulating the memories of the year 2024, today on 31st day of December. 

I consider myself fortunate enough to have colorful memories (professional and personal) of the year which I find worthwhile to share. 

The year has been full of opportunities and challenges:

While I have been bestowed with challenging assignments (professional) throughout the year, I have also been fortunate enough to be provided with the opportunities to attend a number of trainings, workshops and seminars, the most significant being the training at LBSNAA, Mussoorie, which usually only senior officers from the administration get the chance to attend. Those 5 days spent in the prestigious academy still feel like a dream come true. However, all these memories came at a cost : I didn't get enough time to be with my family at my hometown in Sunderbani, J&K. Festivals like Diwali, Holi and Rakshabandhan, which one wishes and loves to celebrate with the family at home, had to be celebrated away from them. 

However, these challenges provided with new opportunities and the chance of celebrating these festivals with some amazing people. While, I was fortunate enough to have found two 'sisters' at my office to tie the Rakhis, the office colleagues ensured that this Diwali away from home is no less memorable: a Diwali cake, at the office!  In fact, my friend and colleague, Asif, made painstaking efforts to ensure that we celebrated Diwali exactly the same way I would do at home. I am grateful for all those memories. The opportunity of trying hands (rather legs) at the Ice (wall) climbing- all thanks to Jigmet Sir! Successfully finishing the 11.2 Km run during Ladakh Marathon 2024 shall remain an illustrious personal achievement.

During leisure, apart from the Cricket we played during Sundays and Holidays, I also got the opportunity to explore Ladakh with a vibrant company. Together, we explored the Changthang region, during the Ladakh Nomadic Festival. The joy of camping at Chibra, Kargyam in the joyful company of hundreds of fellow travelers, in the meadows. Music playing, people dancing and enjoying the vibe and culture of nomadic lifestyle, crossing streams barefooted in the ice-cold water, cooking on the small portable camping stove, all those memories are still refreshing. I can't forget traveling through the challenging Kaksang la top on our way back to Leh. 

More so, I also explored the Zanskar region during the Zanskar festival: an eventful trip with colorful companions ! The stubborn resolute to travel back to Leh from Zanskar (via Kargil) in a single day was no less than a feat. We enjoyed the breathtaking scenic landscapes, which affirmed that the journey rather than the destination is the reward ! More so, got the opportunity to explore the interiors of Ladakh, the biodiversity at the Warila, the autumn of Matho in the august company of Vivek Rattan Sharma. The list is endless !

Back home, a number of eventful memories: addition of new members in the extended family, siblings and friends getting married: I had to face the music of the inevitable cliche every now and then: When are you getting married ? My escape: God knows better !

Anyways, this year has been full of colorful memories with some amazing people, seniors and colleagues at the workplace, the fellow members of the "Sunday Cricket" WhatsApp Group, the athletic companions at the Indoor Stadium who gathered for Badminton, fellow trainees/ participants at the trainings/ workshops, and seniors/ mentors who have been supporting pillars unconditionally, I feel grateful to the almighty for giving the opportunities to explore life !

Thinking again about the lyrics of the Sartaj Song, I feel, life is a story to be told, memories to be shared and cherished, till its logical end: when the body merges with the constituent elements and the soul with the omnipotent !

With these words, wishing all the readers, a very Happy New Year 2025. May the coming year(s) be full of pleasant colorful memories for all ! May our lives be blessed with abundant joy, prosperity and good health. 

Happy New Year !