Things I Learned, circa 2012

Sharing this post I had written for myself, as I waited to greet the sunrise on New Year's Day 2013. I know it's very old, but reading it again made me feel a deeper connection to my younger self. It also made me want to share this with my Steemit family. :)

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I've learned that I am incredibly impatient. Ok, so perhaps that wasn't exactly a revelation. But while there are more than a few moments when it works against me, for the most part, it drives me. Both typical Aries traits, my impatience and stubbornness fuel me to learn more, do more and do better. And while I do agree that there are occasions where I need to rein it in, I wouldn't ever want to lose my impatience.

I moved out of the city I have fondly called 'Home' for over 20 years. I'm yet to truly figure out why. So far, Bangalore has been giving me the cold shoulder. As well as cold feet, fingertips and nose.

I've learned to be far more careful of whom I trust, be they friend or relative. I've come to realise that it takes a special sort of wisdom to know exactly whom you need to welcome into your life, whom to hold on to, and whom to show the door. I'm developing that wisdom. Slowly, but I'm sure the aforementioned impatience will remedy that soon enough.

Don't allow yourself to be taken for granted. If someone can't treat you with respect, they deserve neither your time nor your love.

When you make plans, prepare to have them fall apart. Don't get me wrong, it isn't that one should be pessimistic. Simply realistic. A lot can come undone when you least expect it, and it's always a good idea to have a Plan B. Maybe even Plans C, D and E. As many as you need. But never give up on your destination. Ever.

Play with a toddler today. Or a cat, or a dog. Whichever one is easily accessible. Little can compare to the joy of being in the company of such innocence and love. Thank me later.

It's okay to be 'old-fashioned'. If you're a 27-year old woman who would prefer to raise children and manage a home rather than climb the corporate ladder, that's okay. It's also okay to be 'progressive'. If marriage and a family are not for you, that's just fine. But be sure of what you want either way.

Make your own decisions. There's no harm in asking for opinions, advice and perspective. In fact, it's wise to know what you're getting into. But the ultimate decision is, and should remain, yours. The consequences too, whether good or bad, are then only yours to bear.

Go eat a cupcake. Right now. Seriously.

Never apologise for your personal priorities. I have spent 10 months of the past year trying to find the man I would like to spend the rest of my life with. While several people I know have more than just chuckled at my quest, it isn't something I expect them to understand. But I know what I want, and I know that I want it soon. And I make no apologies for that.

I had a chance acquaintance show me a path I would never have imagined (Yes, I've had the good fortune to have several such encounters). This one was special though. And I can't thank her enough :)

Every relationship has a lifetime. Some are meant to last all your life, while some are destined to end in just a few years, months, sometimes even just weeks. Don't make the mistake of attempting to alter the lifespan of any connection. You'll simply waste a lot of time and energy that deserves to be directed elsewhere.

I learned to make proper Punjabi-style parathas, suji ka halwa and rajma. I can now die happy. And probably fat. But yes, happy.

I have reaffirmed that I shall always be a fauji at heart. It's been 5 years since Dad retired, but nothing sets my heart aflutter quite like the sight of a ship, the ocean, or simply a Naval officer in uniform. cue swoon

I have screwed up. On several counts. And after months of beating myself up about it, I forgave myself. As much as I like to believe otherwise, I am only human.

I have forgotten days. I have remembered lifetimes.

I've found I'm a fairly decent Agony Aunt. I am honestly not equipped to do much besides listen, but I'd like to think I do that well. Also, I give awesome hugs. I really do.

I've learned just how fragile relationships are nowadays. I hope that it teaches me to handle mine with the care they deserve, and to be wise enough to recognise when one is beyond repair or simply wrong to begin with.

I've also learned that there are people in my life, besides the usual suspects, who understand me far better than I realised. They know what's good for me, perhaps a little more than I do myself.

I discovered that 3 weeks can work wonders. Absolute wonders.

So there you have it, folks. In the past year, I've laughed, cried, screamed, cheered, lost faith, prayed, attacked, defended, cursed and forgiven. And should the world really end this weekend, I think it was all worth it.

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