"I started a joke, which started the whole world crying
But I didn't see that the joke was on me, oh no."
Well. Here. We. Are.
364 Days. Again. Just. Wow.
My last post was a celebration of the fact that I wrote on my blog at least twice within a year. One would've thought it implied that I'd look to write more this year, but my adoring public(singular) (Thanks, Ma) would have to be disappointed. This year was definitely a Tex-Mex of more ingredients than I could count, thankfully the aftertaste is as palatable as I would want.
This post also derives inspiration from BeeGees' "I Started a Joke". It has a beautiful melody and the lyrics are crystal clear, which is appropriate for the kind of the discourse the song has. The actions, and the opposite effect they trigger. This last year has seen that happen more than its fair share.
Even memes, of this year show, (especially the surprised Pikachu meme) the obvious expectation the speaker should've had of their actions, but missed it.
Somehow, I cannot help but feel this song isn't as much about the failure but of continuity after the failure. Which is a different kind of peace to have.
If 2017 was about finding your voice, 2018 has definitely been about making it heard, and living past it. Be it any aspect of life, this year has been one of ample opportunities and I could imagine nothing better. There have been euphoric highs and charged lows, but the beauty of it would have to be the transient nature of both and the tranquillity that settles when you realize life's progression is slow enough for you to cause ripples, but too strong to be altered. The fact that you matter, but not enough to take yourself too seriously. Vague? Yes. Do you need to be in a constant state of indecisiveness and crisis because of it? No.
This year has been the existential version of the exercise of invention and it has had its share of hits and misses and for once the most invigorating feeling has been not just the possible exhilaration of success but the sheer power of acceptance and joie de vivre. While anticipation and expectations still are overwhelming entities circling around, for once they seem not all so omnipotent.
A lot went to into making this happen. This was by no stretch accomplished over a day but by constantly moving ahead. It is far too easy for us to abandon ourselves when we need our own help the most and there is no amount of text available anywhere in the world which can make you empathise with yourself. Which is tough to make happen until you understand why you deserve all the credit, and leniency you're willing to extend to others. You haven't done anything to alienate yourself and your misery isn't a consequence or a punishment. It's a side-effect of ignoring the voice that seeks your help to heal itself and so needs to be addressed first by you and then by the help that you need. Acknowledging your reality is the first step that will set you free from yourself.
If you think about it, it isn't even just about us as individual people anymore. World over, people are beginning to pick themselves up from grim realities of the situations they are in and are putting in their backs and breaking them for the good fight. People who are pushing relentlessly for reforms for environment, for civil liberties and rights are mobilizing resources and people for the benefit of society and despite overwhelming odds they are fuelled by the strength of their vision and the belief in the power of change. We aren't alone when we succeed or fail. We haven't ever been. We are just one of the many who are marching ahead with the tide of time and as long as we are doing what we can to make this place better we are ticking all the boxes we ever were meant to. What's better is that it doesn't seem to be in isolated pockets. It is a constant shower of sparks all around us.
In close, 2018 was a mixed bag. A lot was happening and maybe a lot more I missed out on but, if anything it seems like the right note to start of 2019. Just the right amount of peace, anticipation, serenity and sprinkling of still forming wisdom. I think we're laying a good foundation for us to iterate and change, and if it doesn't work, we're surely ready to roll up our sleeves and work on it again.
Happy 2019!
But I didn't see that the joke was on me, oh no."
Well. Here. We. Are.
364 Days. Again. Just. Wow.
My last post was a celebration of the fact that I wrote on my blog at least twice within a year. One would've thought it implied that I'd look to write more this year, but my adoring public(singular) (Thanks, Ma) would have to be disappointed. This year was definitely a Tex-Mex of more ingredients than I could count, thankfully the aftertaste is as palatable as I would want.
This post also derives inspiration from BeeGees' "I Started a Joke". It has a beautiful melody and the lyrics are crystal clear, which is appropriate for the kind of the discourse the song has. The actions, and the opposite effect they trigger. This last year has seen that happen more than its fair share.
Even memes, of this year show, (especially the surprised Pikachu meme) the obvious expectation the speaker should've had of their actions, but missed it.
 |
| Pika.....Pi? |
Somehow, I cannot help but feel this song isn't as much about the failure but of continuity after the failure. Which is a different kind of peace to have.
If 2017 was about finding your voice, 2018 has definitely been about making it heard, and living past it. Be it any aspect of life, this year has been one of ample opportunities and I could imagine nothing better. There have been euphoric highs and charged lows, but the beauty of it would have to be the transient nature of both and the tranquillity that settles when you realize life's progression is slow enough for you to cause ripples, but too strong to be altered. The fact that you matter, but not enough to take yourself too seriously. Vague? Yes. Do you need to be in a constant state of indecisiveness and crisis because of it? No.
This year has been the existential version of the exercise of invention and it has had its share of hits and misses and for once the most invigorating feeling has been not just the possible exhilaration of success but the sheer power of acceptance and joie de vivre. While anticipation and expectations still are overwhelming entities circling around, for once they seem not all so omnipotent.
A lot went to into making this happen. This was by no stretch accomplished over a day but by constantly moving ahead. It is far too easy for us to abandon ourselves when we need our own help the most and there is no amount of text available anywhere in the world which can make you empathise with yourself. Which is tough to make happen until you understand why you deserve all the credit, and leniency you're willing to extend to others. You haven't done anything to alienate yourself and your misery isn't a consequence or a punishment. It's a side-effect of ignoring the voice that seeks your help to heal itself and so needs to be addressed first by you and then by the help that you need. Acknowledging your reality is the first step that will set you free from yourself.
If you think about it, it isn't even just about us as individual people anymore. World over, people are beginning to pick themselves up from grim realities of the situations they are in and are putting in their backs and breaking them for the good fight. People who are pushing relentlessly for reforms for environment, for civil liberties and rights are mobilizing resources and people for the benefit of society and despite overwhelming odds they are fuelled by the strength of their vision and the belief in the power of change. We aren't alone when we succeed or fail. We haven't ever been. We are just one of the many who are marching ahead with the tide of time and as long as we are doing what we can to make this place better we are ticking all the boxes we ever were meant to. What's better is that it doesn't seem to be in isolated pockets. It is a constant shower of sparks all around us.
In close, 2018 was a mixed bag. A lot was happening and maybe a lot more I missed out on but, if anything it seems like the right note to start of 2019. Just the right amount of peace, anticipation, serenity and sprinkling of still forming wisdom. I think we're laying a good foundation for us to iterate and change, and if it doesn't work, we're surely ready to roll up our sleeves and work on it again.
Happy 2019!
