2021: The Morning After The Nightmare

 

They say, “A nightmare is a disturbing dream associated with negative feelings, such as anxiety or fear that awakens you.” I’m sure by now I don’t have to explain why I’ve used the term nightmare to describe this past year. We’ve all, everyone all around the world been through this nightmare together. Starting this twin year with the raging Australian bushfires, floods in Jakarta – Indonesia and to the global declaration and breakout of Novel Corona Virus resulting in us becoming prisoners in our very own homes to survive.

We’ve seen great losses this year, 2 million souls left us this year. Losses of some legendary public figures like Irrfan Khan, Rishi Kapoor and Soumitra Chatterjee are among the deceased, it was quiet unbelievable actually. The sudden passing of Sushant Singh Rajput also imposed a shock wave over the hearts of thousands of people.

As if this wasn’t enough to deal with, we had to lose a personality as extraordinary and admirable as Kobe Bryant too. As we wish for these souls to rest in peace let me move on to the postponed Olympics 2020 breaking hearts of millions of people worldwide, this took away whatever source of entertainment we had left. When I talk about losses I must also include the massive wave of unemployment which hit people all around the world. Loss of hope every day, loss of that ray of light that we’ve all been waiting for, to shine from amongst the clouds. Now that I’m thinking about the incidents that have happened, my hands are shaking, this feelings of uneasiness and I would almost use the word ‘fear’ to describe this feeling, that I’m sure all of you must have felt at least once in this past year, deep inside your hearts that feeling of security that was lost this year, it will take some time to restore. Nightmare it was indeed.

New year 2021 is going to be different from ever other new year we’ve ever had. Were used to wishing happiness and hope and prosperity to each other every year, but this year these words hold a significance and meaning that they’ve never held before. Hope, I believe it is the basic of an individual’s living, I mean obviously breathing, food and shelter are important for survival, but if you think about it, hope is another necessity too. Especially after walking through this past year and stumbling several times, the thing that made up stand back up was our hopes, giving us the strength and the will to keep walking no matter how many times we fall. Blood relations exist, but this previous year I’ve learnt about this whole new means of connection amongst two people, it was by their interconnected hopes. So I wish everyone hope once again this year… A hope with a different meaning than what it had when I wished you last year on the New Year.

 

Happiness, here comes the second wish. I guess I can’t explain about happiness much or talk about it. Each of us have our own versions of happiness, things and people who make us happy in our own ways. Again, I guess this past year no matter how hard it might’ve been we got a considerable amount of time to actually sit and think about everything going on around us. Well, if I must say anything about happiness, I am going to hold onto those small little things that gave me a sense of peace in this nightmare, short little breaks where I could breathe without feeling a heavy weight that was on my chest. For me, I believe it was when I got to spend time with my family and talk to my friends over call. I hope everyone finds their own version of happiness soon, no matter what it is. And if you’ve already found it, I wish the strength and courage to you, to cherish that happiness.

 

Prosperity, is going to a tough wish depending on what you think prosperity is. Prosperity in terms of wealth will be hard for many people all around the world as a result of losing their jobs, at times like these the above two, hope and happiness, especially hope will give you the strength to get by. It important for us to remember that everyday is a new day and like time never looks back, we should also always keep looking forward, someday we will reach the horizon, just keep believing.

  Okay okay, that was heavy, let’s talk about how we will celebrate this new year to make it worth every hardships we’ve been through, this year specially should be a year to remember, for better or for worst, don’t you think?

 

Well I would suggest you a few things, on the new years eve the first and the most important dress up for the occasion, dress your best and wear pretty matching masks which will not only add a fashionable touch but also to your safety, conditions now are better than they were months ago, but we must remember that the virus is still in the air. Enjoy a nice get together with your family and friends, eat delicious food and enjoy with drinks and snacks. Reminisce the memories about the past that you share with each other. Talk about the plans that you have for the upcoming year. Sing your favorite songs and ever go up to the terrace to enjoy the clear skies and the night air. Breathe in the air from 2020 for the last time and as the clock hits 12 o’clock welcome the new year with a warm embrace and love and  new hope.

 

I would really suggest please take proper measures before going out to the terrace at 12 am, or you might catch a cold, don’t want to start the New Year with a sneeze now do we?

Did I miss out on the New Year’s resolution? Well, sorry it’s a habit to forget about them on the second day of the New Year. Anyway, I’ve decided to keep my resolution and to not forget it or just give up. This year my new years resolution will be to successfully move on from 2020 and walk into 2021 without looking back while holding the hands of my family and friends who were there with me and for me this whole past year.

I hope you can come up with a resolution you can actually maintain this year, after all after this previous year we know for real now that life is ever so small and temporary, so we need to live it to the best of our capabilities every year, you never know what might come up next.

Let’s go and wake up from that nasty nightmare, after all I can already feel the rising sun, as the warm welcoming rays touch my face.
Morning after the nightmare is never the easiest one because of the after effects, but knowing that the nightmare is over sure feels great does it?

 

Happy New Year, 2021

 

- Akanksha Mitter