As I look back on the year gone by, I can’t be thankful enough for 2018. Professionally and personally, it’s the best year I’ve had. In Dec 2017, if I were given a chance to script my 2018, I don’t think I’d have had it any better.
What did you learn in 2018? Can you describe it in one word? For me it’s ‘gratitude’.
I discovered that having a deep sense of gratitude for all that you have in life is a source of profound happiness.
In 2018, I had a serious knee injury: An MRI scan showed that I tore my anterior cruciate ligament in the right knee, to the extent that it might have needed a surgery.
But the doctor advised me a non-surgical treatment to see if it works. I had to wear knee braces for a month, doing physiotherapy as my daily routine to gain strength and stability in the knee joint.
The recovery has been gradual but unbearably frustrating at times. Everyday to walk uphill in LBSNAA was a challenge and to navigate the Himalayan Trek was especially difficult, as I had to take each step with care and precision, lest I worsen the injury. During this period, I couldn’t help but think of the time I was healthy enough to run and play football.
I’ve had a re-scan of my knee joint recently, and the MRI showed near complete recovery of the ligament. Now I’m back running after six months.
Celebrated the new year in this beautiful island of Swaraj Dweep (previously called Havelock) in South Andaman.
If the injury had happened a couple of years ago, I’d have been a bitter person, cursing my luck that, of all people, it had to happen to me. But now I realize that shit happens. One fine day you just wake up to the fact that you have a terrible injury and you simply have to deal with it.
What really helped me cope up with the injury was the realization that it could have been far worse.
Imagine being afflicted with a terminal disease tomorrow. What would you not give to get to where you are now? Or say you lose your loved one in an accident. Many of us cannot even bear the pain of imagining it. Doesn’t life feel precious, just the way it is?
I’m not saying we must be merely complacent or simply resign to our fate. We must certainly be ambitious, always striving to do better. But my point is: while we are working toward our goals, we need not be miserable.
Most of our unhappiness is self-inflicted and needless, as we lose our minds over petty things. It helps to take a moment to pause and be thankful for your health, your relationships and all the people in your lives who make your existence meaningful.
Remember that before we came into being, there were revolutions, world wars, the rise and fall of mighty civilisations, and the birth and death of millions like us. The world went on as if we didn’t matter. In the future too, the world will go on as if we never existed. We are merely transient, our self-imposed importance ephemeral.
All we have is this one life, and it’s ending one year at a time. No matter the uncertainty or adversity, once we realise the fragility and preciousness of our lives, we don’t worry over stupid things.
Life is too fleeting to stay miserable. It taught me to take each moment as it comes, count my blessings and be grateful for it.
On that note, I wish you a happy new year. May you find joy in everything that you do.
Happy New Year and thank you so much sir ?? Wish your speedy recovery. ?
Happy new year sir!
Nice Blog in the start of the year. Thank you sir. Get well soon. Happy New Year ?
Gratitude ! .
Happy new year Anudeep . we all pass through such injuries in life but its the way how we deal with it. With self-motivation and determination , such injuries are tackled and you have shown the same . Yes off course its the present time which matters a lot and many people including great kings have come and gone on this planet Earth and we are also transient.
Nice to see a positive officer with positive attitude in new year 2019 . I wish you something special :-
– May you become a cause for few people in your AOR(Area of Responsibility) to change their fate and they live their life in a better way.
– May you indulge yourself in education reforms so that the new generation can make correct decisions for themselves.
– May you supervise you work in such a way that at least few corrupt people have fear of law in their minds and avoid some corruption for benefit of society.
– May you help the mother nature so that the environment be more greener in 2019.
– May you help your surrounding more clean and more green .
Happy New Year.
jai Hind !
Thank you for your wishes, Aman.
Happy new year Sir
Great year ahead anna???, please wish me too anna
Amazing writing. It clearly reflects how grateful you are for every single thing.
Sir, even I have undergone sever illness in 2018, that is when I realized importance of life which is a one time boon!! I battled my illness positively, learned about human body interactions with the climate food nature & everything. Life a journey…travel it with gratitude!
Wish u quick recovery and may this new brings lot more on your way…
Happy New Year?
Amazing to know that. Wish you good health and a fantastic new year ahead.
Happy New year
Happy New year bro…..strong determined person u are
happy new year…. starting this year with a positive note… thanks for wonderful post…
Happy New year sir
Me blog baundi sir.. Happy new year.. I wish to write like u someday.
Happy new year sir
Stay always touch your blogs are true helpful to thinking diverse perspectives.
Happy new year sir ☺
Sir I’m your big fan
gratitude is attitude
Happy New Year Sir!!
Thank you so much Sir for educating us with your beautiful blog.
I wish you have a beautiful year ahead!!
A very happy new year Sir!
The post was worth the wait 🙂
After reading your post took out some time to reflect back on what I learnt in 2018. Felt light. A beautiful exercise indeed. 🙂 Thank you!
Thank you sir for coming up with a new lesson in your every new post.
Keep writing! 🙂
Take care Sir!
After a long time, I finally got some time to write, which is why the delay.
Thanks for reading and your wishes.
Dear Anudeep (Sir), I must say how beautifully you have described the fragility of life, our fears/ inhibitions and yet to accept and appreciate life by taking each moment as it comes.
I can relate with this post as Jan 2019 was the month when everything was fine and suddenly one day my father needed to be hospitalized but thankfully it was nothing much serious. But in those few days life taught me a great lesson and somehow I got strength to accept the situation and face it with courage.
Totally agreed with you on this that days might be challenging but we need not be living in misery. And yes ‘ Gratitude ‘ is something I felt in every bit of those hours as I received the support of my friends, my father’s office and my family 🙂
Happy new year sir,
I was eagerly waiting for ur next post☺
U r truly an inspiration for everyone today..
Get well soon sir.
From ur die hearted fan..
Thank you, Shalini. Wish you a happy new year too!
Thanks a lot sir for replying…???
Happy new year buddy.
Happy New year Sir ?
Happy new year sir, way of expressing ur life experience through ur words really inspiring, thank u.
Happy New Year Sir. Wish you quick recovery and have a smiling year ahead.
Happy new year sir
I’ve to did learn in 2018 is -“The game of Time “.
You have Fun, you should have Fun. ?
Of course I am having fun! 🙂
Happy new year sir and u r an inspiration for everyone
I have lost two of my beloved once and i still can feel the pain it has been a miserable year leaving me all alone but as you said i felt the same thing while recovering from that pain we are transient and ephemeral and unhappiness is needless and we have to cope up as time goes on
This article is so related to my 2018 and i want to thank you for spreading such positivism
Happy New Year
Hope one day i meet you as your junior and thank you personally for many things which you shared online!!!!!!!
So so sorry to hear about your loss, Aamir. I wish you strength to overcome the unimaginable pain you must be going through.
Thank you for reading the article and saying that you found it of value. Wish you a happy new year, and hope to see you as a junior in the service. All the best.
Happy New Year Sir.
You are an ininspirati
That is really amazing perspective on which, probably, all of us need to ponder over.
I believe, Life is merely a bridge between birth and death, which we all need to cross without harming others and ourselves.
Thankyou very much sir.
Jai Hind!
Great words.
Happy new year…precious thoughts..