12 months. 365 days. 8760 Hours. 525600 Minutes. 31557600 Seconds. Each time a year draws to a close, I find myself looking back at it to conduct a year audit and a self audit.
I remember starting 2023 with dread and hope, a strange cocktail, wouldn’t you say? As one month followed the next, hope became the dominant flavor, and dread dissipated but not before leaving behind a bitter aftertaste.
The seasons changed, and spring arrived, in nature and in my heart. Hope started blossoming, giving birth to buds of clarity and joy. 2023 began to delight me, and I started to look forward to see what gifts it would bring me next.
The year reached its midpoint, and a milestone birthday turned my year into gold. Gold is a shade that represents divinity, wisdom and generosity, and this significant birthday enhanced these qualities within me. Gold is also a symbol of power, majesty and triumph. Adjectives I aim to add to my persona to embellish it.
The midpoint of the year made me think of balance. A quality I have felt the need to achieve for a while now. I am a generous giver but a very poor receiver. This trait has always tilted the scales in all my relationships, leaving me hanging askew, unable to see things from the right perspective. I hoped to set right my thinking and curtail my giving to an extent that it does not deplete me.
As I looked back to take stock of my year at this point, I saw empty spaces where hearts had been. Where smiles had been. Lots of empty spaces. I felt the cold due to the lack of warmth. The silence echoed with promises that still rung in my ears. It was sad. Loss is always sad, be it that of people or emotions. However, what doesn’t move forward must be left behind. Letting go is liberating. Clearing out the space in my heart and life ensured that I had made place for the new to enter.
With Autumn, I began shedding redundant thoughts, binding inhibitions and crippling fears. I also set free values that I had assumed to be my anchors but which were my albatross. Cutting cords lets you fly higher, to seek a new horizon and that is where I am headed.
The winter sky that dawned was stark. The emptiness made my stomach knot up a little, till I began to view it like a blank canvas to begin painting a new landscape on.
2023 was a gift that I unwrapped with trepidation, thanks to what the years prior had gifted me with. I am curious about 2024 and look forward to another brand new year clutching a bouquet of hopes, dreams, wishes and the The Universe looking out for me.
This post is written for #TheYearAndYouBlogHop hosted by Swarnali.
I have chosen to write on the prompt, ‘Your memories of 2023’.
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Mayuri, I know the year has been tough for you but the way you have been writing your story, it always inspires me. You are one of the biggest cheerleaders and confidante for me. I loved the way you have written your piece with the change of seasons. And it made me ponder upon the thought that how beautifully every season brings us a new shade of life, and a new shade of us. I felt somehow you and me, going through a rough patch in 2023, something was happening somewhere in the universe and that’s why one day I had a whisper from my heart that a butterfly is waiting, at the door of our hearts. May you have more strength, courage and clarity in 2024. Thanks for participating in the blog hop, your presence makes it more enchanting. Thanks for making the blog hop successful. Gratitude. May the new year bring you love, joy, and peace. Happy New Year in advance!
Mayuri, you have a distinct style of writing which I have always admired. Loved the Autumn paragraph and what you mentioned about your free. I think, we all should think about it once in a while.
With the strength you have gathered in 2023, I wish you a blessed 2024. Happy New Year in advance!!
Mayuri, you are an inspiring figure who influences the lives of many. Witnessing you coping with life’s challenges with courage will spread positive vibes around. I wish you the best wishes and success in the coming years!
What a beautiful depiction of the year through the passing seasons. As you rightly said, balance in life is key and something quite difficult to achieve. It is important to take care of oneself just as much as taking care of the ones you love. Wishing you a kind year ahead ❤️.
I love how you equated your experiences with the passing seasons. It’s perhaps the most important lesson from nature itself – everything changes. Nothing is permanent, not even change. May 2024 delight you and may you be able to add all those awesome adjectives to your persona.
Mayuri, this is the first time I got to read your writing and I am so impressed. The way you compared the many seasons of the year to the changes in your life was interesting. It seems there were hardships but I am hopeful the wisdom gained in the golden years will guide you on. Best wishes for 2024.
I like gold too! It’s all about radiance and strength and power, not to miss the majestic tones. And balance has always been the key to a healthy and harmonious life. You have composed a lyrical essay with colours of the season and yes, looking forward to a colourful 2024 as well.
Hey Mayuri, so lovely to read you after a long. Yes, it’s important to give to an extent that you don’t deplete yourself. After all, you can’t pot from an empty cup.
Much more power to you in the coming years.
Hey Mayuri,
Just like your beautiful name your style of writing ✍ is also equally beautiful and impressive. Ups and downs are part and parcel of life but how we look at the bright side of things is what that actually matters and helps to shape our life in a good way.
I m blown by your observation power and how your webbed your emotions with beautiful expressions in words to pen this post completely impressed me.
Keep visualizing life in this beautiful seasonal way and life will impress you back equally. You inspired me with your writing today.
Take care and Happy new year 2024 .
Love ❤
Samata
What a beautifully reflective post, How can I miss writing about your writing style… your milestone birthday turning the year into gold? That’s a poetic touch. Your writing feels like a chat with a friend, making your experiences relatable.
Looking forward to hearing more about your adventures in the coming year!
The Universe is looking out, Mayuri.
Positive post with your triumphs.
Agree that cutting cords lets us fly higher.
May we all continue to seek & head to newer horizons.
Have a glittering & “golden” 2024!
Sooo beautifully written Mayuri. Brilliant analogy, using seasons to talk about the year. I hope this year brings the best of everything for you.
It’s great to see that you began enjoying your year ultimately. Hats off to you for coming out stronger and inspiring many. More power to you and all that you plan to do in 2024!
Lot of empty spaces true even for me in 2023 was how you have described but I wish you have 2024 filled with happiness and make your dreams become reality. Being a giver is nice but hurts at times but it is that all cannot be the giver dear as it is a power only some can hold on to.
Loss is always sad, be it that of people or emotions. However, what doesn’t move forward must be left behind. Letting go is liberating. Such compelling and true words. You’ve had a turbulent year with your emotions, and I’m glad to read you’re looking at it like “A blank canvas to begin painting a new landscape on.”
I hope 2024 turns out to be a better year for you. Wishing you luck and prosperity.
The seasons and phases of letting go come with a lot of goodbyes, heartbreaks, and empty places which you have so beautifully depicted in your unique write-up. Yes, your heart has a shade of Gold and I wish you many more wonderful birthdays in advance that keep adding layers of shine. May you keep inspiring us with your wisdom and wit. Best wishes for the upcoming year, Mayuri! Love and hugs.
A unique take on a year by comparing it with seasons. Good to see that despite your struggles, you showed and that’s what is important for all of us right? And also something we need to learn from each other. Good luck for the year ahead. Hope you have a great one.
Wow!! Loved your style of writing. How beautifully you have used seasons to describe the entire year’s events and your experience. Wishing you all the very best for a happy and prosperous 2024 !!
Seeing your 2023 journey is awesome, Mayuri. Even when things were tough, you found hope and learned to let go for new things. Wishing you a fantastic 2024 with hopes, dreams, and the universe by your side!
Liked how you described your year with the passing of seasons and how the year tipped in favor of hope as it went past. Wish you all the best for 2024 and wish it brings lots of happiness and erases all the dread.
I would only like to say that the year may change but hope remains. There’s a lot to look forward to in the coming year; flowers will bloom, rainbows will appear and you’ll bathe in the glow of the beauty life has to offer. Wish that the balance tilts in your favour now and you get to experience every relationship from a renewed sense of happiness and vigour!
Your reflective journey through 2023, with its seasons of dread turning into a golden triumph at the midpoint, is a poignant narrative, Mayuri. The realization of balance, shedding inhibitions, and embracing the emptiness as a canvas for a new landscape adds depth to your introspection. Losses are acknowledged, yet your perspective on letting go and liberating space for the new is inspiring. As you clutch a bouquet of hopes for 2024, may the coming year be filled with joy, clarity, and the fulfillment of your dreams.
Cheers to a new chapter!