Happy New Year!

✨Happy new year everyone!!

I hope the new year brings you lots of good health, happiness, and prosperity. As we enter 2021 and begin to think about our goals, resolutions, etc., we should reflect on this past year and the lessons it has taught us. Here are some thoughts on this past year:

After the first month of the pandemic how did you feel? What thoughts were on your mind often? How has that changed now that 9 months have passed?

Lots of people spent more time at home by themselves or with family. It was okay to be home in the beginning, but then later it got boring. Then, boredom changed to the frustration of not being able to go out and do things. This is because loneliness became difficult to handle. People learned the difference between being alone and feeling lonely. There's a big difference between being alone and being lonely; you were able to realize what you like to do when you have a lot of free time.

✨Although we couldn’t visit our loved ones and had to cancel many previously scheduled events, this year has taught us many valuable lessons. For example, we learnt about the many things that we can in fact do without, which we may have thought were very important before. We also learned about the things we really do need and can't do without. We learned to appreciate the little things in our lives, like making time to spend with our family members. We also gave self-care a whole meaning; we spent more time doing yoga, meditation, and keeping our mind away from stressful environments.

✨Reflecting on these few thoughts, may we remember the lessons learned this year and take them into the new year. Let us make a special effort not to carry over the negative behaviors of 2020. Let us transfer all the worthwhile behaviors that we developed; like yoga, japa, meditation, quiet time observing nature, and practicing a healthy diet into the new year.

And most of all, may we continue to work with each other regardless of our differences. One thing we definitely learned is that we have in our minds many perceived enemies developed by our biases, and Covid didn't care for any of it. Covid treated us all the same. Covid was dangerous for all of us, regardless of our differences of opinion and biases. In fighting Covid, we found some commonality. Let that commonality, neighborliness, empathy, care, and kindness lead us into the New Year. May you all have a happy and prosperous new year!

Om Shantih Shantih Shantih.

-Sri Rajaji