I won’t mince words, 2021 was one of the most difficult years of my life – especially on the personal front. My little family was shattered by the death of two of our cats, and that too in a brutal way. The second wave of COVID, and isolation seemed mild in comparison.

Nevertheless, I am immensely thankful that 2021 happened. It taught me the value of resilience, a skill I suspect we will all need going forward in our lives. Also, the courage offered by the thought about whether anything can get any worse than 2021 (spoiler alert: it can, and it most probably will), was emboldening.

If I survived 2021, I can survive anything. Also, despite all the pain, hardship, and suffering, I found solace in my profession, for which I am eternally thankful. It was not just about having a job that pays bills, it was about doing something I love – and I realized that I love doing what I do, and I’m lucky enough to have some of the finest folks in the world, as colleagues.

So here’s giving a big thank you to you, 2021. You taught me to endure. You helped me be resilient. You made me strong.

Bring it on. 2022.