Dear 2023

Dear 2023,

How do I say thank you to you? How do I convey how grateful I am for your occurrence? You have been one of the best years since the last few.

The first quarter was spent exploring a place where I feel like home, away from my home in Ahmedabad. This is something I have been trying to explore for the past few years. I have penned down my thoughts here. For some reason, the People Farm journey didn’t move forward, and I was again on the road to find a base, a place I feel at home.

Somewhere in April 2023, I landed up in Bir for the second time in my life. This time, Bir felt different. Of course, there were elements of mountains, sunsets, fresh air, and slow village life that attracted me a lot. But there was also something else, which made me feel connected to the place.

It was a sense of community. Group of people I felt I belonged to. I met so many people I could share my weirdness with without being weird. I felt I had found my tribe. And that was the moment I decided to come back. I eventually came back in June, lived for 6 months, and now have a long-term base. A home away from home.

I have enjoyed each and every moment at this place. Whether it’s working on a farm, attending silence circles, participating in workshops, watching movies and World Cup matches, listening to music jams, attending picnics, stargazing, or having an endless conversation about Bir’s economy and Café’s profit & loss statements with my neighbor, I have cherished each and every moment of being in this beautiful place.

Cooking

When you feel like you belong, when your heart feels at home, the magic unfolds. Before, I never thought of cooking anything on my own. The food was always available on finger trips—through apps, cook, or mom! However, whether it was a necessity or enthusiasm, I felt the need to learn basic cooking. A huge thanks to my neighbor Harsh; I learned the basic science of cooking. And here are the cheers to my first ever cooker whistle 😊 My cooking journey started in 2023.

From never wanting to cook to seeing myself cooking something (same-thing) almost every day, I realized that nothing is permanent. We, as human beings, are an always-evolving species. We keep changing with the changes in the environment and circumstances. This realization also brings courage to believe that whatever life throws at me, I’ll adapt, learn, and flow.

Water

I’m not comfortable with water bodies. Hydrophobia has existed since childhood. However, there was always a subconscious zeal to see the underwater world. To witness fish, corals, and their lives! This zest overtook the fear, and I finally did my first underwater dive.

The hardest thing underwater was not to float or walk. The hardest thing was to “jump” from the boat. Often in life, there is that one Jump or leap of faith that makes all the difference.

I ended up doing scuba diving and a sea walk in Andaman on a solo trip. My first underwater experience came in 2023.

Me @ Honeymoon Destination

Andaman is an island famous as a honeymoon destination. It’s not popular among solo travelers (for obvious reasons). I was paired with newlywed couples during boat rides. I was asked multiple times by ticket checkers, boat drivers, and hotel receptionists with amusement if I’m really travelling solo.

However, for some reason, these all felt normal. Nothing seemed weird. This year, 2023, has reinforced and validated the fact that I have embraced my single at heart nature, that I have accepted myself with all my weirdness, craziness, and differentiation from others, and that I’m super comfortable in my own skin.

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So here I am, at the end of 2023, packing my bags for another solo foreign trip before returning to Bir.

You have been very kind, dear 2023, and please remain kind for the last few days, as you have been throughout the last 359 days. Thank you for everything!