On beginning a new year
Today is the first day of the year. While I did allude to 2011 being a prime year, 2012 is rightly so. Who would have thought that 2011 would be so eventful in the beginning of the year? I certainly did not.
2011 saw major reversals in certain countries' autocratic regimes. We also saw visionaries die. 2011 was the year of the common man. While banking and investment careers remain quite lucrative, no one in their right mind would now brag about being 'that guy' who makes disproportionately more money than others putting in similar amounts of effort. The Occupy movement is a sign of things to come before the next predicted apocalypse. No longer is the common man 'down' with mediocrity at the highest echelons of politics, corporate governance, and monetary policy-making. Accountability is the name of the game, as also evinced by the anti-corruption crusades all over India, today.
2012 is going to be awesome. While I cannot predict the future, at least with a very high level of accuracy, I do see 2012 as the year of the resurgence of the east. The dollar would continue losing its most favorable currency status, and gold will continue being valuable. Online social networks are slowly getting as ubiquitous as email or SMS, and 2012 would only see this advance further. Not participating on these networks will (and arguably still does) seem like an anachronism. Personally, my last 3-4 jobs have been a result of using social networks rather than circulating my résumé mindlessly.
Online participation in exchange of ideas will make us honest, something autocratic and corrupt governments still cannot get a grasp of.
So, what are my new resolutions? Absolutely the same as last year - to continue living life to the fullest, to pursue new and old passions in life, and to travel whenever presented the opportunity.
A new year symbolizes mere turning over of the frame of reference of time we call a 'calendar'. Every day is part of the continuum called 'getting older and wiser'. What makes all the difference is the perception of a new beginning. New beginnings are always optimistic. 2012 ought to be full of optimism. The human race is a wonderful race to be a part of. I am proud of that!
Here's to another year of being awesome.
