Twenty- five Seven

SMILE: #Word Of The Year 2022

December 31, 2021

I don’t know who started this tradition of choosing a word for the year and what its purpose is. Presumably, it is your North Star during the year that guides you through the ups and downs.

In 2021 I chose Embrace, in 2020 I chose Refresh in 2019 the word was Calm.

But today, as I think about the word I would like to choose for the coming year, I would like to choose #SMILE.

Does it sound weird? Whimsical? Frivolous?

Well, let me explain that SMILE for me is a very special word.

You may call me vain but I feel my smile is my best feature.

And for many years, I was a reluctant smiler because my two front teeth were discoloured and ugly.

But finally today, after six months of treatment, I can finally flash my smile with confidence and joy.

So, for 2022, my #WOTY is #SMILE.

I would like to smile each day in the hope that it brings me joy. I would like to smile in the hope it brings me peace. I would like to smile in the hope that it brings me good health.

Besides, when you smile, the world does smile with you.

Have you been choosing a WOTY? What is your word for 2022?

Ciao,
What will 2022 bring ?

December 27, 2021

I wonder .

Till the end of November I was almost sure that CoVid was well behind us. Millions of people around the world too seemed to share that feeling. People began letting down their guard , unmasked themselves, dusted their suitcases, ironed out their silks, lit up the lights for Christmas and New Year and got ready to get back to work as usual.

But come 24th November when the dreaded virus made another come back. This time as OMICRON. And with it came the fear. The panic. And the whole rigmarole of the last two years .

Last Friday when one of my helpers returned after a family wedding in Ratnagiri, she was as shocked as I was when she tested positive in a home administered Rapid Antigen Test.

I had no option but to send her away as we have two high risk people at home. She is now in quarantine and under treatment but for the first time in 2 years, we came face to face with the virus. And as the second line appeared , my blood ran cold .

Will the virus be as vicious as it was when it first came ? Or will it be milder as all the experts claim.

One will have to just watch and see the reality of 2022 and hope things are better in 2023 !

Ciao
Christmas greetings

December 25, 2021

It is that time of year when you feel Christmas cheer wherever you are in the world.

Sharing some Christmas greetings I received from my friends this morning .

And finally a capture from my own Christmas tradition of seeing the decorations at the two iconic hotels of Mumbai with Ms Papaya to wish all of you my readers a Happy Christmas

The end of the year looms near as does the shadow of the dreaded virus .

I hope that all of you are safe and healthy to welcome the New Year .

Ciao