The year that went by

 Media and newspapers often publish lists of the biggest events, milestones, and headlines of the year gone by.

I thought of doing something similar — but for myself.

A quiet reflection on the year that passed.

January began with an emotional hangover. I was still affected by being ghosted by someone I had once felt hopeful about.

February continued much the same, layered with another kind of hurt — feeling ignored by someone I considered my best friend.

March only deepened that emotional heaviness.

April brought a professional blow. My super boss decided not to promote me — with no clear reason, just “like that.”

What followed was a long conversation… or argument… or debate — call it what you will. I’m still dealing with some of its after-effects even now.

From May to August, I decided to attempt the FRM exam. I tried to prepare sincerely, though I didn’t succeed. I overthought a lot, questioned myself even more, but I know I did put in genuine effort — limited by time, mental bandwidth, and everything else that was going on.

September was similar, made more irritating by difficult colleagues at work.

October brought another professional twist — a change in my boss. Someone who had been a strong support moved out of the picture.

November and December continued with workplace challenges involving my boss, super boss, and colleagues.

Yet, not everything was heavy.

Some things stayed steady — and some quietly improved.

Throughout the year, I stayed consistent with my physical fitness, giving regular attention to my health.

I also began working on my mental focus, starting with something simple: sitting silently during my morning travel. That small practice has now become an integral part of my day.

Slowly, I also began motivating myself internally — trying to build mental strength from within. It’s a long journey, but at least it has begun.

Ironically, some of the irritation caused by colleagues pushed me toward creativity. I started sketching at times, just to find a bit of mental peace.

Amidst all this fatigue and overthinking, I began journaling in February, simply to feel lighter. Over time, that turned into blog writing. Writing helped me organise my thoughts, gain clarity, and feel a quiet sense of relief.

December also brought something meaningful — I enrolled in the Happiness Program by AOL, taking another small step toward inner well-being.

Looking back, the year that went by wasn’t easy.

But it made me stronger — mentally and physically.

And perhaps more self-aware than ever before.