The Year In Review

 “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.”

So goes the opening lines of Charles Dickens’ classic “A Tale of Two Cities”, set in London and Paris during the French Revolution.

It tells a story of love, sacrifice, and redemption against the backdrop of the turbulent historical events of the time.

Fast forward to today, on the last day of 2023, holed up in an internet cafe, in between family reunions, and about 160 km from my usual abode.

Appropriately, a review of 2023 of sorts would be in order.

But what sort of review within a short span of time?

I was grappling with these thoughts as Dickens’ opening lines popped into my head.

It seemed to fit in with the direction my instincts were taking me.

So here goes, a concise audit of 2023 according to me, myself & I.

It was the best of times…

Hope.

At the beginning of every year, I suspect, like most people, I brimmed with hope and confidence that the new year would grant me all the yearnings of my heart.

Beginning anything is easy.

You just start the engine and off you go.

The same goes with writing, exercising, diet, or indeed anything for that matter.

But, in the words of Denzel Washington, “Dreams without goals are just dreams. Ultimately they fuel disappointment.

On the road to achieving your dreams, you must apply discipline.

More importantly, consistency because without commitment you will never start; but without consistency, you will never finish.”

So, the first scrutiny would probably be:

• Did I set goals to achieve all that I had hoped for?, and,

• Was I consistent to my commitment?

• Was it worth it?

It was the worst of times…

Loss.

Amidst all the hopes and plans, carefully laid out or otherwise, come the realities of the day.

Mistakes, pain, emergencies, and the whole gamut of life.

If there has been one outstanding feature in my life this year, it has been this profound sense of loss.

There have been so many who started the journey with me in 2023 but have not made it to the end.

This year, the word "mortality" has had the most profound impact on me.

A priest friend, asked me the other day during my mother’s memorial, how old I was. I told him my age and he responded, “Ay, that’s not too much time left, right?”

I affirmed I could see the finishing line getting closer and closer. And the feeling was mutual.

Only thing is that he is a relatively young 50 and in good health.

I am 12 years older and the mind, body and spirit seem to take a trajectory of their own without consulting me every now and then.

So, the second question would be:

Quo Vadis?, Or,

“Where are you going?”

The phrase originates from 'Domine quo vadis? ' ('Lord, where are you going? ') spoken by St Peter when, fleeing from Rome, he met Christ, who replied, 'I am going to be crucified again.’ Peter went back to Rome, where he was martyred.

Likewise,

• Where am I going with my plans, my ambitions, and all my lofty goals?

• Conversely, if I cannot take anything with me when the time comes, what am I leaving behind?, and perhaps most importantly,

• Perhaps, most importantly, have I been looking after myself properly?

“It was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.”

I suppose Dickens’ classic line, even though set during the late 1700s, holds true for any epoch or era, more so 2023.

Just 3 examples for the road:

In January, the Doomsday Clock was moved ahead, indicating an unprecedented level of world troubles. The time is now 90 seconds to midnight.

In June, OceanGate’s Titan submersible imploded hours after beginning its descent to the wreck of the Titanic.

In October, Palestinian militant group Hamas launches an attack on Israel, killing more than 1,200 and leading Israel to declare war for the first time since 1973.

Accordingly, the 3rd set of questions could be:

• In this catalogue of incredulity, darkness and winter, where was I?

• What are my thoughts and feelings on such mishaps and injustices?

• What can I do to raise awareness to such problems?

Famous Last Words

I've always found the German theologian Reinhold Niebuhr’s prayer both comforting and a challenge:

As I watch the clock tick away to the end of the year, I am reminded that in all our lives, there are the same tales of love, sacrifice, and redemption set against the backdrop of everyday events as in Charles Dickens’ original story.

My Hope.

By invocating the Serenity Prayer in the coming year, that I may have the wisdom to understand the difference between circumstances that can and cannot be changed, courage to take action when I should, and the serenity to accept those that I am unable to.

Perhaps that's all I need to do.

Maybe it's all that's needed from anyone.

Cheers!

Goodbye 2023 Hello 2024!

Till next year!

Jude

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