2020: Sailing Through Change

On January 01, 2020, we welcomed a new year with new resolutions, high hopes, and aspirations. In less than a week, the world has turned upside down with the breaking news of a global pandemic invading our lives. That week was the last time I put my feet on a plane to return to the UAE from a beautiful new year trip starting in Lombardy, Italy, and ending in Prague, Czech Republic.

Two months later, the invasion has expanded, and the number of people impacted has increased. Fear, insecurity, sickness, and death have become our bread and butter. Social distancing, curfews, remote working, and staying at home have shaped our new norms.

Countries, economies, businesses, and individuals have been all hit by a storm called 'COVID-19', and we are learning how to deal with it as we go. There are no shortcuts, no guarantees, and no insights about a clear future. It is a test and trial phase for humanity, and maybe for the first time (at least for my generation), we are all in this together.

Somehow, the social distancing and staying at home phase has not only served as a preventive health measure, but it has also allowed us to step out from our autopilot day-to-day matters and pause for one silent, long, and profound moment. Our environment and surroundings were in desperate need of this pause and change. It triggered people to re-think working, learning, and living spaces, relationships, systems, consumption, lifestyle, and wellness.

The wind of change

I have entered this phase, not knowing where I am going or what I am planning to achieve. My adventure started with experimenting in my kitchen and cooking more often, which I rarely did. Then I began to get more creative about my living space to become my gym, office, and nighttime Netflix cinema. This was my way of slowly moving up Maslow's pyramid and getting my physical space and daily routine in place.

Next, I found myself doing a 'Big Chop' to go back to my natural curly hair. In the beginning, it was a pure reaction to treat my damaged hair after 15 years of using straightening products. However, I have realized that my hair transformation was beyond meeting a physical need. It was about healing my inner child, who was harassed for so many years simply because I looked different. It was about embracing and loving myself for who I am: mind, body, and soul. The moment I looked at myself in the mirror after the big chop, I saw the re-birth of a confident, peaceful, and happy woman ready to live the present and leave the past behind.

Today, I am eager to move even higher up the pyramid by starting my blog to share ideas, learnings, and experiences. I am looking to connect with like-minded people who share my passion for Art, Culture, and Travel, influence change in perceptions and behaviors, and promote diversity and cultural understanding. Somehow, these pieces of the puzzle needed a trigger to come together and enable me to see the bigger picture.

In a nutshell, 2020 is one of the most challenging years of our time. It has left us in total confusion, not knowing where we are heading and what to expect next. This year has taught humanity that sometimes, we need to get lost to be re-found. We need to re-format our bodies and brains and re-create the way we live and perceive life. We need to let go of the past, immerse ourselves in the present moment, and not over-plan or predict the future. As the sun sets on this chapter of our lives and rises on a new one, we will continue to face uncertainty and constant change. If we take every step of the road with an open mind and soul, self-care, and compassion towards one another, we can be the authors of a continuous meaningful story to tell.