(Mic checking)

Check, ahem, Check.

Okay, so we’re back after a long break. To be honest, It has been quite some time! Anyways, Thanks for joining us for tonight’s ceremony — Farewell, 2023! And Welcome, 2024!

(Drumroll, please)

It’s that time of the year again when I celebrate the farewell and the welcome ceremony together. I can’t help but feel the awkwardness in the air. I’m planning to bid 2023 goodbye with the promise of not making 2024 the same. Should 2023 be offended? Is this a trick question?
And above that I’m about to make promises to 2024 that 2023 has the full right of being jealous of. After all, what does 2024 have that 2023 didn’t have?

(forewarning of lame joke coming your way)

(half-suppressed giggle)

I can almost see 2023 and 2024 recreating the epic scene from the movie Deewar.

२०२३: आज तक मैंने पलक को सभ कुछ दिया। कॉलेज लाइफ दिया, दोस्त दिए, यादें दिए, ग्रेजुएट कराया, जॉब दिया, फैमिली ट्रिप करवाई, इंडिपेंडेंस दिलाई। है क्या तुम्हारे पास देने के लिए उसे?
२०२४: मेरे पास आज है।

(english translation)

2023: I’ve given Palak everything — College life, friends, memories, graduation, job, family trip, independence. What do you have to offer to her?
2024: Present.

Oof, forgive me for that XD!

(pretending as if nothing happened)

As for 2024, I won’t complain if it has a hard time believing those promises. After all, I did make some, if not many, promises to 2023 when it was its welcome ceremony. 2022 can testify.

(2022 nods vigorously)

So, 2023 and 2024, if you both can feel the awkwardness in the air, trust me — it’s not you. And, unbelievable as it might be, it’s not me as well. It’s the nature of these ceremonies — a natural consequence of wrapping up a farewell and welcome ceremony together.
Therefore like good siblings shake your hands, maybe give each other a hug you both deserve and enjoy the ceremony. You both deserve it equally.

(Drumroll again, please)

Let’s raise a toast for 2023.
2023, I’m so grateful you happened! I understand I might not have fulfilled each and every promise I made to you. But, I hope you agree, I did try my best. Yes, there were times I forgot about some of the promises. But then there were times I fulfilled others when you were least expecting me to do that. Didn’t I? I promised I would take care of my health, and I did that. I know what you would say next — “What about all those negative self narrations?” And in my defense — I might not have fully eliminated them but I do occasionally scold myself when I find myself juggling with negative narration. I know I’m not completely there. But, I soon will be. And you’ll be amazed to hear that I can run 5K without stopping! You did see me go from 2K to 5K. That’s something, isn’t it? And I’ve made good friends. Okay, I agree for the past few months I’vn’t actively reached out to my college friends, but I’m planning to do that regularly from 2024.
I know, when I would start making promises to 2024, you would think something along the line — “That’s preposterous! She said the exact same thing during our time. Didn’t she 2022?”
Jokes aside, thanks 2023 for giving me a wonderful ride. There were ups and downs. I kept some of my promises and faltered over the others. But I did try. And I’ll keep trying to get better. Some time down the lane, you will be happy to see where I’ve reached. That’s a promise. Overall it was nice. Thanks for having me along on this ride. Farewell 2023!

Meanwhile, 2023 mouthing — Not another promise, please!

(2023 almost in tears)

(2024 eagerly waiting for it’s turn)

(Drumroll again, please)

Let’s raise another toast for 2024!
Hey 2024, I know we have just met. But I can already tell we’ll vibe together. It won’t be hard for you to guess what’s coming next. Yeah, Promises! I don’t want to make ones that would be hard for me to follow. So, after thinking for a while I have decided these are the ones I believe I could do justice to —

  1. Run 5K every week. And slowly increase it to 15K by the end of this year.
  2. Read every single day for at least 30 mins. And keep building up my library.
  3. Exercise every single day.
  4. Keep a check on stories I narrate to myself.
    And
  5. One post every week. If I’ve nothing to say, I’ll at least update you on how I’m doing with my promises. It shouldn’t be hard for me.

(2021, 2022, 2023 spewed out together)

(everyone other than 2024 wondered how someone could say such a thing with a straight face!)

(2024 was too busy to notice)

Welcome, 2024! I’m glad you are here. (And that too on a Monday!)

(2024 blushes. It has yet to get used to getting attention)

With this let’s call it a day. See you next year!