2021 Ready, Set, Go! by Maria Azhar

I heard heavy footsteps approaching while relaxing with a wonderful book and hot chocolate. Instantly recognized they were my dad’s since during quarantine it had become quite easier to identify the family members with their footsteps.

“Another parcel!” He glared at me from the doorway.

“This is the last one,” I assured him.

He nodded.

“For the week,” I mumbled underneath my breath.

Well now isn’t it true that during these days, locked up in your place, cleaning the house for most of the day and drinking what-not herbal drinks mom makes, online shopping is the only escape from the tough reality?

2020 felt like a roller coaster. It was packed with tears, laughter, uncertainty and a lot of sanitisers.

We lived in the fantasy of 6 months break twice a year but gradually regretted it. Studying online, interacting with friends virtually, experimenting in the kitchen, all of it got quite boring with time.

There was a time when I actually got bored of binge-watching shows and spent time with family. Learned more about them in 12 months than I had in the 12+ years of my life.

“Sometimes I think that we waste our words, we waste our moments and we don’t take the time to say the things that are in our hearts when we have the chance.” ~ Clay Evans.

This year taught me the importance of time. Not in the sense that ‘CAIEs are just around the corner and there is very little time,’ but what it actually is. How much importance half an hour holds for our grandparents, and how much they cherish it if we just listen to them delved into their past for that little time. I learned how to express my gratitude to my parents for all they have done and continue to do and to the Almighty for making me amongst those who entered this year with their loved ones and will soon leave it with them still by their side.

Not a single moment is to be taken for granted, is my take from this chaotic year.

There are many out there fighting battles, silently. Learn to rise above the odds and be there for others. And most importantly learn to be there for yourself.

This year may end but a new one eagerly awaits our presence, we’ll enter the new horizons unaware of what awaits us.

Let’s make the best of whatever there is in store for us and have faith in ourselves.

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Maria Azhar – an aspiring A Level student, knows the perfect way to pen down her thoughts and emotions. Her ‘2021 Ready, Set, Go!’ shows how every moment is ever so precious and brings about a new ray of hope for the new year after a chaotic 2020.

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Cover Photo by Polina Kovaleva from Pexels