Welcome 2021

 12 months ago, when 2020 started, and we welcomed the year with open arms, I remember having some promises and some excitement shared at that time before welcoming it with “2020 here we are, let us make it memorable.”

And Memorable the year had been, although not for the best reasons. On all fronts this has been a never before year for most of humanity. Even those who have seen Wars and Famine and other calamities would have felt different this year. In short so many things went wrong this year on small and big level.

The one big threat that whole humanity faced in 2020 (and continues to face) is Covid-19. Pandemics have happened in the past, but so many lifetimes ago that we never could fathom that a microscopic virus will make all of us lock ourselves in the homes and veil our faces behind masks. But it did happen in 2020 and not only that, Tens of millions infected and millions lost their life sadly many of them in
isolation, with no loved one around. On a brighter note, millions rose to the need as doctors, nurses, emergency workers, teachers and many more to help. The war on virus still is on and the virus still as menacing (supported by ignorance in many cases). Let us start 2021 with the faith that there is light at the end of the tunnel even if we may not be able to see that light today.

The virus didn’t only hit health and lives but also damaged families, businesses, employment as unavoidable collateral damage. Once again many rose to soften the blow on the worst hit. The stories of generosity and humanity are as commonplace as the terror of virus. 2020 in some way restored our faith in the strength that humanity offers. 2021 will remain the year to build on that strength.

In addition to the pandemic and the related damages, 2020 also offered worst climate anomalies, like worst hurricane season on record, worst wildfires and so on. A reminder that humans are wrong, our actions are deteriorating the climate drastically. Urging us to act and before acting take responsibility. We know the problem; however, we keep on ignoring; but we must own it and solve it. 2021 will need that pledge to be reassured

2020 shook Beirut with a massive explosion. What caused that had human ignorance
and procrastination as the core reason. While Lebanon builds it back, let us not forget that explosion and why it is important for us Humans to be more responsible and more responsive to threats that our ignorance may be causing. Prayers for those who lost home or family or work due to that explosion and hope your lives resurrect in 2021.

My birth country and my new home both continue to see political divide widening. 2020 saw that divide really getting to massive proportions. Intolerance should not be what defines us as humans. Know this Corona Virus has shown us all that an external enemy will not see our nationality, religion, color, ethnicity, political belief or any other factor we have been dividing us for. Even a microorganism as virus sees all of us humans as one. Can we not pledge in 2021 to be at least better than that nasty virus and start being united? Bridge the gaps and don’t make the walls. Don’t just try to be right, try to be good. Remember “Being Good is Right.” Being Good is Being Human. Isn’t that what our scriptures tell us, irrespective of the faith we follow?

On a personal side, I experienced something in early 2020 which made me feel how vulnerable life has been. One small moment of a sickness and 10 seconds of time when the world could have changed, and thankfully it did not. Few of you know what I am talking about, but only I and my soulmate know how those 10 seconds felt. I am writing this more than 10 months after those 10 seconds. I don’t think I will ever forget that. So 2021; I renew my commitment to waste no moment in useless things like anger, worry, stress, hate, jealousy (worry and occasional anger do take me off track from time to time but I am working on minimizing their frequency and duration each time)

I still am working on my promises from last few years but will sure add a few this year

• Value Life – It is a gift and should be honored
• Value Humanity – It is what define us
• Be Grateful – Nothing is granted, every breath is a gift and so stay grateful 
• Be Strong – The world will need rebuilding , so strength is a needed trait now
• Be Humble – Strength without humility is ego. So, stay humble in your strength
• Pray – WE ALL NEED IT

Let us welcome 2021 with open arms and open minds. Let 2021 be the year of Healing. Let us all commit to ascend to a higher version of ourselves. A version that is at peace with what is and ready to share what have and offer to heal as needed. 2021 hope we live you with grace and remember you always as a year that healed our hearts, our minds and reduced our greed, our pettiness, our pain and on the whole re-defined us as Human. Let 2021 be the year of the Human Being Re-committing to be Human again