New Years - A Perspective

I was pondering over a few things during this feverish festive season where our lifestyles don't provide us the luxury of quality time these days.

This will be my 27th New Year since my birth and as I pause and consider all the New Years' impact in my life.... what comes to my mind is that "life doesn't change, but at every stage it is basically re-defined." This re-definition coupled with the experience we get outside is what alters our thinking patterns and in turn the way we live. Quite an interesting cycle.

As this is 27th New year, I chose to break my New Year phases into 3 parts (9 years in each phase). During the initial 9 years, my world was too small yet included all that I needed. My parents had complete control of my life and I just didn't care what would happen to me cause they were my shock absorbers. Travelling to my grand-parents' place was the greatest and longest vacation. I didn't care how fashionable my dress is as long it had pockets to carry a toy gun. These were also the days when I had lunch and dinner at home and enjoyed my evenings playing with friends round the corner.

From hindsight I can see that during turn of the next 9 years, a transformation was taking place and I was starting to give more emphasis to staying outdoors rather than inside. My world was becoming bigger. I now knew my friends' houses apart from my grand-parents'. Though I was listening to my parents, in the corner of my heart I always used to have a want for more independence and a bigger world. As the army of friends increased, so did the activities surrounding friendship. Some moments make me nostalgic while others depressing.

But again, that was the age when life was being re-defined. From a domicile child, I was moving into a rebelling teenager for whom rules were meant to be broken and Friends needed to be guarded. This was also the time when I received the universal adult franchise - - I was 18 years old. Hey, I know my life and I know where am going... don't mess with me. Its my life and I know to live it, stop teaching me and I don't need your advice... Its just carpe diem.

The refrain of life came to life once again, "Life will be re-defined". During this phase I was starting to understand the darker and painful side of life. The phase my parents were facing while I was enjoying. I was getting a newer meaning. This was also when I got closer to Jesus - - a fabulous transformation and a defining experience.

At best, I could call this stage a place where the character was formed. And here I am, completing the 3rd phase with a stronger conviction and a deeper faith in God. And I will be starting a new phase next year and I do know that the churn has already begin and I can sense it. I'm waiting for 36 when there will be much more to look forward to and next new definition of life.

-- John Xavier