No matter what we do
Years come and years go,
It goes away too fast,
even though we want it to go slow.
Another year is drawing to a close. The past 2 years have gone by in a blur. A moment in history as unique as this. 2021 was pretty similar to 2020 in many aspects. Sometimes a little bit more tragic. The world kept starting up and closing down, again and again. Lockdowns became the buzzword across the globe and also a word to be feared by all. If you were running a business, this word was like a curse. Amid all this, something arrived in India in the digital space. It was called by the name – Clubhouse. But we’ll get to that in a bit.
Just the other day, during a discussion, the concept of Murphy’s Law came up. And the best possible explanation for this law comes from one of my favorite movies – Interstellar.
The human mind is a peculiar creation. It ends up thinking of ways in which something can go bad or not. This can be seen clearly from the explanation of Murphy’s Law. It doesn’t mean that something bad will happen. What it really means is whatever can happen will happen. That is what happened in 2021. Things turned out to be worst in the months between April to June. Then, it got better as well.
The entry of social media
In between all of this, there was the launch of a particular app known as Clubhouse. This app is all about live social audio rooms where you can drop in on any conversation in real-time. Think of it as a group conference call. This is where all of us headed to during the peak moments of the Covid pandemic. Meeting up with strangers from across the country and the world. Speaking to people, something which we always love doing. That too without bothering about what one is wearing or looks like. Full marks for allowing us to speak with someone in our comfy pajamas with a snack or chai in our hands. The conversations grew and the bonds deepened. The external noise about the pandemic seemed to fade out. This was our own virtual support group, shouldering us when the chips were down.
It is quite rare to develop everlasting bonds over social media with such a wide range of people. Most of the other social media platforms don’t offer such a type of interaction level. From being downright illogical to sometimes serious discussions about life, with the right set of people, all of this can be achieved.
And then there were the stories. Of people finding healing, relaxation, sanity, and comfort from their daily life struggles. It would be safe to say that even amidst all the darkness, there was still light to be found. Sometimes we are able to find the light by ourselves. Sometimes, our tribe has to show that light to us and make it accessible.
The road traveled
2021 might go down in history as just another year. But it will surely be remembered as the year where we all fell down collectively and got back up in one way or another.
The year also saw me launching my second podcast – The Audio Travel Show but this time in collaboration with India Film Project & Anchor Spotify India.
In conclusion to this post, all i want to say is summed up by these words of Ben E King,
When the night, has come
And the land is dark
And the moon, is the only, light we’ll see,No I won’t, be afraid
No I won’t, be afraid
Just as long, as you stand, stand by me
