The year started with a lunch in Konanakunte with Prasad & family Ananya started Primary School

Attended Singapore Mani’s 80th birthday celebrations where we were learnt Kaveri Paati tied the knot for the couple about half a century ago. Goosebump moment!

Geeta Chitti visited. Ananya had her first summit climb to Bukit Timah. Anu’s bday was celebrated with her favourite ice cream at cold stone creamery and a Satsang at home.

Mike Sutherland’s (Virginia and Mike are Anu’s friends from UK) dry british humour, a diet review, topped with seeing Gurudev in Blr during Shivratri was February

Ananya is enamoured by Disney on Ice; I am energised by  the Sundown Marathon & Amma’s 70’th in SriSailam with Shubha made March very eventful

Enjoyed Singapore outdoors, donated ‘Soles4Souls’, completed another Half Marathon, discovered a vegetarian (one amongst many) eatery in HK CBD that also espouses the principle of Vedanta ;-).

Vibrant May that stretched Ananya’s imagination at ‘Imaginarium’, had Anu play ‘Alice’ in Ananya’s school, offered Sharada’s (Ananataraman’s daughter) wedding along with Ram Chittappa’s visit and not to forget the Spartan Sprint that had me bruised, muddy and satisfied.

‘Ritual’ – a 20 minute gym was quite a ritual through the year while Anu had kids stretch and learn with Art Excel  in June which was Ananya’s first Art of living course. Meeting Ganax, Suchi, Dakshu and Yadhu in Phoenix and family time in Portland made June so delightful. A run in cold, wet Portland was a killer for the legs though!

Looking back on the last 17 years over a gourmet Indian meal, Ananya connecting racquet to ball better and enjoying her 7th birthday celebrations, practicing yoga on the greens in botanical gardens were the highlights of July

Another trip to Bangalore in August that was made special with ‘Sanyam’ and Ganesh Chathurthi. Ananya went through the intuition process that concluded with a chance meeting with Gurudev. We also saw a beautiful play in Singapore about the untold stories of the impact of the Indian partition on families

September was dotted with Ananya having yet another enjoyable school break where she learnt to match up to Advay’s strengths & enjoyed visiting a bonsai garden with grand parents, another yoga outing at botanical gardens, an Art Excel for Anu, a visit to the MCG to watch a football game, catching up with Santoshji, Jaymini and Bhamini in Singapore and a memorable farewell party for Swaroop.

Garba and Deepavali celebrations, a lunch with Manroop and a visit to Manchurian club at Changi provided opportunities for relaxation in October which was otherwise a month of hectic activity in preparation for Gurudev’s visit in November. The invitation for ‘Mastering Mindfulness’ belies the frenetic activities of the weeks leading into the next month

Sleepless and Stretched in November with mega events with Gurudev in Singapore. Hosting Atika Dhandia through the last weeks of November and early December was enjoyable and filled with learning. Organising a corporate workshop was ‘interesting’ to say the least. A bike ride with Swamiji renewed my interest in riding. Visited Vaishnavi in beautiful NTU.

December turned out to be a well-deserved recovery month starting with an Advanced Meditation Course, another Half Marathon and loads for family, food and sleep time.

Let 2018 be a Wisdom Filled Year – WFY! And with wisdom comes Happiness. You don’t have to wish Happy New Year. Wisdom brings real & ultimate Happiness. Wisdom is expanded consciousness, not getting stuck. Wisdom is your mind getting hollow & empty, being still – Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.