An unusual winter. After a long hiatus we have been invited to about 15 weddings and occasions, some of them big ticket with multiple occasions. Mostly of very close friends and relatives. The regular tally is about one a year. I rewind back to the 90s when we partied hard. November to February we were out every evening indulging in drinking, eating, music soirees , picnics etc which were fun. We used to reciprocate generously opening our doors, the bar and kitchen for everyone and entertained lavishly.

Somewhere along the line with growing kids and us being older we consciously cut down our entertaining and consequently our invites diminished. We were the soul of many parties and voila just like that we were no longer invited when we stopped our parties which were “all our welcome” bashes.

One then realised that the few persons we interacted with subsequently were friends for life, ones who would be by our side unconditionally whether we remembered them (or not). Life trundled along comfortably till the new century came along.

This season in the flurry of activity there is some introspection about what puts you on a guest list. In this fast changing world of  value systems of visible material possessions, social standings defined by fame and fortune, of networking and selfies with the celebs that puts you on the map of having arrived. Social networking is the reason for parties and then guest lists are trimmed to accommodate space and numbers. Wealth, fame for sure and even with close friends one suspects that  lists and profiles are closely scrutinised and a few maybe  are omitted wilfully.

Consequently,  you are in a quandary to re evaluate the lifestyle choices you have made for which you may have been sidelined. Evaluate relationships, and connections and purpose. A sense of ebbing self esteem, self doubt, a momentary twinge!  Then a lapse in sanity  to  partake in a rat race which can be all consuming, compromising somewhere ones integrity, to live as per a style acceptable to another, disquieting  and unnecessary questions about ones choices and value systems.  It’s a no brainer to move on! Live for what you believe in, maybe a solitary life.  Reality bites, tough but must do! A New Age  world, adapt or retract!

Aloha! Thoughts for 2023!