I hate to start my posts by saying the same starting line "Its been a while since I visited this site". Not that I have a lot of user eagerly waiting for my posts, but it means I have not explored my literary side in a while.

This last year has been challenging, interesting, and humiliating if I were to sum it up in three words. I wouldn't rate this as the best year I have had in my life - the best year still is 2005 to me for multiple reasons. It was the year I felt S-T-R-O-N-G.

The last year was challenging - having a child in October, 2009 meant most of the challenges were going to be in the following year - how different relationships changed after having a child, how new relationships got formed, and also how having the child made the same things I did earlier with utmost ease, left me struggling. I couldn't get the same level of exercise I needed which is what I think made the biggest difference to my year. The exercised Shweta is much better person in life.

The year was also very interesting - also thanks to my son Adhrit. It continues to amaze how much he has grown in this one year, and how much he has learned, all this has happened so to say "under my nose". I have seen him grow from the little 5 pound munchkin to a walking/talking little toddler (he is 14 months old now).

This year finally was very humiliating - I have made so many mistakes in this past year, and this year has been probably the toughest year of my life.  I have tried different things, and experimented trying to have a regular routine, but only met with challenges and that has taught me to be humble, and appreciate that somethings are tough, and not everything goes your way all the time. I have learned to appreciate the small successes I have had this year.

Now over to 2011. Beginning of last year, I had created a text document of my goals and as usual made a list. I am a list person. This year I thought differently. I decided to have two goals for my family. Just two simple words - "Health", and "Education". Concise and clear.

I have always run on the first of the year - it just happens to be something that I have done over the last few years. This year was no different. It was cold and snowy, and around 3:30 pm after my son was down for a nap, I went out on my new year's day run. It was very cold, and thoughts of turning back did come to my mind a couple of times - but I decided to give my body a chance to warm up, and it did.

The trail I normally run on was there - almost waiting :-) The scenery was beautiful - least to say. The snow was white and clean, the air was pure, and there was nobody on the trail. The stream along the trail was frozen, but had some snow that had melted.

Here is a picture, and every picture is worth a thousand words. I got my message for 2011 - peaceful and serene. That is how I want my year to be.