Everyone looks at a New Year as a prophetic beginning of everything new. Those who are pursuing a busy and productive life may decide to change their ways in more creative ways as they change the calendar to welcome the New Year.

2021 is here not only heralding a New Year but also heralding a new decade. So the decisions taken do not apply just to another year but to ten other years as well. However, this time the New Year resolutions are not just ritualistic like the previous years’ since this turn of events comes after the world has forced us to choose options which we never thought existed. The individual and the society alike underwent a sea change in their own way as COVID hit us left and right. As a part of the society, we can move forward only by taking these things as seriously as one can. Since the human race has a common enemy, it is high time we let go of our petty quarrels and pulled down all the walls built across humanity to fight this enemy tooth and nail. Like Benjamin Franklin said, either we hang together or we hang separately! Empathy, love and cooperation are the values which should lead us in this troubled world. We are taught time and again that life is a constant fight against inconsistency and that challenges never end. The pandemic has forced us to take stock of our life so far and plan for the days to come. Not just thoughts but actions emanating from such thoughts are already visible around us.

As the world is trying to wriggle out of the straightjacket COVID 19 has put on us and our social life, there is some good news too. 2021 has already been declared as a year of international peace and trust by the UN. COVID 19 has taught us that we cannot move forward to better times without mutual trust and peace. The year that went by showed us the inevitability and importance of cooperation among societies and nations. COVID has warned us of the divisive forces which deploy ‘ignorant armies who clash by night’. Wars and communal riots were almost unheard of in 2020. The only exceptions were those countries where terrorist organizations like IS have sway. We were also made aware of the lethal threat of climate changes in this one year.

Personal lessons were also aplenty and consequently families are going to feel more warmth and love in the coming days. Social distancing, in fact, brought us closer and quarantines bound us together! The sweetest fruit of this adversity is the strengthened intimacy among the family members. This brought back happiness to many a family.

Another useful lesson learned last year was a science lesson about humanity. Our only hope for better tomorrows depends not on history but on science. Science is what prevents history from repeating. Harnessing science with logic and equanimity is the key to a better future. It is surmised that it has been two hundred thousand years since man first walked on this earth. It is now known that how long man will walk on this earth is decided by man himself. It is after impressing this vital truth upon us that Corona has ushered in 2021. It is only on what we think, say and do that the chance for our dreams for 2021 to materialise will depend. Lessons are great only when they are put into practice.