Five Images That Defined My 2016

If I were to pick five images from my 2016 collection, which showcase the highlights of the year for me, personal and professional, then these are the ones that I’ll go for:

1. An Incredible Response to my Article on Huffington Post

While I usually write articles for my own blog, early in 2016, I wrote something that I wished to share with a larger audience. Huffington Post offered to feature my article and so in March 2016, my write-up on “I Quit a Great Job to Follow My Husband: Should He Be Grateful For My ‘Sacrifice’?” came out on the web.

What took me by immense surprise was the incredible response the article received. Not only did it get close to a thousand likes on Facebook, I also received comments and personal emails from readers who said they could really identify with what I’d written and had recommended the article to friends, sisters and daughters.

As a writer, I was overwhelmed just to know that something I had written had struck a chord with so many readers.

2. ‘Baby-moon’ in Rome

The first half of 2016 was spent swinging between the highs of discovering that I was pregnant and the lows of nausea and sickness. Before I went into confinement for the final stretch of my pregnancy, I holidayed with my hubby in Rome. Honestly, when I look back today, I think it was rather adventurous of us to go vacationing with a 7-month baby in my belly. Yet, without a doubt it was one of the best things we did in 2016. My blog, 7 Days in Rome While 7 Months’ Pregnant encapsulates this remarkable trip.

3. ‘In Search of Love’ Was Published in Print

By August 2016, there was little on my mind, except the kicking, squirming baby in my tummy who was just dying to come out. If there was anything that could take my mind off this impending life-changing event, it was the fact that after a year and a half of its release, my first ‘baby’, In Search of Love was published in print. This means that my novel is now available on all major platforms like Amazon, Flipkart and Paytm. I must confess, it was a moment of much pride, when I held my book for the first time in my hands.

4. I Became a Mother!

After 9 months of pregnancy and almost 30 hours of labour, the moment when the baby came whooshing out of me, leaving me relieved and my watching husband astounded, was no doubt the biggest highlight of 2016. And one of the biggest of my life! In the months that followed I have experienced emotions ranging from utter joy to absolute frustration. If there is anything new that I have learned in the year, apart from operating baby diapers and cleaning poo, it is patience. Patience, like never before.

On the writing front something that came out of this experience was the series of humorous and candid articles I wrote about pregnancy and motherhood on my blog.

5. My Latest Book, Silent Promises, Was Published

Due to my pregnancy and impending motherhood in 2016, I was reluctant to start a big writing project and hence experimented with a new genre, short stories. The result of that was that I was able to publish a collection of short stories, Silent Promises, which has received a great response so far. One of the most amazing reviews I received was by a lady who said to me, “Never stop writing Piyushi!” I can not even begin to tell you how much those four words meant to the writer in me.

It has been a great year for me, both on the personal and professional front. For the personal one, I have my husband and family to thank, but for my professional successes, I have you, my reader, to thank.

So thank you! And here’s wishing you and me an even-more amazing 2017!