A child plays around a Christmas tree in the Syrian capital, Damascus, on December 22. AFP
A child plays around a Christmas tree in the Syrian capital, Damascus, on December 22. AFP
A child plays around a Christmas tree in the Syrian capital, Damascus, on December 22. AFP
A child plays around a Christmas tree in the Syrian capital, Damascus, on December 22. AFP


2021 taught me it's the little things we do that make us who we are


  • English
  • Arabic

December 24, 2021

In many ways, 2021 has been an unusual year. Not many of us could have pictured this December, with the world facing another wave of the pandemic, along with the fears and anxieties that come with it.

The past 12 months have been challenging for many people across the world in different ways. Today, many of us are possibly more aware of the importance of mental health in difficult times. So it seems fitting to reflect not just on what has happened to our worlds, but also what we have been through and, in the process, who we have become. Whatever our struggles have been – or continue to be – may have shaken us to the core or broken us. But through dark times, perhaps some of us have learnt the importance of resilience and the responsibility to stay uplifted.

Sometimes in our darkest hours, the seeds of the future grow

For me, this paradox has become apparent in a year that has required us to be strong in ways big and small. World events have never more directly impacted the minutiae of our daily lives. But equally, small acts of our daily lives have, perhaps, had the power, even in a minor way, to affect the course of world events.

An elderly lady exits a pharmacy in Bucharest, Romania. AP
An elderly lady exits a pharmacy in Bucharest, Romania. AP

The global dialogue was of big things: climate change, our impact on nature and how this can trigger catastrophe. We talked of equality, women’s rights, racism, political alliances, peace, poverty, economic downturns and political swings.

Some of us may have also commanded platforms and had the influence to have our voices heard. And in doing so, perhaps some of us may even have had to overcome inner doubt and "imposter syndrome", the feeling of doubting our true abilities. But to make big change, those inner naysayer voices are meant to be tackled, and that is a big task.

We also experienced things that we might call "small", not because they are insignificant – often they dominate and shape our most immediate experiences. No, "small" only because those things might exist in our inner monologues, in ways only each of us can know. It could mean the strength required to care for children in lockdowns, protecting them from worry and lasting trauma. Or the need to shoulder care of our elderly, our most vulnerable, without any other support. There are other examples too. But these stand out as challenges in my own life, for which I have to dig deep for energy and determination.

A woman walks near the "Vaia Dragon", a sculpture made by Italian artist Marco Martalar in Lavarone near Trento, Alps Region, Northeastern Italy, on December 13. AFP
A woman walks near the "Vaia Dragon", a sculpture made by Italian artist Marco Martalar in Lavarone near Trento, Alps Region, Northeastern Italy, on December 13. AFP

My story for 2021 was caring for elderly parents, small children and working to earn money. Strangely, in some routine pain and stress lay sparks of creativity that will hopefully flourish in the coming year. Sometimes in our darkest hours, the seeds of the future grow.

Perhaps this year some of us learnt that we can offer and deliver care beyond what we thought ourselves capable. We might have learnt that in these smallest of acts – of which no trace remains once they are completed, except for having to return to do them again, and again and again – we might have discovered who we really are.

Because while big tasks are important – to influence change, to see ourselves as something bigger, more meaningful than just an individual in the vast landscape of human history – the small acts in our own lives that remain unwitnessed make us see ourselves clearly and really show us who we are.

As an avid consumer of biographies and lives of others, it seems to me that it is easier to be someone on a public platform advocating for values, policies and change; it is far harder to live by those values. Will the people immediately around you believe that you lived up to what you said to strangers? One of my greatest fears is that if I die without delivering to those closest to me what I advocated in public, what was the point? Throughout history, there have been far too many public figures about whom we learnt posthumously that they treated their near ones horribly. That to me is the greatest failure.

But this past year has shown me that for so many of us, our "small" lives are our world. And while I, for one, certainly cannot claim perfection or sainthood – and yes, I have been in and out of dark places – the opportunity to be there in the smallest yet most important of ways was offered to me, and there was meaning in stepping up to care for the ones around.

For some of us, it was a year that offered a chance to be both big and small. And whether today we feel uplifted or broken or anything in between, we should know that been given that chance is no small thing.

The Settlers

Director: Louis Theroux

Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz

Rating: 5/5

The bio

Favourite book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Favourite travel destination: Maldives and south of France

Favourite pastime: Family and friends, meditation, discovering new cuisines

Favourite Movie: Joker (2019). I didn’t like it while I was watching it but then afterwards I loved it. I loved the psychology behind it.

Favourite Author: My father for sure

Favourite Artist: Damien Hurst

Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDirect%20Debit%20System%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Sept%202017%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20UAE%20with%20a%20subsidiary%20in%20the%20UK%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20FinTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Undisclosed%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Elaine%20Jones%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%208%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
FIGHT%20CARD
%3Cp%3EAnthony%20Joshua%20v%20Otto%20Wallin%2C%2012%20rounds%2C%20heavyweight%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EDeontay%20Wilder%20v%20Joseph%20Parker%2C%2012%20rounds%2C%20heavyweight%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EDmitry%20Bivol%20v%20Lyndon%20Arthur%2C%2012%20rounds%2C%20light%20heavyweight%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EDaniel%20Dubois%20v%20Jarrell%20Miller%2C%2012%20rounds%2C%20heavyweight%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EFilip%20Hrgovic%20v%20Mark%20de%20Mori%2C%2012%20rounds%2C%20heavyweight%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EArslanbek%20Makhmudov%20v%20Agit%20Kabayel%2C%2012%20rounds%2C%20heavyweight%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EFrank%20Sanchez%20v%20Junior%20Fa%2C%2012%20rounds%2C%20heavyweight%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EJai%20Opetaia%20v%20Ellis%20Zorro%2C%2012%20rounds%2C%20cruiserweight%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
About Karol Nawrocki

• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.

• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.

• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.

• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.

What can victims do?

Always use only regulated platforms

Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion

Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)

Report to local authorities

Warn others to prevent further harm

Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence

Ant-Man and the Wasp

Director: Peyton Reed

Starring: Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas

Three stars

Best Foreign Language Film nominees

Capernaum (Lebanon)

Cold War (Poland)

Never Look Away (Germany)

Roma (Mexico)

Shoplifters (Japan)

MATCH INFO

Euro 2020 qualifier

Fixture: Liechtenstein v Italy, Tuesday, 10.45pm (UAE)

TV: Match is shown on BeIN Sports

Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.

First Person
Richard Flanagan
Chatto & Windus 

Victims%20of%20the%202018%20Parkland%20school%20shooting
%3Cp%3EAlyssa%20Alhadeff%2C%2014%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EScott%20Beigel%2C%2035%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EMartin%20Duque%2C%2014%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ENicholas%20Dworet%2C%2017%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EAaron%20Feis%2C%2037%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EJaime%20Guttenberg%2C%2014%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EChris%20Hixon%2C%2049%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ELuke%20Hoyer%2C%2015%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ECara%20Loughran%2C%2014%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EGina%20Montalto%2C%2014%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EJoaquin%20Oliver%2C%2017%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EAlaina%20Petty%2C%2014%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EMeadow%20Pollack%2C%2018%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EHelena%20Ramsay%2C%2017%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EAlex%20Schachter%2C%2014%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ECarmen%20Schentrup%2C%2016%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EPeter%20Wang%2C%2015%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo

Power: 240hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 390Nm at 3,000rpm

Transmission: eight-speed auto

Price: from Dh122,745

On sale: now

Gender pay parity on track in the UAE

The UAE has a good record on gender pay parity, according to Mercer's Total Remuneration Study.

"In some of the lower levels of jobs women tend to be paid more than men, primarily because men are employed in blue collar jobs and women tend to be employed in white collar jobs which pay better," said Ted Raffoul, career products leader, Mena at Mercer. "I am yet to see a company in the UAE – particularly when you are looking at a blue chip multinationals or some of the bigger local companies – that actively discriminates when it comes to gender on pay."

Mr Raffoul said most gender issues are actually due to the cultural class, as the population is dominated by Asian and Arab cultures where men are generally expected to work and earn whereas women are meant to start a family.

"For that reason, we see a different gender gap. There are less women in senior roles because women tend to focus less on this but that’s not due to any companies having a policy penalising women for any reasons – it’s a cultural thing," he said.

As a result, Mr Raffoul said many companies in the UAE are coming up with benefit package programmes to help working mothers and the career development of women in general. 

Updated: December 24, 2021, 9:31 AM`