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A NEW YEAR, A NEW ERA Entering a new year, we enter with strength; natural selection has already made sure that we do. We also enter with more than what we knew yesterday, knowledge is available and has always been free, but the experience is something that no one can buy. The world collectively at this point agrees that we are optimistic about tomorrow. With Hong Kong ending last year with more uncertainties than it started with, one thing is for sure; they’re starting 2021 with more resilience.

India was on a path to unprecedented economic heights, but with unforeseen that road has been filled with blocks, but as always, resilience is the magical word here, it sees India back on that path in 2021, between now and 2025 India will be the 5th largest economy globally, dethroning the UK again after doing so in 2019, and slipping to 6th place in 2020, and in 2030 India is expected to become the 3rd largest economy in the world.

One thing that differentiates 2021 from is the reactionary response to severe changes and unexpected events. A stressful time in 2020 was unanticipated; a stressful time in 2021 is something that we have to deal with as best we could with the tools available to us to get where we want to go. It’s something that we are now more well equipped to deal with, we understand the circumstances and the consequences. We have Gaurav & Neha

THE YEAR TO PROSPER 2019, 2020, 2021, but it’s what happens after 2021 that we should be already anticipating from now in 2021, it has been leading up to a certain light at the end of the tunnel, and that accumulated anticipation is 2021 and beyond.

What happens in mid-2021 and after will only be shaped by us. Hong Kong will be the center of attention again, India will, as always, be a hub of controversy, and what of the electrifying relations with the West? Europe and America have already commented plenty on the East Asian dynamic with certain tones. East Asia has had the best record in the globe in terms of dealing with the pandemic, the discipline there that lacked in the West will always leave a historical pin that highlights how a difference in ideologies doesn’t always necessarily mean one side or the other is more right. It’s how we can coexist with our differences that will shape the upcoming decade.

2021 brings more than a stronger people, it brings a renewed spirit, it also brings a year of proving self-worth, something that is innate in all of us.

While the future may be still uncertain, 2021 brings a few certainties, we will prosper in 2021, simply because one has only very few places to go after being brought down, and these directions all point upwards.

Wishing all the readers of A-Desiflava a very Happy New Year 2021! Stay healthy, happy and safe in this amazing year.

Gaurav Pardeshi E-mail: gaurav@adesiflava.com • +852-95433660

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C O C ON N TT EE N NT S T S

Hello 2021, and so long 2020 COVER STORY

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Interior Design 2021 Top 5 trends to look out for HOME & LIVING

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Chinese New Year 2021 IN THE MOOD

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Has this pandemic created lots of Anxiety?

BEAUTY & HEALTH

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Top 10 Reasons Indians choose to Live in Tung Chung COMMUNITY

Healthy resolutions for 2021 BEAUTY & HEALTH

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Hello 2021, AND SO LONG 2020

2020 was a year of despair, pain, turbulence, but also resilience.

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Jan 22, 2020, Hong Kong government officials declared a phased national lockdown of all public offices, schools, gyms, and bars to tackle the worst pandemic since the Spanish flu. Yet shopping malls, restaurants, and trains remained relatively relaxed.

And how did that approach exactly turn out? Hong Kong’s reaction to the pandemic 12 months later proved to be a success story by all means on an international standard, with less than 9000 cases, and an unfortunate 150 deaths.

The world has witnessed a mismanagement failure outside of Hong Kong, in a general sense, Hong Kong was going through a stronger shift from the usual norm, a shift that was shared internationally with varying degrees, but with a better reaction, Hong Kong managed to save more lives, with 7.5 million people populating the administrative region, than Estonia, which has a population of 1.3 million people and suffered more than 240 deaths.

And if we look west from Hong Kong to the country that shares the largest population count in the world with China, India has lost 149,000 lives that year from their 1.3 billion people. Every life lost is a horrible outcome, regardless of the population count, but when we compare India to the USA, India fared a lot better than the United States of America.

The US is usually considered a leader in many fields, and the world usually looks to them as

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the shining example of how matters should be handled, but with 350,000 human lives lost from COVID-19, out of 300 million lives, India and Hong Kong can only show others the way.

Nevertheless, we are entering 2021 with a vaccine in our hands, and thanks to American capitalism, and German scientists, we have a way to hinder the invisible enemy and stop the virus from causing more damage to families and humans all over the world.

A LOOK BACK AT 2020 December 2019 was shaping up to be a celebration, people’s lives had a routine, and the start of the new decade was looking to be with a renewed sense of hope or continuation of a successful year. Little was known that somewhere in a place called Wuhan, the wet market was brewing with more than exotic foods, a new virus strain was going to change life as we know it, causing an impact on average livelihood so strong, that to compare it to similar historical predicaments still wouldn’t explain how 2020 ended up.

The world in 2020 had to wrestle with a few issues; the economic recession was a product of forced lockdowns this time, unlike 2008. People had to work from home, and the only industries doing well were food and household businesses, demands were unchanged there, if not increased.

Before we enter 2021 with

and more than a million human deaths, we have to ask ourselves a few questions first and see how we got here.

Understand the facts, and how humanity reacted to a pandemic of this size. What the pandemic was doing to us was more than making us fall sick, it changed our lifestyle forever, people learned new lessons in adaptability and survival, people went through a change with the force of a wake-up call, others felt like survival was something they are accustomed to, and riding this wind of change on a surfboard is the only way to go at it.

COVID-19 It all started in one small marketplace, and no one ever would have thought, or could even anticipate, that just a few weeks later the world would standstill. It is also certainly a different human experience in a time of globalization, where traveling by plane has become affordable to everybody of all legal ages, identities are not as rigid as they were, and bilingualism is now the standard. Millions of people were traveling daily on planes around the world, the consequence: the perfect way

to spread a virus, free rides to mass infections.

It was a new type of virus for the scientific field, the authorities and the people were overrun, by the speed of spread, and the way it spread amongst people. While many got seriously ill and sadly passed away, others got only mediocre to mild symptoms.

And there was still no vaccine, and so the solution was a lockdown, and little to no human interactions, a change in the fabric of everyday human behavior.

A NORM SHIFT Stay at home and work from home. All meetings were conducted online, and those companies providing video and voice communications services like Zoom. Skype, experienced unprecedented subscription booms. Facebook even launched its own videocall app Messenger Room to respond to the increase of demand with everyone staying and working from home.

The most trending and spoken word was COVID-19 and Corona. In 2020 we got used to masks, quarantine,

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social distancing, hand sanitizers, and we discovered how difficult transportation could look like in some countries, from cars to planes, nothing moves in nor out.

While on one side entire businesses collapsed, others like e-commerce, home deliveries, sanitizer and mask manufacturers, etc. boomed.

Some businesses even shifted their entire business strategy on selling COVID-19 related products to stay afloat.

“WHAT PEOPLE SUFFERED WAS MORE THAN A PHYSICAL HEALTH CRISIS, IT WAS A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS” It was also the year people suffered from depression when people had to stay at home for weeks. Anxiety and mental health issues peaked during that year, with higher divorce rates, and domestic violence. The world went into shock, and it wasn’t a surprise.

It was the psychology of uncertainty.

From Hong Kong, all the way to the rest of the world, Africa, Europe, East Asia, and Latin America, it was not the same experience. The virus was a common denominator, but what people suffered was more than a physical health crisis, it was a mental health crisis.

In an already fragile world, this was a breaking point, a necessary one perhaps, it is not about avoiding mistakes or flaws in humans, it’s about facing them directly with a purpose of improvement, and heeding the lessons of the past for the problems we might face tomorrow.

ECONOMIC DOWNTURN An Economic crisis has also been a half-discussed topic throughout 2020, it was like being chained, complaining doesn’t solve it, and actively trying to get the average business to operate was impossible in these conditions, and under lockdown, it was a choice between health and economy, but you can only pick one. And that concept was an actual reality; it devastated homes, lives, and destroyed most small to medium businesses that rely on physical stores for sales.

No matter how much stimulus you throw at this problem, it was not going to get solved.

This economic year will be studied for years to come, for analytical purposes, and also to improve on situation handling if similar forces were to ever again come into play.

A NEW YEAR, A NEW ERA Entering a new year, we enter with strength; natural selection has already made

sure that we do. We also enter with more than what we knew yesterday, knowledge is available and has always been free, but the experience is something that no one can buy. The world collectively at this point agrees that we are optimistic about tomorrow.

With Hong Kong ending last year with more uncertainties than it started with, one thing is for sure; they’re starting 2021 with more resilience.

India was on a path to unprecedented economic heights, but with unforeseen that road has been filled with blocks, but as always, resilience is the magical word here, it sees India back on that path in 2021, between now and 2025 India will be the 5th largest economy globally, dethroning the UK again after doing so in 2019, and slipping to 6th place in 2020, and in 2030 India is expected to become the 3rd largest economy in the world.

One thing that differentiates 2021 from is the reactionary

response to severe changes and unexpected events. A stressful time in 2020 was unanticipated; a stressful time in 2021 is something that we have to deal with as best we could with the tools available to us to get where we want to go. It’s something that we are now more well equipped to deal with, we understand the circumstances and the consequences. We have

COVID’S SOCIETAL IMPACT IN 2021 The impact of a pandemic in 2021 will not be focused on saving lives as much as it was in 2020, the reason is that we have already found a vaccine that shields us from the threats of a virus that spreads and infects at unseen rates in our modern time. For decades the world’s sense of security was always in blind faith, and some might have felt like we took it for granted.

In 2021 we will be focused

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on revitalizing segments of our society we have shut down, from business to social activities. Wearing a mask will continue for a while, and it has become a dystopian scene from a movie that is lasting for more than a few hours and is continuing to unfold into a second year. We are going to be focused on answering home problems that we have not faced before the pandemic, a problem that many people were forced to face in 2020 due to the stay at home orders.

We are entering 2021 with an updated consciousness.

An integral shift in the way we live has forced us all into isolation with only our thoughts, something most people never experienced before, socializing and going to work, school, and having fun activities was just what humans have been doing for years. In 2021 we come out changed, and imposed selfintrospection usually breeds better people.

THE YEAR TO PROSPER 2021 brings more than a stronger people, it brings a renewed spirit, it also brings a year of proving self-worth, something that is innate in all of us.

While the future may be still uncertain, 2021 brings a few certainties, we will prosper in 2021, simply because one has only very few places to go after being brought down, and these directions all point upwards.

Japanese people have experienced some very disturbing times in 2020, with suicide rates going up, and

many young adults going hikikomori, isolating and seclusion, and while some may think well maybe that is because we were under lockdown to prevent a virus spread, isolation and seclusion in Japan, or hikikomori, was considered as a sign of severe depression and anti-social behavior.

And why 2021 will be the year of prospering is because there is a new era will rise once all lockdowns and social distancing rules are lifted, a season of blossoming to be felt throughout the world, and energizing feeling, and that is only the natural order of things, after all, the lockdown left more of an impact on us than the actual virus.

FROM THE EYES OF 2021 If you’re healthy in 2021 and alive, reading this article thinking, “all of what happened feels like a waste of time”, then you’re in the majority.

The reason many think the lockdown, the rules, and the pandemic were all overreported and given much attention without actually making a dent in most people’s lives, is because that’s exactly what happened.

Out of 7.8 billion people on earth, 84.5 million people got infected, and less than 2 million people died (at the time of writing this

article, Dec 2020), and that leaves 7.72 billion people completely unaffected by COVID-19.

That fact alone makes a lot of people uneasy, and frustrated.

Less than 3% of the world was severely affected, the rest of the 97% has to go through the agony of watching everything they took for granted their whole lives get taken away from them.

To suffer economically, to suffer mentally, and to suffer socially, without having a say, the majority lost this time.

The majority has to isolate, and stay home, and adapt to a new lifestyle by law, and that happens and will continue to happen even if this is due to a precaution caused by a virus that is very unlikely to harm 97% of the people on Earth. This data puts many things into perspective, which are otherwise disregarded completely when discussing the COVID-19 dilemma.

And because that is the reality on the ground some may resort to conspiracy to explain the world when in

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reality, there was a solution to this problem that could have mitigated the negative effects of 2020: Recommended isolation to people over 45 years with pre-conditions.

That approach might have caused the world to suffer a higher number of infected people in general, but lower numbers, than the current ones, of people would have died.

According to the WHO, the vulnerable group of people are aged 40+ years with preconditions. And even between 40-55, the numbers were low, in relation to a total of 7.8 billion humans on Earth.

The threat really starts to increase after 55 years of age.

So while we are in 2021, we can look back and be thankful for our resilience and health, but also take notes of how to handle things with effectiveness, and never let panic lead our lives. Only rational and calm thoughts can drive us out of the most hopeless places.

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SHARED VALUES

WHAT 2021 CAN BRING

And let us not forget that plagues have been a part of planet earth for centuries, when we look back at Ancient Greece we remember that they didn’t have vaccines to look forward to the light at the end of the tunnel 12 months later, they practiced stoicism, and remained consistent in advancing the human condition.

2021 is here, so let’s talk about today and tomorrow.

New Year parties didn’t feel as vibrant as it did every year. And that seems to be a worldwide experience. It wasn’t that happiness wasn’t there, it was just that 2021 and we’re under lockdown, still.

And we can apply ancient philosophies to today’s time; from Hinduism to Ancient Greek philosophies, the similarities between the two different theologies, and philosophies, both outline important shared values. They both outline a way of life, in good times, and bad times.

The relentless pursuit of truth that Hinduism teaches us can help us stay grounded in times of misinformation online from Social Media, technology has taken us away from nature, and into a new age of too much information, and not enough wisdom.

Buddha teaches us to control the mind, not outside events.

All those values, if spoken through action, could have grounded humanity and changed civilization, as we know it today. Unfortunately, those values mean more than sharing them on social media, they happen to also mean practicing them or speaking them while translating those words into everyday behavior.

The human condition is advancing with its lowest possible outcome because anything less would undermine our position as the smartest species on earth.

And there is something important here to understand, January 2021 is a New Year on calendars, on papers, but to people, in homes, in streets, people who lost loved ones, who lost life savings, broke up, downgraded houses, and everyone on earth who experienced a life-changing event, that was just the next month in a year that can’t be written down on paper or explained with a number that reflects the clockwork of history, an ongoing year that started when the world went into lockdown.

2021 can bring many positive things, but 2021 can also continue an unfinished personal year that only concludes when the world is officially virus-free, and we can take our masks off, maybe drop our children at school without fearing for them, all while on the way to work in our office buildings; something that we did frequently in 2019, and haven’t since.

Happiness is brought on after withholding gratification, and so 2021 might bring with it a delayed start to the usual calendar year. H1N1 impacted the world with very similar dates the previous virus spread started, finding a vaccine, and possibly virusfree? That was August 2010.

There is an obviously big difference in infection rates, and the death toll numbers between H1N1 and COVID-19, but maybe by August 2021

we can find solace in 2021, the year of relief, and good riddance to what could have been the “New Normal” forever.

2021 can also bring about a realization of how lucky we are to continue another year with good health, at last to 97% of the people of Earth, and for those we lost we need to make sure we protect the future of humankind by being better people, consuming less, and sustaining our planet in healthier ways, using greener tools, and living cleaner lives.

Something we realized before the pandemic changed our lives, but the pandemic was nature’s way of saying “Well maybe you started a bit too late”, but at least we did.

The important thing is that we continue in that green direction, the direction of sustainability, and making sure our collective health is optimized.

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ADAPTABILITY The way evolution works is through natural selection, all creatures on Earth are here due to their genetic adaptability to change. And that concept can be applied to business, relationships, to careers, and mental health.

Being able to adapt is what sustained our existence for thousands of years, and if we are going to be here in another thousand years, we need to be able to adapt in times of distress, and danger.

GOING INTO 2021 WE NEED TO MAKE ADAPTABILITY OUR CENTERPIECE THOUGHT, IN ALL SITUATIONS, WHETHER IT’S POLITICS OR SPORTS. WE NEED TO ALWAYS

REMAIN AT PEACE WITH OURSELVES, AND MAKE SURE WE ARE FOCUSED ON THE SOLUTIONS, NOT THE PROBLEM. With COVID-19 we realized that many things we take for granted could easily be taken away from us, we realized how fragile our ecosystem is, and we were also made aware of how easy it is for the economy to fall every 10 years like a reoccurring event we could anticipate consistently. That is not to say the next 10 years will be like the last 10, it is to say we learned to hopefully not repeat history, and evolve into better and more resilient beings, which are adaptable to any environment.

Whether it be it more tolerant overall, or now you’re a business expert on

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crisis management, perhaps forecasting the economy with great accuracy, the 2020 isolation left us with a lot of time, and a lot of knowledge to absorb. The trick would be to implement that knowledge into our everyday lives.

being aware that the person on the other side is also struggling with something as much as you are, being there for each other, and to always remember a well-informed person adapts better than the naïve one.

In 2021 we are more advanced in science than the year before, we only have more to work with each year we go forward, the truth matters, facts matter, and information shouldn’t be taken at face value, we need to understand before we fear, we have to research before we speak, and most importantly we should make decisions based on evidence ad data, not emotions. But never to let emotions and empathy stray away from our core values, to always use our best senses when dealing with others, becoming kinder people,

Adaptability, this is a word that is crucial for 2021, it is crucial for all of us, for everyone around the world, and it’s crucial for the human civilization. Without being able to accept that change is the only constant, we are never going to move forward towards progression, and we will never be able to learn, knowing that learning is also a constant process, whether from the younger, older, or no longer with us, as Einstein so famously phrased it, “once you stop learning, you start dying”.

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2021 & BEYOND HOW 2021 DEFINES OUR COLLECTIVE FUTURE 2019, 2020, 2021, but it’s what happens after 2021 that we should be already anticipating from now in 2021, it has been leading up to a certain light at the end of the tunnel, and that accumulated anticipation is 2021 and beyond.

What happens in mid-2021 and after will only be shaped by us. Hong Kong will be the center of attention again, India will, as always, be a hub of controversy, and what of the electrifying relations with the West? Europe and America have already commented plenty on the East Asian dynamic with certain tones. East Asia has had the best record in the globe in terms of dealing with the pandemic, the discipline there that lacked in the West will always leave a historical pin that highlights how a difference in ideologies doesn’t always necessarily mean one side or the other is more right. It’s how we can coexist with our differences that will shape the upcoming decade.

This decade already marked the toughest start in recent history, at a time where the human civilization has always been improving, but with certain issues like global warming, climate instability, and overpopulation, there might still be room for improvements, there might still be room for working together towards a higher purpose.

Space exploration has been halted since the cold war, and that shows how nations

are willing to only achieve remarkable heights for military and political reasons, but using science for the sake of science, knowledge, and peace seems to be the more noble choice.

But this is why we have American capitalism so it seems, to manufacture vaccines, and allow Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, the ability to use their billions to advance discovery of the beyond, as long as it also makes them a few extra bucks to sustain their wealth. Jake Ma attempting to single-handedly provide economic equality on the opposite spectrum of the globe, with China effectively practicing state capitalism, and very soon officially becoming the largest economy in the world, finally overtaking the US, putting into perspective the heated relationship lasting for the past two years.

America is going into 2021 with a new head of state, a new president who has already spent eight years in the White House as Vice President in the Obama administration, with a record of being the oldest inaugurated president in US history. A new administration could perhaps pave the way to new relations with the East.

An acceptance of China’s dominance as the economic power of the world might ease the tensions, and allow room for American growth, forecasts still suggest America will be the leading economy in 2100, but most people today who care about that statistic will not live to see the day.

Tomorrow is in our hands, because it is shaped by us today, right here, and right now. We can only create a future that protects our decedents, as humans, anything else would be considered futile. The universe and the earth are indifferent if you are.

If we don’t care about our environments, neighbors, and children, the results will be unimaginable. In 2021 and beyond only tolerance and love can move us forward, guaranteeing health, and prosperity for all without risking damaging the planet, all these statements have been said and repeated, and harder when implementing.

Words require less energy to speak than action, and that is a scientific fact.

By 2025 there will be a water scarcity problem in many places in the world. By 2030 India’s population will rise to 1.5 billion. By 2050, the planet will carry 9 billion human lives, a staggering increase of 1.2 billion from 2020. Increasing the pressure on energy, natural resources, water, and food.

The world is full of problems, it helps nobody to complain, or to point out problems

without providing solutions if there is anything we have too much of, it’s problems, for now, and tomorrow, our strife will be for nothing if we are not providing solutions, and instead, not focus on problems for the sake of addressing problems, but focus on them for the sake of betterment.

People with solutions care not for what caused the problem; they care for how to make the problem cease to exist, laying blame on nothing, and nobody.

Progress is synonymous with forward, and that means not looking back. History has much to teach, in terms of applying past knowledge in today’s time, but it was not created for us to look and fret over the semantics.

What we can do today affects what we do beyond, what we understand and learn today is how we can forge tomorrow’s path. Constantly striving for more, for better, and always believing in hope.

There is nothing impossible to him or her, who will try.

The tomorrow we all want is simple, but it seems that complexity sits on the casket of the age of reason.

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REMARKS: THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE NECESSARY To say that COVID-19 was the sole cause of an unstable year is to be dismissive of truths we refuse to face. We were forced to face some uncomfortable times, but comfort is dangerous, it’s only when we are comfortable that we become complacent.

This was bad, yes, but it was necessary, it was required for us to be aware of the issues we don’t tackle, issues with our families, our friends, our social events, the social media tech world with all its influences, these particular topics were not going to be met with the same conversations a year before 2020, and we sometimes have to look inwards, before we can look outwards.

The years to come are going to be filled with similar feelings of the year past, and that is simply the nature of the human condition, joy, and grief because that is unchanging in a world that is never constant. We cannot control what happens to us, but we can control how we react. The vaccines may make us feel like we’re all saved, but in reality, the dangers were overestimated. The human mind has the capacity to overwhelm itself, and not to take away from the severity of losing a close relative, but to emphasize the importance of discipline that can make these situations mitigated under different circumstances, knowing without death there would be no meaning to life, something that we hold in high value.

What we do starting this New

Year; we do without fear, or with less fear than the years before. We have witnessed economies collapse twice in less than 20 years, we went through wet market viruses also twice, experienced political uncertainty for decades, but what we will not do is start a New Year with repeated mistakes, misplaced anger, or a fear of tomorrow.

This tomorrow is better, even if yesterday was not too bad, but it’s the thought that rules us.

We try hard every day to set goals and reach them, some try harder than others, due to their location, maybe language barriers, or a different ideological background, but what unites us is our resilience, not against the virus, but against the odds, the everyday odds we go and grow through, these odds will be here long after the virus is gone. If we have anything to leave to our future, it will have to be our ideas of today, and our hopes of tomorrow, where tomorrow looks good, so the future can start from somewhere that is built to only do better.

We spend so much time on

many things, but did you know the average human spends around 30 years of his or her lifetime sleeping?

That is 30 years not being awake, 30 years not living, not looking around, observing the gift of life, enjoying it, making sure we stay grateful for what we have, and disregard that which has no purpose. In an ideal world, the economy wouldn’t rule happiness, but that doesn’t reflect the reality on the ground.

We aim to do good, or at least that is the consensus, but the suffering continues, and it will continue if we don’t prepare to tackle the problems of today and tomorrow, starting now. We can’t change the world for the better if each and every one of us first works to become better. We can’t help others if we can’t help ourselves first. And we can’t believe lies to soothe our egos, instead of seeking truth and accepting the result no matter what it might be.

We can do better, and we will do better.

2020 was described as many things, for 2021, one wonders what the attention might shift too. A global health

crisis, an economic crisis, and a mental health crisis, all sound like issues that were only highlighted, rather than caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Single death stories were lost in the pile of the millions. Empathy was by default for the collective experience.

A new rejuvenated year will bring with it a lost spirit of energy and productivity, natural selection has already forced us to sit down and think about the type of people we want to be. All of us had no choice, and it’s a pretty drastic and dark example if we think about it, it’s not every year that we have to deal with an international emergency that places all our lives on hold, impacting everything and everyone we know. The media became strictly news, no one went to the cinema, and the layoffs would cause a stagnation that is worse in numbers than the 2008 financial crisis. And so like a slingshot, we are pulled back to fly forward, we have seen it before, and we will see it again soon.

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WELCOMING A NEW YEAR, A NEW ERA Resolutions in 2021 are special, or at least it feels like it. It is said that a shock factor usually makes a human react in two ways, either break or breakthrough. New Year resolutions became something to say, to joke about, this year feels different, because whoever decided to reach for a certain goal, has already reached it in their heads. The battle is won or lost before it’s even fought, and that applies to most goals in life. Like Henry Ford once said, “Whether you think you can or you can’t you are right”.

A good way to welcome this year is to cause small minor changes, a samurai master once asked a student to make

his bed every day after he wakes up, and only after that will he be ready for training.

The moral of the story was that discipline requires consistency, and small changes like making your bed every morning, or waking up at a certain hour every day forges a routine. And that routine disciplines innate traits that the human mind and body possess to optimize for anything on a greater scale in life. The smallest things in a person’s daily life have an impact on the largest things.

How we can start 2021 better than we did 2020 is to attempt the smallest change, and make that a constant habit. Will Durant once wrote,

“WE AR E WHAT WE R EPEAT EDLY DO. EXCELL E N CE , T HEN, IS NOT AN ACT, BU T A HABIT ”. AND FROM T HE R E W E CAN ONLY CELEBRAT E TH E M OST PROFOUND POSITI VE OUT COM ES A FEW M ON T H S FROM J ANUARY. HUM AN S CAN BE SO G REAT IF T HEY APP R OACH T HEIR G OALS SIM ILAR T O H OW PLANT S G R OW, IT ONLY TAK E S PAT IENCE, PERSIST ENCE , A N D NAT URE.

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S T O R Y

THE NEW HONG KONG Hong Kong experienced protests this year, much like a lot of places in the world, in the middle of a pandemic.

The general shift in Hong Kong’s direction in 2021 will be very interesting to watch. The pandemic caused what it caused; the people faced what they faced, but Hong Kong remains in a cloud of a cold rift between superpowers. A best-case scenario is for business to proceed as usual, but this past year, nothing was usual, not even business.

Hong Kong is a major financial hub for the international world, specifically, western investors, China being the second biggest economy in the world, as of writing this, while being on its way to being the largest economy by GDP, Hong Kong along with Macau serve as lucrative cities that can attract businesses and investments worldwide.

China remains the only country with a GDP growth in 2020, an accomplishment that is scary and admirable at the same time. We are sitting at the edge of our seats hoping everyone stays safe, but what we are also hoping for is a change in the dynamic of relations between the West and East.

The White House has also gone through a shift in leadership with Donald Trump out of office, and Joe Biden at the helm of US politics.

2021 will still come with its uncertainties, and while we are all doing our best at these times, it is important to also learn from our past, observe,

and reserve judgments and not react quickly before we make decisions.

The UK had the worst economic decline in Europe, while also dealing with its biggest issue at hand, Brexit, the British Empire is gone, yet England remains a global superpower in 2021, a superpower with an economy on a serious decline if not corrected soon enough.

COVID-19 cases there were extremely high, and while the vaccines were rolling out, a new strain was discovered, that placed a lot of countries on high alert.

The human life is valuable, and that we can all agree on.

No one works to lower the standards of living of anyone, which is not a good policy.

The great policy is to always be consistent with improving the human condition. And we have seen competition get the best of people before, but it takes a lot more than sportsmanship to be as still as water and calm as the wind. What we can control is only within us, anything outside is only in our sphere of influence, or even further away, in a sphere we can’t control.

The New Hong Kong might have been a headline written in 2047, but it’s 2021, and it’s

written today. We do better when we embrace change, and adapt accordingly, rather than succumb to denial, and pay for it with an emotional price. The discipline and intelligence the people of Hong Kong used to deal with the pandemic was pure rationale at work, an effective approach that saved millions, and saved others hours of logistical nightmares.

Marcus Aurelius wrote a book called meditations based on the philosophy of Stoicism, he faced obstacles that seem almost like the universe intended to break him, yet he was never heard complaining.

Stoicism is a school of thought that embraces the situation and rejects pain from the mind. The mind has the power to make you feel and un-feel on command, and the mind is controlled by none other than oneself.

Stoicism doesn’t teach indifference, it teaches empathy, but with strength.

From it we can learn how to deal with the world today, Marcus Aurelius dealt with a plague similar to our COVID-19 virus, the lockdowns, and social distancing, all were also enforced in Ancient Greece.

But with no vaccinations in sight, it was human resilience

that made all the difference.

The average character that was of that time was a lot different than that of today’s time. People did better under pressure back then, panic was not a common trait.

Humans have worked to secure comfort for centuries that panic developed at the slightest inconvenience.

We leave 2020 with lessons and enter 2021 with opportunities.

Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting the same results, if the only tool you have is a hammer, you’ll see every problem as a nail. Change your perception, change your opinions, and views, everything else is already changing, and if we don’t change with it, we will be rendered obsolete.

Article by: Gaurav Pardeshi Editor Adesiflava Magazine

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Happy New Year 2021

Happy Chinese New Year 2021 to all the readers of A-Desiflava Magazine

from

Mrs. Purviz R. Shroff MH & Late Mr. Rusy M. Shroff BBS MBE

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Chinese New Year 2021 Year of the OX (a must read if you were born in 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997 and 2009)

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he Ox is the second of all zodiac animals.

According to one myth, the Jade Emperor said the order would be decided by the order in which they arrived to his party. The Ox was about to be the first to arrive, but Rat tricked Ox into giving him a ride. Then, just as they arrived, Rat jumped down and landed ahead of Ox. Thus, Ox became the second animal.

The Ox is also associated with the Earthly Branch (地 支 / dì zhī) Chǒu (丑) and the hours 1–3 in the morning. In the terms of yin and yang (阴 阳 / yīn yáng), the Ox is Yang.

In Chinese culture, the Ox is a valued animal. Because of its role in agriculture, positive characteristics, such as being hardworking and honest, are attributed to it.

Paired with the Celestial Stems (天干 / Tiān gān), there is a 60-year calendrical cycle. Although chǒu is associated with earth, the years also cycle through the five elements of nature (五行 / wǔ xíng).

Personality and

M O O D

YEAR

CELESTIAL STEM EARTHLY BRANCH ZODIAC

1925

yǐ

chǒu

Ox

Wood

Yin

1937

ding

chǒu

Ox

Fire

Yin

1949

jǐ

chǒu

Ox

Earth

Yin

1961

xīn

chǒu

Ox

Metal

Yin

1973

guǐ

chǒu

Ox

Water

Yin

1985

yǐ

chǒu

Ox

Wood

Yin

1997

ding

chǒu

Ox

Fire

Yin

2009

jǐ

chǒu

Ox

Earth

Yin

2021

xīn

chǒu

Ox

Metal

Yin

YIN YANG

Elements and fortunes ELEMENT

YEAR

FORTUNE

Metal

1961, 2021

These Oxen face obstacles early on, although there are no financial worries. Friends and family aren’t much help, but they will be able to enjoy a comfortable retirement.

Water

1973, 2033

These Oxen have a comfortable early life and are respected their entire life. They will have a loving family, but it’s recommended to marry late.

Wood

1925, 1985

These Oxen are multitalented and live like a breeze. There are some difficulties in the beginning, but everything smooths out.

Fire

1937, 1997

These Oxen are friendly and social. There are no financial worries their entire life.

Earth

1949, 2009

These Oxen are detailed and like being the leader. They’re usually are make a lot of money, but can’t seem to hold onto it.

However, they are able to slow down and enjoy their later years.

Oxen are honest and earnest.

They are low key and never look for praise or to be the center of attention. This often hides their talent, but they’ll gain recognition through their hard work.

Men born in the Ox year are reliable and trustworthy. They put their entire heart into everything they do. They feel great responsibility towards their family as well. However, due to their confidence (almost arrogance), they don’t allow anyone to go against their rules. They hold your children to high expectations, even though it might be unrealistic.

They believe that everyone should do what’s asked for them and stay within their bounds. Though they are kind, it’s difficult for them to understand persuasion using pathos. Rarely losing your temper, they think logically and make great leaders.

Women born in the Ox year are calm and gentle. They will never surrender to fate and rarely think of choosing an alternative. This no doubt leads to a life of struggles. But no matter what, they will walk down the road they choose until the end. Despite this stubbornness, they think and react quickly.

Characteristics

ELEMENT

T H E

Compatibility Most compatible with Ox: Rat, Snake, Rooster Rat’s fixed Earthly Branch is water, while Ox is earth. They have complementing personalities and hold the same goals in life.

Snake and Rooster fit Ox nicely as well. Not only will Snakes give warmth and romance, they offer help and support in work too. Honest and loyal, they can also be attracted to the Rooster’s soft and loving heart.

Least compatible with Ox: Goat, Horse, Dog The Earthly Branches of Goat and Ox clash strongly.

They can tolerate each other’s differences, but there will always be tension.

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Horses have a free and wild spirit, and may not have a serious attitude toward life.

This is the opposite of an Ox’s personality. With Dogs, it’s hard to find common ground.

they should take the time to find something they love.

Only in a stable environment that matches their passions, are they able to find their true calling.

Lucky things for Oxen

Health and Lifestyle

The heavenly stem Xin of 2021 belongs to Metal, which will help the Ox to some extent. The key to overcoming any potential bad luck is to strengthen your morale.

Like the wild oxen that run freely in the fields, people of the Ox year are healthy and fit. Hospital visits are rare, but this sometimes leads to overconfidence. Neglect during youth will result in problems in the later years.

Use this time to cultivate your relationships. With the support of your family and friends, you will likely manage to navigate any difficulties and gain a deeper appreciation for what you have.

As workaholics, Oxen will sometimes go days with minimal food and rest, then binge on both. Irregular diets will lead to indigestion and problems with the digestive system. Irregular exercise is what causes you to fall ill with “random” ailments.

Career

•

Colors: blue, yellow, green

•

Numbers: 1, 4

•

Flowers: lily of the valley and lucky bamboo

•

Directions of auspiciousness: East, Southeast

•

Directions of wealth: Northwest

•

Directions of love: South

Unlucky things •

Colors: red, brown

•

Numbers: 3, 6

Careers Fit for Oxen Oxen often group family and work together. They look for long-term and steady work. Because of this, they are studious in school and perform well in every subject.

This helps build a strong support for any future career path.

Because of their low-key personality, a stable job is the best for Oxen. Their strong sense of responsibility also makes them the perfect candidate for professional and stressful jobs. These include doctors, lawyers, businessmen and teachers. With their technical skills and effort, they can receive society’s recognition and reach their own standards.

No matter what career they choose, it must something they are really interested in.

Though they may be okay with any job that fits their skills,

Once they reach the middle ages, there is high risk of heart disease. Strokes are another risk. In addition, they commonly suffer from joint pain.

Most of these issues stem from irregular exercise. For a healthy life, they need to remember to take breaks from work, stretch and relax.

Horoscope 2021-2020 Oxen in the Year of the Ox (2021) The year of a person’s birth sign, known as Ben Ming Nian, is believed to be unlucky because of its conflict with Tai Sui. Therefore, 2021 will be a turbulent year for the Ox. You may encounter unexpected challenges, especially in your career and studies, which can leave you feeling stressed out,

distracted, and emotional.

Though 2021 may bring you bad luck, it will also bring you stable career

prospects. Because Ox energy is suppressed in Ben Ming Nian, you will find it harder to achieve breakthroughs in your career this year.

You may find it challenging to get the results you expected, even though you are level-headed and hardworking. Moreover, the Ox will need to proceed with an abundance of caution in workplace relationships this year. You will need to compromise in order to avoid hostile interactions with your colleagues.

2021 will be a great year for the Ox to hone your skills and spruce up your talents.

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Remember - when luck is not on your side, hard work will make a great substitute.

In 2021, the heavenly stem Xin will suppress your wealth to some extent. Ben Ming Nian will cause volatility in the Ox’s fortunes, and Oxen should therefore establish a stronger budget management system to prepare for rainy days. Avoid luxury purchases during this period, and stay thrifty to prevent financial turmoil.

Lucky Months: April, September, and December Unlucky Months: May, June, and July

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M O O D

Education

Relationship

The Ox may find it more challenging to make progress in their studies this year. The Ox has an inherently strong work ethic, which helps bring a sense of steadiness to your learning journey. However, even with the promised stability, you need to do the groundwork for future actions.

You may find yourself choosing between different paths in your education this year, such as transferring to a different school, deciding on a major, or choosing a new advisor. Keep a level head while weighing these decisions. If you are prudent in your decision making this year, your efforts will pay off in time.

Oxen may find it difficult to further improve the relationship with your partner this year. Hiccups in your relationship may affect your mental state, and certain events may seem out of your control.

Your partner might stray or harbor selfish ambitions during this time. Be patient. These hardships will pass in time. Though your road may be rocky, love and kindness will always bring you back together.

Unfortunately, the single Ox will not have much luck in love this year. Between their traditionally passive personalities and this year’s bad luck, this year will be a disappointing one for romance.

Consider taking this year to focus on learning more about yourself. Figure out what you want in love and what you can bring to a relationship. Love will come eventually, but this year may not be the right time.

Health Be careful with your health this year. In Ben Ming Nian, the Ox’s fortunes will become precarious. You will be more prone to catching minor infections this year, so make it a point to schedule routine checkups.

Tai Sui will throw many curve balls at you this year, and these may cause you stress and anxiety. Ailments can lead to more serious problems if left untreated, so rest whenever you find the time to do so. Try to exercise more often, and stay away from risky activities whenever possible.

Lifestyle Chinese astrology predicts that this year will start on a relative low note for the Ox. Ben Ming Nian’s conflict with Tai Sui will bring significant instability to your fortunes, and you can easily encounter something unexpected if you act rashly.

This should not prevent you from working on personal development and living your best life, however. If you ever get into trouble, do your best to adapt to the situation. With some hard work and determination, you’ll find your way out again.

Stay calm, and be patient with yourself—the wheel of fortune will turn in your favor soon enough.

Article by: Fefe Ho & Chloe Chiao courtesy to https://chinesenewyear.net/zodiac/ox/

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INTERIOR DESIGN

2021

TOP 5 TRENDS TO

LOOK OUT FOR T

he year 2020 got most of us more engaged with our homes, more than ever before! Some of us moved out to new homes during this time, some rearranged their homes to have spaces for home-office or for kids to have their online classes, while a few of us only did a bit finetuning to improve our nest’s functionalities, comfort or aesthetics.

While one always wants their home to look au courant, staying on top of the latest trends, can be overwhelming. To help us make sense of it all, Interior designer duo, Sonal Bhandari and Heena Ahuja from SARA Interior Design gave us a low down on what to expect in 2021. In addition, they share some refreshing ideas on how we can bring to use these trends to suit our styles and preferences.

NATURE-INSPIRED, WELLNESS DRIVEN Natural or nature-inspired sustainable materials, some visible timber, some greenery. Creating natural habitat-like sanctuary in one’s own home will be one of the biggest trends in 2021 home décor.

With renovations, wooden wall panelling done in stylish ways will continue to see an upsurge, especially light-toned woods providing visual warmth and comfort.

Picture - www.pinterest.com

Furniture and accessories in natural materials or finishes such as wood, rattan or cane will be preferred for their warm, calming, and nostalgic effects. Imagine rattan armchairs to lounge in or a cane bench by the hallway, perfectly balancing the urban city set up.

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This style will best suits those who like being close to nature and want to bring outdoors in.

If you have been wowed with Japanese style interiors that we are increasingly seeing in the newer premium condos in Hong Kong, this is the style theme that you should be looking out for.

COMFORT FIRST Industrial loft style, Bohemian chic, French country style or Scandinavian. Last few years saw many of us simply wanting and following the Décor styles that were high on the trends chart.

Come 2020, people have been spending a lot more time at home and adding layers of functional comfort

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to their space irrespective of which style it comes from.

They are carefully evaluating what truly works for them and what does not.

Design concepts and furniture pieces that are versatile and high on comfort quotient will take precedence over themebased aesthetics that may add little value by themselves in the current scenario.

Overstuffed furniture, softer curves, generous number of cushions and throws will provide the visual cues of comfort, familiarity and security. Planning to spend hours reading your favourite book or catching up on Netflix after long hours of work and kids management? Comforttheme is all you need!

Picture: Indoorzy.com

INDIVIDUALISE YOUR DÉCOR With all the extra time at home and the due attention it is getting, more and more people want to inject some character in their spaces that is truly reflecting their personality.

It could be through a dedicated photo-wall with family pictures or a display of Artwork or souvenirs from past travels. It could be a custom-build bookshelf for some or home bar for others.

Show off your personality and let your home décor sing the tunes you genuinely enjoy.

Picture: www.parkergwen.com

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MORE HOME OFFICES / STUDY-ZONES No surprises here! With work-from-home, study-fromhome routine still in place, ergonomically designed chairs and cleverly designed tables with storage will continue to be in high demand.

Additionally, more and more renovators will be seeking professional help to carve out workspaces from their current rooms. Many would be considering retractable glass walls or sliding doors to separate and unite spaces; work in isolation without being disturbed and open it up to the rest of your home when required.

Multi-functionals guest rooms, floating shelfs in nooks or mini desks would be looked by renters as simpler solutions.

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About SARA Interior Design, Hong Kong SARA Interior Design

POPS OF COLOUR If you have not noticed the pop of colours in all the showcased images, we will say it out loud. Refreshing spaces through cheerful colours will emerge as a strong trend, especially for those on budget or those looking for quick makeover.

You could do it in the form of a feature wall, wallpaper, curtains, art and (sometimes, green plants too!) The colours “heal” the body’s energies, mind and soul and give you a feeling of calm and serenity.

(www.saraglobal.com.hk) provides full suite of design and contracting services for Residences, Offices, Retail and Restaurants.

Deeply passionate about beautiful interiors, Sonal Bhandari (left) brings rich multi-cultural industry experience of over two decades both in residential and commercial projects.

Heena Ahuja (right) is a banker turned Interior designer with a flair for intelligent layouts with attractive yet calming aesthetics.

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HAS THIS

PANDEMIC CREATED LOTS OF

ANXIETY?

T

he coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may be stressful for people. Fear and Anxiety about a new illness and what could happen can be overwhelming and has caused strong emotions in adults and children. Public health actions, such as social distancing, can make people feel isolated and lonely and increase stress and Anxiety.

However, these actions are necessary to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Anxiety is a feeling of unease,

such as worry or fear, with the uncertainty we face in this new time, which can be mild or severe. Everyone has felt feelings of Anxiety at some point in their life. It is direct or indirectly related to your thought process. However, it has never been easy handling work and family life balance together, and this pandemic has impacted each one of us in one or another way. Selfcare is simply the practice of actively taking measures to improve or preserve one’s health. Although the concept of self-care is theoretically

simple, many people overlook its importance. Self-care is not selfish. Taking care of yourself, both physically and emotionally, can help improve overall health and decrease Anxiety.

I want to share a story.

Millions of people worldwide have lost their job amid the current Covid-19 crisis, and the same had happened to a friend. Being married having a beautiful family with two children and old parents with joy also brings lots of responsibility under one bread earner’s shoulder. Mid of this year, 2020, he was informed that his service is no longer needed for the company. He had a steady income and fulfilled the ends to meet for his family for the past five years. Sudden job loss got unbelievable for him, and he slowly started developing Anxiety issues.

Simple work started becoming

an arduous task to do, loss of appetite and a feeling of suffocation made him weaker day by day, never the less it became so severe that an everyday conversation started causing him panic. Once the health became extremely worst that he could not get up on his own feet. He tested himself for coronavirus as he was juggling mixed feelings, and thankfully the reports were Negative. His wife took a doctor’s consultation, and after analyzing his situation, the doctor concluded that he has panic attacks. He was advised to have a few counseling sessions with medication, which helped him be a stronger person and family support, which has brought him out of this zone to understand life more in an inclusive manner. He is in a much better state of mind that he can share his experience with others and motivate the people around him.

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Mental health is an integral part of overall health and wellbeing. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It may also affect how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices during an emergency. Keep a watch on your thought process. Many of the thought is just a thought and nothing to do with reality. We tend to worry so much that it has sometimes created lots of horror movies in our minds, which proves the human mind is an excellent producer- in a lighter manner. However, we can start to learn and create love, funny/comedy-drama scenes to ease our lives, and vice versa; many situations in life put you at a crossroad, and it gets difficult to deal with it by the time given. All beings react differently in different situations. Healthily coping with the new normal will make you, the people you care about, and your community stronger.

COPPER RING FOR A HEALTHY LIVING In the olden days, people wore a copper ring to get rid of Anxiety and maintain overall wellbeing with good exercise or a yoga routine. I want to draw attention to the benefits of wearing a copper ring in the modern world, where we have lost being close to our roots, nature, and culture.

Copper Ring, worn on the middle finger on our left hand, has immense health benefits.

For a healthy immune system, 1

Copper improves physiological balance and strengthens the body

2

Revitalizes the Heart

3

Maintains Blood Pressure, which relates to helping with Anxiety

4

Improves Cardiovascular Health

5

Strengthens the Bones

6

Promotes Absorption of Minerals

7

Improves Skin Health

8

Reduces Swelling

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THE IMPORTANCE OF POTASSIUM

Food and nutrition also play a significant role in overcoming Anxiety and depression issues. I would even like to mention potassium’s power that we can get in Beans, Bananas, Walnuts, Dates, Avocadoes, Potatoes, and many more.

If there is a potassium deficiency, the person can also face mild or severe anxiety/ depression issues.

Low potassium levels have been associated with a greater risk for mood disturbances and depression. Women who have recently given birth also may experience a drop in potassium associated with a decrease in progesterone.

This can result in postpartum depression.

The pandemic is not the end of humanity, but it puts us on the test and makes us more mature to take a break

and set our goals right. The true measure of your success is the degree to which you are genuinely content - and the depth to which others hold you with real love and respect. Success is secondary to impact. Success is a list of what you win, gain, and attain - it may pass, it may remain. The impact is the test; the hearts, minds, and lives you touch enhance and forever change. Pandemic has brought out the best and even the worst of human nature.

Bless yourself with patience and unconditional belief that everything is happening for your highest good right now.

Everything is working out for you. You deserve to feel good inside.

The power of positive affirmation can change your life.

Article by:

Apeksha was born and brought up in East Africa (Dar-essalaam) and resides in Hong kong for the past 12 years. She is a full-time accountant and for her passion is a Tarot card who enhanced her skills in tarot reading from her mother.

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HEALTHY RESOLUTIONS FOR

2021

2020, the year of pandemic, made us understand the importance of health in our lives. How should we maintain our health simply and smartly? The goals for the year can help you feel better physically and mentally, but resolutions can be hard to keep. It’s essential to write them down, share with family and friends, and decide how to hold yourself accountable.

HERE ARE SOME HEALTHY RESOLUTIONS WORTH A COMMITMENT IN 2021: (1) GET AT LEAST 7 TO 8 HOURS OF SLEEP Not sure how much sleep you really need? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, adults should try to get at least seven hours a night. Going to bed at a fixed time and waking up around the same time daily also facilitates better sleep, as does banning electronic devices from the bedroom.

(2) GET MODERATE EXERCISE Don’t make a radical change, as the physical strain could result in injury and end your new workout plan before it even begins. Your resolution could be as simple as a daily 15-minute walk or a

10-minute yoga video each morning. An hour of physical activity everyday is a laudable goal, but small increments can also boost physical and emotional well-being. A recent Norwegian study even showed that as little as four minutes of “super intense” exercise a few times a day could extend life expectancy.

(3) MAINTAINING EASY AND HEALTHY DIET PLANS To start with one-day ideas like Intermittent fasting day, No spice day, Zero junk food day can work wonders for you.

You can also try ideas like Fruit Lunch and salad dinner.

This helps to start healthy living and improves eating habits for the whole family.

(4) DRINK MORE WATER Consuming eight glasses of water a day is outdated; staying hydrated is still critical for good health. Don’t wait until thirst hits. Sip fluids regularly throughout the day and with each meal. People who are sick and women who are breastfeeding should also hydrate more.

(5) DITCH SUGARY DRINKS Kicking a soda, sweetened coffee, or juice habit in favor of plain water is vital for good health. This simple New Year’s resolution saves about 240 calories for each 20-ounce soda — along with whatever money might have gone toward the bad habit, which

has been linked to diabetes, heart disease, and obesity.

If you hate to ban aerated drinks and other sweet drinks forever, be sure they’re an occasional treat.

(6) STRENGTHEN SOCIAL TIES Having friends and strong social ties is vital to wellbeing. A 2010 meta-analysis suggests that social relations can influence life span as much as known health risks such as smoking, obesity, and alcohol abuse. Find your people and stick with them.

(7) SHOP WITH A LIST Walking into the supermarket with a shopping list is an effective way to avoid impulse purchases of unhealthy

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least several long weekend getaways) in the coming year.

Taking an extended break can improve cardiovascular health, decrease depression, and, ironically, improve productivity. While travel might still be difficult for the better part of 2021, nothing is saying you can’t vacation close to home or even enjoy a “restorative staycation.”

foods and save money while doing it. Instead of randomly tossing items into your cart, follow a list that includes healthy options such as fresh fruits and vegetables, and keep processed foods to a minimum.

(8) MEDITATE EACH AND EVERY SINGLE DAY Take two or three minutes out of the day to sit and meditate.

Meditation is believed to lower anxiety, stress, heart rate, and blood pressure and increase feelings of relaxation and well-being.

Start with breath counting for 2 to 5 minutes anytime and anywhere you are sitting.

(9) TRY VOLUNTEERING OR SELFLESS ACTIONS Remember the adage “what goes around, comes around”? Helping others and volunteering for social events develop mindfulness.

According to a National and Community Service report, doing one single selfless action a day will help lower mortality, reduce depression, and increases functional ability.

(10) PLAN A VACATION Everyone needs a break and some distance from the daily grind. Resolve to take a vacation (or at

(11) DISCONNECT EACH DAY Find ways to unplug from electronics, even for a few minutes if the thought seems unbearable. Delay checking your phone first thing in the morning, or turn it off an hour before you go to bed. Instead of staring at the screen, try engaging more with the people and environment around you with something like a board game or jigsaw puzzle.

(13) TAKE HOURLY BREAKS Take five minutes of every hour during the day to get moving. This is especially important for desk jockeys or anyone who leads a sedentary lifestyle. Set a timer to signal the moment to stand up and stretch or walk around. The small break is an excellent way to give the brain some relief and get the blood pumping.

the time gradually to at least one minute. A plank works the entire body and gets you ready to stay active all day.

(15) FIND A WORKOUT PARTNER

(12) TRY SOMETHING NEW

(14) START THE DAY IN PLANK

Raise the odds of getting and staying active by recruiting someone to hold you accountable. The buddy system can help keep you both on track, even when you can’t work outside by the side.

It’s also easier to meet goals and a lot more fun. Can’t find a willing friend? Work out with a pet instead.

Breaking away from the daily routine can be a boon to health. Challenge your body in a new way, or take a dance, fitness, or martial arts class.

Harvard Medical School says challenging your mind with a new hobby can improve mental acuity into old age.

This may sound silly, get in the habit of holding in a plank position (as if you’re about to do a push up) every morning after getting out of bed. Consider this activity as necessary and important as brushing your teeth. Start for a few seconds and increase

So set your health goals right now! Start with picking up any of the ideas above or explore your own idea to follow your goals. Go get your goals to reality, have a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year 2021.

Article by:

SONAL JAYANT KULKARNI PG Diploma in Yoga Shastra Master in Yoga Shastra KJ Somaiya Institute, Sanskriti Peetham, Mumbai.

SONALJAY28@gmail.com

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TOP 10 REASONS INDIANS CHOOSE TO LIVE IN

TUNG CHUNG

Having personally lived in Tung Chung, I have a personal affinity with the area. Besides being near the airport, Tung Chung offers many benefits for residents and visitors alike, of all ages, and from all backgrounds. Here are ten of the reasons why Tung Chung stands out as one of the best places in Hong Kong.

Clubhouse Facilities

Child Friendly Environment

There are many buildings in Tung Chung with elegant and accessible clubhouses. Most of the clubhouses are laden with facilities that allow people of all ages and walks of life to maintain a healthy lifestyle. The clubhouses commonly host innumerable activities like tennis, snooker, and squash.

Moreover, every estate has at least one swimming pool and gymnasium. Only those living in Tung Chung would be able to avail the clubhouse benefits.

Tung Chung has plenty of schools around and kids can be seen freely wandering the neighborhood at all times.

There are lots of parks for kids around Tung Chung. In fact, Caribbean Coast has three different play areas made for kids. Events to celebrate Halloween, Easter and Christmas take place in every estate, and kids have plenty of options in Tung Chung to play throughout the year. The security guards are helpful and friendly, and there is sufficient regulation to ensure the Kids are taken good care of at all times.

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Most estates in Tung Chung allow residents to have pets.

There are all breeds of dogs seen in Tung Chung. Usually, people are seen walking their pets at night in one of the various parks or paths across the area. While, there are a lot of open spaces for people to take their pets, the most pet friendly estate is Caribbean Coast.

Pet Friendly

Weekend Serenity I personally do not enjoy if anyone interrupts my peace during a weekend. Living in Tung Chung ensures that you can get your weekends’ worth of peace. You can spend the entire day around Tung Chung and put your feet up and relax. Even if something important comes up in the city, it will only take you 45 minutes to reach there. The important things can wait till Monday.

Restaurants Tung Chung offers a great variety of diners. Every estate boasts of a variety of restaurants with a fusion of cuisines.

There is a restaurant at every few steps and visitors as well as residents are unlikely to be left hungry for choices.

Indian Community

Citygate Outlets

There is a closely knit Indian circle in Tung Chung. Diwali balls and other religious events are organized from time to time. Sadashiv Temple in Tung Chung organizes events like Navratri, Janmashtami, Ganesh Chaturthi and Mahashivratri.

The Indians also gather together weekly for recreational activities such as cricket and rummy.

Tung Chung is a great place for shopping. The outlets offer attractive deals from reputable brands at affordable prices.

This would appeal to shoppers of all tastes.

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The view The sky from Tung Chung looks like a painter’s masterpiece.

There are many Tung Chung residents who regularly post pictures on their social media of beautiful locales in Tung Chung. In fact, professional photographers make special trips to Tung Chung just to capture the perfect shot. The view from most balconies either boast of a sea view or a picturesque mountain. In most cases, the view acts as a tranquilizer in today’s stressful lives.

Rent Most of Tung Chung’s leased flats are reasonably priced.

Residents get fantastic facilities for paying just a fraction of the costs for flats in many other areas of Hong Kong, which are obnoxiously priced.

Tung Chung is very near to tourists’ spots. The Ngong Ping cable car is available from the Tung Chung MTR. There is an Olympic trail that goes from Tung Chung to Mui Wo, and even leads to the Lantau Buddha. Pui O and Discovery bay are also nearby, just as is the Disneyland Theme Park and Inspiration Lake.

Tourist Attractions

Article by: Jitendra Kotai Jitendra Kotai was born and brought up in Mumbai. Ever since he can remember, he was a story-narrator; he created exciting situations, plots, story ideas and concepts in his head and then narrated them to friends and family. He is also always a huge movie buff and stories of any form mesmerized him. Jitendra is currently residing in Hong Kong, as an accountant by profession, with a passion for writing. He spends time reading; watching movies and playing with his 5 year old daughter. He has recently published his first E-book on Amazon Kindle and Iooks forward to his journey as a writer.

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