Sunday 29 / December / 2024
MUSCAT: As the New Year ushers in, there is a sense of hope and excitement among the people.
It is the time of the year when personal resolutions are made for the New Year even as evaluations are done to assess one’s achievements in the past year based on the resolutions made at the beginning.
The past year was tough and fraught with challenges with the world recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the later part of the year saw the opening up of the world and normalcy returning in the Sultanate of Oman.
With the New Year setting in, citizens and residents hope that the Sultanate of Oman will continue to prosper and grow under the wise leadership of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik.
The prudent policies of the government and the implementation of Oman Vision 2040 have been widely hailed and welcomed by citizens and residents. Quite in conformity with this, they are set to usher in the New Year with their own resolutions and hopes for a better year ahead.
Celebrating the arrival of the New Year, Jamal Al Masroori, director of brand and communications, Oman Tourism Development Company (Omran), said: “The new year will give us another chance to accomplish more, to transform our dreams into reality, and to work for the growth and success of my beloved country.
“On the personal front, I would like to have a better work-life balance while on the professional front, I am thrilled to be part of Oman’s ever-growing tourism sector.”
Masroori said: “I hope to add value to Oman’s tourism industry and I hope that 2023 will bring exciting opportunities for all of us.”
Luma Al Saleh, Partner & Chief Transformation Officer of IDENTITY, a leading multi-disciplinary brand building firm, was, however, slightly hesitant about her New Year’s resolutions.
“I am not the kind of person who writes down New Year’s resolutions because by February, they all seem to disappear into thin air. However, a few days ago I was listening to Oprah Winfrey’s podcast on ‘intention’ and decided that this year I will reframe my New Year’s resolutions and listen to the power of two simple words, ‘I AM’.”
Luma’s resolutions in her own words are: “I will be gentler and kinder to myself. I will continue to try new things even if they make me feel uncomfortable at first. I will make people smile more, by simply smiling at them. I will focus my energy on people who want the best for me. I will listen to my heart more. It talks louder than anything I have ever heard of.
We only live once, so I will enjoy every moment. I will strengthen my spiritual connection with God. With all the ups and downs, I bid farewell to 2022 with gratitude and welcome 2023 with an open heart and mind.”
Leading environmental advocate Dana Sarhan said: “I hope 2023 will be a year when Oman flourishes and reaps the benefits of the economic measures and long term investments our government has made.”
She added: “As for my resolutions, I vow to continue to prioritise my health and self-preservation above all. I also hope to be able to give back to society and share some of my skills to positively enhance other people’s lives.”
Expatriate investor and businessman Manoj Didwania is “looking forward to a new and exciting year of growth for Oman’s local businesses.”
He said: “I plan to work for the society and for the nation. We have to overcome the hurdles caused by the pandemic. With the economy growing worldwide, 2023 brings hope for business expansion and diversification as planned under Oman Vision 2040. Together, we can have a positive impact on our society.”
Avantika Bhattacharya, an expatriate resident and a home-maker, was also optimistic. She said: “I expect the economy to keep recovering slowly post-Covid and don’t think that nations will opt for full or partial lockdowns, though it’s difficult to predict.”
Having previously worked in the insurance sector in Oman, Avantika added: “Rising inflation will remain a worry as the general population will struggle to keep household budgets within means.”
On her resolutions for 2023, Avantika said: “I plan to spend less and save for the rainy day and invest in mindful eating and good health. I hope to spend quality time with family and friends and invest quality time in constructive thinking and learning.”
