New Year brings new hope and optimism. One tends to focus on things that need to be done—be it leaving behind old habits or implementing new resolutions. Lessons can be learnt from the past mistakes and activities. Based on the lessons learnt, one can make inspiring plans for the time ahead. With the New Year already at our doorsteps, My City Team starts off the year sharing optimism and motivation of few influential personalities.

Shrinkhala Khatiwada, Miss Nepal 2018

My 2018 journey was life-changing. I was a different person back then. I have had many ups and downs in the beginning of the year. However, with the passing years, new experiences gradually started to unfold. This year earned me the first job after graduating from college. I further turned out calm and confident participating at Vipassana Meditation. Miss Nepal and Miss World happened the same year which showered me with immense love and support from people across the country. I have learnt valuable lessons of optimism and nurtured the ‘never-giving-up attitude’ throughout the journey. I am hoping my 2018 to conclude in a good note meeting up friends on the eve at college convocation ceremony. I am expecting to welcome 2019 with plans to travel all around the country and hopefully promote tourism. The plans are hugely dispersed for now, so I initially hope to place them in order and make sure everything is on the right track. The awards that I have earned at Miss World have shouldered numerous responsibilities which I look forward to performing in a smooth and steady manner. Building health posts and catering to medical services for the villagers are short-term achievements. So, my early plan is to go back to Chepang village and work to ensure sustainable economic growth of the people. My priority for New Year will be centered on the projects that I have sought to effectively accomplish enjoying every work and responsibility that comes my way.

Buddhi Sagar, Author

Overall 2018 has been the finest year so far. Throughout the year, I was more focused on household activities than other creative activities. I renovated my house—adding a storey, that includes my personal library. Actually building a library was my childhood dream which was fulfilled in 2018. However, it was also productive in terms of creativity. I was the script writer of the film ‘Burma Jung’, a social drama based on the Maoist insurgency. Further, one-third of my third novel is completed. Besides, I tuned out as physical freak, losing some weight. The highlight of the year was the draft of English version of ‘Karnali Blues’.  I can fully focus on completing my new novel in 2019. Unlike my previous two novels—‘Karnali Blues’ and ‘Firfire’, my new novel is based on the ‘city life’. The characters and storyline are also different and this time I’m targeting the international readers. Besides, I’m excited about the English version of ‘Karnali Blues’ that will be published in 2019. Thanks a lot to Michael Hutt for translating it. It will soon be translated in Korean also. I’m also planning to lose some weight and I hope to quit smoking in 2019. I’m planning to visit several places and Manasarovar tops the list.

Astha Tamang Maskey, Singer/ Songwriter

2018 has been a year of creation and learning for me. A lot of writing, team building, meeting producers, videographers, songwriters and collaborators and exploring the indie music scene here in Toronto. Ending the year and looking back definitely has me indulging in nostalgia and missing Kathmandu. Musically, 2018 has been both challenging and inspiring. I released two English singles (More and Muse) and a Nepali single this year (Chodera Najau). 2019 is the year I will be completely focused on bringing my third Nepali album to my listeners. I’m also working on a short ‘#AamaChhori EP with my mother Susan Maskey, which I’m very excited to release. However, no concrete travel plans yet, but I’m definitely considering some tour dates which I'll release the details of as soon as I can. In 2019, I hope to continue my pursuit of balance and fulfillment both in my music career as well as my personal life. I want to make sure I take good spiritual, emotional and physical care of myself and of those around me. What truly excites me more is the deep desire to work with young minds. I have spent so many years learning and honing my craft and I would love to have the opportunity to share that knowledge with someone. As long as I continue to stay creative and focused on songwriting, I’m happy in 2019.

Keki Adhikari, Actor/ Producer
For me, 2018 was fruitful in many different ways. But my decision to produce the film was the biggest achievement of 2018. Earlier, there the participation of females in movie production was hardly welcoming. However, I feel delighted to make my early move as a film producer. Initially, I thought I could easily do it. However, it was not as convenient as I had thought it to be. In the course of producing, I got to learn and hone different skills though I had about a decade of experience in the film industry. Not just in the film industry, women are gradually increasing their aptitude and proving their abilities in different fields. But, if we really want to bring the change, I think we should provide a feasible environment for both male and female. Likewise, females equally work for the film so female actors should be paid equal to their co-actors. I hardly make any resolutions rather I focus on working whatever comes along. For now, I am producing my next film ‘Kanya Kumari’. The film is based on social issues and is scheduled to start its shooting from April. Similarly, this year, I would be focusing on portraying social issues in upcoming films.