Crayon Data turns 9 today, and we have plenty to be grateful about. In a note to our Crayons, founder and CEO Suresh V Shankar and co-founder and COO Aarti Ramakrishnan look back with gratitude for the year that was.

In many cultures and religions, the number 9 has magical and divine connotations. It symbolizes renewal and new beginnings. As we turn 9 today, Crayon has plenty to be proud of. In a different time, we would have been celebratory. In 2021, it is time to be introspective.

It has been a harrowing year for the world, and indeed, for many of our own at Crayon. The pandemic touched our lives and families, and in some cases, changed the fabric of our lives forever.

Despite all the difficulties, the last year has also been one of achievements. Both individual and collective. What’s a suitable emotion to capture this moment in time? We believe it is gratitude.

Gratitude is an exemplary force in good times, and may have even more positive power in tough ones. Robert Emmons, psychologist and author of Gratitude Works!, says, “Being grateful is a choice… it provides a perspective from which we can view life in its entirety and not be overwhelmed by temporary circumstances.”

Today, we’re choosing to be grateful.

Grateful for the 27 Crayons who stayed with us for over half a decade. For the 61 new colors who joined the Crayon Box in the past year. And to everyone in between, both still with us and pursuing their dreams elsewhere.

Grateful to each of you who said, “I am a CxO,” and took ownership of your roles. Grateful for your generosity in contributing to the FeedMyChennai and BreatheLifeIntoIndia campaigns.

For the new clients who signed us on. And those that kept the faith

For the progress, we’ve made on our platform and the features we launched. And the smooth operations we ran for all clients.

Grateful for the growth we’ve seen in tough times. To partners like ESG and Microsoft, and platforms like Slingshot and Huawei Spark that gave us a global stage to showcase what we do. To investors who continue to support and encourage us.

And most of all, grateful for every Crayon who is well and with us.

Choosing gratitude is worth it.

Author Melody Beattie says “Gratitude turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity… It makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow”.

Let’s #StaySafe, #StayHealthy and #StayResilient.

But importantly, #StayGrateful.