Reflections - Year 2013

Whoa! What a year 2013 had been so far both personally and professionally. As I recollect I could count of many happy and feel great moments that had happened to make it a successful one.

It all started with a sad note of not having my dad to accompany and guide me when needed, but I feel great that I could pull it through with all the support from my family and friends. 

I would like to reflect upon on all good times happened across the year 2013 with categorization.

Family:

Opened up the year with a promise that I should primarily take good care of my mom and her health as she has just started with diabatic. I believe I have followed it religiously and to an extend got her in good health. 

Sad that mom was under more pressure / responsibilities than me after losing her husband in no-time to reflect types and to vouch on these additional responsibilities without having an idea of what is what. On top of these, it will be more embarrassing to ask for money to me to run day-to-day activities. I had managed not to put her under trouble with what I had in my control. I decided to support her in getting my sister married at a proper juncture without leaving anyone talk that it would have been even better if my dad was around. Great that it had happened as we expected. 

I was much worried how she would manage when I had to travel first time internationally. I got an acceptance from her to travel and she was feeling great sharing that news to many with mixed feelings as It was my dad's wish of me travelling internationally. 

Mom was much supported by my Moushi Indhumathi. I couldn't imagine my mom been is such good condition without her. She could pull many of the items with her support. I am indebted to her for my lifetime or more that that I suppose.

My family offered me all the support so that I can peacefully concentrate on my work and rest all will be in place. 

International Travel:

I had got an opportunity to travel at the starting of the year but was in no condition to afford that. So I had rejected without telling anyone. But I was offered again and wish to my surprise I could get an acceptance from my mom and US Consulate. The travel had left a good impression on me as I overcome the habit of feeling threatened. This is the first time I got my grandma to Bangalore. This was her first travel to a city outside madurai which is not a pilgrimage center I suppose.

The travel was awesome experience to cherish as I had visited a lot of places and ventures and realized what enjoyment was I missing when in Bangalore by just working. Would life make any meaning without these small enjoyments?. This also left on me a strong impression on trekking and visiting places which I had been rejecting many-a-times.

The best part of travel was not getting my baggage when I reached US. This gave me an experience to communicate effectively and get information from the US folks and subsequently understand what a process really mean. I didn't had much strong opinion on processes before this as I recollect.

I couldn't have asked for a better support for me at US than Pramod as he and his family has been taking good care of me, Raja and Asish and has especially taken us to places which I couldn't have roamed around on my own.

Professionally:

I felt I was all-time low this year professionally (at work) as I started to realize that I was not in the same enthu as I was before. I was distracted more often and not having my mind in anything possibly I could hold tight. This left me feeling bad in front of many and at times felt that "Am I really pulling it off?" kinds. However this gave me a strong note that if I continue to be like this then I will not grow. I had tried to realize who/what is pulling me down and it is none other than myself as I started to procrastinate and keep things for the later and feel this has been there since Q2 of 2013. Truly I believe I haven't recovered from it yet but in the transition of recovery. 2014 would be year to watch myself how I pull it off.

Personal, Books and Online Education:

I believe I have started to spend more time for me and myself. This has resulted in spending quality time for learning online as well as with Books. I had spend good amount of time with Coursera learning basics of finance, Python and knowing Internet History and Technology. But what I realized more importantly is that without applying what is learnt it would fulfill the learning and hence starting to spend time on implementing them. 2014 would be the year where I should see myself implementing things that I have learnt. 

One of the useful read I felt is "My Experiments with Truth by MK Gandhi" which left a strong impression on me of whatever I could grasp out of it. Also, I came to realize to a great extent that need for developing my vocabulary. The infinithoughts magazine has been an amazing one which gives such a good feel and as planned applying them take a lot of pride which is planned for 2014.

Managing myself to a way that is more than imperfect has developed my ability to manage my time at work such that it doesn't daunt me with loads at a later point. However I have to improve at this skill as I now know myself better on how I procrastinate.

What could have gone well?

Of all the good that has happened according to me, I feel I haven't spend much time to my friends and relatives. Spending quality time with family and relatives on special occasions could be improved.