I have been thinking a lot about gratitude after my 32nd birthday. The year has seen a massive growth in me. I think it makes sense to list these achievements.
A year of achievements
Improved my design sense and the quality of my PRDs (product requirement documents at work. Managed the most happening product in the company despite the stress, pressure and turmoil outside the office.
Made massive progress on my mental health through weekly therapy sessions.
Attended my second Anoushka Shankar concert.
Fulfilled my dream of attending the Jaipur Literature Festival.
Wrote on my blog more regularly.
Started cooking at home. Faltered on my fitness goals but got back into the groove over the last 6 weeks.
Completed my Goodreads challenge for the year.
Visited Amritsar, Jaipur and Vrindavan.
I bought a car and learnt how to drive in Delhi.
Ran two 10ks at Lodhi Gardens.
Beyond all these things, I hosted a dinner at Carnatic Cafe for all my friends on my birthday.
I invited around 14 people and 10 turned up on the day. I am pretty sure the remaining ones would have shown up if they were available. This has had a massive positive impact on my psyche. I know that I am not all alone in this world.
The fact that there are people who like me and want to spend quality time with me partly compensates for everything that seems to be missing in my life.
Milestone Event
I was telling my friend that I was hosting this kinda dinner for friends on my birthday for the first time in my life.
I could not do this earlier because of two reasons.
I did not have as many friends with whom I maintained a steady equation
There was no gratitude in my heart for the friends I did manage to retain in my life.
It was a milestone event.
Unfortunately, I had not even told the venue to a few friends till the last day. I dunno if I was absent-minded or assumed that I had already mentioned the venue to some. Obviously, the dinner venue was Carnatic Cafe.
I consider Carnatic Cafe to be a sort of totem pole for me. This has been the place where I have spent the maximum time outside my home. It has witnessed my best and worst days. It serves the kind of food that’s closest to that at my home (if you remove loads of ghee and oil from the dosas).
Unfulfilled Agenda from Season 31
There were a few points that were unfulfilled in my previous year’s journal entry. Some of them are worth carrying over to season 32 (plans for turbocharging my career). Some of these points are not even worth pursuing because such events happen at their own pace (for example finding the love of your life).
But overall, I am satisfied with season 31 given the unique set of challenges put forth to me by fate.
Agenda for Season 32
I have a deep sense of gratitude to Anoushka Shankar, Fyodor Dostoevsky, YouTube channels on mental health, my therapist, the Half Walks gang, JLF organisers, Misfits Book Club and my friends for engaging me positively this year.
The plan for the next 365 days is very simple.
Do well at work and hunt for avenues for career growth.
Stay regular at fitness class.
Engage with the friend’s circle and have fun.
Read all novels written by Fyodor Dostoevsky.
All of these are doable things.
And, of course, I need to be grateful for all the things I have. That is a daily task.