Reflect. refuel. refocus.
In another few hours we will be stepping into 2019 but before we set up some new goals and get excited about the new opportunities, it’s time to reflect, refuel and refocus.
Year 2018 has been special to me as I truly feel content with myself today. I know I’ve changed a lot and I’m no longer the same person that I used to be a few years ago. I’m more confident, mature and practical than I ever was. I no longer take decisions just by my heart. And I may sound like a feminist here but this year I proved myself that “Yes, women can have it all” – A question that kept bothering me for years. In the year 2014, I read this book called ‘Unfinished Business’ by Annemarie which sparked a national debate on this topic. This was the time when I was thinking of getting back to school after 12 years and I had a mind full of doubts that if I’ll be able to manage my job, studies and parenting needs all at once or not. And this question literally bugged me that why can’t women have it all? I mean when I was at the peak of my career, it was time for me to take a break and plan a family. Then when my daughter was turning one and I was about to start getting back to work from office, my husband got a job transfer and I had to put my career on stake and move to the United States. It had always been only one thing at a time and although my spouse had been very supportive, I always felt that it’s the women who have to compromise in the time of need and men simply get the easy way out.
Initial years were struggling but this year was extraordinarily free-flowing. I managed to have two-jobs, completed all my courses towards my graduation and also spent quality time with my family along with doing other certifications and taking a few more flying lessons this summer! I did it all and still felt energetic! And to top it all, my 9-year-old got selected in her school’s student council this year and now she gets to participate in the school news which was her first preference. It makes me so happy and a proud mom. I always knew she had the leadership skills.
Earlier, I always had this anxiety with multitasking and juggling between roles but now life seems to be more at peace. I self-realized this year what makes me happy and what should be my priorities for the next year. And although, keeping myself busy and fully loaded with work makes me happy, I know it’s not sustainable for too long if things keep going with the same velocity.
As I’m just a thesis away from my graduation, I feel its time to slow down a bit. 2019 will be the year of celebration of my 4 years of struggle and hardships. It will be time to smash the big goal of life and to bear the fruits. Its time to sit back and relax. Although the later doesn’t sound right for my personality and I’m sure I’ll soon be up with something new but the focus for now is to pause for some time or simply work on the small unfinished tasks before taking up anything big.
It’s time to gain everything back that I’ve lost while achieving these goals. It’s such an irony that although all my research revolved around the healthcare, that is from analyzing this critical data to how should this data be protected on cloud or how it should be presented on the dashboards; I lost all track of my own health. I got so busy with my work that I totally neglected my health which ideally should have been the top priority. What could have been worse than I couldn’t skydive this year just because of my health issues. I guess its time to refuel and get back to the fitness regime. It’s time to re-gain all of that lost strength. 2019 will be all about getting fit and healthy and to spend more time with myself.
My favorite reads this year were ‘21 Lessons for 21st century’ by Yuval Noah Harari, ‘Becoming’ by Michelle Obama, ‘Life 3.0 - Being Human in the age of Artificial Intelligence’ by Max Tegmark and ‘Lean In’ by Sheryl Sandberg. Two of these were on women empowerment and it makes me immensely happy whenever I see any female colleague or a friend being promoted to a higher leadership role.
Since, I’ve achieved all my short- and long-term goals, I really look forward to the new opportunities and exciting times in 2019. It’s time to make a new adventure bucket list and also enjoy the little moments of life that were missed. It’s such a nice feeling to literally start the new year with a clean slate. With the hope to make a difference and bring some change in the society and the workplace, I bid adieu to 2018!
