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Recap a year gone by....2018

In a flashback, anybody's life can be made to look glamorous. I intend to make mine reflective. Yet another year just passed yesterday and 2019 began. At the start of this new journey, let's look back and see what transpired last year, each month.

So, we begin....

January

I just got a huge scare while searching for stuff I did in Jan last year. I have no activity on FB or Twitter. I don't use any other social media. All photos are transferred to personal laptop which is in repairs right now and my diary has nothing but daily to-do's and expenses. Even my wife is taking a nap right now so can't ask her. This forces me to rely only on the memories of the time I lived last Jan.

I had completed four years with RCOM on 10th Jan 18, my longest tenure in any organization so far. There was no celebration or outward joy for achieving this landmark mainly because our organization was under tremendous pressure and lots of negative press had muddied the waters. Though, situation has only worsened since then, at the time we thought, things will get better. I had just completed one month in the gym and was starting second month and already getting bored. I hate that I have had so many starts of exercise routines and then so many missed opportunities. In fact, I have just started another exercise challenge from today. Well, I did get good results from gym while I was regular and then I wasn't and the results went away. So, I want talk about gym in any of the months.

For GCS, we had started yet another project for same vendor as last month. This time, they came to us and insisted that we start immediately. Even against my better judgement, I started the work immediately. Result was good but it took some time to get things moving. No travels that I can remember or partying with friends but we had an excellent Makarsankranti celebration at our home. On 26th Jan, Rajkishor uncle's factory inauguration was held at Mirapur, near Kathwada.

February

On 1st Feb, I gave a treat to all office colleagues for a superb performance in Jan. I took 30 "Pyaaz - Kachori" to office from Meratiya (sweet shop at Shahibaug). I called Jayant and we had a chat after a long time. Social media for me is as quite as last month.

We held Sunderkand path on 19th Feb at our home. Other than that, no major events.

March

I had asked Bhavesh to send me a gym cycle and he sent me an elliptical machine which groans every time someone tries and use it. Though he gave the machine for free, till date, he hasn't sent anyone for repairs. So, it is part of our furniture now and we exercise by pushing it around.

On 25th March, Ramnavami, I bought my dream bike - Desert Storm Bullet. Awesome!!!

April

We went to a pilgrimage to Shirdi and Nashik. This was the first time when our entire family went on a trip together. Even Nani joined in. Two blissful days spent travelling and enjoying. The only problem was that parents didn't enjoy travelling in sleeper bus.

Our 11th wedding anniversary was on 26th April. This year, we couldn't do anything exciting on that day.

May

Kids went to their annual vacation at their Nanaji's place in Gandhidham. I spent idle time watching YouTube videos. Their absence hurts. My own home feels empty without them and when they are here I am usually busy in work.

Abhishek planned a sudden trip to Gandhidham via Ahmedabad and I joined in. First time, I drove at night for such long distance and we surprised all of them. We were back in two day's time with my family safely with me.

June

Garima and Anuja's birthday were the highlights of the month. We also found out an amazing news for which we were waiting for many years.

I made my YouTube channel and posted a few videos.

July

Me and Wife gave DRA exams and successfully cleared. Almost 18000 is spent on these certificates with hopes that one day it will pay dividend in form of a lucrative project coming our way.

This is the month our circle head decided to make radical changes in work allotment, especially, in our vertical. And this month, SK once again proves he is the master of his craft. In last four and a half years, I have witnessed processes being changed, people replaced and management transform but nothing can change his stance. SK is as steadfast in doing what pleases him as Rahul Dravid in defense.

Well, this is the month I should've started to look for better prospects, if not earlier.

August

Our school friend's arranged a get-together and I could meet so many long lost friends on 19th August.

Five members of our family, including my wife, have birthdays in August so practically we spent the whole month celebrating.

September

I celebrated my 37th birthday. Parties were held at GCS office and at my home. Office management once again decided to change the work allotment and we went back to the usual. The only worry is No Change in performance or perception.

October

I read three novels but enjoyed only one of them (Lethal White). I read poems and ended up writing one myself - Koshish. Yet another change in our management and we were all panicking. SK and my relations had improved over the last few months but mainly due to exceeding pressure put in my corporate management.

Last week of the month, I suffered from jaundice.

November

The month of Deewali. We had a blast in this year's Deewali and an amazing gift is given to us by the Gods on 9th November. Our third child, Rajveer, is born today. Thankfully, Deewali holiday's coincide with his arrival and I could spend three quality days with wife and kids.

On 27th November, my niece is born and family is getting larger. Even at work, we had a great performance. But GCS project closes down and we have look for another option.

December

The month has just ended yesterday still it feels it is long gone. SK departed some 15 days' ago, rather unceremoniously. The management is pushing us to do the right thing but not ready to give us time to get out of the mess. Everyone is getting desperate and I am still not looking for options as aggressively as I should.

You can see that there are very few large events in the year. Most of the year is filled with routine. In work life it is filled with preparing data & data & data, reconciling, sending bills and collecting. Talking with FOS and Telecaller and driving them for numbers. And travelling, from home to office, office to customer, customer to customer and back. This year has made me a better analyst. I have acquired better discipline and focus and mainly I have learnt to manage change, to a certain degree.

Yes, I am at a tough spot right now. Either I find a value in current assignment and manage to grow or find a place worthy of me. Time is running out and I have to make the right decision.

GCS also needs to be worked upon. I have to find a project that Dad can enjoy managing.

I am thinking of my personal life now. If I look only at the events described above, it seems I lack an eventful life. However, the truth is that there are daily interactions which are beyond the words for me.

Time spent on playing my kids, reading to them or eating out is not plotted. Ankita and my weekly trips were absolute fun but not captured.

Simple pleasure of having been able to sit with my parents every day and watch my kids grow are the greatest achievements for me. However, you do mix them up without a strong context.

This year, my only resolution is to make each week count and create as many memories as we can.

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