Reflecting on 2023: A Year of Resilience and Achievement

As 2024 kicks off, I reflect on a year that has been as challenging as it has been enlightening. More than ever, this year was a testament to resilience, mental health awareness, and the intricate harmony between personal and professional life.

The year began with a personal epiphany, a realization that reshaped my perspective on mental health. However, this was just the beginning of a year filled with highs and lows. It soon became apparent that this journey would test my resilience in ways I hadn't anticipated. What's traditionally perceived as mental health disabilities were, in fact, my unique abilities that made me who I am and enabled me to achieve the career success I had. This led to a pivotal paper I wrote, exploring how technology can aid mental health, becoming my work's foundational thesis for the year.

While these breakthroughs were pivotal, the journey was challenging. Each obstacle tested my resilience and offered invaluable leadership lessons, particularly in acknowledging my struggles while fostering a spirit of optimism. The year tested my resilience, with the impact on my mental health becoming increasingly evident. As a leader, I recognized the importance of acknowledging my struggles while maintaining optimism for the future and sharing my challenges with others. The ability to open up gave me the strength of the Phoenix and the compassion of an Elephant to pick myself up and keep moving forward. Instead of knocking me down, each challenge helped me bounce back more robust and refined.

This year has taught me the importance of embracing life's seasons. Recognizing that seasons change, and each impacts our health and well-being, I experimented with various routines to strike the right balance between work, family, and self-care. I've tried many versions of food patterns, supplement intake, and different self-care and exercise routines. All to keep me on my toes and accept life's uncomfortableness. Assuming that what might work today may not work tomorrow, and what worked yesterday may be a better fit for another day. Learning to evolve and adapt while focusing on the goals ahead, being a better father, husband, friend, peer, and person every day.

Throughout these personal shifts and adjustments, the steadfast support of my community at Amazon Web Services (AWS) remained a pillar of my strength. Their unwavering encouragement was integral as the year progressed. I am grateful to be surrounded by a dedicated team and partners coming together around Kalman's Forge and StrainChain. Together with my community, I've been forging ahead, building resilience through collective efforts. This collaboration has been a critical source of my inner fire and inspiration, reinforcing my belief in a bright year to plan for. Reminding me that the strong and beautiful nurturing Elephant leads the heart of her community.

Reflecting on the past year, I see a mosaic of challenges and achievements, each playing a unique role in my journey. Here's a month-by-month recap that illustrates this diverse tapestry of experiences.

January

+ Published a blog on app-specific blockchains with AVA Labs and AWS.

+ Kicked off 3rd season of hosting AWS Tech Chat

February

-?Sustained a broken right hand.

+ Delivered a comprehensive web3 strategy across 10+ industry segments.

March

+ Honored as a Global Technology Humanitarian at Amazon.

April

+ Recognized as a bar raiser and role model across Amazon.

- Sudden role elimination at AWS, suddenly losing with no warning access to everything I'd built over 6 years at Amazon.

June

- Fractured right foot?

July

- A close family member was diagnosed with terminal cancer.

+ Launched Kalman's Forge, a significant personal milestone.

August

+ Delivered a 3-year CTO roadmap for HDR, outlining product structure and architecture.

September

+ Explored Los Angeles canyons in a Polaris Slingshot – an exhilarating experience.

October

- Lost a family member to cancer; a challenging and emotional time.

- Experienced a PTSD relapse, a reminder of the importance of mental health.

November

+ Invited to participate and submit StrainChain to the Soonami.io venturethon.

+ First concert in 3+ yrs. Dirty Heads @ Parks Casino.

December

- A devastating flood damaged half of my house.

+ Launched Strainchain to the world on my 41st bday

+ The launch stage of Kalman's Forge was completed.

In sum, 2023 was a year of profound personal and professional growth, filled with joys of meeting new and awesome people every day. Each experience and discussion serving as a stepping stone, shaping the path I continue to forge. Here's to face the future with resilience and optimism, embracing whatever comes next. I welcome the unknown; I am the Phoenix; I am the Elephant. #ForgeOn and #BuildTogether, my friends!

#ResilienceJourney #MentalHealthAwareness #ProfessionalGrowth #OvercomingAdversity #LeadershipLessons #TechnologyForGood #InnovationAndWellness #LifeLessons2023