Wrap up 2023, it's strictly personal and professional !

25th December 2022, it’s Christmas and I took my first step (literally) towards a journey which continues and has become an inseparable part of my life. As I am not known for taking any so called new year's resolutions seriously, I wanted to start something before the year starts, so I started my walk regime on that day and completed my first 4 kms of brisk walk within an hour, it was an amazing feeling of starting something new and achieving something great. It felt so good that I did it the next day and then the day after that and slowly increased the speed and distance to 5 kms and then 6 kms in an hour.?

But, as you know there are these 3 stages for every new endeavor, first is the curiosity, you want to do more and it feels good, second and most difficult one is the boredom, loss of motivation/excitement as you feel that you are doing the same thing every day and there’s no push, the third one is the most important one which is ‘consistency’ or ‘make it a habit’ or ‘getting a guilt when you don't do it’.?

Transitioning from the second to the third stage was genuinely exhilarating for me—no surprises there! Throughout this journey, I explored various strategies to motivate myself to walk daily. From experimenting with different times of the day, including those early mornings, to adjusting my routine on weekends, I navigated through various approaches. Ultimately, I found my winning formula, and I owe a big thanks to my wife, Simantini Gaikwad , for her thoughtful birthday gifts over the past two years: my iWatch and AirPods, which proved invaluable. Tracking my daily walks and observing my progress became a significant source of motivation. Although many enjoy walking to music, I preferred using this time for introspection, occasionally delving into overthinking. Recognizing the need for a dual-purpose, I embraced the concept of 'walearning' - Walking + Learning. Podcasts became my go-to, transforming my walks into enlightening sessions. Now firmly rooted in the third stage, missing even a few walks a week triggers a sense of guilt. And, just to add, over the last two months, I've incorporated gym sessions into my routine—mixing it up with two days of walking and three days at the gym!

As I reflect on this mixed year, I found immense value through listening to the podcasts in areas like communication - Matt Abrahams stands out as a captivating orator and host. He brings together esteemed guests from academia, emphasizing the pivotal role of communication in both professional and personal spheres. Another podcast that I came across on Leadership by Muriel Maignan Wilkins , a remarkable coach, guides individuals from diverse industries navigating challenging phases in their lives. Her empowering approach encourages them to discover answers on their own. These podcasts significantly enriched my understanding, prompting me to share insights in my blogs as a way of paying it forward.

It's all about 'them', the communication game....

A bit of realistic optimism: Uncertainty is fact??

On the professional side of things, I've reached a significant milestone by completing my 'teens' at Red Hat and am now embarking on completing my second decade. At 19 years with Red Hat, I eagerly anticipate celebrating my 20th anniversary later this year! :)

I would like to acknowledge some standout achievements from my exceptional team. We successfully released multiple versions of the cert-manager operator and actively participated in notable CNCF events across India like KCD Bangalore and KCD Chennai. Additionally, we contributed significantly by publishing two insightful blogs on the Red Hat Developer site, How to debug OpenShift operators on a live cluster using dlv and? Contributions to the ComplianceAsCode project for OpenShift.? A heartfelt shoutout to the dedicated individuals who contributed both behind the scenes and in prominent roles: Swarup Ghosh Chirag Kyal Trilok M Geer Anjali Telang Heather Heffner Bharath B

Here's to an exciting 2024 ahead! I approach the new year with enthusiasm and passion. My appetite for learning, especially in areas like AI, remains greedy. Additionally, I'm committed to sharing knowledge within our community and continuing my journey towards optimal physical fitness."

Speaking about AI, here are some excellent articles penned by my talented colleague, Ahilan Ponnusamy .? His depth of knowledge on this subject shines through in his insightful writings.

In conclusion, I'd like to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who supported and stood by me throughout the year. A special shoutout to my wonderful wife, Simantini, and my incredible children, Vihaan and Ishani! I love you all dearly!