Adieu ‘08 or should I say welcome ‘09?

At the stroke of midnight hour, when the world sleeps… ; I get carried away, this is not the time to quote Nehru! Well, about 45 minutes back, that yearly clock turned again, bringing with it the New Year. I wonder if where you are and who you spend that moment with foretells of the forthcoming year? Or are your thoughts and your New Year goals list that tells of the forthcoming year? Oh I hope you have a list…

I spent my moment with my mother watching a movie and trying to call up my brother to wish him. No, I wasn’t at that wild party in NYC nor at that beach in Goa, although both were options had I planned it that way. Does that mean that this year, family is what comes first? Well for some reason thats what comes first all my New Year eves. Last couple of years I was with some of my closest family in Portland, Oregon drinking champaign and playing charades. The years before that I was in Bangalore, Chennai and Trivandrum with some of my closest friends trying to find fun things to do. The years that followed turned out to be quite like that New Year’s moment. Plenty of family and friends in every hour of my need. So this time too, I expect a glorious year ahead!

You know, I have always had very quite New Year eves. Usually a very small group. Less than 10 people. Almost no drinking involved, except that one glass of champaign in Portland. Maybe thats why my years have also been fairly quite. Nothing complicated. I have never had to clean anything up. No regrets!

Moving on. What about those lists? Usually those lists are on paper, lets put this one on an electronic format. Sharing your goals with many people is a sure way to make sure that you commit to your goals. Furthermore, they are always accessible from anywhere in the world. So here goes.

1. Keep in touch with and be close to my family and friends.

2. Finish my toastmasters certification for competent speaker by giving 10 speeches

3. Get into the MIT MBA program, if not apply again to 5 top 10 business schools in the US

4. Join a charity/not for profit organization and hold a position of responsibility

5. Join an entrepreneurship club or find a lecture series on the subject.

6. Find a girl who I can potentially get married to

7. Travel to a country/continent I have never been to

8. Quit my current company or role and do something I am truly passionate about.

9. Read 3 books a month where at least one is about health care IT.

10. Exercise at least 5 days a week for more than half an hour each time

I think Ill be happy with 2009 if these goals are satisfied. “At the stroke of midnight hour, when the world sleeps, I awaken to life and freedom!” — Nehru

“To strive, to seek, to find and not to yield” — Tennyson

“Yet all experience is an arch, wherethro’ gleams that untraveled world, whose margin fades for ever and forever when I move on. How dull it is to pause, to make an end, to rust unburnished, not to shine in use” — Tennyson