Happy New Year 2009

Back in Hansraj Model School, where I finished schooling, we had a great principal by the name of Tilak Raj Gupta. He always used to say that events like New Years and Birthdays are meant to be milestones in one's life. You are supposed to introspect on what went by and what you want to see going ahead. So, in the same spirit, here is what happened to me in 2008:

• I did not change a Job. I started as an Engineer with Yahoo and ending the year likewise. This is a big relief, and I am ashamed to admit it, but unprecedented in 5 years of my professional life.
• I did manage to take 3 vacations with my wife, two mini ones to Chennai and Pondicherry and one major one to Singapore & Malaysia. Finally, my wife caught the travel bug too and is looking forward to conquering newer destinations.
• I managed to get a glimpse of life and times out side of India, having spent 70 days abroad in US, Malaysia and Singapore. It was an exhilarating experience and I hope I can do a lot more of it in near future.
• I improved my health significantly. I was on medication for about 2.5 years and finally managed to shed it completely.
  
• I managed to strike a very healthy work life balance after a long time. I have to hand this one to my wife who also decided to do the same this year and hence enabled me to achieve it.
  

There were a lot more less mentionable things that happened, but that would make the blog too long to read. So, I will stop here. I am also not going to mention what I am planning for 09, because my life seems to select its own path despite my best planned intentions.

With that note, here is me bidding adiue to 2008 and wishing a very happy and prosperous New Year 2009 for one and all.

ps: If you find, drop a line about your milestone achievements of 2008 and plans or 2009 in the comments.