Have you ever noticed how even the tiniest victories can get us excited? Take me, for instance. My humble mission for 2023 was to crack a chess rating of 2000 online. I hit the mark in January 2024 — just a month late from my original target! Completely unexpected! I was so thrilled that night, I couldn't sleep. It's so stupid that a random number gives you so much excitement and self-validation. I was telling this to my friends, some who don't even care about chess. I first explained them what it is, built up an unnecessary cache in their mind and then told them about this milestone. Because what's the point of personal goals if you can't make a big deal out of them with your people, right?

But wait, there's more — a childhood dream turned reality! Remember those school crushes that most of us never heard from again? Well, I got lucky. My crush from way back confessed she had the hots for me too, back in the day. I was over the moon! I bragged to my boys for an entire hour that evening. Who would have thought a third-year PhD student could still get giddy over schoolyard romances? That's the power of nostalgia — it comes in jolts and gets you electrified for a day!

And in the spirit of ticking off long overdue tasks, I finally got my driver's licence in the US. Big deal, right? People get those at 16 here. Haha but no, I don't think that argument is valid. "WHO" defines what you can get happy about at a specific age?! That licence meant the world to me, especially with my parents visiting this summer. I was so relieved and content with it that I just took the weekend off. Job people won't appreciate this with their "work-life" balanced but PhDs definitely know how difficult it is to take one completely off!

Classical music & rotis

Last on my list of new tricks? Classical music. It's a completely unknown territory for me, as I have been just singing Bollywood songs since forever. Inspired by some incredible artists at Purdue, I dove into the world of classical concerts. Talk about a spiritual awakening! There's something magical about the way music can strike a chord you never knew existed, whisking you away to a wonderland of melodies and emotions. If music ever connects you with someone, cherish it. That's the kind of bond that lasts.

The next activity was learning to make rotis! Ever heard the saying, "I like the sound when you make it round"? That's the gold standard for anyone attempting the sacred art of making rotis for the first time. It's not just about cooking — it's practically a rite of passage into adulthood! Trust me, half of you know what I'm talking about — it takes a day to mentally prepare yourself to indulge in such an activity on a weekend.

Thanks to some serious coaching from my mom, I finally attempted it one weekend. My rotis were not just round — people enjoyed them with a humming sound! Flashback to a few years ago, I'd always look forward to a non-veg thali at a spot near my home in Mumbai. The place was called "Suwidha" — shoutout if you know it! They served this mouthwatering chicken curry with hot rotis just like the ones I made. Recreating that meal here, thousands of miles away from Mumbai, brought a slice of home right by my side. I slept like a baby that afternoon, full and content.

On Hinduism

The last new thing I did this spring was taking more interest in my own religion! When you land in a foreign country, you either cling to your culture tighter than ever or drift so far from it you can barely recall your homeland. For me, avoiding my roots wasn't an option, so I dove further into Hindu practices. I've been a regular at "the shakha" for two years, mainly immersing myself in traditional Indian games celebrated back home.

During this cultural drive, I stumbled upon a book that cleared up some big questions. Hinduism is always mocked for having infinite gods. What's the idea behind having so many? If we take a step back and think about science, then we are OK with having different forms of energies. There we are OK with different fundamental forces and even elementary particles. If that distinction is allowed, why does the idea of multiple gods for specific purposes seem so idiotic?

Hinduism is the only religion that allows the idea of having more than one centre of focus for the spiritual energies. All other major religions aren't flexible in that — Hinduism provides you the choice of which one to worship depending on what's your goal. If you are going for intellect and novelty, there are choices like Ma-Saraswati and Ganesha. Whereas if you want power and control over death, just dial up Lord Shiva!

Another thing we are ridiculed for is worshipping idols and finding god in stones? But wait — don't we keep pictures of our loved ones in our homes? They remind us and give us the "we are together" feeling when you are filled with possessions of your loved ones around you. You do feel at home even though home is far away! These idols then serve as focal points to concentrate every day to get your mentality set for your own goals. After all the religious practice should serve for your own betterment, right — and not the other way around?! This is embedded in my mind now!

I guess these are the kind of achievements that hold no place in our life as goals. We won't even mention them in our CV nor on our profile anywhere. But these are the ones that give us meaning as an individual. These define our personality and help us "fall forward", right?!