In Between Dreams

“Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.”
– Søren Kierkegaard

It has been a very interesting year for me personally.

And the funny thing is – it is only mid-year.

Usually, when I look back at a year, I expect the big reflections to come around December. That is when people sit down, think about what changed, what they lost, what they gained, and what life quietly taught them. But this year feels different.

We are only halfway through, and somehow so much has already happened across so many different parts of life – career, travel, relationships, friendships, creativity, and everything in between. It feels like life decided to speed-run a full season in just six months.

And honestly, I am excited to see how the rest of the year unfolds.

Career: Betting on AI

Career-wise, this has been one of the more exciting phases.

The world of AI is finally here in a very real way. Earlier this year, I took a bet on myself. I decided to work on the AWS AI certification – the professional one – mostly because I wanted to go deeper into the AI space and, let’s be honest, also because it sounded cool.

So I studied for it. And I passed.

That felt special.

Not just because it was another certification, but because it gave me a sense of direction. I might be one of the fewer people in my org with that certification, which is a small yay moment for sure.

But more importantly, it started changing how people saw me.

Suddenly, conversations started happening around the idea that maybe “this guy is good at this AI stuff.” And that opened up a new career path I had not seriously considered before – becoming an Applied Scientist.

That is something I am exploring now, and I am genuinely excited about it.

It is strange and beautiful how one decision can quietly open a door you did not even know was there.

Travel: A Year Already Full of Movement

Travel has also been a big part of this year.

There was New Years, at home. Then Phoenix for my birthday. Then a weekend trip to San Francisco to meet a close friend after a really long time.

Then San Francisco again, but this time with a different set of close friends – and Napa added into the mix, which made it even more memorable.

Then came passport renewal, some time at home, San Diego, and then New York again for a friend’s farewell and to meet someone I really wanted to meet in person.

And I am going to New York again soon for a wedding.

So yes, eventful is probably the right word.

But what I loved most was not just the cities or the places. It was the people attached to them. Every trip had a feeling. Every city carried a different version of me. Some trips were about friendship, some about closure, some about curiosity, and some about love 🙂

Relationships: Life Has a Funny Way

Relationships have been interesting too.

Earlier in the year, I had to let go of someone. That was not easy, but maybe some things are meant to teach you, soften you, and then leave.

After that, I ended up meeting a lot of interesting people from different countries, different backgrounds, and different worlds. Each person came with their own story, their own energy, their own way of seeing life.

And then, when I was finally done with everyone and everything and wanted a break from everything, life did what life does best.

It surprised me.

I ended up meeting someone who instantly changed the script. She feels like someone I want to keep as mine for life.

Life really has its own funny way of making things happen when you stop trying too hard. I don’t know exactly how the rest of the story unfolds, but I know this: some people are just worth the extra mile.

With her, it felt entirely different from the very beginning. You instantly connect, and suddenly it feels like you’ve known each other for years. Whenever that happens, you don’t hesitate. You do everything you can, and you give it your absolute best to make them stay – stay with you for life. 🙂

Friendships: The Family I Chose

Another beautiful part of this year has been friendship.

I ended up meeting almost all my close friends in the US in just the first half of the year. That felt amazing.

I do not think I have that many friends. But the ones I do have, I call them family. And this year gave me time with many of them.

Trips, conversations, random plans, catching up after long gaps, being reminded that some bonds do not need constant maintenance to remain real – it all meant a lot.

I also ended up convincing a close couple friend of mine to move to Seattle. So yay?

They are coming in July, and I am really excited about that. There is something very comforting about having people you love closer to your everyday life.

Creativity: Art, Writing, and Small Joys

This year also brought me closer to creativity again.

I joined an art school – Gage Academy of Art – and started an oil painting course. It has been fun, slow, challenging, and calming in a way that only art can be.

There is something deeply grounding about standing in front of a canvas and realizing that not everything in life needs to be optimized. Some things just need to be experienced.

I have also been writing sometimes, and I like it.

Writing gives shape to things I do not fully understand yet. Sometimes you do not know what you are feeling until you write it down. And then suddenly, there it is – clear, honest, and waiting for you.

Gratitude for a Full Heart

It is only been six months, and already so much has happened.

Career feels exciting. Travel has been full. Friendships feel warm. Creativity is slowly coming back.

And somewhere in the middle of all this, I think I found someone worth keeping for life.

So, thank you, universe.
For everything I asked for, and for everything I did not know I needed.

I could not have asked for anything better.

And if this is only the first half of the year, I am very curious to see what the rest of it has planned so cheers!