Rediscovering My Voice: Getting Back to Blogging

It’s been two years since my last blog post, and so much has happened since then. I’ve picked up new habits, especially around connecting with people, thanks to reading Atomic Habits by James Clear and How to Talk to Anyone by Leil Lowndes. I’ve tried using what I learned in everyday interactions, and it’s been surprisingly helpful. Along the way, I’ve met some inspiring people and visited new places that changed my perspective in ways I didn’t expect. Now, I’m thinking about blogging again. It once gave me a real sense of clarity, and it feels like the right time to get back to it and share what I’ve learned.

After New Relic, I’ve often thought about returning to blogging, but uncertainty loomed over me. What should I write about? How should I begin again? These questions have stayed with me, nagging at the back of my mind. Eventually, I found myself wondering what might have been going through my mind when I sat down to draft my very first blog post. It was a simple – yet powerful outlet for my thoughts, a way to organize the flood of ideas in my mind. Blogging felt like a lifeline back then, a way to make sense of the world around me and to connect with others, even if just a few. I felt a sense of satisfaction every time I hit the “publish” button, even if my blog only garnered one or two comments. It wasn’t about validation; it was about the release of my thoughts into the world.

A Time of Career Change and Reflection

The past few months have been transformative in more ways than one. After New Relic, I embarked on a journey of self-improvement, diving headfirst into a specialization course in digital product management. This was something I had been longing to do for a long time, and the timing felt right. This course opened my eyes to mistakes I had unknowingly made in my career and, more importantly, how I could grow from them.

Completing the course was just the beginning. I then pursued a specialization in Generative AI for Product Managers, which gave me even more ideas for improving my future work. The insights I’ve gained from these experiences have left me feeling more prepared for what’s to come in my career, but they also made me reflect on the importance of continued learning and the power of transformation.

The Trilogy of Loss and Resilience

However, alongside professional growth, I’ve also faced some deeply personal challenges. Just last month, I lost my pet parrot, a companion who had been with me for 34 years. It’s hard to put into words what that loss feels like. My parrot wasn’t just a pet; it was a part of my life, a presence that I shared an unspoken bond with. It understood my moods, my actions, and somehow, my feelings. When it was irritated, I would offer its favorite food, whistle, or make funny noises to calm it down. We shared countless moments together, sitting side by side. I can still vividly remember how it would poke me in the side waist when it felt I was spending too much time on my phone, demanding my attention. And how it loved to share my favorite ThumbsUp drink with me.

The day it passed away—September 15, 2024—is etched in my memory forever. I was sitting next to it, helplessly watching as it took its last breath, slowly succumbing to the inevitable. That moment shattered me in ways I can’t fully describe. Losing a companion who had been by my side for so many years is a grief I’m still processing. It feels like a piece of my heart went with it.

To add to this sorrow, I’ve also been grappling with the news of my uncle’s deteriorating health. He’s battling Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer, and after going through various tests, the doctors concluded that surgery wasn’t an option. He underwent chemotherapy, but it didn’t help him much. Now, he’s at home, confined to his bed, waiting for the inevitable. He used to be a robust man, standing at 5 feet 7 inches tall, but now he weighs a mere 30 kilograms, his body ravaged by illness. Watching him slowly fade away has been heartbreaking, leaving me in the midst of a helpless trilogy.

The Struggles of Those Around Us

As if that wasn’t enough, one of my close friends’ father is also facing a grim battle for his life. His kidneys have failed, and he has been undergoing Hemodialysis for a while now. The process itself is complex and grueling, involving multiple attempts at creating access to his bloodstream through various methods—arteriovenous (AV) fistula, AV graft, and finally, a hemodialysis catheter. Every few months, the doctors have to resort to a different method, but none have provided a permanent solution.

The sight of him lying in bed, undergoing this treatment, is heart-wrenching. His body is frail, and he suffers from constant side effects—fever, breathlessness, lack of appetite. And yet, every time I visit, he greets me with a smile. His spirit remains unbroken, despite the endless needles, hospital visits, and procedures. It’s as if he’s silently teaching me the importance of resilience, of fighting against the odds, no matter how grim the circumstances.

The doctors have now suggested Peritoneal Dialysis as a next step in his treatment, but even that comes with its own set of risks. I’ve researched the survival rates, and the numbers are sobering. Yet, watching him continue to fight this battle day in and day out has given me a newfound appreciation for life and its fragile beauty.

Connecting life and product management

Connecting the Dots: Life and Product Management

As I reflect on these personal experiences, I can’t help but draw parallels between them and my work in product management. Life, much like product management, is filled with challenges, trade-offs, and tough decisions. In product management, we identify problems, perform root cause analysis, and weigh the pros and cons of various solutions. Sometimes, no matter how well we plan, unanticipated issues arise, forcing us to be agile and adapt to new circumstances.

In both life and work, we learn to accept that things won’t always go as planned. But we keep going, we keep trying, and we remain resilient in the face of adversity. Whether it’s the grief of losing a loved one or the challenge of delivering a successful product, the journey is never easy. But it’s these experiences—the ups and downs—that shape us into who we are.

As I write this blog post, I realize that this act of putting my thoughts into words is more than just a return to blogging. It’s a way of processing the emotions I’ve been carrying with me for so long. It’s a way to rediscover my voice, to reconnect with the world, and to remind myself that no matter how overwhelming life may seem, there’s always a way forward.

✨ Here’s to new beginnings, both personal and professional, and to the resilience that keeps us moving forward, even in the face of life’s greatest challenges.

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