A Week of Thanks, Growth, and (Very Necessary) Home Food

Last week came with birthday wishes,

back-to-back classes, and a quiet realization: I’m not just keeping up anymore, I’m shaping how things work. December 16 was spent mostly in classrooms (on brand), but messages from campus, my PLC (wonderful gift), and friends back home, plus a care package from Mom, made it feel special.

Between classes, I sent out the Nami newsletter tying Ranthambore learnings to my AI work, wrapped up the Pali fieldwork, and sat in on Deloitte’s interview evaluating ISDM’s 10-year journey. I also pushed for Zoom AI upgrades, not for me, but because if workshops are happening, they should actually be accessible.

The tough call came when Delhi’s air worsened. I chose to show up in person where it mattered, carefully. It felt like a preview of real development work. Imperfect conditions, intentional choices.

The takeaway: I used to think being busy meant progress. Turns out, making things better is the real shift.