Q1 2024 Recap
Q1 of 2024 took discipline, grit, and determination. I’m proud to share my progress!
My goals going into this quarter were less defined. (Gasp) This goes against all the principles of setting SMART goals. However, these goals were geared toward introspection, which can’t truly be measured.
My goals were to prioritize “joyful balance” and assess my professional goals in light of my career progress. All the while, I pursued my passion projects, struggled with maintaining balance, and enjoyed the warm embrace of my San Francisco community. Here are the highlights.
💊 Another Medical Milestone!
In 2020, I was headed for Type III diabetes. I commenced my fitness journey in 2021, but really cranked it up in late 2022. A few years after first getting my pre-diabetic labs, I finally got to normal A1C and cholesterol levels in 2023. (I mention it in My 2023 Recap.)
This quarter, I read Dr. Chris Palmer’s book, Brain Energy, which built on things I learned from Glucose Goddess (also mentioned in the 2023 Recap!). The big picture on metabolic health was coming together for me. As I read Palmer’s writings about the brain’s challenges with glucose uptake, I recalled my own experience with a nonepileptic seizure and his insights resonated with me. Still, Palmer’s writings can apply to anyone looking out for their brain health. I even incorporated some of his teachings into my NAMI volunteering, where I taught high school students the principles of brain health.
Equipped with this new knowledge, my healthy habits, and a stronger body, I worked with my doctor to taper down on a medication I’d taken for a little over 10 years. In addition to plenty of exercise, it took 3 months of eating dirty keto, cutting alcohol, and– in the final weeks– really prioritizing sleep. It took discipline and patience, but finally, around the end of February, I came off the drug. Flash forward about 3 months later, and I’ve stayed off of it.
Some medications are harder to come off of than others, and you should always do it with a doctor’s supervision. However, just because it’s hard, doesn’t mean it’s impossible! If my story thus far presents any takeaways, it’s that preventative medicine can work and chronic conditions can also be improved with non-pharmacological interventions.
There’s a lot of nuance to this topic, but there is one thing I want to be clear about: Everyone has the right to evaluate their medication plan. True empowerment is being able to safely explore medication and lifestyle options under the appropriate medical care and social support. Everyone deserves this agency, if they are willing to work for it.
🇮🇱Unity Club
After 10/7, I felt no sense of agency. I felt helpless. I couldn’t find a peace building group in SF, so I set out on my own to escape the maddening echo chambers on social media. My first attempt (the flier project) totally backfired. In the following weeks, my friend of 10+ years decided to end our friendship, and I discovered that my Nana’s cousin was (and still is) among the Israeli hostages.
The darkness almost swallowed me whole, until I met up with my friend Ali. He reminded me how important it is to be a light. Our chat reinvigorated me, and I doubled down on my commitment to embracing those friends who are committed to combating the darkness together.
With my Jewish and Arab friends, I launched Unity Club, a group celebrating shared peoplehood and creating hope. This quarter, we gathered a couple times in SF and we even applied to an AI challenge.
This quarter I also discovered the Israel Policy Forum (IPF). I appreciate the concrete roadmaps that they are drafting, so we can all focus on a better future together.
🫨Balance
This quarter, I wanted to incorporate more balance into my lifestyle and slow things down. As a result, I spent a lot of time in Hayes Valley in SF, which is becoming a sort-of adult “campus” thanks to the cool work of groups like The Commons and The Neighborhood.
My thinking was, I’d schedule fewer social engagements and hang around a few focal points in Hayes more, enjoying 3rd and 4th places. (The Commons aims to be a “4th place.”)
In addition to joining activities at The Commons, I also practiced Buddhist meditation once a week on Tuesdays at Young Urban Zen. And 2–3 times per week, I practiced yoga at The Center, often enjoying kava and a good book in their relaxing lounge area after. I loved not having to schedule get-togethers. Instead, I’d bump into friends and spontaneously strike up interesting conversations with new people. It reminded me of my “perfect day” I arranged for my 25th birthday. This allowed me to spend less time planning and more time in the present moment.
✍️Script
I made a new friend through my flier project. (Recall, that thing that “totally backfired” before Unity Club. A friendly reminder that new opportunities can still emerge from negative experiences:)
He’s adjacent to the film industry, so I shared my TV show script with him. I drafted it a couple years ago, at the start of the pandemic.
He saw promise in the script, so we worked together on getting it pitch-ready. We fleshed out the season outline, doubled the length of the pilot, and wrote a synopsis. It’s an absurdist comedy. Basically, the ideas I didn’t think would hack it in a standup routine were diverted to this creative outlet. Ask me for the link, and I can send it to you!
What’s Next
I’m preparing to embark on a new chapter. (I’m keeping an eye out for career opportunities/my next role.)
During this transition, I’m spending some sabbatical time in Europe this summer. I’ve started in Lisbon, where I’m currently slow traveling (i.e. no itinerary, just taking in my surroundings). See you for the next update.
