Time is swiftly passing by, and with it, our only chance..... It is part of a Zen chanting we do during meditation. For me, the passage of time is reminded of the death and ailing of people in my life... A few of my friends turned 50 last year. In that sense, 2024 was a year that offered moments for pausing and meditation. Millions of people died last year, millions fell sick, millions went through pain and agony, and probably millions rejoiced in life for various reasons. Life is really a bag full of chocolates.
A report last year showed humans age in two bursts, at the ages of 44 and 60. It was a meta-analysis of a large amount of data. The physiological reason for these aging bursts is not apparent yet. The exact age might vary by a few years. It was true for me atleast. There were two "senile" moments for me last year. I started taking blood pressure medication and also started using reading glasses. I was a high-energy person with a very resilient body physiology. I could drink coffee very late but still usually sleep. I rarely got up in the night. Now, all these are common. The body is aging, probably faster than the mind is.
The most significant technological advancement in 2024 was the pervasiveness of artificial intelligence in work. It became part of the work culture. The graduate student admission essays in the last two years look much more polished and professional than ever before. People have started writing better-worded emails. As someone said, ChatGPT is the primitive bacteria in the ever-evolving field of AI. People in science, education, and technology have seriously started considering AI a potential threat to those jobs as we see it now. I believe embracing technology is the best way to prevent it from becoming rogue and threatening. Just like we do in meditation to control our unruly mind and thoughts. However, I plan to keep my life information technology-free as much as possible. I read good old books and telephone or meet people (as opposed to using social media) directly when I want to talk to someone.
I am simultaneously hopeful and anxious about 2025. As usual, I have made several resolutions. I plan to exercise consistently and minimize processed food. It is not a big change from last year, so it isn't a big problem. The second one is to write this blog weekly. I will try. The third one is to publish at least two papers from my group. I am trying now. Writer's block is a reality.
Today, it is going to snow here. The school and University have declared snow-related closure. It will be a beautiful day tomorrow and be really cold for the rest of the week. I have a lot of pending work to do. A review report is overdue, admission committee meetings, manuscript writing, experiment planning meetings, management stuff, personnel interviews, lecture preparation, and never-ending kid stuff. A bit anxious, but in a healthy way. I plan to get back on track by balancing life and mission to set the right trajectory for the rest of the year.
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