The Circle of Life: Loss and New Beginnings

Looking back, what strikes me most about 2025 is the circle of life. We experienced profound loss with the passing of Ravi’s Dad and my Mausi (my mom’s younger sister). Both lived full, meaningful lives well into their 90s.

Alongside these losses were joyous milestones—the weddings of nephews, nieces, and friends’ children, and the arrival of the next generation. We became grandparents multiple times, a powerful reminder that even as life ends, it continues in beautiful new ways.

Beginning the Year with Tradition

We began 2025 with our annual pilgrimage to the naturopathy clinic in January—our third consecutive year visiting together. This ritual has become a grounding way to start the year, reminding us to prioritise health and overall wellbeing.

Celebrating Family: Birthdays and Special Moments

One of my goals this year was to celebrate our birthdays together as a family. I achieved a perfect score—we came together for all three birthdays and had fabulous celebrations. Among them, Cheekoo’s birthday in Thailand stood out as the most special.

Our Global Adventures

Ravi and I continued to nurture our love for travel, completing three international trips—to France, Thailand, and Mauritius. The cherry on the cake was having Cheekoo join us on two of these journeys, making them even more memorable.

Discoveries Across India

Our travels within India were especially enriching, with a focus on history and architecture. During these journeys, I gathered material on several forgotten Hindu kingdoms—research that will form the basis of a special blog series starting in 2026.

Here’s a snapshot of our travels across India in 2025:

  1. Kerala: Cochin
  2. Uttar Pradesh: Jhansi, Kanpur, Lucknow, Kannauj, and Ayodhya
  3. Madhya Pradesh: Gwalior, Orchha, Datia, and Chanderi
  4. Tamil Nadu: Kanchipuram, Chennai, and a couple of hill stations in the Nilgiris
  5. Telangana: Hyderabad and Warangal
  6. Maharashtra: Multiple trips to Mumbai (thanks to Cheekoo), exploring its rich heritage and even catching a couple of Broadway musicals

One trip, however, was particularly close to my heart. On my dad’s birthday, March 17th, we visited his ancestral village near Kanpur. We saw our family home—over 250 years old—and met relatives I had never known. It was an experience filled with nostalgia and pride, and a deep connection to my roots.

Personal Milestones and New Beginnings

For me, 2025 was also a year of personal growth and reflection.

  • After retiring in July 2022, I committed to “all play and no work” for three years. Right on cue, in August 2025, I began writing an eBook for Cheekoo as a gift for her 25th birthday in June 2026. It captures reflections, lessons, life experiences, and musings. This material has also taken shape as a website—My Life in Lessons—which will go live soon.
  • This journey sparked the idea for a second eBook, Bringing Up Cheekoo, which I plan to begin next.
  • Another significant milestone was learning to swim. As the oldest student in a class full of 7–9-year-olds, it was a journey marked by fear, resilience, and eventual triumph. I’ve written about this experience and its deeper backstory in one of my blogs.
  • Finally, I found a meaningful way to give back. Starting February 2026, I will work with an education-focused NGO, helping strengthen their digital footprint to expand reach and increase donations.

Ravi’s Rekindled Passions

This year also saw Ravi reconnect with two of his passions—learning French and building intricate railway models. Watching him immerse himself in these pursuits has been a joy.

Embracing Life as Empty Nesters

As empty nesters, we kept our cups full and stayed busier than ever. We continue to anchor ourselves to our Balancing Scorecard for Life: health and fitness, pursuing passions (individually and together), continuous learning, and nurturing relationships and friendships.

Final Thoughts

2025 was a year of contrasts—loss and renewal, reflection and action, quiet moments and travel adventures. As we step into 2026, I carry forward both gratitude for what was and excitement for what lies ahead.