2023: Year in Review

Hello friends & family!

Another crazy year is coming to a close! I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and got to spend some quality time with friends and family.

2023 has been a tumultuous year, to say the least. From the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in the Middle East and all the political drama that’s subsequently unfolded, to the SAG-AFTRA and UAW strikes and the horrific wildfires in Maui, the country and the world have been through a lot.

On a personal front, I have also experienced many challenges. I lost my maternal grandmother back in March and more recently lost my uncle last month after he lost his 7+ year battle with lung cancer. Needless to say, the holidays this year were not the same without them.

Moreover, my work has also proved difficult at times this year. Navigating relationships with my colleagues and clients has not been a walk in the park, but I've hinged on God’s calling to love everyone to muscle through the toughest of days.

All that said, 2023 was also full of lots of positive memories/life updates! Here are a few below:

Engaged!

For those who were not already aware, I proposed to my girlfriend Vimbai after dating for close to 4 years! I decided to take her to Pescadero State Beach just south of Half Moon Bay, CA (the same beach we had our first date back in Nov 2019). Thankfully, she said yes! We’re now diving head first in planning our wedding for August 2024. The road to engagement for us was certainly not always easy. We battled differences in culture, opinion, and ideologies, but ultimately, our strong faith in the Lord brought us together through these challenges and we’re excited for our next life chapter!

Yellowstone & Grand Teton

Shortly after our engagement (two days to be exact!) Vimbai and I embarked on a once-in-a-lifetime trip with my parents and brother to Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks! We spent a week in the wilderness, checking out all the amazing natural wonders God created including, Geysers, geothermal pools, hot springs, lakes and of course amazing wildlife! Check out some photos from our trip below.

GetGROWing program

I was fortunate enough to be a part of a program called GetGROWing at my company. This was an intensive 7-month program which allowed me and my colleagues to learn tons about how to be better leaders both in our industry and in life! The program recently concluded at the end of November with a “Growduation” where we all received custom-engraved Yeti mugs and got to spend the afternoon hanging out at company headquarters enjoying each others' company and celebrating our accomplishments. I'm looking forward to utilizing the skills I learned to GROW in my career and relationships both in and out of work.

Church Young Adults

It’s bitter-sweet to share that after leading the Young Adult life group at Christ Community Church of Milpitas over the past 3.5 years I will be stepping down in leadership. My co-leader has decided to branch off and start a new group whose ultimate goal is to read the Bible in a year. I’m thrilled to be participating in this challenge come Jan 1! Please pray that we will all stay focused and keep up with our readings, despite the busyness of life.

There are many more events/happenings that I was not able to put into this blog. If you want to catch up with me, message me on Facebook or shoot me an email and we can set up a time to chat!

I hope everyone’s new year is filled with good wishes and fortune. I can’t wait for what 2024 will bring :)