May 24 - Week 20
Picture of the week:
Rahul attended Mira’s graduation at Columbia University. A proud moment—and a wonderful representation of the next chapter ahead. Represent!
Rahul attended Mira’s graduation at Columbia University. A proud moment—and a wonderful representation of the next chapter ahead. Represent!
Overall:
Happy to stay at home and not travel. A lot of work got done, and I had better attention to health, exercise, diet, and socialization. The rhythm of the week felt more intentional and grounded.
Takeaways from the Week:
Trust the team unless they prove otherwise—example: the Glow-Up effort. They delivered.
Work:
Released the new retirement study in partnership with Nuveen to a very strong reception. Excellent media coverage followed, validating both the content and the collaboration. A solid example of meaningful, visible thought leadership in action.
Released the new retirement study in partnership with Nuveen to a very strong reception. Excellent media coverage followed, validating both the content and the collaboration. A solid example of meaningful, visible thought leadership in action.
Also, Team “Glow-up” exceeded expectations by giving a surprising lift to our more academic healthcare study presentation. What started with low expectations turned into a pleasantly polished delivery. They delivered!
Media team received training on AI in the workplace, specifically focused on a tool called MYGAIT. Emphasized the importance of thoughtful, careful deployment—underscoring both opportunity and responsibility.
Had several impactful one-on-one conversations with key attendees about the upcoming June 26 Health and Wealth Roundtable. The response was tremendously positive—one person even said it was an “honor” to be invited and included. Moments like these affirm the value of personal outreach and thoughtful convening.
Home:
Continued enhancements to the garden, focusing on the butterfly-friendly slope pathway. Planted dwarf hummingbird mint (Agastache), salvia, scabiosa ‘Butterfly Blue’, and blanket flower (Gaillardia)—all chosen for pollinator appeal. Also added begonias as a sentimental favorite. The slope is beginning to take shape as both a sanctuary for butterflies and a personal haven.
Home:
Continued enhancements to the garden, focusing on the butterfly-friendly slope pathway. Planted dwarf hummingbird mint (Agastache), salvia, scabiosa ‘Butterfly Blue’, and blanket flower (Gaillardia)—all chosen for pollinator appeal. Also added begonias as a sentimental favorite. The slope is beginning to take shape as both a sanctuary for butterflies and a personal haven.
Backyard turned dramatic: a squirrel and then a mourning dove got stuck in the same bird feeder. Dove rescue involved a 30-mile trip to Tufts.
Family:
Rahul took his CFA Level 1 exam this week and is feeling generally good about it—unlike last summer. Mini helped him connect with a tutor, which made a noticeable difference in his structure, preparation, and confidence. A big step forward, and hopefully a positive outcome ahead.
Health & Fitness:
Walked 14,500 steps on Friday and 11,500 on Sunday—strong movement streak. Stayed off white rice all week, focusing instead on upping the game with salads and protein. A steady, mindful rhythm is taking shape.
Music:
Attended “Music & Mingle” at Brookline Music School on Sunday, May 18—a centennial celebration featuring a solo recital by the distinguished pianist Victor Rosenbaum. The program was luminous: Mozart’s Fantasy in D minor, Schubert’s A-flat major Impromptu, Brahms’ introspective Intermezzi, and Chopin’s sweeping Barcarolle. A masterclass in emotional depth and musical storytelling, and a reminder of the sustaining power of live music.
Family:
Rahul took his CFA Level 1 exam this week and is feeling generally good about it—unlike last summer. Mini helped him connect with a tutor, which made a noticeable difference in his structure, preparation, and confidence. A big step forward, and hopefully a positive outcome ahead.
Health & Fitness:
Walked 14,500 steps on Friday and 11,500 on Sunday—strong movement streak. Stayed off white rice all week, focusing instead on upping the game with salads and protein. A steady, mindful rhythm is taking shape.
Music:
Attended “Music & Mingle” at Brookline Music School on Sunday, May 18—a centennial celebration featuring a solo recital by the distinguished pianist Victor Rosenbaum. The program was luminous: Mozart’s Fantasy in D minor, Schubert’s A-flat major Impromptu, Brahms’ introspective Intermezzi, and Chopin’s sweeping Barcarolle. A masterclass in emotional depth and musical storytelling, and a reminder of the sustaining power of live music.
Also practiced hard—nearly 25 focused tries on the first two pages of Pachelbel’s Canon. Dr. Cho appreciated the effort during our lesson, which she graciously held on a Sunday evening. With the upcoming salon on Thursday, I kept the momentum going.
Delivered at the Salon at BMS—but this was my weakest offering in four years. My recent travel clearly showed: the piece was shorter, and the error rate was higher. But the key takeaway emerged with clarity and humility—“stay in the fray.”
Writing etc:
Wrote and shared a detailed book review of From Strength to Strength by Arthur Brooks. Circulated it among friends and family across the diaspora—and even sent it to the author himself. A satisfying way to reflect, engage, and connect ideas with community.
Social:
Had two meaningful, unhurried catch-up calls on Friday evening—one with Kevin Crain and another with Michael Netter, both former colleagues. No agenda, just time well spent asking how they were doing and reconnecting. Realized that making space for about 15 such leisurely, agenda-free conversations each year could be deeply worthwhile.
Sports:
Attended the first yoga session of the year at the fitness center at work. Felt like a strong restart. Planning to make it a regular routine—Tuesdays at 5 p.m. works well and feels sustainable.
Travel Plans:
Loved not traveling this week. A rare and welcome pause—brought a sense of grounding and rhythm to the days.
Entertainment:
Mini and I watched Jane Austen Ruined My Life on Friday. A light but charming watch—perfect for a relaxed evening. Enjoyed the literary nods and the Austenian swirl of regret, discovery, and redemption.
Writing etc:
Wrote and shared a detailed book review of From Strength to Strength by Arthur Brooks. Circulated it among friends and family across the diaspora—and even sent it to the author himself. A satisfying way to reflect, engage, and connect ideas with community.
Social:
Had two meaningful, unhurried catch-up calls on Friday evening—one with Kevin Crain and another with Michael Netter, both former colleagues. No agenda, just time well spent asking how they were doing and reconnecting. Realized that making space for about 15 such leisurely, agenda-free conversations each year could be deeply worthwhile.
Sports:
Attended the first yoga session of the year at the fitness center at work. Felt like a strong restart. Planning to make it a regular routine—Tuesdays at 5 p.m. works well and feels sustainable.
Travel Plans:
Loved not traveling this week. A rare and welcome pause—brought a sense of grounding and rhythm to the days.
Entertainment:
Mini and I watched Jane Austen Ruined My Life on Friday. A light but charming watch—perfect for a relaxed evening. Enjoyed the literary nods and the Austenian swirl of regret, discovery, and redemption.
