Well, I survived a party yesterday.
Even though it was my partner’s school reunion, I still don’t know why I was f… happy? I devoured 6 G&Ts or was it 5? Sixty mls each in the system… you do the maths! Also, a few drags of puffs made the evening torturous by the end. Someone who used to happily chuckle… vomit-free since ’93 (How I Met Your Mother dialogue), but actually vomit-free since a dreadful car ride in 2016… well, that story later.
While I have been a two-drinks person this whole year, or max three, I think I got carried away in the rush of meeting and talking to people after years. There was no one at the party who didn’t know ‘TinTin’ aka my husband, Shashank. And I realised one thing—people introduce themselves with their name and say, “Nice to meet you” or “Pleasure to meet you.” Just by a handshake, a slight smile on your lips, and direct eye contact - do you remember this person at your next meeting? Maybe a faint recognition of the face, but the name for sure? Not!
How about introducing someone like—meet Richa, and she likes to have 5 G&Ts when she’s happy. If the other person won’t remember my name, I guess they’ll remember the experience. LOL!
Having said that, I have never been a resolution person. I don’t remember when was the last time I kept one, maintained it, or followed it to the T. Nothing of that sort is going to happen in 2026 either. I am just turning 40, not becoming a helluva new person.
Now, the countdown begins and here’s what I plan to do: short trips (UNPLANNED) with girls, because we all fuck up planned trips; give a good six months to my health goals and try achieving a scale by 17th September so that I’m not only celebrating my 40th but also proud of my physical goal achievements. I will DEFINITELY limit my drinking. And like last year, when I bid Rajnigandha goodbye, this year—2025—smoking (all kinds) is also on its way out. No peer pressure, no retort to the company I keep (in fact, I’ll encourage the company I keep to quit too).
Now that I’ve eaten practically everything I’ve been meaning to eat for a long time this month, I’ll also be mindful of whatever I put in my gut. No more cheating, no more cutting corners, no more procrastinating. I will also resume my ukulele learning classes so that I can strum on my birthday. :-P People attending my birthday will be in for a melodic good time. LOL!
Did you notice that all these are my personal goals? Nothing professional or academic has been marked here. Today, I had a meeting with the DEI team, and the first half of the year looks promising with good stuff in our kitty. How long that will sustain, God only knows or the loser CHRO (in one sentence, I managed the good and the evil both). Ha ha ha! But professional goals are running side by side, with a lil LinkedIn here and there. I’m just hanging in there and don’t want to overpromise (very unlike me, and I’m sure P would agree to this).
This 40th year of Richa Goel will be something she should be proud of …exactly a year later, today, on December 22, 2026.
Until then, I’ll keep writing and keep sharing the tick marks! 😉
