Reflecting on the Nepali year 2072

I wanted to summarize my past year on the (English) new year 2016 but got really busy. Now I shouldn't blame it on busy-ness for not having enough time. So, I'm doing it in the Nepali new year 2073. Nepali year 2072 was not a good year for Nepal and Nepalese. We had catastrophic earthquakes and the terror is still on-going. We are still recovering from the long border blockade that made us crave for basic requirements such as cooking gas, petrol and medicines. However, trying to convert the odds into even is the real challenge and when achieved, gives real sense of satisfaction. My learning in the year 2072-- "Just aim for the best, you will achieve it", provided that you work hard and give all you have and all you can. However, success isn't as easy as it appears to be. It takes time and skills (along with support from people around you) to make it happen. Good things that happened in the last year were, 1. March 2015 - 1st prize for poster presentation at Pain Adelaide conference. 2. June 2015 - 1st International research grant from International Association for the Study of Pain. (Note that there were 2 terrible earthquakes between the two dates and many small ones). 3. Two original articles got published in international peer reviewed journals. Sounds cool right? But trust me, it wasn’t that easy. I started writing the first one in July 2013. It took us two years which included one rejection, and about 4 revisions. Trust me when I say that I thought of giving up about 10 times. Second publication took just 6 months, but with 4 rejections. It is frustrating and tedious, but when finally one journal says, "Your manuscript is accepted for publication", all the pain of rejection is forgotten. And people around you say, "You are just too lucky dude!!!!". I smile back and say, "very". 4. I with my colleagues also wrote an editorial for Journal of Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy about our experiences as physical therapists during the disaster management. 5. Delivering lecture on Disaster management in Charusat, Gujrat was really a cool thing. Guess what was cool-er? Two participants coming to you and asking for your autograph in their book!!!! Trust me, both young and beautiful girls. These are small motivations, big enough to get you going. Then, this brings you another offer to deliver an online lecture on disaster management for many more who could not attend the conference. 6. Made it to the Neuro-Orthopedic Institute blogs and share my views regarding physiotherapy and pain in Nepal. 7. To close the year, a very good chance to deliver a workshop on Evidence based practice to enthusiastic physios, prosthetists and orthotists and occupational therapists of Handicap International and its partner organization was a cherry on the cake. The encouraging feedback gets you going. The above mentioned activities are once in a life time experiences (probably), so I should not forget regular routine. This includes 160+ hours of teaching in the classroom and many more teaching hours in the clinics; treating a thousand patients and succeeding only half the times; Learning from those half patients whom I couldn't help to successfully treat similar patients next time; getting wiser with those questions that students fire you and many more. To be able to teach well, you should also be a good student. I have been a sincere student too, attended Workshop on "Explain pain-3" in Melbourne, listened to every talk on "Pain Adelaide" conference until my head and butt both hurt (by concentrating and prolonged sitting), listened to my favourite and “Gods in Physiotherapy” during the "World Confederation for Physical Therapy" conference in Singapore, attended the Mulligan workshop for 3 full days without losing attention for a single minute. These don’t sound fun at all do they? Having said this, it does not mean that I did not really stop living life by toiling days and nights. I ain't just a nerd my students think I'm. I live my life just the way one should. I traveled round half of Australia, met wonderful people including family. Bought the coolest shades, blazers, watches, shoes, jeans that I really wanted to buy. Wore maroon pants, pink t-shirts and yet looked straight. Traveled more countries, explored places within country, went out on multiple dates with mom and wrote a couple of romantic (private) poems and nerdy songs. Went picnic with students, danced (tried at least), played football, scored a goal, and took pictures with students and felt like a celebrity. So, what next for 2073? With some items on my bucket-list done, and many more to achieve, work on to achieve them. Not waste time when at work, give more time to family when at home (I think I really should), meet friends more often (please believe me guys this time), visit Nepal, travel across continents, more papers, more research projects, be a kind(er) teacher, continue being a life-long-learner, be a better brother, son, friend and a husband (oh, I keep forgetting that I am single still). Nepali year 2073 — bring it on !!