Shaddy reads his way through 2024 (epilogue)
Talk75 Books Challenge for 2024
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1shadabejaz
It's been a while since I posted here, and having been put through the wringer, I'm finally beginning to tread back towards normality.
I last posted on my previous thread in August, and since then I was in a race against time to complete my MS thesis, which forced me to abandon all my side-quests (including book reading) and go into battle mode. After 2 months' worth of all-nighters, rummaging through references for my thesis write-up, organizing my results, and if that wasn't enough, being confined to my bed by dengue fever merely 2 weeks before my thesis defence, it finally happened. On 17th October, I presented my thesis and officially completed my MS degree. Here is a glimpse of one of the many results I presented:
However, what I had been anticipating as a moment of freedom and joy for so long, turned out to be a rather bleak aftermath. It was only after I presented my thesis that I realized how exhausted the last couple of months had made me. I had acknowledged that I was mentally exhausted leading up to my defence, but that unexpected bout of dengue fever right before the big day seemed to have broken me. I felt completely numb and devoid of any positive emotions. I was avoiding meeting my friends and talking to my family because the thought of receiving congratulatory texts and calls was irritating me, and every time I found myself among people, I just wanted to be left alone. Nothing seemed replenishing enough, and I couldn't seem to find a way out of that state.
Even after my defence, I had to tie a couple of loose ends related to my research (Including finalizing and submitting research paper) and I just wanted to give it all up, pack up, go home, and rest for as long as I could without any worries. Three weeks later, I wouldn't say that I've fully recovered, but I'm slowly getting there. I feel more relaxed and a bit more spirited, and have started working on the research paper once again. A part of me wants to turn on the afterburners and speed through the paper submission process before packing up, but I'll see what happens.
Another sign of what feels like the beginning of recovery is that about 3 days ago, after what seemed like an eternity, I felt the urge to pick up and read a book once again, and I did just that. I have started reading Miguel Angel Asturias' Mr. President, and while I'm taking it slow, I'm impressed by what I've read so far.
This year has been an emotional rollercoaster, and having been through all that, what remains of it does feel like an epilogue to me, hence the title of this thread. At the beginning of 2024 I found this wonderful platform where I could talk to fellow book lovers, and from the limited interactions that I've had with other members on this thread, I'm glad spaces like this still exist on the internet where people are so welcoming and encouraging. I'm highly unlikely to complete the 75 book target in 2024 that this thread is meant for, but being a part of this community has inspired me to read so much more than I had in the previous years, and sharing all my reading progress here has surely been among the positives this year. I have concluded a significant chapter of my life this year, and before the next one begins, I hope to get enough rest and relaxation (part of which is book reading) before moving on.
I last posted on my previous thread in August, and since then I was in a race against time to complete my MS thesis, which forced me to abandon all my side-quests (including book reading) and go into battle mode. After 2 months' worth of all-nighters, rummaging through references for my thesis write-up, organizing my results, and if that wasn't enough, being confined to my bed by dengue fever merely 2 weeks before my thesis defence, it finally happened. On 17th October, I presented my thesis and officially completed my MS degree. Here is a glimpse of one of the many results I presented:
However, what I had been anticipating as a moment of freedom and joy for so long, turned out to be a rather bleak aftermath. It was only after I presented my thesis that I realized how exhausted the last couple of months had made me. I had acknowledged that I was mentally exhausted leading up to my defence, but that unexpected bout of dengue fever right before the big day seemed to have broken me. I felt completely numb and devoid of any positive emotions. I was avoiding meeting my friends and talking to my family because the thought of receiving congratulatory texts and calls was irritating me, and every time I found myself among people, I just wanted to be left alone. Nothing seemed replenishing enough, and I couldn't seem to find a way out of that state.
Even after my defence, I had to tie a couple of loose ends related to my research (Including finalizing and submitting research paper) and I just wanted to give it all up, pack up, go home, and rest for as long as I could without any worries. Three weeks later, I wouldn't say that I've fully recovered, but I'm slowly getting there. I feel more relaxed and a bit more spirited, and have started working on the research paper once again. A part of me wants to turn on the afterburners and speed through the paper submission process before packing up, but I'll see what happens.
Another sign of what feels like the beginning of recovery is that about 3 days ago, after what seemed like an eternity, I felt the urge to pick up and read a book once again, and I did just that. I have started reading Miguel Angel Asturias' Mr. President, and while I'm taking it slow, I'm impressed by what I've read so far.
This year has been an emotional rollercoaster, and having been through all that, what remains of it does feel like an epilogue to me, hence the title of this thread. At the beginning of 2024 I found this wonderful platform where I could talk to fellow book lovers, and from the limited interactions that I've had with other members on this thread, I'm glad spaces like this still exist on the internet where people are so welcoming and encouraging. I'm highly unlikely to complete the 75 book target in 2024 that this thread is meant for, but being a part of this community has inspired me to read so much more than I had in the previous years, and sharing all my reading progress here has surely been among the positives this year. I have concluded a significant chapter of my life this year, and before the next one begins, I hope to get enough rest and relaxation (part of which is book reading) before moving on.
2PaulCranswick
Thank you for sharing that Shaddy.
I can barely remember my own academic misadventures but I remember they were, at times, extremely stressful. Pleased you came through the other side.
I have also had dengue fever and it is no joke.
Happy new thread.
I can barely remember my own academic misadventures but I remember they were, at times, extremely stressful. Pleased you came through the other side.
I have also had dengue fever and it is no joke.
Happy new thread.
4shadabejaz
>2 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul. As stressful as it was, there was a lot to learn for the next step and I hope I'm more streamlined for it.
5shadabejaz
>3 elorin: Thanks!
6PaulCranswick
>4 shadabejaz: I am sure that you will be all the better for the experience. It is at times of stress or of being tested to the maximum that we can realize our potential.
7drneutron
Happy new thread! I've done the PhD thing, so I get how stressful the experience is. Glad you made it through!
8shadabejaz
>7 drneutron: Thanks!
9shadabejaz
As the quest to ease through my mental burnout continues, I am slowly getting my reading mojo back. Last night I finished reading Mr President by Miguel Angel Asturias, which was a semi-fictional account of the dictatorship in the Author's native Guatemala in the early 20th century. The narration was fused together with surrealist expressions, which, probably owing to the translation of the original work, was sometimes a hit and at other times hard to understand. Overall, a wholly accurate account of the suffering and mistrust among the masses during such turbulent times. 4/5.
10PaulCranswick
Thinking of you at this time, Shaddy.
