Enjoying, St. Anns Brooklyn, NY

My tennis ball

In a world where technology continues to reshape our lives, I find my purpose in creating, building, and enhancing technological marvels that empower individuals to accomplish their tasks swiftly, adeptly, and cost-effectively. Rediscovering the Joy: Fond Memories Fueling My Passion Reflecting on what ignites my inner fire, I recall instances that have seamlessly made time evaporate, causing me to forget even the basic necessity of eating. These cherished moments include:...

August 4, 2023 · 3 min · sumeet rohatgi
Sweet ride, Embarcadero, San Francisco, US

Conways law for geo distributed teams

Any organization that designs a system (defined broadly) will produce a design whose structure is a copy of the organization’s communication structure. — Melvin E. Conway Geographically distributed software teams have become a necessity in many organizations due to cost, manpower, compliance, or growth reasons. Ensuring that these teams function well is crucial for the success of software projects. Here are some strategies to achieve this: Build a strong, shared architectural practice: Foster a culture of collaboration and knowledge sharing to ensure that communication patterns are not influenced solely by the teams’ physical locations....

July 18, 2023 · 2 min · sumeet rohatgi
Appetizers and the chef, Livermore, CA

Delicious food, Warm connections, and True Hospitality

In a world that often rushes past us, it’s important to take a moment and appreciate the simple joys and meaningful connections that enrich our lives. Yesterday, Vipul and Shilpi invited us along with Sunil and Lovina to their wonderful and lovingly cared for home. Vipul, Shilpi, and their son Sambhav created an ambiance that made us feel like treasured guests, enveloping us in a warm and inviting atmosphere. Their attention to detail and genuine hospitality set the stage for an extraordinary evening....

July 15, 2023 · 3 min · sumeet rohatgi
Hiking with colleagues, Sunol Regional Park, CA

Playfulness in the workplace

An often overlooked ingredient, playfulness brings lightness and levity to outcome- and goal-driven work. It helps us connect better with our peers and helps remove stress. Here are some ways to bring playfulness into the workplace: Hackathons: Hackathons can be a periodic stress reliever, as they can help us solve problems that are interesting to solve instead of always working in a focused, revenue-driven fashion. Team-building activities: Team-building activities are another good way to connect with your peers in a different setting and situation....

July 11, 2023 · 2 min · sumeet rohatgi
Outside the Exploratarium, San Francisco, US

Cozy slippers for the mind

Our mind plays a crucial role in determining our state of happiness or suffering. It constantly judges and compares, which can lead to negative emotions and dissatisfaction. However, it also possesses the capacity to bring us happiness and contentment if we learn to train and control it effectively. The metaphor from Shantideva’s “Bodhisattvacaryāvatāra” about walking barefoot on the Earth offers a valuable insight into the practice of meditation. When we walk on rough and coarse ground, it causes discomfort and suffering....

July 10, 2023 · 2 min · sumeet rohatgi
Learning about myself, Livermore, CA

Me, myself, and I

I love connecting with people and building relationships. Spending quality time together, engaging in games and activities brings me immense joy and a strong sense of belonging in my life. I have a deep appreciation for the beauty of art, food, spirits, music, movies, books, people, and nature. Engaging in physical activities and having deep intimate conversations uplift me. Being fully present in the moment and savoring the sensations around me brings me happiness....

July 4, 2023 · 1 min · sumeet rohatgi
Love, Banka Family, US

Love, Laughter, and 20 Years: A Remarkable Wedding Anniversary Celebration

𝒟ℯ𝒶𝓇 𝒦𝒾𝓈𝓁𝒶𝓎 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒮ℴ𝓃𝒶𝓁, As the echoes of laughter and love still resonate in our hearts, we want to extend our deepest thanks and gratitude for the breathtaking celebration of your 20th wedding anniversary. The two enchanting events, the intimate हल्दी ceremony at your house and the mesmerizing exchange of wedding vows and reception in the picturesque park in Piedmont, were nothing short of magical. 🥂 The हल्दी ceremony in your home was a heartwarming affair, filled with the essence of love, tradition, and family bonding....

July 2, 2023 · 3 min · sumeet rohatgi
Upgrading old thermostat, Livermore CA

Mistake log

Since 2016, I started to follow a self improvement regime :person_running:. I began with an exercise routine, followed it up with journaling, then blogging, and meditation (buddhism). To date, I have lost weight, gained muscle, feel more in control, have a clean bill of health, and more clear in my goals. However, in the last few months, I have been frustrated with myself. I constantly make the same mistakes, and in retrospective should have performed better....

June 13, 2023 · 2 min · sumeet rohatgi
Wine tasting, Rubino, Livermore CA

Honing common sense

I recently started reading “How Not To Be Wrong - The Power of Mathematical Thinking” by Jordan Ellenberg. It is an accessible book for people who have been out of touch from rigorous math. Jordan provides examples of erroneous day to day headlines, and then points out issues in judgments made. Jordan does not try to provide rigorous proof, but is able to channel our intuition to make us comfortable with his conclusions....

June 5, 2023 · 2 min · sumeet rohatgi
Villa Montalvo, Saratoga, CA

Beauty and bliss: reasons to meditate

Meditation is not a cure to our sadness, anxiety, and stress. However, it can provide us ways to manage them well. This is more like a promise than a definite outcome. So, what are the direct and immediate benefits from practicing regular meditation? Concentration meditation, which is when we focus on our breath, makes us experience peace and bliss. How does it do that? Scientifically speaking, this practice shuts down our “mind wandering” default mode network in the brain - which is always scanning past and future for interesting things to think about....

May 12, 2023 · 2 min · sumeet rohatgi