was feeling gloomy, thought I'd message you

Last ten days have been super hectic and productive. I still have a lot on my plate, but I also need a small break.

I have tried movies, drawing, singing, walking, plants, sports, etc., this week, but right now, my break is writing this issue.

I don’t have any theme or particular topic on my mind.

I will let my thoughts flow and let’s see where it takes us.
Consider it a brain heart dump.

1. I watched The Godfather (1972) yesterday. I started watching it on Monday evening and finished it last night. Guess that’s a big part of adulting—watching movies in instalments.
   
   Really good movie if you enjoy action/crime. I am planning to watch all IMDB Top 100 over the next 6-8 months—going in chronological order; first four done.

2. For many years, I believed I needed to work hard to deserve something. Only lately I am coming to realize what you deserve does not necessarily depend on how hard you work.
   
   Sometimes you get things without any efforts
   Sometimes you get things with smartness
   Sometimes you walk the hard yards
   Sometimes you give it all and still end up with nothing
   
   We never know. We can only try.

3. Honesty was hard for me. I was always (read: most times) pointed out when I expressed my flaws, vulnerabilities, and failures; turning me into the perfectionist I am today.
   
   Perfectionism, in many ways, contributes to the quality of work I generate, but over the years, it has made me less honest—less accepting of the fact that I could screw up and still be okay.
   
   In the last two years, I have focussed on at least not lying, if not telling the truth all the time. I failed miserably many times. But I failed less as time passed.

4. Adding to the honesty thought, I honestly do not complain about it. My surroundings gave me a million qualities, mostly pleasing ones. I had to unlearn a few and I like to believe I am doing a good job.

5. The sunlight in my room between 4-6 pm is beautiful. It passes through the window diagonally and reflects on my dressing room mirror. I don’t know how to describe the feeling—it gives a soft warmth and brightness that stands out from all other times during the day.
   
   Most folks don’t know this, but I appreciate (and love) my room’s ventilation a little too much.

6. It’s hard to decide if I am a mountain person or a beach person. I love mountains’ scenery and coolness but I am scared of heights. I loveeeee water but hate humidity. But on any given day, you can see me smiling if you take me to a mountain or a beach.

7. I wrote mock Valentine’s Day copies for popular brands like Tinder, Durex, Blinkit, etc. Folks are loving it on social media. If you want to check out, you can find them on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Instagram.

8. I might have told you this already: I like supporting people who do good shit and work hard.
   
   I even keep telling this in my business newsletter, Cognition, to share anything cool my readers are building—and if I like it, I will even promote it on my socials. Sadly, no one responds.

9. If you remember this issue, I was talking about getting conscious about my food habits and overall health. I am happy to say I have been eating consciously in the last 40-45 days.
   
   Travel, mood, stress, and going out didn’t result in overeating or impulsive ordering. I have not ordered food from Swiggy in the last 31 days. Touchwood.

10. I should get back to reading books. I haven’t read much in 2024. I plan to consume rare content, and I don’t mind if it’s technical. Maybe I am tired of mainstream topics, or I want to explore the sections most of the world is not looking at. Either way, I should allocate time to reading.

I have many more thoughts to share but ten points is a good place to part this issue.

I actually feel good after writing this. Thank you for listening! ❤️
If you have anything to share, I am all ears.

Will get back to work now. See ya soon.