There's light stuff in there too and not just ...you know...heavy stuff
Your dose of awesomeness
Hey, <<First Name>>!
Life got in the way. Way too much happening in too short a span of time. Hopefully, some of it will be good news that I can share with you in a few weeks. I haven't forgotten about you and will continue to send out these emails. Don't worry.
It is that time of the year when friends and family from other side of the pond visit us and freak out about basic things like unlimited availability of filter coffee, Masala Dosey, and Pani Puri.
One such individual is what kids these days may call my "BFF" and he got married a couple of weekends ago. His birthday is exactly 2 months before mine and ever since we've known each other (2006), I've been using it as a pre-new-years' and pre-birthday wake-up call.
This year, I am quite happy with where I am. Some major mistakes for sure - but they are being remedied. The important things are on the right track and that's what matters the most I guess.
Oh and it was also my mother's birthday recently. I live in a weird household where no-one but me has any experience of being an elder child or sibling. My dad is the 8th and last among his siblings. My mom is the youngest among 4, and my brother ...well, he's the younger one among the 2 of us.
Recently, there was a Twitter thread I saw about traits inherited from each parent. In this case, I'm glad to have inherited my mother's love for the stage and all things public speaking. I struggle with being half as good a listener as she is, but I'm consciously trying these days. I'm also glad to have inherited her courage when it comes to standing up for what is right - no matter what the scenario is.
In other news, I'm went to a 'Spa Day' with the aforementioned BFF. My hands and feet look and feet fabulous. I'm told the Pearl Facial worked quite well. Highly recommended. I've been lifting a lot of weights since that day though.
Over to the good stuff!
Here's a quote I've been pondering all week:
"You can achieve anything you want in life if you have the courage to dream it, the intelligence to make a realistic plan, and the will to see that plan through to the end." - Sidney A Friedman
What I enjoyed reading this week:
1. The Three Secret Cities - Matthew Reilly - I don't know if it's because I felt saturated thanks to the overload of non-fiction books I've read this year or if I just rediscovered my love for good stories, but reading a Matthew Reilly book as soon as it got released made me feel so good! This series married history, mythology, action, and mystery beautifully - if you're looking to get started - Google ' Jack West series' and go for it.
3. Peanut Butter Dosa - This one of my best reads this quarter. Fascinating story of a mixed race family through the eyes of a young lady. Catholic American and TamBrahm is the combo we're talking here. A fun read and some great lessons as well.
4. The Ambareesh Principle - An iconic Kannada film actor who recently passed away had a very rational calendar method. Karthik Shashidhar's post about the topic has remained ingrained in my memory for several months now. The “Ambareesh Principle” – when someone invites you for an event or meeting that is way too far away for you to plan, you refuse to commit and ask them to come back to you a reasonable number of days before the event.
What I enjoyed watching:
1. Exercise and its links to the brain - If you thought exercise was just about physical fitness, think again. This is a great explainer video. Totally worth your time.
1. 10 strategies to be happier through gratitude - AJ Jacobs - A J is a mad fellow. This dude decided to thank everyone involved in making sure he has a hot cup of great coffee every morning. Right from the farmers to the workers in the warehouse to the tasters to the truck drivers and of course the Barista. The lessons from learning to be grateful are extremely helpful. This approach has changed the quality of my life and relationships.
2. This is marketing - Seth Godin - I bought the audio book. Loving it so far. Need I say more?
Marketing has always gotten a bad rap because of the rotten apples in the industry and the manipulative tactics used by several, if not most, marketers. Seth's kind of marketing is beautiful and is what made me want to be one in the first place.
Help Nikhil section:
Would you be interested in a best of 2018 email? Overkill? What would you like to see in it?
Bonus section:
I enjoyed reading about this kickass professor who made sure their student was rescued from the clutches of ISIS - story here.
Speaking of beautiful marketing - this ad for Aviation Gin by Ryan Reynolds made me tear up.
That's it for now. Thanks again for making the time to read this. I am, as always, open to suggestions.
In case you missed my last email, You can find it here. I know that was over a month ago. Like I said, hopefully, things will become clearer soon. Fun times ahead.
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