Part of growing up and moving into new chapters of your life is about catch and release.
~Dr Taylor Swift
I just can’t believe it’s already 2024. Time flew by like August slipped away in Augustine’s life (if you know, you know). This year, not exactly a Hollywood blockbuster – no explosions, just a quirky mix of new endings and beginnings, kind of like the first chapter of a fantasy novel. Kinda like the Harry Potter series, you know?
Wasn’t thrilled about this year at first, especially after last year’s mess. But surprise, surprise, it sailed by just fine, with a few bumps and cracks here and there, of course. But this blog isn’t about the things I lost. It’s about all that I received.
So, back in February, my dad hands me a journal for no particular reason. Not that I’m some journal enthusiast, but hey, didn’t want to let it go to waste or give it to my brother (cause it’s kinda sophisticated, and my brother is, well, far from it, to be polite), so I decided to make it my ‘Trove Of Lessons’
I remember what Dr Taylor Swift advised us once, “The first of which is…life can be heavy, especially if you try to carry it all at once. Part of growing up and moving into new chapters of your life is about catch and release. What I mean by that is, knowing what things to keep, and what things to release. You can’t carry all things, all grudges, all updates on your ex, all enviable promotions your school bully got at the hedge fund his uncle started. Decide what is yours to hold and let the rest go”
And this journal is all about that. I try to look at life like I read a book, critically examining every aspect of the characters and analysing their behavioural patterns and dialogues and trying to find some rationality and meaning in it. I have this habit of trying to find meaning in every damn thing, I lay my eyes on. Enid thinks it’s annoying (she thinks everything I do is). And this is not something I have cultivated. This is what I have always been, even as a child. As a child, I used to look at things with wonderment, just like every other child. My head was swarming with questions and it still very much is. I remember I used to feel like there is some kind of a rulebook or a guide that explains everything in this world, like how the society functions and how people function, that everyone had but not me. I was trying to find some kind of a blueprint on basically how to live my life and how to act like a proper human. You know that confessional scene in Fleabag episode 4 in season 2, yeah that basically summed up my entire past sixteen years of existence. It was only two and half years back that I realised that I don’t want a rulebook or a blueprint anymore because I realised there isn’t any. So I decided to create one for me. In a nutshell, it’s the guide to my life written by me, which has all the things I want to hold.
Picture this: me, scribbling down everything I learn, whether it’s how to survive a Zoom class, decode emotions, or understand why cats are so weird. Now, it might seem like a stupid idea for some, but I’m really thankful I didn’t toss it aside because, guess what, I’ve got a whole list of life lessons to share with you now. It might even seem a bit cumbersome for people who don’t constantly have a background narration of everything happening in their life and think about literally everything, even thinking itself. But it really worked for me. So without further ado, here are my kinda-sorta life-altering revelations from the world.
Lesson #1: Join The 4 AM Club.
Alright, this is coming for a grown up kid , who used to sleep for 12 hours on weekends and a solid 9 on work days. Even during exams, I never embraced the sunrise grind. It never even occurred to me. But I decided so this year as it was the last year at school and the Board year. And folks, let me tell you– joining that early-bird crew was the BRAINWAVE OF THE CENTURY! Waking up at such an ungodly hour not only gave me extra hours but also granted me some hours alone because no one in my family wakes up that early. I mean, to be able to look at the sunrise isn’t the luck that falls on everyone’s lap, just those who actually wake up for it. So waking up early is highly recommended!
Lesson #2: Write it off!
Last August, I almost broke up with writing for good. I stumbled upon a quote on Paris Review that said poetry is all about ‘separating self from self’ and that it is a ‘confession’. I even thought I was an imposter in the world of words. Then, life hit me with a sucker punch a few months later, and I found myself crying and scribbling a poem, almost involuntarily. And that piece turned out to be the most honest and the most vulnerable thing I’d ever written, and suddenly, all my troubles were on paper, not in my head. It was for the first time in my life that I felt so light. Like a feather. Kinda like a relief after a throbbing headache (Trust me when I talk about headaches. Just do it) It’s like Morrie said on one of his Tuesday lessons, that sometimes you gotta let go and well, writing is my way to do it, it turns out.
Lesson #3: The H2O Wake-Up Call!
Drink water.
DRINK WATER! (in case you didn’t hear it the first time) Forget elaborate explanations; just know that I woke up with a headache every morning for weeks until I figured out this worldy secret.
Lesson #4: Creativity’s NOT a Lightning Bolt Moment
Creativity isn’t a comic book lightning bolt moment – trust me, I’ve spent countless hours desperately waiting for that spark. And they have been more futile than arguing with mom. Turns out, the best ideas sneak up on you when you least expect it. Kinda like what they say about love – you can’t force it. My creative process is a wild ride, fueled by my weirdest, most absurd, most problematic ideas, leading to some halfway decent ones. If I were a sailor, I would tell you, Aye, matey! It be about sailin’ through the stormy seas of yer mind, embracin’ the wild madness, and prayin’ for a bit of booty in the midst of it all.
Lesson #5: How to be the main character of your life
So, after burning all my study hours on Netflix binges and diving into books meant for anything but exams and watching random coming of age films, I’ve cracked the code on being the hero of your story. Turns out, even the bad boys like Tommy Shelby find a way to straighten up, even if it involves lots of blood, guns and murder. Not that I’m endorsing a life of crime. (Unless you’re Cillian Murphy, of course). I’m not a pro at fixing my mess-ups, but I’ve mastered the art of apologies and I am trying to get better at giving explanations– a colossal deal for me, no bragging, just truth. Also, bonus tip, you can become the main character of your life by taking walking lessons from Tia. I promise you, you’ll never be the same.
Lesson #6: Beware of those living in their heads
No cap, I’m often camping out in my thoughts *dad’s wise voice echoing from the void about living in the now*. Most of us do it, right? And that’s how we lose the present and become depressed when we actually have to face it (Dad’s words, not mine) But here’s the kicker: some folks actually believe every wild idea they cook up in their brains. They build these epic stories, like a soap opera in their minds, and stick to them like glue and there’s no way they’d allow even a little space for a different perspective. I have come to realise it the hard way from an event (hint: it involved Luna) and felt the same for Mira from ‘Scenes from a Marriage’, except that Jessica Chastain didn’t manipulate anyone to sideline her husband (she’s too perfect for my hate too). Watch out for these folks – they’re a rollercoaster of emotions, but if you’ve got the patience, you can always give it a shot.
Lesson #7: Temporary Pain Over Temporary Pleasure
Always go for the boring task over that tempting pleasure. Seriously. 100%. Choose what needs doing instead of binge-watching, munching on chips, or diving into a new chapter (okay, you can cheat on that last one). Otherwise, that pain will turn into a monster you’ll have to battle. Been there, done that – speaking from the school of hard knocks. You can try to soften the blow if you want but always choose the blows (okay, that sounds pathetic). Just choose work guys.
Lesson #8: The Truth About Motivation
YouTube videos won’t magically turn you into a productivity guru. Listening to subliminals won’t save you from procrastination. The after effects of watching a film about an inspiring success story won’t last too long. Motivation kicks in after you’ve done something – it’s the craving for more because you felt awesome doing it. That’s the real deal, I promise. It’s the result that get you more results.
Lesson #9: Honesty with a Side of Wisdom
Honesty isn’t a free giveaway; you can’t just toss it around like spare pennies in everyone’s lap. Hard lesson learned. Some folks only want to hear what they like, or they see it through envy-tinted glasses or just can’t handle the truth or you know, believe their own narrative, no matter what. So this year, I prefer and recommend, honesty with a dash of wisdom.
Lesson #10: The Spotify Drama
Okay, Spotify changed its game a few months back and not gonna lie I was ready to splurge on premium when I go to college because I must romanticise each day of my college life (and also ’cause it’s cheaper for college students) but despite being a billion dollar multinational company, they couldn’t wait for a few months. So I have decided to relinquish from my job of choosing songs for myself and have officially given the baton to Spotify. And it’s been surprisingly great since they only ever play from my liked list so it’s not like I am listening to anything I haven’t and/or hate. It takes me down memory lane sometimes. It’s kinda nice so maybe you should just let things be sometimes.
Bonus hack: If you’re a penny-pincher like me, make some playlists of the song you’d otherwise queue and let Spotify do its thing. It’s a little work but your favorite artists and you deserve the effort!
So, that’t it. These are the nuggets of wisdom I scooped up this year, and I’m high-key, desperately dying and praying the next one turns out as lit and fabulous as my Pinterest vision board. Sending you all the good vibes for 2024! Cheers to an epic year!
The Hardback Life 