A gold mine of things which will stir your lousy brain with ideas to lead a more fulfilling life
Hi! :)
Pardon me for a delayed post, life kept me busy. It has been a tumultuous time indeed. From attending a wedding in my family after nearly a decade, to facing the first ever failure in academics in my life to facing an experience I can't even talk about - pheww it was exasperating.
After self-sabotaging myself for a few days now, I am trying to keep up. Getting into the grind again. There's nothing like finding some jewels of guidance and success stories while you struggle everyday to wake up and get going and this issue is just about that.
1. How to think for yourself by Paul Graham (Essay)
Paul Graham is the founder of Y-Combinator. In this essay he talks about the nuances of independent thinking. How curiosity fuels independent mindedness, what are the components, how to pull yourself from your herd and cut down on influences blemishing your creativity.
Curiosity is unlike most other appetites in this respect: indulging it tends to increase rather than to sate it.
2. Wait by Galway Kinnell (Poetry)
Keeping up with the tradition of reading more poetry this year, I read this soul-wrenching poem. It almost marvels me every time how staying just a bit longer changes so many things in life.
Finishing 5k in those last 30 secs, waiting a min more for kidney beans to boil, staying on the call with your loved ones just for seconds more and bidding them goodnight.
Let's wait more!
Wait.
Don’t go too early.
You’re tired. But everyone’s tired.
But no one is tired enough.
Only wait a little and listen:
music of hair,
music of pain,
music of looms weaving our loves again.
Be there to hear it, it will be the only time,
most of all to hear your whole existence,
rehearsed by the sorrows, play itself into total exhaustion.
3. The Tim Ferriss Show with Mr. Money Mustache — Living Beautifully on $25-27K Per Year (Podcast)
In the universe of podcasts, it is easy to get carried away with the plethora of content available online and equally tougher to begin with.
Well, let me help you out. (If there's any podcast DJ, its' me - DJ B)
Mr. Money Moustache (Pete Adeney in real life) graduated with a degree in computer engineering in the 1990s and worked in various tech companies before retiring at age 30. Pete and his wife have not had real jobs since 2005.This begs the question of “How?”
In essence, they accomplished this early retirement by optimizing all aspects of their lifestyle for maximal fun at minimal expense, and by using basic index-fund investing.
If you are someone who is a beginner to investing and optimizing finances this one's for you.
Don't forget to check out his blog.
4. The Algebra of Wealth by Scott Galloway (Newsletter)
If you were following my blog, I introduced you to Scott Galloway's newsletter 'No Mercy/ No Malice' a few weeks ago. This issue is probably the most lucid and intriguing read on the principles of creating wealth.
Focus on what matters. Be a Stoic in the face of temptation. Use Time to your advantage. Diversify your investments.
And, not to undermine the power of compounding.
5. What's your emergency routine by Daily Stoic (Article)
It's a very short article but sooooo underrated. I have found myself getting into loops these days, loops of overthinking, of flashbacks, of sadness, of reminiscence yada yada yada
Daily Stoic run by Ryan Holiday, introduces this idea of having an emergency routine whenever you feel yourself plunging in such loops.
It could be reading for one person when things are getting chaotic at work, or it can be working out for another person when things are too calm and the negative internal voice gets too loud. It could be heading to church to pray…or a recovery meeting in that same church’s basement. It could be asking for help…or offering help.
What you choose doesn’t matter. What matters is that you choose. And that what you choose works for you.
Other links I found useful:
In praising of "Listening Through" by Kevin Smokler (Essay)
On the importance of respecting music artists and delving deep in their journeys
Over time, we’ll miss almost everything and all we have is what we chose to to do with our time and attention. So for something as important to me as music, I’d rather spend that time on long-term commitments and not unresolved affairs, on friends who have been with me through it all instead those I once knew or haven’t even met.
How to Reinvent Yourself in 2022 (for people feeling worn out) by Nathaniel Drew (YouTube Video)
On introspecting how far you have come and rewiring your goals
On Kelli's exceptional process of creativity, curiosity and creating art (Must listen)
Wishing you a fabulous February ahead with lots of winter sun bathing.
Keep exploring new ideas and stay curious :)
As always, I appreciate your feedback (suggestions, critiques, positive reinforcement) as well ideas that inspire you, reading/podcast recommendations etc.
You can write to me on bhumikasankhla12@gmail.com. or connect with me on IG at _i__cook or use the comment section!
You're one of the most creative person I have come across, whether its your cooking recipes or trail of these inspiring articles or poems or podcast. I aspire to be you someday. Thanks for taking the pain to post every week. ❤
Thank you Bhumika, for taking the time to put together the best of what you heard and providing us curated gold, deeply appreciate it!