1. I feel absolutely blessed and privileged to spend a lot of time each day with my wife and kids
2. I'm empathetic to a fault, so much so that it surprises me how I managed to cope through many of life's cruelties and never turned ruthless
3. I have a curated list of music and movies that keep me refreshed now and then
4. I've always aspired to be an indie filmmaker
5. One of my greatest fears is to have lived an inconsequential life
6. 'Imposter Syndrome' was perhaps coined for me, I am my own biggest critic
7. I savour what some would consider the 'ordinary' things and moments in life
8. I dream about my father reconnecting with us at least once a year
9. I love reading memoirs and biographies/ autobiographies, more than any other category
10. Either the desert (as in childhood) or hilly areas in the immediate environment are the relaxing environment for the place I can comfortably reside in, plain urban areas irk me
Lovely! I like memoirs too (and write them) and feel like the hills are my spiritual home. And I know all about the need for public validation and imposter syndrome 🙄. Trying to change.
1. I'm physically disorganized but digitally organized- inbox zero, desktop devoid of icons and the like.
2. I'm always one walk away from a good mood and a sunny disposition.
3. I love writing and working with my words- it fills my soul.
4. I love a good conversation with old friends and new.
5. There's no better feeling than sinking into a good literary fiction book and getting lost in its world.
6. I dream about good food. Its textures and colours matter as much to me as its taste.
7. Travel excites me, the excitement extends to being on flights and in airports.
8. My discovery of strength training and aqua aerobics in the last couple of years, and rediscovery of yoga, has brought my sedentary self so much joy.
9. I've only recently become tolerant of average first drafts.
10. I love meeting people but need social recovery time to
1. I think I have ADHD, but I call it ADHO, with O standing for Order, which makes me a wrongly shaped piece of jigsaw mystery looking for other pieces to fit into him, rather than a wrongly shaped piece trying to fit into an existing puzzle.
2. In the first ten years of my life, I was culturally and linguistically bilingual, but then that changed for a few decades until I began a journey back.
3. I like spicy food and have sorely missed the khara chips (masala chips) of my childhood until the other day when I roasted salted chips into a pan with a little bit of butter and added chilli powder to it, and voila, and I was like, "why did this hack elude me for so long?"
4. I was told never to move to Delhi and then I ended up staying there for 18 years and loving it.
5. I've read more than 85 books by the same author, some of them multiple times, and never got bored (Louis L'amour) and then the other day I picked one up after many years and I couldn't really read it anymore.
6. In 2022 during yet another visit, I said to myself, I'm over you New York.
7. One of my favourite learnings is that intelligent people fall for the same old traps and are even better at falling for sophisticated traps.
8. I feel like watching Gattaca, a favourite, with my 13 year old.
9. I'm in mid-forties but I already know that there will be some loved friends/relatives I will never meet again. This makes me sad, but not depressingly so.
10. The oppressed need to be freed. The oppressors too.
I share many of your sentences with you. Probably because we share a birthday. On the clock now as my in-laws are about to arrive but you have given me good reason to reflect and come up with mine.
1. I was an avid traveler in my 20s, in my 40s though I deeply regret not having travelled with my parents while they still had their health and energy.
2. I am mostly overthinking myself into severe procrastination and I used to think it was some kind of flex.
3. My life has been one Murphy's law or the other chasing me down just when I try to do something out of my own volition.
4. Going through my old videos makes me realize how brutal I have been to myself.
5. I regret not putting myself first, there are times when I know I have learnt my lessons better but my choices almost seem like willful steps to self harm.
6. The weight of being happy for others when you are not happy yourself really puts me down, I often wish I could tell friends, "Hey I can't be happy for you today, but I want you to know that I will never wish you harm".
7. I truly want to be a better, more kind and dependable sibling.
8. I have been the happiest whenever I have acted on plans made on an impulse.
9. I often feel a set of eyes following me everywhere I go, I think too much about people judging me for no reason.
10. I crave for a steady shoulder not because I have too many tears but because it gives me a reason to live life fully.
10 1/2. I wish I could tell them I love them but...
1. I I believe that I will get to see my parents again and have a conversation with them when I am under anaesthesia. Hasn’t worked till date. Also haven’t been under anaesthesia all that often (thank goodness).
2. I think of my parents every single day, several times in a day.
3. I don’t think of the 2 premie baby boys I lost that often, I wonder why.
4. My parenting skills may not be dope but my 14 year old certainly is.
5. I am a scientist but am constantly embarrassed by how little science I actually seem to know.
6. I know I am supremely blessed in the friends and family department and remind myself about that constantly.
7. I love step aerobics more than any other form of exercise.
8. I dance and sing well when no one is watching (or at least I think that I do!).
9. If I do not have something to read I feel insecure. (explains my addiction to my cell phone doesn’t it?😝)
10. I am jealous of my son’s ability to focus and knuckle down and study.
10.5 As a recovering, passive-aggressive people pleaser, an apologetic piranha like my brother likes to say, I…
So I now know you, I think. And my 11th sentence would have been your 9th. I hope we can take a walk together one day ❤️
I would love that! Your books have influenced my world view so much.
1. I feel absolutely blessed and privileged to spend a lot of time each day with my wife and kids
2. I'm empathetic to a fault, so much so that it surprises me how I managed to cope through many of life's cruelties and never turned ruthless
3. I have a curated list of music and movies that keep me refreshed now and then
4. I've always aspired to be an indie filmmaker
5. One of my greatest fears is to have lived an inconsequential life
6. 'Imposter Syndrome' was perhaps coined for me, I am my own biggest critic
7. I savour what some would consider the 'ordinary' things and moments in life
8. I dream about my father reconnecting with us at least once a year
9. I love reading memoirs and biographies/ autobiographies, more than any other category
10. Either the desert (as in childhood) or hilly areas in the immediate environment are the relaxing environment for the place I can comfortably reside in, plain urban areas irk me
10 1/2. I wish I could travel the world but...
Lovely! I like memoirs too (and write them) and feel like the hills are my spiritual home. And I know all about the need for public validation and imposter syndrome 🙄. Trying to change.
1. I'm physically disorganized but digitally organized- inbox zero, desktop devoid of icons and the like.
2. I'm always one walk away from a good mood and a sunny disposition.
3. I love writing and working with my words- it fills my soul.
4. I love a good conversation with old friends and new.
5. There's no better feeling than sinking into a good literary fiction book and getting lost in its world.
6. I dream about good food. Its textures and colours matter as much to me as its taste.
7. Travel excites me, the excitement extends to being on flights and in airports.
8. My discovery of strength training and aqua aerobics in the last couple of years, and rediscovery of yoga, has brought my sedentary self so much joy.
9. I've only recently become tolerant of average first drafts.
10. I love meeting people but need social recovery time to
So I now know you, I think. And my 11th sentence would have been your 9th. I hope we can take a walk together one day.
1. I think I have ADHD, but I call it ADHO, with O standing for Order, which makes me a wrongly shaped piece of jigsaw mystery looking for other pieces to fit into him, rather than a wrongly shaped piece trying to fit into an existing puzzle.
2. In the first ten years of my life, I was culturally and linguistically bilingual, but then that changed for a few decades until I began a journey back.
3. I like spicy food and have sorely missed the khara chips (masala chips) of my childhood until the other day when I roasted salted chips into a pan with a little bit of butter and added chilli powder to it, and voila, and I was like, "why did this hack elude me for so long?"
4. I was told never to move to Delhi and then I ended up staying there for 18 years and loving it.
5. I've read more than 85 books by the same author, some of them multiple times, and never got bored (Louis L'amour) and then the other day I picked one up after many years and I couldn't really read it anymore.
6. In 2022 during yet another visit, I said to myself, I'm over you New York.
7. One of my favourite learnings is that intelligent people fall for the same old traps and are even better at falling for sophisticated traps.
8. I feel like watching Gattaca, a favourite, with my 13 year old.
9. I'm in mid-forties but I already know that there will be some loved friends/relatives I will never meet again. This makes me sad, but not depressingly so.
10. The oppressed need to be freed. The oppressors too.
10 1/2. I like the feeling of
p.s loved that Julian Barnes book!
Love this list. It leaves me with a strong impression of what makes you, you! With you on #7. And I have a 13 year old as well ☺️
That was the intention. Thank you for this wonderful exercise! Here's to our 13 year olds!
I share many of your sentences with you. Probably because we share a birthday. On the clock now as my in-laws are about to arrive but you have given me good reason to reflect and come up with mine.
Why don't you complete my half sentence for me??
1. I am part English and part Indian and it sometimes conflicts me and at other times makes me proud
2. I lost my mother a year and a half ago and it still hurts
3. I work in a man's world and forget my femininity
4. I love travel - to travel is to live, in my opinion
5. Another wonderful part of life is food!
6. Aren't people fascinating?
7. I am not a patient person, but I am trying to be better
8. Honesty is the best policy, at all times
9. I am not sure that I know how to love unconditionally
10. I need more alone time than most people I know
11. I feel the need to correct.....
Your #10 is totally me. And the suspense of #10.5 is killing me!
I think a lot about the frailty of life every December.
I get energized by a well-written sentence.
I am thankful for today.
I don’t believe in empty nests; once a family, always a family.
My daily exercise routine empowers me.
Listening to podcasts can make mundane chores bearable
I love reading aloud.
My brand new reading glasses have changed my life.
The fresh shoots of my Monstera plant teach me something new every day.
There is so much time, there is not enough time.
10 ½) This exercise is making me think.
Adore this introduction. #s 1, 2, 3, 5, 9, 10 are sentences I could easily have written about myself.
1. I was an avid traveler in my 20s, in my 40s though I deeply regret not having travelled with my parents while they still had their health and energy.
2. I am mostly overthinking myself into severe procrastination and I used to think it was some kind of flex.
3. My life has been one Murphy's law or the other chasing me down just when I try to do something out of my own volition.
4. Going through my old videos makes me realize how brutal I have been to myself.
5. I regret not putting myself first, there are times when I know I have learnt my lessons better but my choices almost seem like willful steps to self harm.
6. The weight of being happy for others when you are not happy yourself really puts me down, I often wish I could tell friends, "Hey I can't be happy for you today, but I want you to know that I will never wish you harm".
7. I truly want to be a better, more kind and dependable sibling.
8. I have been the happiest whenever I have acted on plans made on an impulse.
9. I often feel a set of eyes following me everywhere I go, I think too much about people judging me for no reason.
10. I crave for a steady shoulder not because I have too many tears but because it gives me a reason to live life fully.
10 1/2. I wish I could tell them I love them but...
Thank you for your authenticity
1) I’m a staunch believer in the power of ikigai
2) Unscripted nature fuels my soul
3) When I was told I could never have children, it felt like a dream slipping away. But now, looking at my three, my heart overflows with gratitude
4) One of my greatest moments was adopting our son
5) Being with my mother as she passed away a year and a half ago was both profoundly moving and deeply heartbreaking
6) I write poetry for speeches
7) The little things in life are what I try and focus on
8) Living in the Amazon rainforest reminded me of my small place within nature’s vast web
9)I knew I’d met someone special when I met my husband
10) The support I received from friends during chemotherapy was truly overwhelming
10 1/2) I'm just so proud of....
#10 could have been written by me. #6 makes you one of the best people.And yes, nature is balm and fuel.
1. I I believe that I will get to see my parents again and have a conversation with them when I am under anaesthesia. Hasn’t worked till date. Also haven’t been under anaesthesia all that often (thank goodness).
2. I think of my parents every single day, several times in a day.
3. I don’t think of the 2 premie baby boys I lost that often, I wonder why.
4. My parenting skills may not be dope but my 14 year old certainly is.
5. I am a scientist but am constantly embarrassed by how little science I actually seem to know.
6. I know I am supremely blessed in the friends and family department and remind myself about that constantly.
7. I love step aerobics more than any other form of exercise.
8. I dance and sing well when no one is watching (or at least I think that I do!).
9. If I do not have something to read I feel insecure. (explains my addiction to my cell phone doesn’t it?😝)
10. I am jealous of my son’s ability to focus and knuckle down and study.
10.5 As a recovering, passive-aggressive people pleaser, an apologetic piranha like my brother likes to say, I…