The Hustle Has Just Begun
Hello! It feels like time runs faster in the city of Mumbai—or maybe we do, and lose track of time. Last week has been a great insight into how helping build a company from scratch feels like and how much the daily actions matter—just like building yourself. Few highlights of my week below:
Milk Teeth - Amrita Mahale
Call it coincidence or manifestation, but another book in line about Mumbai that fell in my hands before I landed in this city. Shantaram being the previous one (read here), and then Milk Teeth by Amrita Mahale.
Both the books talk extensively about the life in the heart of the city, the people, the interactions, the daily transactions and I relate to them all. Honestly, I wish I could tell you more about the book, but for now I would only say - get your hands on this and give it a read. It is a short read, and the author has really written about the characters well.
I truly hope you get the chance to read it. Tell me what you think.
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What are you reading? Drop in suggestions!
The hustle has just begun
Working in Mumbai has a whole other vibe to it than any other city that I’ve lived in. This city makes you want to do more (or at least my work does).
Despite the long hours and the constant running, I make it a point to take a pause and have a quick conversation with one new person here everyday. Whether it is the person who gives me food at night when I return from office, or the taxi drivers who came from far off lands decades ago to settle in Mumbai, the store owners from where I buy my groceries, the old ladies sitting on a bench when I enter my building, all of them have one thing in common—a heartening smile.
Living on a bare minimum in this city hardens people’s spirits, yet doesn’t seem to take away the kindness in their smiles—the kind of smile that reaches their eyes, makes me feel their warmth. The city is engulfing me into its million stories, making me one of them—the people accepting me into a sea of dreams, making me believe in myself.
Levelling Up
I wrote in the last newsletter that I have started Yoga classes and meditation here. Adding another new adventure to the routine, I went for a calisthenics class. Here’s a fun schedule that I envision for myself at least for the next 3 months:
Monday, Wednesday, Friday: Calisthenics
Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday: Yoga
Mornings: 30 Mins Meditation Before Work
Evenings: Quick Run Before I Sleep
I have never been so involved in my meditations before this month—only quick guided ones from Headspace last year, but not really sustainable. One benefit that I already see happening though is control over mood & mindset.
I’m so excited to start this routine. Of course, there’s going to be a LOT to rediscover about my body and my mind. I’m super hyped to write more about in due time.
Snippets from my personal thought journal
If there was one thing I could leave you with this week, it would be this sentence below. Apply it to your life, career, relationships, tough decisions—anything you want.
What was your learning of the week?
Gratitude Journal
The challenge that comes with living in a city like Mumbai is that the experience comes along with moments where you feel lost, you feel small in this mammoth of a city that seems to be growing every minute.
I feel grateful to be able to work on my body, mind, consciousness and be witness to the beautiful smiles of people I come across every day.
What were you grateful for in this past week? I urge you to express it.
Thank you for reading & talk to you next Sunday with more stories from Mumbai!
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