1. The start of every new thing—a new activity, a new startup, a new novel—will be as difficult as it is for any beginner even if you have done it before. It might be easier for a beginner rather, because they don't have to waste time to unlearn the hardwired beliefs that might not be helpful.

2. Talent is overrated. As is hardwork. A hardworking or talented employee in an organisation with unempathetic leadership won't grow. What is not overrated is courage to stand up for oneself, and the consistency to constantly improve. Courage with consistency is deadly. It will make you choose what's best for you & drive you to be your best.

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A GRAMMAR GYAAN I JUST LEARNT:

"Between" is used for two people.

"Among" is used for more than two.

E. g.

1. Distribute these candies between these two class monitors.

2. Distribute these candies among all the students.

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I'd record your voice and mix them up on Garage Band, turning them into songs that had just one word as lyrics. Sometimes, it'd be: Why, sometimes, it'd be: Ass, and sometimes, it'd be: Loser. I'd save them as MP3 & mail them as attachments titled: Voicemail, 1. 2. 3 and so on.

You'd laugh listening to yourself say God ten times with heavy metal drums and electronic piano going crazy in the background. I'd ask you to bang your head to the beat and you'd ask me to bang my head to the wall. For being this ridiculous composer who turned your every word into a song.

Last word you spoke that I turned into a song was: Leave. I never sent you that song. There was no drums, no background music. It was just the word in your voice and its echoes in my head. It was a sad song, not the kind that would have made you laugh. I just mailed it to myself, with the title: Voicemail, Last.

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How can one write a poem
about a garbage van?

A poem is
beautiful, fragrant, mellow
whereas a garbage van
is anything but.

Unless, you leave me
taking away
all my early writings
to you, with you
and I look back,
years later, remembering
the beautiful, fragrant, mellow
garbage van
that came to take away
what I'd anyway throw away
when I grew up.

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When I imagine a writer,
I imagine them reading
more than writing.

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She wears his shirts sometimes.
They look better on her.
He orders new ones—his size, for her.

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The only way to get something valuable out of an activity is by getting deeply into it. Value resides only at the depth, not at the surface. Be it pearls, or petrol.

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There's no greater legacy a public person can achieve other than their followers having their back even when they're losing.

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"You will move on sooner than
you think you would."

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The cricketer R Ashwin, during his 100th Test match, said that test cricket is the closest metaphor to life. I have been wondering why, and I arrived at some answers.

First, test cricket is about endurance and survival, which is pretty much how life is. It is not about speed of putting runs on board as much as saving wickets. It is about staying put when things get tough, and giving every ounce, even if it means a 200-partnership for the 10th wicket. Most often, it is more about will than skill. This is all very inspiring and echoing the hustle that everyday life is, but it is also somewhat obvious. Life isn't just the brave fight we put, but also the mistakes we make. Living is about our fallibility and vulnerability. It is about goofing up yet getting a chance to rectify it, which brings me to the second point.

Test cricket is like life more profoundly because it gives second chances. Even if you get out on duck in the first inning, out of sheer misfortune or indecision, the second inning is where you can bounce back. Life is harsh, but it's also forgiving and patient. It offers one more chance. To show integrity of character & work ethic. To apologise, to repair, to comeback.

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