Random Musings š, Part-2
Soul Letter #14
Hi folks, Shubham here.
Several readers enjoyed the Random Musings series which I started last Saturday.
One of the readers said she loved the idea because since the pandemic she hasnāt discussed movies or books with anyone.
Continuing with the backing given by you all, I am writing Random Musings, Part-2 today.
Letās begin.
āIt had always seemed to him a very plush kind of problem, a privilege, really, to consider whether life was meaningful or not.ā
The above line is from a book named A Little Life written by Hanya Yanagihara. Jude one of the main protagonist contemplates this to himself.
Whether our life is meaningful or not?
I am sure many of us regularly ask š¤ ourselves this question.
The self-help gurus and influencers have incepted us with this idea while trying to aid our insecurities.
Each one of us has our own definition of a meaningful life. Some might want to help NGOs, others might build a company and a few may want to take care of their loved ones.
Irrespective of that, I feel we are obsessing way too much over it.
People moan that they havenāt found their calling or feel their life is irrelevant. Itās normal to have such feelings.
However, oneās got to realize that they belong to a privileged class if they can scrutinize these questions.
There are people who start their day without knowing whether they will go to bed empty stomach or they might get to eat something for a change.
Certainly, these people canāt afford to ask profound questions like whatās the meaning of their life?
Their only goal is to work, earn, feed a.k.a survive.
I reiterate I am not invalidating your feelings. Itās normal to have such thoughts, but you have to admit it is a rich manās problem.
Pandemic Epiphany
Dr. Anthony Klotz is an associate professor of management at Texas A&M University, and he studies workplace exits. He told BBC Newsday,Ā that people are looking to simplify their lives.
After living for a considerable time under the pandemic restrictions, people are re-evaluating their priorities.
For example, some are willing to surrender their high-paying jobs if it allows them to spend more quality time with their family at a moderately-paying job.
Some are exploring freelancing careers as it leaves them with a bulk of free time which they can utilize to pursue a hobby or travel.
Pandemic has unknowingly created a plethora of opportunities. It made us realize what truly matters.
Like many others, I had a pandemic epiphany š
Due to lockdown, I shifted to a home workout routine, and now I feel it's perfect.
Home workouts can be super flexible. You can either do a 60-minute or a 30-minute session, depending on your schedule.
Commute issues are totally out of the picture now. It may rain, or snow one can still work out at home.
You can either do YOGA š§āāļø or strength training as per your wish.
Whatās your pandemic epiphany?
PS: I agree home workouts wouldnāt give the results one can attain at a gym, but it all comes down to personal priorities.
Book Recommendation
Frankly, I wasn't expecting the book to be this good. Pandemic has been nothing less than a nightmare. What The Pandemic Learned From Me is a light-hearted take on the grim event.
What makes it ironic is that the pandemic propelled Anindita to write a book about the same, and it turned out to be a gem.
She talks about the evolution of WFH, Fitness, Home Gardening, Social Media, Social Life, Cooking Experiments, and others during the lockdowns.
It's witty and extremely relatable.
My favorite is the chapter on Social Media where she says everyone is playing the same game MIBTY ā Mine Is Better Than Yours.
My Holiday Was More Foreign Than Yours, My Hobbies Are More Than Yours, My Plants Are Greener Than Yours, My Mental Health Is More Mental Than Yours, My Fitness Is More Fit Than Yours, My Talent Is More Talent Than Yours, My Cause Is More Cause Than Yours, and so on. Itās hilarious š
For all our readers who donāt usually read books, you might wanna give this a try. Itās just 80 pages.
In case you read it let me know your feedback.
Is Anyone Actually Reading?
I guess we all turn a blind eye when numbers are thrown at us.
In the previous newsletter Soul Letter #13, I made a huge blunder while quoting the stats. It should have been 1.8 billion instead of 1.8 million, yet none of you reported.
Makes me wonder whether readers and our proofreaders are actually reading :(
I have a friend who might do thatš
Apparently, you canāt click a photo of the Eiffel Tower at nightš
Watch this 5-minute video to feed your curiosity.
Final Words
This week I conducted a few polls on Instagram which was funš Maybe I will share the results in the upcoming newsletters. I am trying to increase audience engagement through polls and quizzes so do follow us on IG: lettercallsoul.
No spamming I promise!
Tuesdayās newsletter was published on Monday due to my fault. I hope you forgive meš
This weekās Conversation Thread got a decent response.
Most readers suggested they are looking forward to a hybrid model where there is flexibility between WFH and going to an office. I feel the same.
You can go can check it in case you missed the thread.
I bought a bicycleš“āāļø yesterday. As a teenager, I assumed if I buy a new bicycle in life, itās definitely going to be a geared cycle. But turns out cycles are surprisingly expensive these days, and I settled for a normal one.
Itās still pretty dope š„
Thatās all from me. Have a solid weekend.
See you on TuesdayĀ until then, Houdoe! šāāļø
In case you missed the previous newsletters, we have got you covered.
Soul Letter #13Ā - Motivation and Job Satisfaction, it's not always aboutĀ money š°
Soul Letter #12Ā - Random Musings š, Part-1
Soul Letter #11- Why One Should Renounce Modern News Apps for a Good Old Newspaper š°
Soul Letter #10Ā - Moving Towards an Abundance š§ Mindset
PS: If you would like to share anything, mail us atĀ lettercallsoul@gmail.com.