I am sure you too, like I, have a few people that you look forward to talking to. For me, they tend to be folks who have great wisdom that I can learn from. Most are younger than me but ways ahead of me in terms of questioning commonly accepted social norms, fearlessness in crafting their own ways, sheer independence in thinking and the ability to argue two sides of an argument.

Today was such a person’s birthday – Uttara. We spoke for the better part of half an hour and I came away re-inspired to question everything that I do and get a deeper understanding of my own biases. We talked a lot about the default mode we set ourselves in when it comes to spending the most valuable and the most personal assets we have – our time, our body and so on.

Right after that talk, I went for a run and put on a talk by Rory Sutherland on my Airpods. Usually, after about 5-10 minutes, I get into the mood of running and tuck away my phone and Airpods in the waist pouch. Today, though, I got hooked on to the message. So much so, I listened to it twice during my run and then drive back home.

Here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bc9jFbxrkMk

Uttara, if you are reading this, you might find an interesting take he has, and some counter intuitive research studies on work commute!!

Our neighborhood has a lot of nature and sitting spots around trails, parks etc. Given that temperatures are starting to cool off, these days, instead of practicing mindfulness with a cup of cappuccino in our balcony, I walk to one of the benches and enjoy the breaking of dawn. The cicadas and the birds provide most of the background noise. Plus some last few frogs who have not retired yet. The glistening of sprinkler water on the long blades of grass look beautiful.

Want Jay Jay to join me too but he is too deep in his sleep this time of the day.

What started way back in 2005 as an experiment to write down my reflections from job life during one of those year offs, soon turned out to be a journal for writing down the small details of life as I was experiencing them. From all those strangers I met during my travels, those chance meetings, the quirky hobbies, those poems and their translations, those math and map puzzles, the books I read… a lot of tiny bits of memories are engraved in this blog (https://www.rajibroy.com).

Some day, when I lose most of my physical abilities, hopefully reading the posts will serve as a powerful reminder of what a great life I had.

May be, progeny will read this and get a glimpse of what life looked like for one ordinary and uninteresting person. While chuckling at how archaic this old technology called “internet” was!