What’s the bravest thing you’ve ever done when no one was watching?
Working on myself consistently, without thinking about the results, and maintaining accountability for my efforts.
The only difference between a successful person and a not-so-successful one is the consistency of their actions. Being in the game is important; skills will be developed over time through refinement.
Just do it even when no one is watching, when you are not getting results, or when you are not in the mood to do it.
What’s something you do completely differently from how you were raised?
I am proud of and grateful to my parents for the way they raised my siblings and me. My father worked hard to make sure we never felt a lack of anything; whatever we needed was made available to us.
My parents always shielded us from the outside world so that we would not be under bad influence or in bad company. At that time, I used to feel bad about those restrictions, but now, when I reflect, they helped the three of us do our best in our respective careers.
My father was the family’s breadwinner, so he took it upon himself to do everything on his own. He never sought help from us and asked us to focus on building a career and a good life, not to spend time buying groceries or other important household items. He wanted to take care of that part so we could focus on building something for our future.
My mother never went to the market and bought anything by herself; whatever she needed, Dad used to bring. Same for us. His intention was good, but I won’t do the same for my kid. This exposure is very important, as it makes the person street-smart and improves their social skills.
I came out of my cocoon during my master’s when I stayed in a boys’ hostel. That was the place where I learned how to save money and where to spend it. I struggled more when we rented an apartment in the final semester. I knew nothing; cooking was new, I never washed utensils, never purchased a gas cylinder, never paid the bills myself. Everything was overwhelming.
My mother struggled recently in her old age when Dad was diagnosed with cancer. Since Dad is ill and unable to do much, Mom had to take on responsibilities she never had before; she had to learn everything from paying bills to booking a taxi online and whatnot.
So overprotection does more harm than good. I want to change only that one thing. Otherwise, I am grateful for how I was raised.
Happy Reading! Keep Traveling!!!
Were you overprotected as a child — and how do you think it shaped who you are today?
Today was a pleasant day; it started colorful, with a light rainbow visible on the way to the office, and then it turned hot in between. When I was in the office, it rained heavily for some time, and then the day returned to its usual heat.
I went biking early in the morning, so the first two pictures are from that short bike session. Then I took a walk after my meeting in the office. The next three pictures are from there, and afterward I went to a nearby Thai restaurant. The first two pictures are from the interior, and I noticed a grasshopper on the car hood, so the next two pictures are from there.
What a day!
Which photo from this day would you hang on your wall — and why?
No matter how hard I try to keep myself away from my phone, I am always with it. I want to use it as little as possible, but can’t deny that it’s hard to live without it. I am not an addict and have good self-control, but to be connected with my family and the world, this is the only way, unfortunately.
At least I can see my parents via video calls from a different country and time zone, which was not possible earlier. Now, connecting with people is just one click away; isn’t it amazing? But it has also impacted our health, our ability to admire our surroundings, and our ability to have a true connection with the world.
No complaints, though; everything comes with pros and cons. It’s up to us to find a balance, and I am trying to do so.
Coming to today’s question, my favorite apps keep changing based on my goals and focus area. Right now, below are the apps where I am spending most of my time:-
Jetpack: This app is in use as I write this. I use this to maintain this blog: writing, editing, checking stats, and whatnot.
WhatsApp: This should be the most-used app on my phone. I open it countless times to read and send messages to friends and family. WhatsApp stories are my new craze, where I share pictures I take in my daily life and motivational quotes.
YouTube: It’s a good time-pass app; whether I feel bored or want to listen to a podcast, I tune in to it. I listen to motivational podcasts and some shows, and watch reels here and there.
Strava: Another great app for me where I keep track of my gym workouts, hikes, biking trips, and Pickleball games. I have a premium membership, so it’s very satisfying to see the breakdown of calories burned, workout intensity, 3D maps, relative effort, and so many other cool features.
Gmail: Lastly, everyone’s favorite Gmail, a single and most reliable place to manage emails. I have three different accounts, and I manage them through this app. I use this app multiple times a day to stay on top of things.
What apps do you use frequently? Is there any app from my list that you are a fan of?
