Lessons From April
On hard work, slowing down, travelling and more..
Last month, I wrote about March being the toughest month of 2024 so far. The first half of April was even more challenging as it was finally time to put all the knowledge I had acquired about insurance and statistics in the last four months to test. (ask me how it went in a couple of months, as I still need some time to recover from the anxiety of taking exams every six months! 🥲 )
April was also the month I experienced life the most. It was a blend of speeding up, then slowing down and a lot of firsts- taking my first flight of 2024, watching a play for the first time- that too in one of the most iconic theatres in India, to name a few.
This week, I encourage you to look back and appreciate the days that have passed, for they have shaped you into who you are today.
Make room for stillness with every breath you inhale and let go of rush with every breath you exhale, for you deserve peace right here and now.
LESSONS FROM APRIL
The experiences in life come and go in seasons. These seasons of life, good or bad, may last a week, a month, a year or a few years. When a challenging season knocks on your doorstep, be aware that someday in the near future, things will change for the better.
Slowing down is probably one of the most challenging things you will ever do in life, especially with a million faint noises in the background telling you that you are not doing enough. However, it should hold equal, if not more significance than basic necessities like food, clothing and shelter. A mind that has never experienced rest does not know the true meaning of fulfilment.
Travel as much as you can. It exposes you to experiences no textbook can.
Everywhere you look, there is urgency. The urgency to follow timelines. The urgency to get back up after a fall. Urgency to be rich and famous. The minute you finish a task, something in you tells you that you are falling behind on the rest. To give in or to define your pace, the choice is always yours.
Learn to accept the fact that hard work doesn't always guarantee success. You can give your all and still have things not go your way. In moments like these, trust that bigger things are unfolding in your life, some of which may not be noticeable in this very moment. When it comes to your goals, one of the things you have control over is your effort. Do that part well and leave the rest on time to show you as it passes.
THIS WEEK’s RECOMMENDATIONS
Celebrating the power of noticing life's tiniest joys by
. This post by Charlene is exactly why I love Substack so much. It’s cozy, aesthetic and inspiring all at the same time!- made me cry this week. You can feel every emotion Mary must’ve felt as she penned down these words. Stunning!
begin again… by Caroline who writes a wonderful newsletter called
. As someone who blindly took part in the rat-race as a school kid, I realise that there is more power in stillness and self-awareness. This beautiful piece just validates that belief even more!
If you enjoy reading Unwind, I would love it if you consider recommending the publication to your readers. Simply go to your dashboard > Recommendations > Manage > Add recommendation > Unwind.
More and more I am detaching myself from the loud "get rich" "be successful" culture. And I love it. My podcasts have changed, my YouTube videos have changed.
More and more people are sharing their "burnout" story from this life and that speed.
It must be interesting to be in the financial field where people have the ladder in their sights and are ready to do whatever is needed to climb it and stand out from the crowd.
Rightly said....
A very hectic April month for me too. Academic timelines, urgent project submission, key deadlines, hustling etc.
You rightly said that we must go through our previous experiences that have truly shaped the person we have become and how far we have grown. Instead of appreciating our growth trajectory, We move on and on with newer and higher goals, deadlines and unlimited stress and anxiety related to work and personal lives.
I think we must slow down a bit, adopt a more flexible mindset, and give ourselves some reward from time to time. Orelse we will end up being completely burnt out.