Life, in retrospect.
Lessons about being present, building meaningful relationships and taking that first step - September 2025!
As I sit here to write my newsletter at 12:00 a.m. on a Saturday, I struggle to find the right words. A strange blankness of the mind I have certainly felt before. Some people call it “writer’s block”; I believe what I am experiencing is the season of spring, i.e. the season of waking from hibernation. When I talk about hibernation, I am referring to 12-hour study days with limited contact from the outside world, except for a handful of close friends and family. A season where life is known to be out of balance.
I strongly believe that sometimes living in extremes is accompanied by silver linings. You learn exactly how much you are capable of pushing your boundaries. You start to realise that you are stronger than you ever thought you were. This is exactly what September felt like - intense but full of learning.
September taught me that we are capable of doing more things than we know. Oftentimes, the biggest obstacle in our journey to achieve the unthinkable is the lack of willingness to start. It occurs because the path ahead seems uncertain. However, the minute we decide to take that first step is the minute we win 90% of the battle. Remember, even if you don’t end up achieving certain goals, the lessons you gain along the way will make that very first step worthwhile.
September taught me that expectations ruin relationships. Never assume that you will hold the same level of importance in someone else’s life as they do in your life. Instead, live and let live. There is always less scope for disappointment that way.
September taught me that a lot of life happens between the choices we make and the opportunities we miss along the way. No matter how hard we try, it is impossible to be in all places at once. But wherever we are now determines where we’ll be in the future.
September taught me that the people who go to lengths just to see you smile are the ones to close and take care of.
Lastly, September taught me that we spend months (sometimes years) for seasons of life to be over, only to realise later that we had unknowingly discovered a flow in what was once uncertain. Being in that flow, however, feels mundane. As long as we are in it, we’d better live it to the fullest.
Let’s Chat!
What did September teach you? Feel free to reflect and share below…
This week’s recommendations
After so long, I had the time to sit and read on Substack - a feeling I had completely forgotten for most part of September. As always, I came across some lovely posts. I hope you like reading them as much as I did…
- . Nedra’s words made me pause and appreciate all the unexpected friendships I have encountered in this journey of life so far - so grateful!
Life Inside the Perception Box...#93 by
. A lovely reminder to expand our world to invite more comfort in life.Autumn Unrushed: How to Embrace the Season Without the Guilt of Doing Less by
. A much-needed reminder by Amy to slow down and embrace Autumn instead of rushing.
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This was such a lovely reflection Mansi. Especially how you described learning to find flow inside the uncertainty, and that quiet turning point where life starts feeling less like survival and more like presence. Beautifully said 🤎
That's so relatable. The last line truly captures what's most important in life. Achievements at work are inflated to the point where it feels like a person's identity and worth depends only on that. The conversations you had with your loved ones on a road trip, the little things they do to make you feel comfortable, the diwali snacks that every mother sends; the list is unending....
On a slightly related note, I highly recommend the movie "Frances Ha" starring Greta Gerwig. It just breaks me open every time I watch it. It is about a 27 year old woman finding her feet in NYC as a dancer, navigating relationships, realizing what's important and so on.