Beaches, Speeches, and Peaches

M—Memory

(Throwback to moments that matter)

Remembering a day when four colleagues went to Besant Nagar and came back as friends.?

I met Sachin, Sovan, and Nivetha through work. Like me, they too had been thrown into the world of corporate life without a life-vest. We barely knew each other, except for the fact that I enjoyed Tolkien, Sovan liked GTA, Sachin could beatbox, and Nivetha loved spicy food. But these details were all “office talks.” They were conversations slipped into coffee breaks, in an attempt to prevent awkwardness.

But as the four of us stood on the shore, with saltwater devouring our ankles, everything changed. We spoke about life, first jobs, and what we wanted after this. I think we all found something that clicked. Because after that, we were inseparable.?

We did have our differences in opinions. There were times where we argued at length on topics that may have been irrelevant.? But we were there for each other.

Now, we have parted ways. And none of us knows when we will meet again.

But when I look back and remember everything that happened after Besant Nagar — it always gives me hope and strength. The reason, only seven of us will know.

I—Inspiration

(Three quotes that fueled my week)

“ We want to be fair, and yet, we want to win. We want to be righteous, but we want to get ahead. Such is our struggle.' - Antonio Banderas as Ramón Fonseca, The Laundromat

“The strong should aid and protect the weak. Then, the weak will become strong and they, in turn, will aid and protect those weaker than them." —Tanjiro, Demon Slayer/Kimetsu No Yaiba

"The tradition of all dead generations weighs like a nightmare on the brains of the living.” — Karl Marx

R—Reflection

(Opinion on subjects of significance)

There is no better way to say this, so here it goes — I spent the entire week looking at “windows.” I have perused through at least 20 articles on the new update that is due in October this year, and am very excited. Here’s why.

When it comes to technology I use, I am a stickler for user experience. And while I cannot afford high-end gadgets or top of the line “tech-cessories”— I make it a point to buy ones that give me an overall pleasant UX. This Microsoft update seems to do just that.

The aesthetics look pleasing, but the idea behind everything being “centred” to the user, is laudable. The animations and the room available to customize how you use the PC is also great. However, the promise that the update is stable, and does not include the usual glitches, is a huge cherry on the cake. Hoping Microsoft delivers.

R—Reading

(Novels that do not require a bookmark)

Kitty is a writer, beaten down by life, struggling with internal demons, and bruised from the constant pain of losing Constance, her mentor. All she has are “One Hundred Names.” She knows not who they are, where they live, or why these names mattered to Constance. What she does knows that she has to complete a story with the names, as a tribute to Constance.?

How she navigates the scandal she puts herself in, to find the meaning being these names is a journey everyone should take. This week, was my third reading of the book, and it does not cease to pleasantly surprise me.

O—Outlook

(Videos that change perspectives)

Anyone who knows me will testify to my love for chillies in cooking. Spicy foods are kind of my thing. And while I am always ready to experiment with different types of flavours, if I cook a meal, it will always have a spicy curry or side dish.

So, this video on how different cultures eat spicy food was super interesting. From ghost chillies to jalapenos, this episode of Around the World highlights seven cuisines that get your tongue dancing. And for those that have a low heat tolerance, it also includes seven ways to beat the flames.

PS: This is the kind of "too hot to handle" I like.

R—Reset

(How I want to approach next week)

My earphone research is complete! I was planning to include it here as a side note, but when I shared the forms and got around 100 responses, it did not feel justified to end there. So, I am writing a proper blog on it. Trying to publish it within two-week #FingersCrossed.

Next week, my goal is to fix my sleep cycle. I do have some ideas on how to do that. Looking forward to trying it out. Hope it works.

Ciao! See you next week.