Me at 25

ME at

31.12.23

ISSUE #01

8 MIN READ

Birthdays are typically unpleasant and strange for me. As someone who tends to overanalyze, I often find myself engaging with these periodic milestones more deeply than necessary.

This September, I celebrated my 25th birthday, a year marked by significant changes. I left my job at CRED, a place I truly love, to start freelancing. A hard but necessary shift made to give myself space to explore my creativity and contemplate next steps. It was also the year I experienced taking responsibility for another living being for the first time, endured the dreadful saga of moving houses(thrice) in Bangalore, travelled a decent amount, and navigated some health emergencies within my family.

It's safe to say that all these thoughts were rushing up and down my brain, even more so on my birthday. I tried my best to distract myself and ward off intrusive thoughts. However, I wasn't entirely successful.

I mostly spent that day in solitude, accompanied only by my dog and my girlfriend. We lounged on the couch the entire day, indulging in a marathon of the 'Lord of the Rings' trilogy. Comfort food was on the menu, with an order of Domino's pizza. A simple end to an uncomfortable day.

Birthdays are typically unpleasant and strange for me. As someone who tends to overanalyze, I often find myself engaging with these periodic milestones more deeply than necessary.

When I thought of creating Timecapsule, the first piece I felt compelled to write was about this particular year, a period of stepping out of my comfort zone. As challenging and sometimes painful as it has been, looking back fills me with gratitude. 2023 has been monumental in shaping much of my personal identity. It's only when you reflect on the past that you realise how far you've come. This piece is an attempt to capture a snapshot of this significant period in my life.

So here, this is me.

Minus the braces I got a couple of months back, I'm 6 feet tall, weigh 78.2 kilograms, have terrible eyesight, and have 6 tattoos. Sadly, I've gained a few kilos, indulging in the comfort of home-cooked meals while my parents were in town.

And this is Noori.

Bringing her home is arguably the most significant event of my year. She is 8 months old and is an absolute cutie. She is fairly social, loves meeting new people and is endlessly curious about everything. At the same time she is extremely moody, probably loves everyone more than me and eats so fast that she chokes on the food very often.

She knows how to win hearts, and is loved by so many. The most important thing in my life right now.

After sharing a space for almost 2 yrs with Preet, a great flatmate yet somewhat tasteless friend, our landlord's needs forced us both to move out. I had not lived alone for a while and wanted to go back to it. After months of searching and struggling, I finally moved into a new place.
Now settled, I am enjoying process of making it my own, carefully setting up each corner to reflect my taste and my countless things I have collected over time.

This year, I've been learning to develop self-confidence and back myself more effectively. The goals , weirdly for the first time feel like they are defined by me. It's an exhilarating, intimidating, and challenging responsibility all rolled into one.

2023 has been a year of introspection, pushing me to consider the kind of life I want for myself, what truly satisfies my personal aspirations, and, importantly, what makes me happy.

On both personal and professional fronts, it has taken me months to piece together a fraction of this puzzle and still it isn't to say that the process is complete, or that it won't evolve in the future.

This year, I am learning to be more self confident and back myself up.
The goals , weirdly for the first time feel like they are defined by me. Its an exhilarating, scary and a difficult responsibility all at once.

2023 pushed me to think what kind of a life I want for myself, what is it that truly satisfies my personal aspirations and more than that, makes me happy.

Both on a personal and a professional level it has taken me months to piece together a fraction of the puzzle. That is not the say it is done or it will not change in the future.

These are some of my recent hauls.
I do a lot impulse shopping and it has become a bad habit but I love to indulge in it. I love getting myself toys, coffee table books , retro tech etc etc. Needless to say, I am the farthest thing from a minimalist.

And these are some of my favourite songs that were on loop this year. Not one of my best times in terms of exploring new music but still, not bad.

As I write this, the release of Spiderman 2 is just a few days away, and I'm beyond excited about it. I can't wait to play it as soon as possible.

Life has its up and downs but I'm starting to accept things as they come, responding appropriately rather than reacting impulsively.

Patience truly is a virtue. I've realized that some aspects of life require extra time, and it's important to allow for that without rushing. This has been a lesson in mindfulness for me.

These are my fears :

Something happening to my family/dog/friends.
Not living up to my potential.
Compromising on my creative and professional choices.
Arthirits ( my dad got operated for it recently
so pretty fresh in my mind )
Snakes & Spiders

And these are some of the things I look forward to work on:

Improving punctuality.
Focusing on my health.
Undertaking bigger, better, and more ambitious projects.
Developing a much healthier work-life balance.
Hopefully, traveling to different countries.

And these are some of the things I look forward to work on:

Improving punctuality.
Focusing on my health.
Undertaking bigger, better, and more ambitious projects.
Developing a much healthier work-life balance.
Hopefully, traveling to different countries.

25 feels very similar to 18 in so many ways though. I am trying to rediscover myself and find my voice. Life is as uncertain as it was back then and I am trying my best to figure it out. But at the same time its so wildly different , I feel I have found my footing in things I like and enjoy and also have a better vision of the kind of person I want to become.

This is me. At 25.

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STAY

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NO SPAM. OCCASIONAL CERTIFIED GOOD STUFF.

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I would love to chat and hear what you thought about this little project so please don’t hesitate to say Hi.

STAY

THE

LOOP

NO SPAM. OCCASIONAL CERTIFIED GOOD STUFF.

↑ SCROLL TO TOP

I would love to chat and hear what you thought about this little project so please don’t hesitate to say Hi.

STAY

THE

LOOP

NO SPAM. OCCASIONAL CERTIFIED GOOD STUFF.

↑ SCROLL TO TOP

I would love to chat and hear what you thought about this little project so please don’t hesitate to say Hi.