Annual Reminiscence: 2020
Some of my snippets in a very non-annual review format. Not sure if it's newsletter-worthy but here goes.
Hey there,
I did not publish last Sunday. Definitely not a good 2021 start, although I have vowed to try to develop a system where I do not miss twice and make sure that last week was the last time I skip writing my newsletter.
The past two weeks have been nothing short of exciting and overwhelming. Remembering the 8 months I spent at home and then reverting to the pre-Covid routine is high-strung.
Not only moving back to Bangalore but moving to a completely new locality with my college mate has been amazing. The rains, the neighbourhood, the cold, and the city.
Writing this makes me think that I am incredibly lucky. I’m filled with an overwhelming sense of gratitude.
What feels strangest about the year of COVID is how little it affected me.
Here are some of the things that make my 2020 a year to remember:
Work + Family Time + Childhood Friends
While the world was suffering from the pandemic and unemployment crisis, I got to spend my time, working from the comfort of my bedroom.
Many people had to spend time in quarantine alone, while I spent quality with my Mom, Dad and our extended family - playing board games, celebrating festivities and also having a laugh or two while reminiscing about the innocent childhood.
Hanging out with my childhood friends was truly a blessing during the pandemic. Sharing, vibing to music and just hanging out gave me something to look forward to on the weekends. We did a lot of things - late-night drives, board games, meals, movies, and at times some 3-am deep conversations over green tea.
Reading Books
I spent all my life watching TV Shows. Basically, I watched them all.
In late 2019, I came across some brilliant people on Twitter who encouraged me to pick up reading as a daily habit. According to them, if you can just read a little bit every day, you’ll be able to hone any skill there is out there, and I was sold.
Here are the books that a beginner like me read in 2020.
I will be reading a total of 77 books in 2021, at least that’s my target. If you’d like to keep up with my to-read or read list, add me on Goodreads (goodreads.com/darshilbtw) or follow me on Instagram (@darshilbtw).
2x Speed Podcast Listening
I've been talking too fast my entire life-I expect now that when people first meet me I have to repeat nearly everything I say until they get used to how fast I talk. It's the worst when I'm passionate about something. Now I try to consciously slow down.
On the other hand though;
... to consume more content, I have been speed-listening to podcasts at about ~2x speed for the past 6 months. Not only it improves your attention span but in my opinion, the biggest benefit of doing it is to reduce the “time-cost” of the content.
Spending 1 hr on 2 podcasts (1 good, 1 bad) is more valuable than spending 1 hr on one bad podcast.
Suppose a friend recommends you a book, you can listen to that book in a couple of days @2.5x speed on audible to not just consume it but also reduce the mental burden of checking it off the list.
My goal for 2021 is to get habitual to the 3x speed.
If you’re wanting to listen to some quality podcasts — here you go.
I know that many people will not like this…
“If more information was the answer, then we'd all be billionaires with perfect abs.” ― Derek Sivers
Our minds haven't gotten faster, our attention span has shortened. Those are two different things and I agree. I think short attention spans are detrimental and are something that should be worked against, not something that should be appeased.
TO CONCLUDE,
I feel the optimal speed largely depends on one’s familiarity of the subject matter and information processing speed (which can be trained) and should be adjusted case by case.
A maxim I live by — Slow down when you feel you need to.
Serendipity Vehicle: Writing & This Newsletter
In Q2-2020, I was convinced that having a newsletter is equivalent to tapping into a beautiful, untouched realm.
When I encountered - RoamResearch.com, I started writing every day, because there’s one thing for sure: If you want to get better at writing, learn to be a better note-taker.
After writing for a few weeks on Roam, I could visually see my own writing commingling, coming together by itself with new ideas and ways of thinking. It was like having my second brain work for me. It felt like my mind was making a baby, and it was beautiful.
Fast forward to Sep-2020, I published my first-ever newsletter: Learning How To Learn.
Writing, I think should be embraced as a way of thinking. Creative thinking. It is when you write about a subject, you realize how little you know. Writing tells us how lousy our thinking is.
The only reason I write is to force myself to think through about a subject that I think I already know.
This newsletter has given me that accountability.
When you start a blog, a newsletter, a podcast or a YouTube channel, you let your work speak for you while you’re asleep and it is incredibly serendipitous.
The New Normal: Less is More
Our lives have been cluttering at an exponential level, we are constantly getting things delivered, constantly reading, watching and responding.
Sometimes we need to let go a little. You can give focus to what matters most to you. You can find joy in the simple things.
It’s not about saying no to everything.
It’s about saying yes to what really matters. Paring down to the essentials that matter most to you, and making space for those.
If you want to go into how I applied some principles, click below:
What matters most: What are your essentials? My list might look something like this:
My mission (work, including writing and education)
Family and Loved Ones
Learning
An active, healthy, mindful life
The last one can be flexible: it includes walking/running but could include hikes, sports, lifting weights, yoga, swimming, cycling, or more.
It’s not about cutting everything out of your life, but about contemplating what your essentials are.
What are your essentials?
If this sounds at all exciting to you, I’d love to keep you in the loop for my next piece.
Endnote: 2020 is gone
What a freaking year it’s been. I don’t need to tell you. It’s been chaos and grief and frustration and anxiety and much more.
It’s also been a year of professional growth for me, and the newsletter. In fact, in that area, it’s been one of the best years ever.
Here’s to another year of growth, learning, transformation and love.
Until next Sunday,
Darshil
👋 The End
Thanks for joining me! Let me know what you’re reading, learning, watching or thinking about. If you wish to get in touch, message me on Twitter or Instagram, or reply to this post/email.
Memories
Best Surprise: Knowing how much people from past care for you
Best Meal: Spinach and Beans
Coolest New Experience: Getting chills while reading Dan Brown
Favourite Weekend: Visiting a nearby waterfall with parents and discussing life
Favourite First Meeting: Tom Loughrey
Favourite New City: Bangalore
Favourite Sports Moment: Bayern Munich 8 - 2 Barcelona
Most Intense Week: Writing an essay on The art of Negotiation
Favourite Artist: Mike Posner
Favourite Songs: Drag by Day Wave, Kids by Current Joys and Exitlude by The Killers (xqcL)
Here’s the Spotify playlist of my songs.
Favourite Quotes: The smarter you are, the worse off you are, because smart people are better at calculating risks. When you’re smart, and you likely are, you can see all the downsides to a situation before you even try.
“Procrastination is self-destruction”
Thank you for reading.
Really Awesome writing ! Liked ur Idea Of presentation. Would Like to read more of this kind in future. cheers bro !
A pleasant read. Missed reading about you last weekend. Keep up the good work. 💯