Gathering thoughts…
A world of little thoughts.
Eu vi Erycah Badu. Cara, que intensa. Ela é o tipo de pessoa que se fizesse uma seita, eu seria a primeira a entrar. Bruxona, catártica, muito além da mente. Ganhei o show de graça numa promoção do Instagram e não tava botando fé, mas rolou de verdade. Cheguei e falaram que meu nome não estava na lista, mostrei…
This is the partial title of a scientific paper that wanted to assert the main predictor of belief in astrology, the pseudoscience that saw the biggest boom (or revival) in the past decade - mainly due to social media. While for some it came as a surprise that narcissism is the biggest predictor of belief in…
I took this picture last year as we were walking on our way to the Mukteshwar Temple in Uttrakhand. The pathway leading to the temple was full of vendors selling their farm produce. Many emphasized the fact that these products were grown organically without the use of pesticides, which was the main reason we stopped…
It's been a while since I wrote on Nicheless. Now that I'm writing here again it feels like a return to form. What happens when you undergo a major change in your life? It's different for everyone, some withdraw from their social circles, while others become happier and more open in general. Is it the same for hobbies…
I'm sure you do. We all do. I like the colour variations and how it suddenly makes us pause whatever we're doing. Something powerful there about yielding that kind of influence without really trying, no? I guess that's what beauty does - doesn't try. But sunsets also signify the day's transition. A sunset makes that…
Louis Pereira's perceptive post on not trusting intuition reminded me of something. (https://nicheless.blog/post/disregarding-intuition) A dear friend once told me that when someone close - friend, family, colleague - says to him: "read that book, its just your type of writing," or "think about taking up tango…
I have never been a ferocious writer. There are many things I want to write but I feel somehow good vocabulary and ability to express myself in as simple and few a words has always eluded me. However, in this post, my goal is to just write. There may not be a specific topic or goal that I write about. Just some random…
There's a very popular line in the web series "Kota Factory" which basically says that the preparation for the IIT-JEE examination shatters the confidence of students who don't clear the exams. I have been in that situation over 3 years ago. I now have a college degree in Management and have been at the top 10% of my…
Recently, I've noticed an uptick in conversations around 'content.' Too many creators want to decide what should be called content and what shouldn't. Most comparisons stem from a sense of self-superiority on "the process" one has, before one publishes or creates. The complaint is usually one or the other variations…
What’s more intimidating for a writer than a staring contest with the invisible question mark on a blank page? Not much. A simple solution is to prep the page. I start with to prepping the environment as well. Here are the seven steps I take at the end of the day: I place my journal and pen where I plan to journal in…
i just called myself "we" like i'm fucking King Henry the VIII
HAVE I SAID ALL I HAVE TO SAY? Do those I love know the depth and history of that love, and that it persists beyond dimensions? Why am I waiting to tell them? Am I waiting for perfection before sharing my thoughts in writing or via speeches? What opportunity will I lose if the moment passes? HAVE I DONE WHAT I HAVE TO…
Wife, after sharing second thoughts about starting a new job: "Do you think they're the kind of people who would hire a woman just because she's a woman?" Me: "Wondering whether you're the benefactor of affirmative action feels kind of gross, doesn't it?" Wife: "Ugh" I should note that the Hebrew term for that…
Hmm. This morning, I was thinking to myself that we use too many apps anyways, and now, I'm thinking of building another one. But then, I find myself excited to see what lies ahead. Also, it depends on the time of day. In the mornings, I am more open to screen-time, but by the evening, it gets too much.
When smartphones are invented and we start using them a lot, people always say that the next generation growing up on smartphones will be less smart. Because they don't have time to ponder. But it's been 16 years since Steve invented the iPhone, are we seeing a dumber generation? That would be easy to identify.…
Starting a new business, or a tool, or a startup is considered an enormously good thing. And when you start something and shut it down after some time, you feel equal amount of sad. Why is shutting down considered bad when its the opposite when you stop for the right reasons.
Over the past 20 years, we've gone from shipping software on CDs to instant updates on the web. Though, as with most things in engineering, it's only a tradeoff. Let's explore why. When it took months to prepare a release and literally ship it, teams took their time to make sure everything worked as expected. Mileage…
- andy warhol - tao lin - megan boyle - jordan castro - sheila heti i really want to eat some raisins right now what do all of these people have in common? their ratio of thoughtfulness to playfulness is just right they exude a level of wit&sillies that is just below the threshold required for actual laughter but that…
Today I had dinner with the marketing head of a client of mine. We had nice conversations but one thing particularly struck me: How genuinely helpful and supportive she was. In the course of the evening she proactively offered help and support on several topics, without expecting anything in return. I'm always…
Hello World. There's a few areas in my life that I'd like to grow and evolve. Recently, I've been on a personal development journey on and off for the past two years. I happened to find this site on Twitter a few days ago and I was intrigued. In this chapter of my life, I would like to document my journey along the…
For the past two weeks work has been quite stressful. We have this major change going through the system and I am running point. Now normally this wouldn't scare me but there is a lot of attention on this one. Ever step is being judged and reconsidered. Every day I get another earful of caution. Don't make a wrong…
I was talking to someone I care for deeply. They didn’t see the need to write or journal. There is so much already out there to read. Why would they write? Who would read it? They don’t see what I do. You journal for the benefits. The benefits are hard to see unless you journal enough to experience them. My friend…
One of life's mysteries is how we get stuck too easily as we age. We make assumptions based on past experiences. We hold back from new adventures based on how others act. We say 'no' before we have even tried. My granddaughter and I were playing with a bottle of bubbles in the front yard. She can come up with endless…
I recently started listening to an audiobook called 'Story worthy' and in that the writer states that every movie can be boiled down to 5 secs scenes of transformation. I realized this can be true for any movie, tv show or any other form of entertainment. So, I had a thought that if we think what our 5 secs would be,…
Recipe: lots of awareness and curiosity on how your backside contributes to your movement, a bit of tension in your lower abs, lots of micro exercises to train your mind, and a couple medium-hard workouts. Took 2-3 weeks, not much time every day. Result: My body feels more alive, my back hurts less. This morning it…
I used to be a man who wanted to go into women's toilets. This wasn't a gender identity issue and I'm not a pervert. This had to do with the fact that I am the father of four daughters, who were once small girls. The default position on fathers taking their daughters to a public toilet is that they should go together…
I don't have a plan for this blog. However, every time I considered writing a new post, I procrastinated. I watched TBBT for the nth time. I started reading a new book. I binged that new song album I haven't gotten around to. I began entertaining my pets. The mix of things I do to put writing away is endless. So my…
Knowing is table stakes. “Do you know the patient?” A common question asked in the clinical world. When I was in training, I literally thought the question meant whether the patient is part of the list I am responsible for that day. A simple yes or no. Now when I get asked, I know that the knowing is much deeper. Do…
We have steadily become trained to gather inspiration like a humpback whale gulping down thousands of krill. The constant inundation of images and concepts can confuse the mind and stifle your own creative spark. Really, the most profound moments of inspiration happen, not within the outer noise, but within the inner…
Yesterday, while at the grocery, a teenage stocker complimented my glasses. It tickled me. She looked at me with her bright young face and told me my glasses were cute. of course, they sit on a 65-year-old face. Then we talked about choosing new frames. The exchange was gratitude worthy, but it isn't in my journal. I…
Lembre-se que todo minuto dentro da ficção custa tempo da sua vida real. Durma direito. Tome sol pela manhã. Hidrate-se. Faça uma atividade física. Caminhe. Alimente-se melhor. Escolha bem suas companhias. Semeie e cultive bons relacionamentos. Aprecie a lua. Passe mais tempo com quem te aprecia. Saiba lutar pelos…
The term "mastery" or become a "master" of X skill is being thrown around too lightly in recent years. Seems like everyone who writes marketing copy about an online course or other resource like it enjoys using the term a lot. For most it's not their fault. I agree that it sounds appealing for the user that's reading…
It's a toxic question. We like to press ourselves with it all the time. We use it to police each other. Diagnose the problem. Administer medication. It's how we like to handle problems. The question points our attention inwards and focuses on the mess we're swirling in. A better question is: What matters to you? This…
Li A hora da estrela, de Clarice Lispector e hoje discuti no clube do livro sobre como a obra me tocou. Também me pergunto com frequência se sou um monstro ou isso é ser uma pessoa, Clarice, por ir contra minha criação principalmente. Ver uma pessoa tão simples economizando a vida, repetindo crenças que não fazia…
I had another heavy conversation with my mom today. I’ve noticed she often has these outpouring sessions ever so periodically where she shares her pain and hurtful past incidents with me. 1. I’ve noticed a lot of repetition in the stories she narrates and I believe these are unresolved issues and conflicts that she…
Recently read this short story collection by Murakami and some quotes from this collection have won by heart and here they are: 1. And that span of time had created a translucent barrier between us that was hard to traverse. Even when I had to say something, the right words just wouldn’t come out. And every time I…
I have always wanted to build a writing habit for the longest time. However a combination of imposter syndrome, unavailability of time, not prioritising writing and fear of my bad content stopped me. A major factor was also the world around me which shared their writing on social media. I was even afraid to create a…
A Matriarch born in 1908 in present day Pakistan has left a wonderful legacy, four generations ahead. The last few weeks have been a whirlwind of staying true to her legacy. From her Son (84 years), her grand daugters (in their 50s and 60s), her great grand daughters (40s and 50s) and great great grand children (from…
Acabei de assistir"secretária" Que filme incrível. E o jeito que acaba, deixa tudo melhor. Um convite para todas as mulheres que se sentem fora da norma. Sustentar o prazer é difícil! É uma dor, para você e para os outros. Como se fosse um band aid arrancado de vez. Hoje uma colega de trabalho veio almoçar em casa. O…
Managing money is hard for a couple of reasons. Firstly, most of us don't understand what money is and how it works. We don't really understand why pieces of paper have value - many of us still think it's backed by gold. We also don't understand why a random piece of metal aka gold is so precious. We don't understand…
Some days i just sit and wonder if there is any purpose of life or we are here to find a job, earn money and spend it again on our daily needs. There is no end to this and this is a vicious cycle. We wake up everyday and go to work not because we love it but because we need to either keep ourselves busy or we need to…
This seems like a very traditional and a cliche thing to say, but its more important than we give credit to. Coming from a broken household, experiencing things no one would want their worst enemies to experience. If i ever got a chance that allowed me to change what happened in the past i would decline that offer…
Most people test what AI can do. Ankur Goyal suggests testing what it should be able to do. Typically, as product developers, we build a feature then write some tests to protect it. When tests fail in the future, you know you've broken something important and need to fix it before pushing any changes. This is true of…
escrevo ouvindo "Eu amo a falta de silêncio do mar" da imensa e sem fim LIA DE ITAMARACÁ! eu não sou uma pessoa religiosa. depois de 18 anos na igreja, quando saí foi um alívio não ter mais obrigações relacionadas a isso. era reconfortante cantar as mesmas músicas mil vezes e ter onde se agarrar com fé? SIM, massssss,…
i woke up this morning not knowing where i was but my eyes were heavy so i played a game of "where am i"? before revealing the answer i had some guesses a sailboat in sicily was not one of them (my soul plays this game with me regularly to see if i like where i am. this morning i was rather pleased. it's a splendid…
I've noticed that the first 10 minutes of my day can make or break it. If I hit snooze several times and start scrolling through news on my tablet, I usually end up feeling sluggish and scattered. But when I directly get out of bed, stay off my devices, write down thoughts in my journal, and take a quick cold shower,…
A few days back I was planning a trip with my family. I had to cast Google maps to my TV so that everyone can view map on big screen. This is when I realized how much Google maps sucks in landscape mode. The image shown above is a screenshot taken on my phone so the map is visible here but when we cast to TV, the…
Ahhhhh speaking with an AI has moments of joy thinking about all the possibilities. then it's content quickly changes and reality tells me we have a very long way before all our possibilities will be realized...
