Hitting a milestone

Today, something unexpected happened.

My personal blog crossed 2,000+ views in a single day. For the first time ever.

That number might not seem big to everyone, but to me, it's huge.

What started as a quiet space for personal reflection has slowly grown into something much bigger than I imagined. And now, just six months in, my blog has crossed 14,000 total views.

All of this has happened with:

• No SEO gimmicks

• No paid ads

• No social media promotion

Just honest writing, quiet thoughts, and a bit of courage to hit "publish."

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Why I Started Writing

When I started this blog, I didn’t have a strategy. There was no niche, no calendar, no goal of going viral. It was a diary, really — a space where I could be honest with myself and with anyone who might happen to read it.

Most of what I write is personal. Sometimes it’s about navigating life, sometimes about emotions I don't always share out loud. Often, it’s just a way to slow down and reflect.

I didn’t expect many people to read it. I certainly didn’t expect thousands.

But here we are.

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What This Milestone Means

To me, this isn’t just about traffic or views. It’s about something deeper.

It’s about the power of showing up quietly, consistently, and authentically.

It’s about the reminder that our personal stories, no matter how ordinary they seem to us, can resonate with others in unexpected ways.

And it’s proof that slow growth is still growth. That you don’t need to chase trends or performance metrics to make something meaningful.

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What I’ve Learned So Far

⏳ Writing takes courage, not perfection
I still hesitate before clicking "publish." I wonder if it’s too personal, too boring, or too much. But every time I post anyway, I’m reminded that courage matters more than polish.

🌱 Growth isn’t always loud
Some of the most meaningful milestones, like a comment from a stranger who connected with your story or one returning reader, don’t show up in analytics but they mean everything.

🪴 Keep writing. Don’t give up
Even when it feels like no one’s reading. Even when your words feel small. The act of writing itself is powerful.

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A Quiet Thank You

To everyone who has read a post, shared a link, sent a kind message, or just taken a moment to linger on my words — thank you.

This blog was never about numbers. But this milestone reminds me that real connection is still possible on the internet, without the noise, without the hype, and without selling anything.

Here’s to writing that stays true.
Here’s to the quiet ones.
Here’s to the next chapter.

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Thanks for reading.

If you’re thinking about starting something — a blog, a project, a journal — start. Even if it’s just for you. You never know where it might lead. 

2 B R 0 2 B - a book review

 

Wow, what a story! 

2 B R 0 2 B might be short, but it hits like a punch. Vonnegut throws us into a future where births and deaths are perfectly balanced, and the cold efficiency of it all is both absurd and terrifying. I couldn’t believe how quickly the world pulled me in, and that ending left me stunned. 

It’s dark, satirical, and thought-provoking, the kind of story that sticks in your head long after you’ve finished. For just a few pages, it delivers so much.

fun fact: The title is a play on the Shakespearean line “To be, or not to be” from Hamlet, rendered here in a modern, almost clinical form: “2BR02B” (read as "to be or naught to be").

Heroes of the Real World

There is Superman for Metropolis.
There is Batman for Gotham.
But in the real world, there are no heroes — only ordinary people doing extraordinary things.

What really matters in life is how ordinary people, with no superpowers, believe in themselves and fight to survive each day.

The only thing that truly makes us “super” is the willingness to face life as it is, with courage, persistence, and honesty.

In today’s world, doing ordinary things, staying true to one’s beliefs, and working hard for the survival and well-being of one’s family and self is the real superpower.

Real heroes don’t wear capes: they’re ordinary people facing life and doing the extraordinary every day.

New directions in learning

It’s becoming harder for me to learn things with intention. Back in college, no one had to push me. I had this natural drive, an unintentional push that kept me curious and eager to explore new topics.

But now, at 28, that spark feels dim. I no longer feel the same excitement for exploration, and the urge to learn something new seems to have faded.

Things have changed, and life is slow now. It just revolves around three things: sleep, food, and money. Even the job seems to be only for money, and that is a bitter truth.

I have no worry or complaint about this slow life, but the important aspect is that I have started to enjoy it. I don’t see anything wrong in that. When I look back and try to reflect on my career, the hunger curve had once been a steep rise, and now it is almost flat.

I still have the hunger to try new things in life. Maybe my interests have changed. I am more into home décor and food exploration these days. I like to understand life, not from reading, but by living it.

Once I believed that a person who stopped learning would rust. But now I believe it is wise to learn only what is needed. There is no requirement for a conventional mode of learning. Learning can also come through experience and trying things on your own. Even mistakes are a way of learning.

Sometimes, every aspect of life need not have a reason, it's all a part of the new learning experience and I just try to dive in it and survive.

Life, productivity, and the illusion of shortcuts

Some days make me pause and think about shortcuts, ways to be productive and improve the quality of life. At first glance, the easiest shortcut seems to be faking or pretending.

But is being fake really a way to live a dream life?

The truth is, being fake can never be permanent. It’s like a bubble, shiny on the outside but ready to burst, often leaving behind a heavy impact on real life.

Shortcuts of any kind are always temporary. They may bring quick results, but they rarely sustain the journey toward something meaningful.

Life is meant to be lived in the real world, not in a pretentious bubble filled with false hopes. Making smart choices matters. Practicing rational thinking over purely emotional decisions can make a big difference. But these are not shortcuts. Shortcuts are more like giving up too early, depending too much on others, or chasing easy gains at the expense of real effort.

So, are shortcuts to productivity just a gimmick?

In some ways, yes. Productivity improves with practice, and there is no way around that. Planning better and using proven techniques can certainly help us improve the quality of life. But these are not shortcuts. They are deliberate practices that require patience, effort, and discipline.

They are not gimmicks but carefully developed approaches that have been tested and refined over time. And not every method works for everyone. It depends on the kind of life you are living, the life you want to live, and the life you have already experienced.

Shortcut philosophies usually appeal to those seeking a quick escape or temporary relief. But lasting productivity, and a truly fulfilling life, come from taking the harder path—living fully and standing firmly by the values that matter.

Because in the end, shortcuts might save time, but they never build a life worth living.

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This post is inspired by Robert Birming’s essay “No Shortcuts to Wonder.” I wanted to reflect on his ideas and share my own thoughts on shortcuts, productivity, and living life fully.

Thinking in a load-off mode.

You know, it’s so crucial to keep life at a low load. Sometimes, it’s even better to put the load away completely, just so the brain has enough breathing space.

And I really mean it.

The human brain needs rest. Not just a little, but sometimes an ocean of it. We forget this in the rush to achieve something every day. But not every day has to be about greatness. Some days are meant to be quiet, simple, and calm. If you can be patient and set the weight aside, clarity arrives on its own. Enlightenment, too, doesn’t demand effort, it slips in when you’re not chasing it. I’ve come to believe that you don’t always have to think too much to make things happen. If destiny wants you to succeed, it will happen, inevitably.

For me, “low-load time” is very ordinary, yet very precious. It might mean writing a few words, enjoying a good meal, sleeping deeply, or simply staring at the sky as the clouds wander past. Sometimes it’s sitting in a park, watching birds flutter about, or on the banks of a river, thinking absolutely nothing.

And honestly, there’s so much joy in those moments. The kind of joy you get from nature’s beauty, or from a dream so vivid and beautiful that you wake up remembering it with a smile.

Sunset at my park

There’s a park in my city, right where the river meets the Arabian Sea. I often go there in the evenings. I sit quietly, just watching the sunset. Birds fly high above, the moon peeks out, and the sky melts into shades of red, maroon, and pink. A cool breeze brushes across my face, lifting my hair. 

In that moment, I feel the weight leaving me. Carried away by the wind, piece by piece.

So, what's going in my life?

In the mid of August I decided that I wanted a break to break my art block and be more creative again. I started with painting some random building that I found on Pinterest on MS Paint. I did that for 5 days and then I found that I was just on my laptop for more time and it was just consuming more of my energy.

My primary aim was to get active again in my life and live the life.

When I started to challenge myself with digital art and that too on MS Paint, initially it was fun, but later it got worse. It felt boring. To open MS Paint after my hectic day job and then to carefully paint using my mouse tab—it was just breaking my mental peace.

I just dropped the idea.

After I dropped the idea, I regained a mental balance. I felt so accomplished and satisfied.

I stay away from Instagram and LinkedIn these days. I just spend time reading books, or TV, or reading some blogs that I follow. It’s very simple now and I get time to talk to my parents and more to my partner. I am able to think more rationally and try making decisions—long-term ones for a better life. At the end of the day, my main goal is to live a happy balanced life.

So, what’s going on in my life:

1. I have decided to have a digital detox. No unnecessary stuff. I would be writing on my blog more often.

2. I am still reading Botchan, whenever I get time. It’s an interesting book.

3. I am trying to sleep better.

4. I am trying to have better conversations with my family and wife.

5. I will be moving back to my home, with my parents and wife probably next month.

One thing I learned, even though I don’t complete most of my challenges, is that it’s okay to drop a challenge if you think it’s not worth the time or effort—and there is a bigger challenge to take where there is no escape: the life itself.