This feels like loss.
This feels like loss.
Yet I continue to inhabit the spaces I’ve always inhabited.
A friend recently pinged me on Whatsapp, asking me to nominate myself for a youth changemakers workshop in Poland. I was excited to read through the details, which seemed right up my alley, until I arrived at the age cutoff: 35 years. I had just missed it.
Through our time in Peru, my partner and I went on several hikes, some of which were inaccessible by public transport and involved joining small groups. Scanning through registration and indemnity forms, I couldn’t help but notice that the next oldest person in the group was only in their late 20s.
Friends from school and university used to show up on my Instagram feed with their wedding and travel photos. But lately, they’ve been replaced with little humans I don’t recognize.
Suddenly at 36 years (and 7 months) of age, I feel a loss I haven’t felt before. A loss of youth.
I’ve begun to notice stubborn aches, and my shoulders constantly creak under the weight of my laptop bag. My hair is becoming more salt than pepper. I’m far more interested in seeking life advice from 70-year-olds than mindless banter with 20-somethings. I’ve lost the patience to exist in places I don’t belong, even when they seem obligatory. I’ve become obsessed with tracking the journey of artists I loved in their (and my) youth. I increasingly relate more to books and films where the protagonists are staring at death. Is that a bit much? I think so too.
At 36 years (and 7 months), it has hit me like a rock that I’m older than I’m younger. Yet I continue to inhabit the spaces I’ve always inhabited. Must that change?
Autumn recommendations
Conscious travel recommendations, eco-friendly finds and meaningful opportunities:
Travel
I type this from Lima airport, two+ months after I first landed here. In a few minutes, I must board my flight back to India. There are so many moments, experiences, friendships and conversations I’m yet to process.
I have mixed feelings, but autumn is always a time of renewal. Here are some places I’ve loved spending autumn in:
New York: Could Dying Be Beautiful? Fall Colors in New York City
Himachal Pradesh: Cherry Blossom in Autumn!
Support
Amin Sheikh, who had an inspiring transition from being a street kid to an author to running the awesome Bombay to Barcelona Library Cafe in Mumbai, is running a fundraiser to support the schooling of street kids. Read about his story, get a copy of his book (it’s one of the best things I’ve ever read), and contribute to his fundraiser.
I reconnected with Ishita Sharma - my schoolmate, actor and passionate advocate against gender-based violence - while in Mumbai, over a self-defense class at MukkaMaar. She founded the non-profit to provide self-defense skills (both physical and mental) to teenage girls who go to government schools, through a 3-year long program. This year, they seek to raise funds to train 600 more girls. Contribute to their fundraiser; it’ll be money well-spent.
We’ve just launched our second fellowship at Voices of Rural India, and are looking for a volunteer to manage our social media (Instagram / Whatsapp) - so the stories of rural storytellers can reach a wider audience. If you’re a creative soul, love the idea of using social media for positive impact, and can contribute a few hours a week, get in touch with us at voicesofruralindia@gmail.com
Check out
With the climate emergency knocking down our doors, how can we turn our jobs into climate jobs, no matter what role or industry we work in? I posed that question to four sustainability professionals from South Africa, Lebanon, the Philippines and Canada - in Part 2 of my new Youtube series, Routes of Resilience.
I had the chance to go hiking in Mahina’s period underwear - and it’s a winner! It fits snugly, which takes some getting used to. But it does the job, and is so much more comfortable than using pads of any kind. If you’re still skeptical about menstrual cups, this could be your transition into sustainable menstruation. Get 10% off with the code SHIVYA1.
I’m building a new course at The Shooting Star Academy - on how purpose-driven small businesses, entrepreneurs, freelancers and artists can use Instagram to build their professional brand and attract the right audience to grow their business. If that’s you, please take my short survey, and let me know what you’d most like to learn.
My stories elsewhere
Stories I’ve written recently, as well as social media posts I’d love for you to check out.
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Oh how this speaks to me, esp because I am exactly (and how) where you are, down to the month you've mentioned. :) And I too wonder whether I'm in the place I'm meant to be in, more so because I don't often see others like me in the same age group. But I like to imagine that women like us who walk non-linear paths choose a different adventure than our sisters. And in our movements of joys and vulnerability, and more importantly, in our candid admissions of the same, we let others who come after us know that this too is a fulfilling and wholesome way to be. ❤️ PS: Thank you for penning this!
Thank you for sharing Amin's incredible story. It's a reminder that we can all do so much more to help those around us, especially the “unseen“