Bookmarking 2023
The chapters of experimentation, pages of unforeseen growth, paragraphs of magical mirth and a few necessary punctuations...
Every year is special, and annoying in its own way but 2023 was something more.
The months were brisk, but the year was slow.
This year year-ed liked never before.
This was the year of experimentation, fuelled by inspiration ad wrapped in growth – personal and professional both.
I marked 3 decades of existence and so did a lot of my friends. Now we all have interesting health issues and too many weddings to attend. I am awaiting my RTPCR results as I type this sentence.
My 2023 began with uncertainty and agony – heaps of it, powered by imposter syndrome as I quit a full-time corporate job amidst the economic upheaval.
I took a few days off and established my firm on Jan 25th, 2023 – on my late grandfather’s first death anniversary as a tribute. It is called Write Click – the right mix of writing stories and advertisements that click. First-gen entrepreneur, heh! Here’s the scoop.
2023 was about growth that I could never foresee.
I never thought I would need to hire an Executive Assistant within a few months of going independent. I am forever indebted to the people who took a bet on me in the initial days to working with the finest in the industry today.
Every month was iconic. I skinned up a laundry full of emotions – and experiences that I would love to wear. I also completed my 2023 resolutions – embraced slow living, attended only 3 weddings and tried my hand at skincare (it’s a scam).
My 2023 bookmarks include pages of love, light, jests and jaw drops – all jalsa...–
Starting with meeting Sudha Murty, Vani Kola, ISRO’s Dr Ritu K (rocket woman of India), being written about in the book Unboxing Bengaluru, cancelling 11 flights (83% refundable uff) and a visa rejection, Orenda being studied as a dissertation project, launching the second edition, NaPoWriMo and Inktober yet again, marketing the Hindi Bole song by Kavish, Sampada gifting me a ring called Orenda, being on a comedy panel with Garv, designing black-out poetry creative with a fractured index finger – just to ask a guy out, Vistara celebrating my 30th birthday at 35000 ft, the entire Chandigarh-Himachal trip, making it to the top 5 of Globant Women the Build Awards, being a part of an ad commercial for Galentine’s day, ardently getting flowers for more men, and realising that travel as therapy is really stupid!
During my last corporate stint, my team member shared her pregnancy news with me – before telling her own dad. This year she was blessed with a baby girl. THIS, THIS IMPECCABLE, UNMATCHED JOY will be my best cherished corporate memory/award – no matter what! I am not crying, you are.
2023 was also the year where I learnt a lot of gen-z slangs, and a lot about human relationships – with self, close friends, loved ones and workwise - stakeholders/ clients. I strengthened threads with Disha, Surabhi, Rajas, Prerna, Gauri, Darshita, etc. and started yarning many new ones. 😍
My circle of friends will forever outnumber the unbroken bones within me, by 3X at least, even if some of them still haven’t read my book, or are bored of the climb.
As I am skimming through my Instagram stories archives, I realised I have cherished everything I attempted, and I did. I took really interesting photos – and I should actively start posting on @shalakaleido Go, follow!
I lived out louder than ever before – with a lot of unlearning, learning and relearning.
Living and loving out loud is the only way to be a better writer. Jehdi saddi pyaar di gal aye…
Lifting and cheering people up is the best exercise for your heart!
Ishq roshni di cheez hai!
The best achievements are the ones you easily forget.
The magic lies in the things we’re avoiding/postponing.
Life should be treasured in moments and not measured in memories. After all, sadly, everything becomes data.
2024 will be the year of the colour peach fuzz, the year I complete my second book, and of better physical and mental well-being. 2024 starts with home isolation, as I have tested positive for Covid-19.
NONETHELESS, post-recovery, I will be out with buds, buddies, brushes, books, bournvilles and boarding passes - looking after myself and all of you – and I will call that literature.
Mentally adorning my purani dilli lekhak aesthetic, as I will be alive with light, laughter and longing - Mein 2024 mein aasmaan likhungi, tum ishq samjhna! ❤️
All surreal, all magical,
Writeously yours,
Shalaka Kulkarni