How Much Can Life Change in 1 Year
365 days might not seem a lot, but the past year turned my life around.
Hello lovely friend
Welcome to a brand new edition of Be Your Best Friend with Anangsha, the weekly newsletter that seeks to spread a little positivity in your inbox.
I hope you’re well and are having a wonderful week so far.
For me, the past week was a bundle of contradictions. I started out by doing absolutely nothing on Monday and Tuesday. Then, on Wednesday I had an epiphany that I was wasting my life and needed to do something to beat my procrastination.
Unsurprisingly, Thursday and Friday were fueled by a productivity spurt that resulted in getting more work done in 2 days than I had done in the entire month of April (I was away on a 15-day vacation during the first half of the month, and was suffering from a terrible holiday hangover after I returned).
How was the past week for you? Let me know by replying to this email or leaving a comment below.
A personal realization: the past 365 days
April 2021:
Still wondering whether or not to quit my job.
Taking into consideration the opinions of everyone around me, filling my heart with self-doubt.
Putting up a smile but filled with insecurities inside.
April 2022:
Spent 8 glorious months as a full-time writer.
Accept the opinions of people I love, but I know my decisions are my own.
Understand that my insecurities won't 100% disappear, but I've embraced them and don't let them affect my mood.
Honestly, the past 365 days have been a period of massive change for me. So much has happened, that I still get shocked by thinking that it's only been a year.
April 2021 was one of the hardest phases of my life. I had to give up a high-paying job I had given 10 years of my life for. My parents and well-wishers had their doubts about my decision to become a full-time writer. Every time someone voiced their misgivings, my heart was gripped with icy fear.
I still can't believe I mustered the courage to take this leap of faith.
Looking back, all I have is a huge pride for being able to give up security for the sake of a life fuelled by curiosity.
And I'm so glad I found this amazing community of newsletter readers here. My life as a self-employed person wouldn't have been half as fun without your love and support.
PS: If you're curious about what my previous job was, and why and how I quit it, you can watch the full story in this video here:
Videos of the week
I recently went to a Load The Box Sale in Hyderabad.
If you’re unaware of it, it’s a yearly event organized by KitabLovers where you can pick a box of your choice, and then fill it with as many books as you can fit in it.
There are literally lakhs of books of various genres like thriller, mystery, non-fiction, young adult, fantasy, and romance.
This year, I made a video showing my experience and the unboxing of the 20 books I got for INR 1650 (approx $22 USD).
Watch it here, and don’t forget to let me know how you liked the candid book shopping and unboxing vlog.
I also just got back from a 2-day solo trip in Jaipur, Rajasthan. During my trip, I stayed at an old haveli (mansion with multiple rooms and stories) that was built in 1744, and is hence, as old as the city itself.
The haveli is now a beautiful hotel, and I had an amazing experience staying there, eating authentic Rajasthani food, and roaming around the city on my own. Of course, I vlogged about it too. You can watch it here:
Since we’re on the topic of vlogs, I found the first vlog I ever recorded in my life. I shot this in August 2021 when I was still at the beautiful NIT Silchar campus, working as an Assistant Professor in civil engineering.
At that time, I didn't upload it because I was too insecure about my vlogging skills. Now, I’ve learned that perfection doesn’t exist, and as long as you’re having fun, you can go ahead and share your happiness with the world.
And in this vlog, of course, I was having fun. I was on an evening walk around the lovely tree-line roads of NIT Silchar and admiring the resplendent natural beauty around me. You can watch the spontaneous and unedited vlog here.
Articles of the week
After a long break, I’m back to publishing on my favorite publication on Medium, Books Are Our Superpower. I put together an article about three incredibly powerful yet underrated books that will stretch your mind and make you think.
If you’re on the lookout for thought-provoking books that can alter the trajectory of your life, then this article is for you. Read it here.
I also wrote a thoroughly-researched and stats-backed article on how you can boost your newsletter open rate. If that’s something you think would be valuable to you, read the article here.
Now, a gift for you
If you have a flair for writing and are in the mood to hustle for a while before earning a full-time living from writing, freelance writing is something you should definitely try.
For those of you who are unaware, it’s possible to earn multiple 4-figures USD every month by writing only 10-12 articles for high-paying freelance clients. I’ve done it myself and have taught 80+ students to succesfully do the same.
Curious to know the secret?
Check out my 90-day guide to finding your first high-paying freelance client.
You’ll find 5 pitching secrets, 2 email templates, and a solid framework to get your freelancing career started.
Note that I create this newsletter for you every week with lots of love. If you’d like to support me, here’s a link to buy me a book.
If you found this letter useful, don’t forget to forward this to a friend or ask them to sign up for my newsletter. It’s free, and you know me, I only send valuable content.
That’s all from my end today. I’ll see you again soon. Till then, stay strong. Keep smiling and be awesome.
With love,
Anangsha.