I have been reluctant to post for quite some time. The resistance is natural. After much deliberation and push, I plan to post in this weekly reflection format.

I intend to share some key highlights from the past week and what I have learned and reflected on. I don’t have a set format for these posts. However, my target is to reach 26 posts. So, let’s start with the fifth issue.

🩺 I have been suffering from shoulder pain, which was affecting my grip strength and mobility. And calf muscle pain that was affecting my ability to walk. I went to the A&E, and after a series of tests, the symptoms might be due to muscle stiffness. I’m still struggling with it, but it is getting better. I’m looking forward to the physiotherapy session in the next few days to alleviate my pain and restore my strength.

🥡 My diet is messed up. I couldn’t cook much, so I ate takeaways and processed food. Now that I’m getting better. I want to start eating clean and get back into my exercise routine.

📔 I’m thinking deeply about journaling and how to better use apps like Day One and Standard Notes. I have been using Standard Notes for nearly two years now. It has been my go-to note-taking app. I have tried many, but I always go back to Standard Notes. Day One is a great app designed for journaling. But I’m still sceptical about privacy because of who owns the app, i.e. Automattic. I want to give Day One another go after, inspired by Daniel Pink’s Pinkcast episode on writing down one noteworthy thing at the end of the day. Also, a similar exercise is called Homework for Life by Matthew Dicks.

Thanks very much for reading The Musk Newsletter – Issue 008.

Welcome to The Musk Newsletter - Issue 007.

Here I reflect upon the previous week and possibly share an article I read, a podcast I listened to, a video I watched, a photo I shot along with my thoughts and commentaries.

Let us start with the seventh issue.

Week 1 (03/01/2022 - 09/01/2022)

Welcome back to the newsletter. I took two weeks off from publishing for no reason. Just felt like it. Now, I’m back.

I have seen a lot of posts on 2021 reflections, resolutions, things I want to do in 2022 etc. I really enjoyed reading them and felt inspired to start a few things of my own in 2022. As of now, I’m still in the process of putting together a list of personal projects to embark and below are a few I’m seriously considering:

• Books for Life: A Reading Project for 2022. Targeted to read 25 books.
• Start a microcast.
• Post one photo a day.
• Write one Storyworthy moment in my One Sentence Journal.
• Learn Investing & share my learnings on a blog.
• Fully deploy GTD methodology.
• Tweak formatting & layout of The Musk Newsletter.

Reflections

I have been reading David Allen’s Making It All Work. He talks about how people skip clarifying the desired outcomes and the next physical action required to move toward the desired outcome. And, wonder why apps, personal organisers, productivity hacks etc do not work. David argues once people start to incorporate this thinking process when stuff shows up then any tool will work for you because you have a clearly defined outcome and know exactly what next physical action to take to move towards the outcome.

Favourites of the Week

To Listen: An excellent interview of Seth Godin on The Knowledge Project podcast.

To Read: I really enjoyed reading the Reflections section of Dino’s journal entry. We are definitely distracted from asking the most important ”WHY“ questions of life.

To Watch: How social media & notifications are manipulating our neural pathways.

Photo of the Week

A graffiti of reassurance. Love is all we need.

Quote of the Week

If you are stuck in a financial rut, to gain wealth, you must make changes that are outside your comfort zone.

From Income And Wealth From Self-Directed Investing by Ian MacDonald.

One More Thing

If you have the opportunity to get vaccinated, please do!

Thanks very much for reading The Musk Newsletter - Issue 007.

Welcome to The Musk Newsletter - Issue 006.

Here I reflect upon the previous week and possibly share an article I read, a podcast I listened to, a video I watched, a photo I shot along with my thoughts and commentaries.

Let us start with the sixth issue.

Week 50 (13/12/2021 - 19/12/2021)

I had booked a few days off this week but it turned out that be a stressful week.

Our sofa from IKEA arrived. I was really excited about it and put it together in under 4 hours. I was impressed with myself on how good I could read and interpret the instructions. As a reward, I sat on the chaise lounge and watched mindless YouTube videos.

I watched a few films. I enjoyed watching Queenpins & Despicable Me and hated How to Be Single.

This Week I Learned

Putting pen to paper for my evening reflection is an incredible way to unwind and close my day.

Favourites of the Week

To Listen: Productivity YouTuber Carl Pullein explains the difference between a goal and a project in the podcast episode. A key takeaway was that Goals are about changing us as a person for the better. And, we may use as many Projects as we may need to achieve our goals.

To Read: On the Importance of externalizing your thoughts. I have always been an advocate for this and what better way is there than journaling and/or keeping a blog, even if nobody reads it.

To Watch: A good video on How to Write Every Day. A key takeaway is to make writing your default action.

Photo of the Week

Please say Hello to Agnes!

Quote of the Week

The best thing you can do is to write because there’s no difference between that and thinking. - Jordan Peterson.

One More Thing

I’m really excited and nervous to hit play on the Micro Monday episode featuring me. Hope you like it. Please share your comments.

Thanks very much for reading The Musk Newsletter - Issue 006.

Welcome to The Musk Newsletter - Issue 005.

Here I reflect upon the previous week and possibly share an article I read, a podcast I listened to, a video I watched, a photo I shot along with my thoughts and commentaries.

Let us start with the fifth issue.

Week 49 (06/12/2021 - 12/12/2021)

This week turn out to be one of the bad weeks of my life.

My grandfather (my father’s maternal uncle) passed away on 11th December 2021. He was a bit sick and need regular hospital visits. However, everything seemed to “go well” after the last check-up on Saturday (11-Dec-2021). I was telling my mum that I got to talk to him for the past 3 days but due to the timezone between India & the UK and just “life” stuff, I could not call him. Now, I will never be able to speak to him. My Appamama (that’s how I can him) was a beacon of knowledge and advice. He worked hard for the family and carried a lot of weight on his shoulders. I will miss the banter with him. With his passing, our family has lost our “grandparent” generation from both our maternal & paternal sides. The knowledge, wisdom and guidance are now passed on to the next generation and we hope to carry on their legacy of kindness, charity, knowledge and family values.

This Week I Learned

Develop a sense of urgency because you do not know when you are next.

Favourites of the Week

To Listen: I have been listening to this Tamil song on repeat. It gives me so much comfort. I thank Bharath for recommending this YouTube channel from where I started to listen to the Oh Nandalala song.

To Read: As a stammerer, One sentence in Pratik’s CEN Speech resonated with me so much. Pratik said:

I held myself back because I thought how I spoke would be more important than what I did.

To Watch: Do watch Matthew Dicks’s Homework for Life TED Talk and start to collect one “Storyworthy” moment from your day for the rest of your life. It will definitely be worth it.

Photo of the Week

I am always fascinated by journals and notebooks. I revisited Ryan Holiday’s video on how keeping a commonplace book helps in the creative process. Inspired by that video, I restarted my commonplace book.

Quote of the Week

Satan threatens you with the prospect of poverty and commands you to do foul deeds; God promises you His forgiveness and His abundance: God is limitless and all-knowing.

From The Holy Quran, Chapter 2, Verse 268.

One More Thing

I have subscribed to Micro.blog premium and really excited about it. Micro.blog is now officially my digital home. I have even purchased the domain, ridwan.blog for it. So, Welcome to my digital home.

Thanks very much for reading The Musk Newsletter - Issue 005.

Welcome to the Musk Newsletter, Issue 001.

Every Monday, I’m planning to reflect on the previous week and share my thoughts, commentary and learning from my daily life. I’m calling my newsletter, The Musk.

Ever since I started using Obsidian, I have kept a daily note of my thoughts, reflections and things as it happens. This is similar to Ryder Carroll’s Daily Pages. This single habit has helped me to quickly review my days without much effort and helps me to capture anything that is potentially meaningful for me.

Some of the things that I’m planning to include are an article I read, a podcast I listened to, a video I watched, a photo I shot along with my thoughts and commentaries.

Let us start with the first issue.

Week 45 (08/11/2021 - 14/11/2021)

This week was a roller coaster ride. Relationships are something I struggle with and need a lot of helping hand. It has taken me a while to accept this sticking point in me. I have lived most of my adult independently. I grew up with a stammer and always felt like an outsider in any situation. Reviewing my weekly entries has shown me that the one thing I need to implement is to approach my key relationships with love and patience.

Speaking of love and patience, I spent my Father’s birthday on 10th November without him for the first time. Just when I was sort of getting out of this emotional struggle, on 14th November, I got the news that my maternal grandfather passed away. After trying to console my mother who has lost her husband not too long ago. I reflected on the life’s brevity in my Obsidian journal and pondered on this verse of the Holy Quran:

God does not burden any soul with more than it can bear: each gains whatever good it has done, and suffers its bad- ‘Lord, do not take us to task if we forget or make mistakes. Lord, do not burden us as You burdened those before us. Lord, do not burden us with more than we have the strength to bear. Pardon us, forgive us, and have mercy on us. You are our Protector, so help us against the disbelievers.’ - Chapter 2, Verse 286

May God Almighty accept my grandfather’s good deads and forgive his known, unknown and secretive sins. Ameen!

One thing that really inspired me in the past week is a Tamil film, Jai Bhim. We watched it on Amazon Prime on 12th November It’s an excellent film on how power, money and most importantly casteism conspire together against Tribal people. This film helps in identifying who is a caste supremacist and who stands for social justice. If you are interested, watch the trailer here.

Finally, a photo of Lamb Briyani cooked by the wife on 12th November:

Quote of the Week

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit. - Unknown

Thanks very much for reading the Musk Newsletter, Issue 001.