Few of my favourite things. #suckerForBrands #loveRed @Apple @Starbucks @StarbucksIndia #note2self #loveMyLife #gratitude pic.twitter.com/4IqNZttwsM— SG (@saurabh) April 14, 2018
Day 2 in Dubai. Technically third day but I am not counting the day I arrived here. So, day 2. Here’s a list of things that I did yesterday…
- Woke up early. Went to a Starbucks. Read and wrote and day-dreamt for about 4 hours. Published this and this.
- Ate a late lunch. It included loads of Diet Coke and some bit of boiled rice.
- Roamed around Dubai. Did not go to a single touristy place (except a large departmental store to buy groceries for Keto). Soaked in sights and sounds and smells and conversations and Diet Coke.
- Had peanut butter for dinner and slept early. Sleep is still fitful to be honest – second day on the trot that I havent been able to sleep well. Need to work on this.
- No exercise.
- Blew like 30K in the last few days even though I am staying with a friend (large pieces of expenses are running shoes – lol, AirPods (which are amazing AF), groceries and commute (Uber is expensive AF here)).
Apart from this, I was pretty ok. I did not have any dark clouds shrouded over my head. I was, for a change, not worried about the future. While Dubai is not the place for poor or for middle-class people on holidays, I would’ve ideally been fucked in the head for things but I did ok.
So how could I do this? What enabled me? Here’s a list.
- While I am here, I am on a break. That means that I dont have a full-time job that mandates that I spend my time (physically and mentally) occupied with something. I am so relaxed that its not funny. I would love to remain in this state for perpetuity. But then, I know that life is not meant to be relaxed. Need to learn the difference between a cook and a chef.
- I have access to some savings (hardwork over the last year with Rajesh and VISCOMM). And since in general I am not worried about how and where I spend my money, I am ok with the expensive lifestyle. I mean who buys water for 140 bucks at a Starbucks? Back home in India, I must be drinking like 5 litres of water while I am Starbucks. For free!
- Since I am at a place where I dont have access to a phone, this essentially means I am away from all the “news”(updates from my parents, friends etc). Plus the guy who calls me the most (Vivek) is also travelling with limited access to phone / data. Plus I had recently pruned by twitter list to about 100 following. All this put together means I have NO distractions. Also, since I am not at home, I am not managing any chores per se. This has freed up time as well.
Tried hard to think of other things but I could not. So, it boils down to having time for yourself and having enough resources to fill that time with things that matter to you. And eliminating distractions. Not really rocket science per se.
Can this be done over long term? Dont think so. Wait and read more.
Before that. An enquiry. Is this life worth living? Where I dont have relationships and I dont create anything that adds value (#note2self: write on value) and just spend all my time in enquiry, thought and chase of mental orgasm. You know, I’d rather create! More on this over the next few days (hopefully).
So, here are some lessons (and interpretations and introspections and realisations).
A. Its tough for me to be alone. I need a constant companion. I dont crave for affection or attention or sex or anything like that. I just like someone around. In most cases I tell that someone to stay shut while I am doing my thing. But I want someone. I dont know how to put this. Weird. But I cant be alone. I this need to find someone who could be a companion. Not a spouse. Not a business partner. Not a soulmate. A companion. More I think on this, more fucked up I get.
But I am admitting that I need someone. Not a great idea that you need someone around to be able to conquer the world. Will probably think more on this and work towards eliminating this craving need.
B. I need a purpose to wake up. If I dont, I cant wake up in the morning. Since I’ve come here, I have this constant itch to go out and do.
Why? Because this trip has a purpose. I wish to find answers. I want to ensure that I live my life on my terms and do things that wont make me regret my choices when I am 80. I am here to find the answers.
And then to go back home (am glad that even though I am enamoured about the shiny-ness of Dubai, I still want to go back) and do things that I wish to do.
Get the drift?
So as I grow old, I need to continue to have that carrot dangling. Something that makes me continue the chase – even if I am unable to (for whatever reason – health, time, brain etc). I need to find that muse that continues to illude me.
C. I quite love the change in scenery. While this could relate to cutting off from your present (move to a different place for a week or so to think and ponder), I am talking about a micro-thing here.
I typically work from a Starbucks. After I’ve spent an hour or two here, I start to crave for a walk or something. And then post that break, that walk, I dont want to come back to the store where I was at.
One simple solution could be that I work for a few hours from a certain place (coffee shop, office etc) and then get up to take a break (get something to eat, coffee etc) and then go to another place to work (work or coffeee shop). No shit, Sherlock!
So once I go back, I need to create this life for me. Divide the week into maker-manager, day into chunks of 4 hours each and time slots in 25 mins. And then identify those places where I would work from.
D. I love to spend money. Again, this is not new. I’ve known this that I love to spend money. Not spend on frivolous things. But spend on getting good things. I dont go and buy random expensive watches or toys or whatever. My benchmark is simple. I want great function and even greater form. If what you make can amuse me, make me smile and make me wonder, you have a convert.
In fact these are the general principles that lead me in my decisions and output. Idea is to create things that can amuse, entertain, and above all, inspire others! This HAS to be the guiding principle of how I work once I am back. For C4E and for others.
***
So yeah, this is how day 2 was spent. Lets see what the next day has in store. Over n out.
–
Saurabh Garg
April 14, 2018
Dubai