So, here we are, finally. August 15th, 2020 (in the US time-zone, at least).
I’m not into auspicious days but if I were, the Indian independence day is perhaps as auspicious as I’d get. More importantly, and perhaps in a hangover from a previous career in advertising, I only work if there’s a deadline. So I set myself one for kicking off this newsletter that you signed up for. Which brings us to you…
Thank you.
Truly!
I’ll confess that it is a strange cocktail of vulnerability, arrogance, and hope to think people want to listen to what I have to say.
You’ve been gracious with your attention and I won’t take for granted the space you have afforded me in your Inbox. Speaking of which, if this went into your spam or promotions folders, please do move it into your primary inbox.
After ‘signing up’ my wife, mom, sis, uncles, aunts, cousins, extended family, and threatening my sons with fiscal tightening if they didn’t sign up, I wasn’t sure if anyone else might be interested. A combination of curiosity and kindness saw over a hundred others like you sign up for this debut newsletter.
So, what’s this newsletter going to be about?
As you might know, I’m writing a book. I’m 18,886 words in, as of this morning. After marathons and photography, writing a book is the new version of the poor man’s midlife crisis.
The book is called “Name, Place, Animal, Thing”. #NPAT for short. It’s an antidote to the “So, what do you do?” question. Our job titles are unfortunately how we typically respond when we’re asked this. I believe we need to change that as a society. Starting here. Starting with you and me.
I’ve severely underestimated the effort and consequent exhaustion involved in writing for the love of it. Burpees are easier. But I’m learning, one word at a time. The process of writing this book has me meandering to some fascinating rabbit holes, most of which won’t find their way into the book but might find their way into this newsletter. Rabbit holes about creating things, recognizing our inner animal, traveling to places not necessarily far and wide, and the ‘names’ aka titles people carry.
Applying the above lens, I might tell you about my not so brand new “thing”, a writing table that my wife, Tina, made this month from repurposing an old one we found some years ago at a flea market. After many hours of watching flea market flip, YouTube videos on woodworking, sanding, stripping and painting, and conversations with kind hardware small-store owners about patinas and tung oil that I was a mute spectator to, I now have this labor of love to write from:
Or, I might put forth the opinion that movement - of literally the animal kind - is an underrated part of fitness, and encourage you to check out GMB’s approach to it. If you like their ethos, start with Elements - the best ninety-five dollars you can spend on your body. My body certainly thanked me for it. For walking like a bear, jumping like a monkey, hopping like a frog, and...well, crawling the floor like Spiderman.
Regarding “places”, we might discuss traveling really really really far without moving- aka astronomy. I might ramble on about Sea and Sky, a true passion project of JD Knight that reminds us not to judge a website by its colors, but by its content. Or, rant about how telescopes need to be back-ordered nowadays and that you could check out virtual planetariums like Google Sky or Stellarium while you wait. Or, how New York City in the 90s saw high per capita telescope purchases. Only, the telescopes were horizontally oriented towards neighbors’ houses as the New York Times and the New Yorker tell us.
PS: if you’re familiar with telescopes of the vertical/astronomical kind, and have recommendations for someone starting with a computerized Celestron, please do email me at hi@luxnarayan.com. We’re about to buy one and I’d hate to buy the wrong one, only to later find out that one of you is an astronomer with an opinion.
Since this is my first newsletter, I’ve spent most of our time so far in explaining my “why”.
In future editions, the preamble will be on a diet, I promise. I’ll primarily be sharing interesting things I’ve come across. Typically, stuff I’ve read, seen or listened to - that I think you’ll like.
Stuff like this fantastic four-minute video by Kurt Vonnegut on the shapes of stories. Watch it. Seriously. Or, the same thing in more detail in a beautiful infographic that teaches us that Cinderella is similar to the New Testament (watch the video first). Or, about the brilliant visual essays and data-driven storytelling in the Pudding. Their URL, pudding.cool couldn’t be, well, cooler. If you’re not sure about which of their essays to start with, I recommend this wonkily crafted one that dissects Ali Wong’s standup comedy set. PS: if you like the Pudding’s work, consider joining me in supporting them.
Sometimes, we might follow a different piper and deviate from the #NPAT theme - as we did in the previous paragraph that focused on storytelling. The theme of storytelling will certainly make recurring guest appearances. I’m even writing #NPAT the book as a modern fable. Our species is powered by stories.
I’ve made a deal with myself that I’ll write at least one essay on my website every month. When I do, I’ll plug them here with no shame, whatsoever. I’ve written these three essays in the last five weeks:
Cats, musicians & bookcases. And what traditional colleges can learn from them
(about online education. Link)Improv your Life
(about Yes, And-ing. Link)Writing non-fiction. Through fiction
(about being confused in my book’s journey. Link)
Lastly, I’ll also share updates on the progress with my book. I will request some of you for help down the line in reviewing and editing the book. Or, ask for your opinion on things. For example, your opinion on which cover design works better - when we have cover designs to choose from.
Speaking of opinions, please ping me at hi@luxnarayan.com to give me your unfiltered opinion on this newsletter (and feel free to share or point any like-minded friends to https://NPAT.life )
Or, ping me if I can be of any help to you. Perhaps with your startup, or with getting started up with your book or blog, or with losing 28 pounds in 3 months. Or storytelling, or any of the other themes listed on my website. Or, not mentioned there. Anything you think I could help you with.
We all need to help each other!
Again, thank you for being here. As we say in Tamil, Nandri.
Love it, Lux. All the best.
All the best, Lux!