Dear Stranger (20/n) - A recap

Six months are over, WHAT?

We’re at the mid point of this year *sigh.* Where did all the time go??! Now that I sit and think about it, there were major events in every month but wasn’t New Year’s Eve like two months ago?

I always end up forgetting my resolutions coz I never review them at any point but I thought I’d do it now coz I’m really trying to live by ‘what you don’t measure, you can’t manage’ this year. So here’s a quick recap on my 2025 ins and outs, to see where I stand, followed by a couple of questions for you.

2025 ins:

• Bring back handwritten letters: 6/10

  I’ve been sending out birthday emails for the most of it but I also did post a birthday letter recently. Need to switch the emails to letters soon though. And I do want to start sending letters just to say hi as well.

• Go to more concerts: 10/10

  I attended Ed Sheeran’s concert with three of my favourite girls and bumped into some more close friends. It definitely was one of the best nights of the year. AND I ended up attending DSPs concert in Vizag for like an hour and a half with my cousin which was super wholesome. But I think I should try to attend at least two more concerts this year for us to end this year on a 10/10 too.

• Build consistency in the things I do: 6.5/10

  Been having a couple of bumps on this road. The problem with me is, I get consistent for a little while and then for some reason I fall off the band wagon and end up staying off the band wagon for a very long time. The consistency part is great but the bouncing back when I haven’t been consistent is something I need to work on.

• Learn, learn, learn: 2/10

  I completely forgot about this one and haven’t really been doing any learning. BUT I am working on something with a friend to do something about this which is why I haven’t given it a zero.

• More virtual yaps: 8.5/10

  I’ve had a LOT of virtual yaps with my sister and friends from Hyderabad and of course my OG Sudoku Sunday boiz Abhi and Joe. But there are some newer friends I definitely want to schedule in virtual yaps with too!

• Find self-help books that I actually enjoy: 0/10

  Didn’t really read anymore self-help books after ‘The 5am Club’ and if I’m being honest I didn’t finish that either. I should probably get back to that. I have been reading a lot more though, so that’s a tiny win.

2025 outs:

• Constantly having my mind stimulated/ having something in the background: 6/10

  I think I have started to enjoy the sound of silence more. There are days when I exercise to zero music and I think those are probably some of my best workout days. I do enjoy the quiet but sometimes I do still get overwhelmed by my own thoughts. Need to slowly work on that. And I should probably schedule in more of these days/hours coz my default is to still play something.

• Learn to not cry while yelling: 0/10

  Heheh, nope. Haven’t learnt this. I’m a crier-yeller. It is what it is. But I think overall the yelling has decreased. So that’s another win.

• Overthinking: 6/10

  I feel like when I’m on top of my routines, when I’m happy within myself I’m not overthinking or overanalysing a SINGLE thing. And I’m happy within myself usually when I’m working out, eating clean, doing my skincare etc consistently. Giving this a six because I feel like I need to try to not overthink even on the days when I am struggling myself. Coz those are the more difficult days, right?

• Thinking ‘I can do this myself’: 6.5/10

  A friend recently said ‘let me take care of this for you,’ and I let him. I never told him this but hearing that changed something in me. Having been hyper-independent for a very long time, just hearing someone say that made everything in me smile. And the thing is even if someone said that in the past, I’d usually handle it myself saying I’m grateful but don’t need help. It was a BIG CHANGE. But it was great. I still need to practice asking for help though.

• A messed up sleep cycle: 8/10

  I’ve built a beautiful sleep cycle, it’s my favourite thing in the world. And I have a nice night and morning routine to sandwich my sleep cycle, it’s all in all just what I need. BUT when it gets disrupted by sudden trips to my cousin’s place, it takes me FOREVER to get back on track.

That’s more or less my reflection of the first six months of this year. Are you ready for yours? (Eyes emoji)

• If you made goals/resolutions at the beginning of the year, revisit them and score each one. Which goals are you on track for? Which ones did you completely forget about?

• Are there any goals you want to change, add or delete? Are you still aligned with these goals?

• If you could pick one goal that would change your life over the next six months, which would it be and what can you do to get started on that?

• Is there one BIG personal event/thing that you’re excited about in the next six months? If there isn’t, let’s think of something to do?

• What went wrong and what went right in the first six months of this year? If you continued as is for the next six months, would you be happy with how things pan out when New Year’s Eve rolls around this year?

I hope you take the time out to really sit with yourself and think about these answers. Coz I think you and I deserve to make the second half of 2025 everything we hoped it could be :)

All my love,

Aru

PS - This week’s Indie music recommendation -