Hi [FORMATTED_SUBSCRIBER_NAME GOES HERE],

Soundarya here, author of 1000 Days of Love. :)

It's happening!

Pre-orders for 1000 Days of Love are FINALLY live. This book existed in my head for so many years that it truly feels like a miracle to say this to you... you have no idea.

We've already crossed 800+ pre-orders in less than four days. Come join and be one of the first 1000 to ever order the book. Everyone who orders now will also get a free digital copy of Unshaken by Rajesh Setty (my godfather and the person who inspired 1000 Days of Love).

Also, you get to read Chapter 1 immediately after purchase ;) One review of it so far: "I can't remember the last fiction book I read, but man this was so beautiful. It felt like I was with you!"

A short story

"The best things come out of the worst times."

We've all heard it. You've probably experienced it too.

I spent 10 months across farms and a trailer in the last two years writing my novel. It was magical. But why did I do it? Because of a horrible incident in London where I was assaulted by a stranger on the street.

But when the worst things happen, it's hard to see the goodness in it. And yet, some people manage to do it beautifully.

My godfather, Rajesh Setty, and I talk about this in our course. See a short excerpt below:

~~~

Rajesh: Once I knew I didn't have a choice, I began thinking, "Is there anything good that I can get out of this disease?" I knew I couldn't do anything fast anymore. Slowness was the new normal. So I began to just think more. Whenever I'd be paralyzed on the couch, I'd meditate or think about a conversation, or a concept. And write a napkinsight.

Me: What's a napkinsight?

Rajesh: An insight that can fit on a paper napkin.

Me: Tell me one of your napkinsights.

Rajesh: "Too much of rest can make your mind rust."

Me (smiling): Nice. So it's simple sentences, but special because you couldn't write anymore at some point.

Rajesh: Yes. I love writing - not just on a laptop, but actually writing with a pen and paper. In fact, I wrote an entire book called Beyond Code by hand. But when I realized I can't write articles or books anymore, I thought at least I could write a few words on a napkin and make it count.

Me: How many have you written so far?

Rajesh: Over 3000 in the last 10 years. 300 a year.

Me: So one every day for over 10 years now.

Rajesh: Yes. Besides Napkinsights, I also got a few other things from my Sparkinson's love affair. Such as my stand-up comedy (or sit-down comedy as I call it), and of course, my memoir, Unshaken.

~~~

So when you can't do the big thing, do the napkin-sized version of it instead :)

(Also, anyone who pre-orders 1000 Days of Love also gets a free digital copy of Unshaken. Reading it made me a better, happier person.)

A tiny experiment

Experiment: Pick one thing you've been putting off because you can't do it "properly" yet. This week, do the napkin-sized version of it.

Reasoning: We think starting small is a compromise. It isn't. It's often the only version that actually happens. Rajesh wrote 3000 napkinsights not despite the constraint, but because of it.

A question for you

Question: What's something you really, really want to do, but it feels too big to even start? And what might the napkin-sized version look like?

Hit reply and tell me. I read and respond to all emails.

Last week, I asked you about a person whose resilience you deeply admire. So many of you sent responses. My favorite response came from Ebsi:

👑 Winner: Leela Prasad 👑

Leela Prasad won a free copy of 1000 Days of Love (pre-orders are now LIVE. Book comes out early 2027). 🎉

This week's surprise is NOT hidden in the newsletter. Rather, we're gonna pick one person from everyone who responds to the Question in the newsletter. So go ahead and hit reply 😉

Quote of the week: The tragedy of life is not death, but what we let die inside of us while we live.

~ Norman Cousins