In Tune with Life: The Year’s Symphony of Growth & Gratitude
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8:47 PM: Two continents, seven cities, and three fiscal quarters. This is the overarching sum of my 2023 rite of passage that has officially preceded Labour Weekend, the US Open, and NYFW.
If it weren’t for an invitation by Loro Piana to preview their 2023 interior collection during Salone del Mobile in Milan, I probably would not have made it out to Italy this year. I was still rather deeply tethered to unglamorous pre-seed stage responsibilities as a solopreneur, which requires wearing far too many hats to solely keep on a statement straw (only appropriate Italia uniform).
With sincerest gratitude, I thank my lucky stars, dearest friends, mentors, and colleagues for the memorable trip. It serendipitously lapsed into novel adventures (and misadventures alike) through three Italian metropolises and both banks of my photogenic Parigi. Finally, I clawed my way out of the second European home to actual home in the city that never dares to sleep: My beloved Empire State. Save for, in the case of Halima, after-hours shenanigans are routinely supplanted by burning the midnight oil (sometimes literally with candle wax and raw materials splattered all over her ensemble de la nuit). I trade the dance floor and libation-fueled event hopping to focus on achieving true scaling.
As a result of this sacrificial consistency and my unwavering commitment to the vision I have for Darling Anaïs — we recently soft-revealed prototypes for the first capsule. To me, this is 2k23’s grandest milestone! We, as an LLC, are additionally set to foster more authentic and genuine relationships with each of our collaborators and stakeholders, which is an integral part of this dear-to-my-heart business model mine.
Following the inaugural domestic trip of the year to L.A. (official second home) at the tail end of Q1, the post-Europe sojourn to Washington D.C. — approximately four to five months later, amid all the moving parts — was a sheer, heartfelt delight. Even with the insufferable “Dog Days of Summer” beating down on Mid-Easterners, I was overcome with understated honour to have had a seat with my name laminated at the National Press Club as a participant in the imminent conversation on clean energy reform. This has especially meant a lot since I am still a nascent journalist getting my bearings in a by-and-large competitive industry.
While Georgetown vacationing, I also had the privilege of conducting a bit of academic research at the world-renowned Library of Congress, reconnecting with our nation’s history as a proud patriot, like never before. Plus, I befriended a few good fellow news professionals. Namely, the young Washington Post Digital Editor Nick Saffan and Adam Verdugo, an Executive Producer for CBS News. These opportune connections added an invaluable layer to the overall travel experience.
The leaves on the trees outside the West-facing terrace are taking on a tawny hue. Despite the cooling of the air to autumn temperatures, it often goes unnoticed under the brilliant sunlight. I’ve returned to ordering my Americanos piping hot, and I find myself immersed in the pages of a great many whimsical books when time permits. They are all paperbacks, as always, to satiate my analog bibliophile heart, even as the staunchest supporter of AI that I unabashedly have been crowned.
Did you know that Chopin, one of the Great Romantics and my second favourite classical composer, died at the paltry age of 39, penniless? He had been put up in an opulent flat in Paris paid for by friends, as his genius and fame were lost on a lover who left him astray, ultimately relegating the legend to his deathbed. Oh, how I wish Chopin, like your average Gen Zer, had handy a copy of the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5) or access to Psychology Today so he too might have triumphed at assuaging his love-addictive tendencies. Thus, more likely than not, blessing us with a wider treasure trove of sonic chefs-d’œuvre.
In a year filled with mammoth change, intense healing, adventures galore, harrowing setbacks and unexpected opportunities, I’ve learnt that growth often comes from both sparkly society events rife with fodder to dazzle the world with our idiosyncratic charm. And, the quiet nights spent building upon the unseen fantasies that claim massive real estate inside our minds. It is a delicate yet non-negotiable balance, and it’s what keeps the Big Apple dream alive and thriving for all.
Here’s to staying true to our visions, even when they seem unconventional or challenging to others, the friends who light our path even when the road gets tough, and the empowering moments during this whirlwind of life that have the magic to ground us. As the seasons change, may we all continue to evolve, create, and adapt to the unique rhythms of our own lives, just as Chopin found inspiration for his timeless compositions.
Until the next era in your timeline unfurls, be sure to savour each page, each sip, and each missive, for they are the notes that map out the bittersweet symphony of our mercurial existences.
