My Kaleidoscope
Editor’s Note: This is the 50th edition of the Stories by Shiv newsletter! It all started in September 2020, which means I’ve averaged ~one post every other week for just over a year and a half. I’m proud of myself for the consistency and commitment. This milestone has me reflecting on the journey and what writing means to me. I can honestly say that the decision to share my writing online has been life changing.
Do you remember playing with a kaleidoscope when you were a kid? I do.
It was magic.
I saw colors and shapes that I’d never seen before. It introduced me to a universe that disobeyed the rules of the physical world. I was told:
Squares can’t be triangles.
Blue can’t turn into red.
Except that they can, and it could — when I was looking through a kaleidoscope. It gave me a new perspective on what was possible and the things I thought to be true. It was beautiful and humbling.
Now writing has become my kaleidoscope.
I’ve written my whole life, but never for anyone else’s eyes. During the pandemic, I yearned to feel connected with my friends and family, so I started Stories by Shiv and shared it with them. If you’re new here, I mostly write (and doodle) about lifestyle psychology, sharing my thoughts on universal topics like identity, ego, belonging, etc.
What originally began as a medium to say to the world on a bi-weekly basis, “hey! I exist” during a disconnected, disjointed time has now grown into a community of thinkers. It’s been eye-opening to learn that many of you wrestle with questions similar to what I often ask myself:
What does it mean to live a good life?
Why do I value productivity so much?
Is there a reality that doesn’t involve the hedonic treadmill?
Writing (and creating in general) can feel self-absorbed. But as a fellow writer Stew Fortier clarifies:
“When we share our essential experiences with others, we open a door to connection. Other people can see us more clearly…Our humanity radiates outwards.”
Writing — and specifically writing in public with this newsletter — has helped me find new perspectives to age-old questions rooted in what it means to be human. It’s created the opportunity to have conversations that I wouldn’t have been able to have otherwise.
These conversations have made me sharper, more empathetic, and curious. By learning about others' experiences, I’ve further contextualized my own. I find myself seeking complexity and nuance as I define (and continuously refine) my understanding of our world.
Questioning what we think we know in this way is not the norm in society.
But, much like our thoughts and beliefs, light travels linearly. Kaleidoscopes change that course. And for me, so does writing. It creates a fuller, richer image of life that I wouldn’t be able to access otherwise.
And for that, I’m grateful and want to say thank you for being along for the ride.
50 posts and counting,
Shiv
In case you missed them, here are a few of my favorite pieces:
You can also find me on Twitter, Instagram, and even TikTok.
Stories by Shiv is part of Wayfinder, a writer collective exploring questions that matter.