What's in my NOW? — Rishab Vasudevan

issue #191

I'm an exceptionally safe driver with multiple speeding tickets, two accidents, and a totaled car. I was considered “gifted and talented” in 4th grade but adulthood hasn't lived up to that badge. So when I tell you that I'm a designer, photographer, and writer... take it with a grain of salt. — Rishab Vasudevan

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PHYSICAL

• Burt's Bees Vanilla Bean Lip Balm - I have eternally chapped lips, or at least I've been conditioned to believe so. This has been my favorite lip balm for years now! What started as a kleptomaniac's little item to take from the local Target has now become a staple of my Amazon yearly orders. It's always in my sling bag, or in my backpack, or in a pocket of my cargo pants. I've got multiple stashed around the house and one in my car too, just in case. Other lip balms work too, especially Burt's Bees' Peppermint and Regular types, but this one is my favorite.

• Casio F-91W - This is a staple wearable for me. I don't leave the house without it, and I feel incomplete without it. I like this watch because of how simple and durable it is. I am an active person, so it accompanies me to the climbing gym, to the pickle ball courts, and on multiple-day hikes. The only time that I'm not wearing the watch is when I shower and when I sleep. My amazon account says "Purchased 3 times - Last purchased Sep 22, 2023" - which means my current one has lasted a year. For $15, I'd say that's worth it.

• Kellogg's Rice Crispy Treats - I've been working in an office for the past few months and they are always stocked with little snacks and treats - mostly unhealthy. I wish they had fruits and protein bars, but instead they have a bunch of candy, chips, chocolates, popcorn, and fruit leather. If I was 7 years old again, I'd be so stoked. Then again, I'm in my mid-twenties and I'm still stoked! My favorite is the rainbow kind, which has M&Ms - perfect blend of crunch and soft.

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DIGITAL

• Notion - This is my go-to place to jot down notes, funny jokes, scenes from Costco and whatnot. It's basically replaced my Notes app because of how versatile the organization and functionality is. And it's all synced to the Notion app on my laptop! I've got different pages called "JOKES" and "Newsletter Dump" and "2024 Goals" - self explanatory, I hope.

• This is a recent cover by one of my favorite bands currently - Glass Beams. In this cover, they blend early acid house melodies from Charanjit Singh with their disco and funk sound. It's just so groovy and catchy - I've had this video on repeat for days now.

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INVISIBLE

Recognizing “high gravity days.”

When I'm having an especially weak day at the climbing gym, some of my more experienced friends will reassure me that it's just a "high gravity day." It's a reminder that sometimes your own body weight feels heavier because of the stresses in your mind or the pressure of responsibility or just general fatigue—and that's perfectly ok. But it's important to recognize those days and give yourself grace in the moments where you need it. Some burdens feel like gravity—unrelenting and heavy—but knowing that they exist allows you to shift perspective and still make it up the wall.

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