Call it a side effect of writing or a personal trait, but I’ve noticed something about myself — I’m always chasing stories. While others look for practical aspects like money, or social aspects like status, or physical aspects like look and feel, I just look for a good story to tell.

Too vague? Let me elaborate. So for example, I’m searching for jobs right now. Popping up the job description, any sane person would place their eyes on the compensation, the kind of profile they’re being offered, maybe the work policies, maybe the company’s background. I do too, of course. But there’s one more thing I look for — is this job the story I’d like to tell?

Is this company doing something interesting, something meaningful, is it making an impact? Is this job interesting and meaningful, will I make an impact? What’s the history of the founder? Where do other team members come from? How nicely the description is written (trust me, most of them don’t even care about basic grammar)? What are their values, if any? Would I work here for free? Would I work here for 10 years?

These are just some of the questions I could think of right now. Some of the tangible, practical, measurable aspects. But there’s more to it, something that’s unexplainable, that I can’t put exact words to. Something that’d make my head scream “woah I’d love to be part of that!”.

This habit isn’t just limited to jobs of course. Think of things like houses or cars or clothes. You’d think that a big beautiful house or an expensive sports car wins. Maybe they do. But for me, it’s the Airbnb in Dehradun that had a garden as its courtyard and had hundreds of books spread all around the house. For me, it’s the rustic farm house with old borrowed furniture that had such an uplifting vibe it’d make you happy the moment you enter.

Think of experiences like travel or weddings or college. Not just the most luxurious or the most adventurous trips make up for good stories. Sometimes a single person you meet on the journey, or that one delicacy you try at a local restaurant, can give you a great story to share back home. I miss the bitter mushroom rice I had with my local friends in Bangkok more than the 13-course meal I had the week before.

Think of hobbies like sketching or badminton or kitesurfing. My friend is taking flying lessons. Impressive. Definitely a story anyone would love to hear, including me. But even simple hobbies like writing these letters every week can be stories some people would like to hear, including him.

I guess the word I’m looking for is “expression”. The things that ask me to share their stories are, in a way, allowing me to express myself in different forms. They’re an extension of my personality, that’s why I care so deeply about them. That’s why I have them in my mind even after years. That’s why they are the stories I’d like to tell.

🤔 Makes me wonder

Why do you resonate with a story, a person, a thing or an experience so deeply? Because you’re not just a part of it, you are whole.

💭 Aphorisms

Words do pollute thoughts. I’m still not sure what nerve is struck when something starts to sound “cool”, when it starts to be mine.

Anyways, if it made somewhat sense and you could resonate, let me know by replying to this email or commenting on the website. It’d be good to know that I’m not alone XD.

I’ll catch ya next week!
Aachman