Recap of the Month: July
We do a lot of things in a day that turn into a week, which eventually turns into a month. I too do a lot of things. So, here’s a quick recap of all the adventures, experiences, and, among all of that, the most amazing ones from July.
Book of the Month
I read and listened to a few books last month, and among them, the best one was The Magic of the Lost Story by Sudha Murty.
Well, the book is basically for young readers, but I’ve never considered myself an adult yet. Just kidding. I love exploring different kinds of books and authors to learn about writing styles and storytelling.
The book was way better than I imagined.
It beautifully explores the culture of Karnataka and the roots of the people living there. The story is experienced through a little girl named Anoushka (Nooni) when she visits her grandmother’s village.
It’s a story about rivers, ancient times, people, culture, and so much more. Somehow, it gave me a strange sense of nostalgia. I loved the book, and I definitely loved Sudha Murty ma’am even more. I’m going to read more of her work, especially her travelogues.
Movie/Series of the Month
I watch way more films than I read books. Last month, I watched Bollywood, Hollywood, and of course, animation.
Cinema halls, libraries, and cafes are basically my second homes.
The best film of the month was The Odyssey. And yes, I watched it on the first day, first show. I absolutely loved the film: the direction, storytelling, cinematography, acting… pretty much everything was so well done.
Though I’ve reached a point in my life where I watch films closely enough to notice even the tiniest mistakes. Lol.
I shared one of those observations on Instagram, which later turned into a sort of mini-rebellion. But anyway, I genuinely loved the film. Christopher Nolan remains one of the finest filmmakers on my list.
Best Dialogue: “It told you what you most want is what you most can’t have. And what you most can’t have is what you already had, and lost.” — Odysseus
Song/Artist of the Month
This is probably the most difficult question for me. Whenever someone asks me about my favourite song, I have no idea what to answer.
My life is basically my brain and heart picking songs for me based on some mysterious unconscious process.
I listened to a lot of music last month, but the artist of the month goes to Coldplay.
And the song of the month: Adventure of a Lifetime.
Art of the Month
I never ignore an artist’s art, no matter where I find it: on my way, or in a fine museum. They’re the ones who try to make this world a little more colorful for us.
I came across this one at Janpath Metro Station.
Leader of the Month
One of my habits is listening to speeches by some of the best people around the world, people who don’t just build things but create change through their work.
The leader of the month goes to Jensen Huang (CEO of Nvidia).
His speech at CMU, where he shared his life experiences, talked about the changes coming to the world, and discussed what tech students should build next. It was fascinating.
I absolutely loved it.
Creator of the Month
I was so caught up in other useless social applications that I forgot I’ve been a lifetime YouTube lover.
Anyway, the creator whose content I consumed the most last month was the one and only Ankur Warikoo.
I hope I don’t have to say much about him. We all know.
Application/Tool of the Month
The applications I spent the most time on last month were Instagram and Threads.
And honestly? It wasn’t worth it. Like, at all.
Still, I learned a lot, connected with a lot of people, and shared a lot.
The best conversation I had was with Som, an artist from Kolkata. An engineer by profession, but a storyteller at heart. He loves sharing stories through words and photography.
His passion for storytelling and the way he sees the world through his unique perspective made the conversation feel truly special. I loved listening about his work, thoughts, stories and the way he finds meaning in little things.
And honestly, collecting appreciation for my own storytelling skills from a few people made me really happy too. There’s something incredibly fulfilling about knowing that your stories connect with people, inspire them and leave a little something behind.
So, socials aren't completely useless, I guess. This might be the most loved write-up of me so far (below). I'm still not quite used to all this, though. Currently just trying to balance my online-offline world alongwith the work. Let's see.
Place of the Month
Jantar Mantar, Delhi
No, no, I wasn’t part of that protest. I visited simply to absorb the vibes.
I also explored the Jantar Mantar monument and learned a few things about its ancient and magnificent architecture. It was specifically built by Maharaja Jai Singh II as an astronomical observatory.
There’s something fascinating about standing in a place built centuries ago for people to understand the universe.
Picture of the Month
Ahan, I love clicking pictures and collecting the moments.
So, the picture of the month is this one.
Main bhi kisi raja-maharaja se kam hoon kya? Lol.
Look at the sun. Look at the flag. Look at that perfect shot. The unedited one. Heina badhiya.
Can’t wait to have my iPhone and camera soon. I’ve got way too many pictures waiting to be clicked. Huh.
Food of the Month
Everything is incomplete without food, yaar. I tried a few different things last month, but the biggest win was that I cooked almost every day on my own.
The goal was simple: maintain my cooking habits and stay away from unnecessary junk food.
Esa kuch khaas to nahi banaya because I've been following a good diet lately. Except eating bahar ka khana on weekends.
Small habit, but I’m happy about it.
News of the Month
AI slop. And the whole conversation around Anthropic and other AI companies using old books and other material as training data for LLMs.
Do writers need to worry?
Well, AI can write, but I don’t think it can replace storytelling.
Storytelling is one of the rarest skills, mastered by very few. It requires persuasion, emotion, and a strong ability to explain ideas in a way that makes people understand, feel, and remember them.
It’s a skill that has been emphasized by some of the greatest mentors and communicators of all time, including Steve Jobs. And perhaps that’s one of the reasons Apple became more than just a technology company. Great brands don’t simply sell a product; they create a story, an emotion, and an identity around it. That’s what makes people remember them, connect with them, and eventually become part of the brand themselves. The same principle can be seen in many of the world’s most aesthetic and influential brands.
And storytelling isn’t just about putting words together. It comes from observation, experience, emotion, curiosity, and, most importantly, understanding people. I'll definitely write a separate article on this topic later.
AI can help us with a lot of things. So instead of worrying about the latest technologies, I’d rather learn how to use them to my advantage.
Decision/Promise of the Month
I left behind my old mindset of trying to make pennies through editing alone. Now, I am making writing my utmost skill. A lot to learn. A lot more to make.
Mood of the Month
Wanna go to Goa and do the party....!
Quote of the Month
“A writer is a thinker and observer. A good writer is always a great storyteller.” - Me
Question of the Month
If someone asks me what I’d choose between the mountains and the ocean, I’d probably choose the ocean.
Though technically, I haven’t even seen the ocean yet. I went to the mountains this year, so maybe I’m just assuming.
I guess I can’t say for sure until I take that next trip.
Current Update
Ah, nothing much. Just making new habits and learning alot.
Trying to get back into reading, something I had lost somewhere along the way. Learning new things. Bringing back my old morning routine. I’m really into books these days and trying to become a little better every day.
Also, currently suffering from a cold. Uhm… seasonal thing.
That was July. See you in the next recap.
