tst

my secret to success? I failed spectacularly for 4 years and refused to quit. that's it

+1 to the comment about elders. my grandmother's advice saved my marriage during this period

every elder person in my life suddenly became important. my grandfather, my old boss, the retired neighbor. I started actually listening instead of dismissing their advice

became primary caretaker for both aging parents while working full time and raising two kids. I aged 10 years in 3

the depression during this period... I went on medication and there is zero shame in that. therapy twice a month. you cannot willpower your way through brain chemistry

Saturn said sit down and I sat DOWN. every shortcut I tried blew up in my face until I accepted the only way forward was the hard way

bought agricultural land outside Mysore when everyone told me it was a waste. five years and it's worth more than my apartment in the city

chronic back pain out of nowhere. doctors say stress-related. I'm 41 and feel 60

had to move to a city where I knew no one. the loneliness was crushing. made exactly two friends in 18 months. but those two friendships are deeper than anything I had in my 'popular' years

laid off from a fintech company in bangalore. spent 2 years freelancing, barely making rent. then landed a senior architect role at a company I actually respect. less pay but I sleep well

what nobody tells you is that the things you build during this period STICK. my friend breezed through hers with easy wins. five years later most of it evaporated. my stuff? still standing

I was where you are. Year 3 was when things started turning. I know that sounds far away but looking back those hard years gave me skills I use every day. Shani Puja on Saturdays helped me feel like I was doing something proactive even when nothing seemed to work. Don't give up.

I'm 14 months in and I feel like I'm drowning. Everything takes three times longer than it should. Nothing works on the first try. when does it get better? genuine question because I'm running out of steam

I want to be completely transparent. The first 3 years were the worst of my life. Lost my job at 38, divorce, moved back to my parents' house. But I'm writing this from my own flat that I bought with money from a business I built from nothing during years 4-6. It took every ounce of patience I had and I almost gave up twice.