a special gift
bonus story for early preorders, five things, beautiful reads, and a couple of photos
Dear Reader,
Thank you for being here.
Some housekeeping… This email may end up up in the Promotions tab of your inbox, or worse, spam. Please move the email to your Primary inbox. Looking Inwards letter will be there from then on.
All of you who have preordered my book Journeys Beyond and Within… thank you. I hope you enjoy the book and that it serves you well.
There is a big surprise for you early readers. I am going to send you an exclusive bonus story that is not in the book. I will email it on the 7th of February, a week after the official release. It was to be a part of the book but my editor and I decided we would rather keep it as a gift read. I’m very proud of that story and what I achieve in it. My view about success and progress changed that day.
I’ve another HUGE surprise.
The first 100 preorders from now will also receive the bonus completely free. So if you order today on the 27th or tomorrow that is the 28th — as per your time zone — and you place one of the 1st 100 preorders amongst my subscribers, I’ll email you the gift on the same date i.e. 7th of February.
Paperback and hardcover are live now as you will see on the Amazon preorder page. All the three versions are linked together. If you would rather prefer a physical copy, please order.
Here’s how a hard cover looks. A friend in France got it; I am yet to receive my physical copy in India.
Please note: Email me the order screenshot or receipt with the date and format (kindle, paperback, hardcover) clear so that I can put you down for the bonus. You can either reply to this email or write to me at hello@onmycanvas.com.
Here are the preorder links (Ebook purchases only work on browser, not on the app):
Early reviews of Journeys Beyond and Within….
“This book was refreshing and inspiring as well as thought provoking and educational. Not only did I get to read the account of the author's personal journey, but I got to travel a part of the world to which I have never been and truly feel as though I was there seeing it for myself. This is a truly special read!” — Rebecca
“Journeys Beyond and Within is a beautifully written, deeply honest travel memoir that goes beyond recounting destinations. It’s a story of courage, self-discovery, and breaking free from societal expectations.” — Sagar Jain
For this book, I have chosen the best of the stories from the past years and poured everything into writing them. I hope you claim your copy.
Now onto the letter.
Five things that have been on my mind.
1. People tend to agree more when I don’t try to convince them.
2. I look at the posts of these beautiful stays that boast shiny bathrooms, big fireplaces, large cushiony beds, sprawling kitchens, balconies with a view, gardens with outdoor seating, glistening crockery and wine glasses, vibrant food, and all I can think is why are people sitting in all these photos? Yes, they are sitting on these innovative chairs or cushions or bohemian sofas but why are they sitting all the time? Why is sitting and watching a sunset or having a cup of tea or coffee in front of the fire the only thing a good place shows rather than also showing the options of how to move around the space and feel energetic and happy?
Is there a space where one can exercise, is there a wall one can climb, can you run on a trail around the garden, can you draw water from a hand pump, can you run up and down a grassy mound with your pet or child? What is it that you are offering in terms of movement, dance, and to express the pent-up energy that’s trapped in us during our busy routines and that we can let out on holiday?
I guess you sell what is being bought.
Holidays or vacations aren't now free days to have silly fun as we like and our family likes. We try to maximise the output by visiting the best place, the most remote location, getting the brightest and most thrilling picture, and seeing the most in a destination. Thanks to social media.
But if we really ask ourselves — Why does a holiday have to be something or the other? Why does it have to follow a trend? Why are we nervous about not being able to make the most of it or losing our favorite Airbnb or that the fog might derail our plans and that could be the worst thing that ever happened to us?
A vacation doesn't have to be so perfect. It could just be the adventure we couldn't have while following our weekly routines. Our holiday could be anything we want, as messy as it gets, and we could be completely ourselves, that’s real, raw, and ravenous!
3. I used to get a little gloomy in the evenings. In need of a change or something fresh though I might have just landed in a place or picked up a new project. Then I would rush to my partner and snuggle up to him as if to soak into his happiness and make my dullness disappear. “It’s okay. Let it be. You’re feeling this way because it’s evening. You feel that way around this time. Go on as you always do. Go on as if nothing is different.” My partner said.
Reluctantly I listened to him. He made sense. The slow evenings threw me off my path, and I would find myself neither doing nor happy, but in an unstable state as if waiting for rescue. The next morning all would be fine but I would feel as if I lost an evening. I could have watched something nice or read a great book. I could have relaxed on the couch. I could have finished that piece.
After letting a lot of evenings slip my hands, now I follow what my partner told me. I try to do what makes me happy. I go on, acknowledging my feelings but not letting them decide my course of action or mood. I breathe, perfectly aware that time is passing and so is my state of mind passing with it. I come out on the other side bright as butter.
4. I am very slowly learning that I don’t have to react to everything that second itself. The world isn’t going to fall apart at that moment. I can take my time, even if five more seconds, to listen, process, and reply. I can’t always implement this but at times I can stay quiet. And now I know that not bursting at everything is an assured way to peace.
5. When telling my friends to be easy on themselves comes to me naturally, why can’t I be a friend to myself? It is simple, really.
Do you love yourself enough?
For this week’s letter,
Some of my past writing,
quotes I love,
and
things to read.
Important Things I Have Learned So Far
The title says it all.
Read the essay now. Or Pocket it for later.
Quotes I Love
“The beauty of friendship is you get to pick up from where you left.”
My best friend Tejeshwi
What I’ve Been Reading
I’ve been reading short stories, books, articles, and so much more. I can’t possibly list all what I have read in the past week so I’m putting down the things I found most relevant and worthwhile.
On not wanting motherhood — Owning one’s reasons for not wanting a baby is what matters more than trying to explain the world. Otherwise at one point we mix our real reasons with our polite statements. I love how honest, well-thought but impulsive, and unfiltered this post is. Written by fellow Substacker:
Two years ago I quit my life — A 60-year-old’s attempt at reinventing her life. Quitting work, changing countries, shifting careers: she does it all. In the same boat, though at the age of 30, I know how rocky this ride gets and how you hold on, wet, shaky, afraid, and still riding each wave as best as you can. My fellow Substacker
expresses her journey beautifully, and simply.Home is a cup of tea — I’m still processing this stunning artistic colorful post. It is a story of love, patience, discovery, travel, writing, creation, compassion, and connection. The fellow Substacker
talks about such fragile emotions while also exploring the strength and root of our life. Well-written and well-illustrated.
What I’ve Been Watching/Listening
Sharing my talk with The Musafir Stories on the lesser known villages of Mandi district in Himachal Pradesh, my favorite place in the state and where I spent more than five months in the past years.
Do listen if you are planning for a trip, trekking in the area, or want to know more about local life in the Indian Himalayas.
And for all adventure lovers!
a few photos that did not make the book cover :)
***
Thank you for reading! I hope you have a lovely week.
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Yours,
Priyanka