In My Diwali Era and Some Monthly Faves

Love & Light 🪔

In My Diwali Era

Happy Diwali! Wishing all of you armfuls of love and light this holiday season! I have a complicated relationship with religion in general, but my relationship with Diwali? Quite simple. I love everything about it. Especially its universally beautiful significance—celebrating the triumph of good over evil. The light overcoming the darkness.

Yes, we definitely need Diwali’s bright light to shine upon America this very dark super Tuesday!! 🙏🏽 But beyond that, every Diwali, I like to think about the people, places and things that are the light to my darkness. This year, it’s very easy to do because I’m knee-deep in a ten day vacation to my happy place—NJ/NY. It’s where I was born and where I grew up, but it’s also where all of my extended family and childhood friends live. Here, every single minute of the ten days is filled with loved ones spoiling me rotten with their unconditional love and affection.

I got to see my best (and first ever) friend get married. I got to meet my gorgeous new niece who I’m so proud to be the masi (mom’s sister) of. I got to spend quality time with my two cousins who are basically my brothers and fill me with enough love, laughter and cookies to last me until our next reunion. And finally, the trip will end with our We Win gala where friends, family and strangers will eat, drink, and celebrate all the light we have in our lives by giving a little back.

All of these people (+ Taylor Swift) keep my darkness at bay, and I’m so grateful for their light.

Some Monthly Favorites

TV show: Shrinking on Apple+ - from the writers of Ted Lasso, a feel-good comedy about mental health. Fantastic cast and great writing.

Book: All the Colors of the Dark by Clay Whitaker - a convoluted but super engaging fictional tale that follows a troubled boy and his best friend throughout their intertwined lives. A little thriller, historical fiction, romance, mystery. Long but very short chapters!

Movie: American Fiction - a comedy/drama about the white gaze. Really thought provoking!

Podcast: Lovett or Leave It - another podcast from Crooked Media but it’s just for laughs. The host has the best comic timing and political knowledge.

• Honorable mention - Swift Lore - they made a very compelling argument last episode that “Look What You Made Me Do” was written about the American Revolution. They read aloud the lyrics and said, “it’s giving ‘taxation without representation’.” Peak nerdiness, I loved it 😝

Okay, this is a bit short but it’s time to get back to my vacay. Happy Diwali and Go Kamala!!!

See ya in a month! ✌🏽

Yours,

Harshada