lululemon Storytime and The Very Visible Life of Harshada Rajani

Forget me not

Photo by Marco Tjokro on Unsplash

In my Reputation Era

It’s me, hi!

I’ve been thinking lately about how and why I’ve become comfortable being so public with my life. That has never been my brand but since my stroke, my dirty (and clean!) laundry has been aired all across the cyber sphere. In every nook and cranny. I’m even on freaking TikTok. Keeping your life and health private was a South Asian American philosophy I wholeheartedly subscribed to so what changed? I realized, I actually never had the choice. So I embraced it, and became the one who shaped the narrative myself…(ties into the following story)

lululemon Storytime

I wear a lot of lululemon to work out. Like A LOT. I love the way it looks and especially how it makes me feel. My therapist at BTI, Darci, noticed on the lululemon website that they have a program where they give grants to nonprofits that make exercise accessible to disenfranchised communities which is literally EXACTLY what We Win does. So we rushed over to the nearest lululemon, decked out in lululemon of course and our We Win flyers in hand. We paused inside the front door to strategize but before we could, a saleswoman came up to us and asked me, “Did you ever find your Java leggings?” Darci and I stared at each other, wide eyed and smiling. I stammered out “Yes, online!” Apparently, she had remembered me shopping for those leggings a few weeks earlier. She remembered details about my mom and dad and even remembered many of my previous shopping trips. We gave her my contact information and she said she would give to her managers but she was “pretty sure they know Harshada already.” WHAT lol

When we were outside, Darci looked at me and said, “For better or worse, wheelchairs are memorable.” That line really stuck with me. Whether I liked it or not, I was always going to be noticed. The decision was made for me the moment I started using a wheelchair. I stuck out like a sore thumb so my life became very visible and by extension, memorable. Yes, my wheelchair is the reason stares stalk me wherever I go, but it’s also the reason why I linger in strangers’ memories. It’s why Rafa picked me out in the crowd. For better or worse. But instead of letting people extrapolate about my life and thoughts, I’ve taken control of telling my own stories through any medium I can. And now, I make sure to wear the cutest clothes so it’s at least something worth looking at ;)

We Win Update

Get your tickets here for the We Win gala!

Advocacy Update

For Disability Pride Month, I spoke on WCNC about the importance of staying active regardless of your abilities or lack thereof. Watch here! Obviously I wore my lululemon :)

Quote of the Moment

“One lives in the hope of becoming a memory.”

―Antonio Porchia

(My wheelchair is surprisingly helping me do just that)

Book Talk

Last month’s reads:

Unlikely Animals - fun and quirky read with a unique narration (see previous newsletter) ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow - great story and loved the theme of processing grief through an alternate reality but I couldn’t connect emotionally with the MCs (see previous) ⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab - beautifully written prose about a woman who can never be remembered by anyone she meets. Ironically, this heartbreaking novel is quite memorable ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

As Long As The Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh - incredible historical fiction tale about young woman and her pregnant sister-in-law living in Syria during the war. Gripping, devastating, terrifying and unforgettable. Makes you grateful for our lives and freedoms ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ YES, FIRST FIVE STAR READ OF THE YEAR!

Currently reading:

Babel by R.F. Kuang (audiobook) - A n orphan from China brought to England to study languages and magic at Oxford. Some super interesting parts interspersed with boring parts so we shall see!

Kindred by Octavia Butler (Kindle) - A mix of sci-fi and historical fiction centered around an interracial couple traveling through time. I smell a 5 star read…

Do you guys have any memorable reads? Or movies? Or TV shows? I’m always looking for recommendations! Reply or leave a comment!

See you guys in a month! ✌🏽 #KeepPounding

Best,

Harshada