Welcome to Newsletter 4Teen!

I am sorry to say that this will be my last newsletter.

APRIL FOOOOOOOOOOOLS! Did I get you? Be so honest. (I wrote that part on April 1)

Yes, this does extend my streak to 2 months in a row of not getting my newsletter out on time, but I PINKY PROMISE YOU, this is the last time I am late. They say not to make promises you know you cannot keep, but I promise that I won’t break this promise, how about that?

{pause}

I just deleted 2 paragraphs from this section. I originally wrote something but now I decided I didn’t love it and I want to write about something else. Here goes.

Life is About Taking Risks…But What Happens When Those Risks Don’t Pan Out?

Life is tough sometimes. Sometimes, you have an expectation for how something is going to go, and then it goes the exact opposite. What do you do then? How do you bounce back? I don’t know. I’m very good at giving advice but I am horrible at listening to it.

I said to you back in January that I want to take more risks this year and step out of my comfort zone. And I am happy to report that I have! I have been posting on TikTok every week for VasaVita, making videos that I originally cringed it but now am starting to enjoy. I also did stand-up comedy! Shout-out to everyone who came and watched – appreciate you 🫡.

But what happens when you take a risk, and it does not pan out? When you decide to say, “Screw it, I’m all in” and jump without looking back, only to not know where you are landing. My friend Ganesh told me something insightful; he said, “You only hear about the risks people take that turned out successful. You hardly ever hear about the risks they took that failed.” So what do you do then?

I don’t know. But I think what you can’t do is look back. I think what you can’t do is play the “what if” or the “if only” game, because that doesn’t help anyone. “If only this worked” or “what if I had just done this” or “if only this didn’t happen.” Life is full of ifs, and if we spend all our time on what if, then we won’t ever see what is.

What Is

What is currently in front of you? What is currently in your possession? What is currently going for you right now? What is in your control?

The answers to those questions are generally facets of life of which their worth and value are generally unconsidered until their presence is no longer. Tell me: how many times do we stop and take inventory of what we currently have? How many times do we look outside and yearn for something not in our possession? (I am talking to myself)

Those aspects of our life – the things we should be aware of – those are exactly how we turn ourselves around and get back on our feet. Assess all that you have available in your panoply and charge forward. Realize what is in front of you and value it. Understand what is currently yours and appreciate it. Identify what is currently going for you and use that as motivation. Focus on what is in your control and capitalize and maximize on that.

I know it can be hard. When you look around and see everyone’s verdant backyards, while yours is still in the process of blooming, but you must remember: their backyards didn’t naturally start out green. They worked to get there and it took time. It’s going to take time, but you have to keep going. Look at it this way: at least you have grass (metaphor getting to be too much?).

What I am trying to say is: don’t let one setback prevent you from finding the thing that sets you free. Life is variable, errant, and uncertain: nothing is guaranteed. Your life today might be 100% differently than your life in a year. We must cherish each day and recognize our current circumstances and environment for what they truly are: important parts of our story.

Thank you for listening to me! Hopefully this inspires you to take calculated risks and to believe in yourself! Everything will work out as it is supposed to. Keep showing up.

You know the drill: everything I write here is something I am actively working on improving and implementing within myself. Writing them out also helps me to visualize what to work on and how to do it. And having you as my audience holds me accountable.

If you have any thoughts, comments, or feedback, please dish it to me! I’d love to know how I can improve. I am glad to have you here on my VasaVita journey.

If you want to talk more about anything I discussed in my newsletters, or want to learn more about VasaVita, check out my website below!

See you next month!

And last but not least, the following growth check!

You all know the drill now: in the sprit of transparency and holding myself accountable, I include my audience count here to keep you apprised on my growth. We got someone back in March – let’s goooooo!!

Looking forward to ~hopefully~ more growth next month! If you have any ideas or tips, feel free to share!