Disco Dialogues turns two
Q: How have our posts helped you?
Disco Dialogues is a newsletter and interview series where Kinnari and Mitali engage in deliberate dialogue aimed to spark inner growth. Our posts start with a question to encourage reflection on topics ranging from creativity, courage and curiosity to self-care and relationships. The hope is that by sharing the dialogues that we have with ourselves and with each other, we can start meaningful conversations within our community.
Today is the auspicious day of Diwali. Last year on Diwali we talked about being kind to ourselves and getting rid of limiting beliefs, taking risks and engaging with curiosity. We hope this Diwali brings joy and light to you and your families and peace to those who are suffering. Happy Diwali!
Today is also the day that Disco Dialogues turns two. Exactly two years ago on this day, we published our first post. To honor and celebrate that moment, we are sharing what we’ve learnt from writing and publishing these narrative stories with our readers.
Mitali’s Dialogue
Four years ago I took a risk when I quit my job without knowing what I was going to do next. I stepped into the unknown, deciding to call myself an "entrepreneur" without a clue on what I was going to be building. That led me on a journey of exploration in which I experimented with many ideas including launching Disco Dialogues with Kinnari.
I have gained many insights from the past two years of sharing my inner dialogues and reflections with the world. Disco Dialogues gave me a way to tap into my creative side and I have embraced calling myself a writer. I started out with the dream of becoming a passionate storyteller and found the courage to share my life experiences with the world. The process of writing has forced me to slow down, to reflect on my everyday experiences and helped me realize that all I want to be is already inside of me.
You already are
what you want to become.
- Thich Nhat Hanh
It has been a journey of accepting who I am and listening to the wisdom within. It hasn't been easy and there have been many dark days along the way that I have also shared here. I have come to accept the ups and downs of life, believing that every moment offers me an opportunity to be curious and learn something more about myself.
Thanks to all our readers for coming along with us on this journey. It has brought a lot of joy into my life - to put my words out into the world and have it reflected back in the comments, private messages and feedback that we have received. And confirmed my belief that we feel less alone when we share our stories and experiences with each other.
Kinnari’s Dialogue
On a walk this past week, Mitali and I reminisced over Disco Dialogues. It was an interesting exercise to look back and think about what this project has done for me. I’ve highlighted a few of my learnings below. Perhaps they can offer encouragement to those of you that are thinking about starting on your own creative endeavor.
Writing - I’ve been writing in my journals for decades and it has enabled me to process my thoughts, capture moments of love and gratitude and envision the future. However, sharing my writing with the world is something entirely different. I’ve had to write more clearly, and think about how to communicate my ideas and thoughts with the reader succinctly. The process has been fun. It’s made me think more deeply, read more widely, and dig deep to try to get in touch with my own truth. It’s enabled me to have a beginner’s mind as I go about my everyday life and ponder on what would be interesting to share with our readers.
To live as an artist is a way of being in the world. A way of perceiving. A practice of paying attention. Refining our sensitivity to tune in to the more subtle notes. Looking for what draws us in and what pushes us away.
- Rick RubinCommitment - Keeping up this “experiment” for two years has been tough at times but I’ve stuck with it. Through Disco Dialogues, I’ve kept up a commitment to myself and to Mitali. It’s this commitment that has helped me write even on days when I’ve really not wanted to. I’ve showed up when I’ve not had the time, when I’ve been down or sick, and through the early days of baby L’s life when all I wanted to do was sleep. Committing to a project with a friend definitely helps when the going gets tough. We’ve both been able to push and support each other on this journey.
Self-Doubt - With each post I’ve battled my own self-doubt to satisfy a very human need for self-expression. On some days the self-doubt has served me in rethinking and rewriting a post, making it stronger. On other days it’s crippled me with questions like “what’s the point of this anyway?”. I’ve taken the time to quieten that inner critic which I’ve discovered is an ongoing practice. But the more I do it, the easier it gets. Pushing my self-doubt aside helps create space within myself for ideas to emerge. It’s allowed me to catch that lightning flash of inspiration that comes from the Universe and has helped me tap into that creative energy that lives within all of us.
Two years ago when we started Disco Dialogues, I wanted to put our voices out there and connect with like-minded folks. I was hopeful that our dialogues would encourage people to reflect on deeper matters. I take pride in what we’ve shared so far and find joy in the discussions they’ve sparked with friends. This project has helped me find that inner creative spark and dream of exciting ways to help build community to help people feel connected. Thank you, dear reader, for being part of this journey.
Congrats! Most startups never make it to the two years mark!! :)