Breathtaking! That’s the first adjective that comes to mind in describing this work. You have such an extraordinary innate talent for capturing the universal in the personal, and your writing carries a wisdom that lingers.
Every sentence felt like a perfectly curated exhibit, inviting readers to reflect, feel, and grow. I especially appreciated the way you wove together the small details - it makes your storytelling so rich/vibrant and truly delightful reading.
I’ve long held the belief that the meaning of life (ie. our purpose) is tied up in this so called museum - in the relationships we nurture, chance meetings, and even the (sometimes painful) lessons we learn from others mistakes. Thank you for all the quotes, poem excerpts, and even an Ira Glass reference nothing short of what I expect from you.
Honestly, I’m in awe of the way you’ve turned your thoughts into something so impactful and beautiful. Kudos again - my highest compliments to the chef.
Alexa, hiii! Thank YOU for this incredibly kind, thoughtful, beautifully-written message (talk about being in awe of thoughts being turned into something impactful and beautiful)! This here chef feels so seen and known and appreciated. 🥹
So grateful to have you in my museum — definitely a whole room's worth, if not a wing's worth, of adventures past and present and anticipated at this point. I'd need another essay this length to even begin to capture some of the magic.
And I'm right there with you re: our purpose; convinced that relationships really are everything. Here's to continuing to nurture the ones that matter most. <3
P.S. Happy you liked the Ira Glass reference hehe!
Holy shit Becky this is so good! Makes me glad I shared that reference for this alone. One-and-done whyyy, I want more! And hell yeah to becoming a writer, you sure did 🔥
Also thank you so much for staying for the full tour, and for enjoying it! Appreciate you <3
Vidhika, this was such a beautifully layered exploration of how people shape us. The ‘Museum of Me’ metaphor is both creative and grounding. It made me reflect on how even fleeting moments with others can leave a lasting imprint. I especially appreciated how you found meaning in both cherished relationships and unexpected encounters, like bad managers or near-strangers. It’s a refreshing reminder of how dynamic and interconnected our personal stories are. This piece is the kind of writing that lingers.
Tahsin, thank you so much. Not much more a writer can ask for than to have a piece linger in people's brains/hearts for a while. This means all the more coming from someone like you whose writing I so admire! And dynamic and interconnected are perfect words to describe the nature of our relationships and stories and lives — likely what makes the human condition so complex but also so endlessly interesting. Thank you for reading and for sharing your reflections!
Vidhika! This is incredible! I’m legit bummed I didn’t read this the day it dropped. There are so many great descriptions in here I wouldn’t know where to start. Wonderful shares from your life too. There are so many metaphors for life but this might be my all time favorite. It works in so many ways. I’ll remember this as The Great Hall of Vithica. 🤌
For me, museums have always been a safe space, full of peace, learning and wonder - to think about myself in that way is special. Appreciate that very much. 🙏
Appreciate you reading and I'm so happy the metaphor resonated with you so deeply. Honored to have landed my own hallway in the Museum of Matt! Thank you so much for making my day slash week with your generous words, means more than you know.
Here's to many more lovely exhibits down the road, and continued learning and wonder!
…i met a trail dog in dilijan (armenia) walking cliffside to a waterfall…she followed me three miles down the trail then went back and sherpa’d a friend to me…three hikes later and nearly everyone i went hiking with had met this amazing animal who “lived” at the camp farm alongside a few other dogs…we had dinner and she sat outside the cabin…later she hung outside with us as we all chose superheroes we might be…i stumbled wine drunk back to my bunk and she followed me to my doorstep but would never step in…her home was outdoors (or maybe someone else’s bed) but i hung out for five minutes extra on the doorstep appreciating the company and left the door unlocked jic she wanted in…last i saw here was down near the trail…some other hiker by her side…
Love it! This is the first time I've heard this metaphor and it's such a good one. I now have a desire to create a floor plan for the Museum of Sam 😆. Also, I love your last question—I wonder whose museums I would be in, and what those exhibits about me would look like! 😅
Yesss, fun thought exercise innit?! And thank you — would love to sneak a peek at the Museum of Sam floor plan if you end up creating one! I can already think of a few winning exhibits :D
Breathtaking! That’s the first adjective that comes to mind in describing this work. You have such an extraordinary innate talent for capturing the universal in the personal, and your writing carries a wisdom that lingers.
Every sentence felt like a perfectly curated exhibit, inviting readers to reflect, feel, and grow. I especially appreciated the way you wove together the small details - it makes your storytelling so rich/vibrant and truly delightful reading.
I’ve long held the belief that the meaning of life (ie. our purpose) is tied up in this so called museum - in the relationships we nurture, chance meetings, and even the (sometimes painful) lessons we learn from others mistakes. Thank you for all the quotes, poem excerpts, and even an Ira Glass reference nothing short of what I expect from you.
Honestly, I’m in awe of the way you’ve turned your thoughts into something so impactful and beautiful. Kudos again - my highest compliments to the chef.
Alexa, hiii! Thank YOU for this incredibly kind, thoughtful, beautifully-written message (talk about being in awe of thoughts being turned into something impactful and beautiful)! This here chef feels so seen and known and appreciated. 🥹
So grateful to have you in my museum — definitely a whole room's worth, if not a wing's worth, of adventures past and present and anticipated at this point. I'd need another essay this length to even begin to capture some of the magic.
And I'm right there with you re: our purpose; convinced that relationships really are everything. Here's to continuing to nurture the ones that matter most. <3
P.S. Happy you liked the Ira Glass reference hehe!
Thanks for taking us on a delightful tour around the Museum Of You. I enjoyed every exhibit, every paragraph. From Ithica to Cacio e Pepe!
I'm also a super fan of Sarah Kay. Major throwback but she's a strong inspo to my one-and-done spoken word poetry stint: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uikwa2uwZKc
Holy shit Becky this is so good! Makes me glad I shared that reference for this alone. One-and-done whyyy, I want more! And hell yeah to becoming a writer, you sure did 🔥
Also thank you so much for staying for the full tour, and for enjoying it! Appreciate you <3
yess! Sarah Kay x Phil Kaye live rent-free in my brain. I show An Origin Story to everyone who is just semi-curious about spoken-word poetry
Oooh good call, that one gives me chills. I love "When Love Arrives" too — they're such a spectacular duo.
Vidhika, this was such a beautifully layered exploration of how people shape us. The ‘Museum of Me’ metaphor is both creative and grounding. It made me reflect on how even fleeting moments with others can leave a lasting imprint. I especially appreciated how you found meaning in both cherished relationships and unexpected encounters, like bad managers or near-strangers. It’s a refreshing reminder of how dynamic and interconnected our personal stories are. This piece is the kind of writing that lingers.
Tahsin, thank you so much. Not much more a writer can ask for than to have a piece linger in people's brains/hearts for a while. This means all the more coming from someone like you whose writing I so admire! And dynamic and interconnected are perfect words to describe the nature of our relationships and stories and lives — likely what makes the human condition so complex but also so endlessly interesting. Thank you for reading and for sharing your reflections!
Vidhika! This is incredible! I’m legit bummed I didn’t read this the day it dropped. There are so many great descriptions in here I wouldn’t know where to start. Wonderful shares from your life too. There are so many metaphors for life but this might be my all time favorite. It works in so many ways. I’ll remember this as The Great Hall of Vithica. 🤌
For me, museums have always been a safe space, full of peace, learning and wonder - to think about myself in that way is special. Appreciate that very much. 🙏
Matt, this is so kind! 😭
Appreciate you reading and I'm so happy the metaphor resonated with you so deeply. Honored to have landed my own hallway in the Museum of Matt! Thank you so much for making my day slash week with your generous words, means more than you know.
Here's to many more lovely exhibits down the road, and continued learning and wonder!
…i met a trail dog in dilijan (armenia) walking cliffside to a waterfall…she followed me three miles down the trail then went back and sherpa’d a friend to me…three hikes later and nearly everyone i went hiking with had met this amazing animal who “lived” at the camp farm alongside a few other dogs…we had dinner and she sat outside the cabin…later she hung outside with us as we all chose superheroes we might be…i stumbled wine drunk back to my bunk and she followed me to my doorstep but would never step in…her home was outdoors (or maybe someone else’s bed) but i hung out for five minutes extra on the doorstep appreciating the company and left the door unlocked jic she wanted in…last i saw here was down near the trail…some other hiker by her side…
Sounds like she was a really sweet dog for you to have crossed paths with!
A lovely memory and exhibit :)
Love it! This is the first time I've heard this metaphor and it's such a good one. I now have a desire to create a floor plan for the Museum of Sam 😆. Also, I love your last question—I wonder whose museums I would be in, and what those exhibits about me would look like! 😅
Yesss, fun thought exercise innit?! And thank you — would love to sneak a peek at the Museum of Sam floor plan if you end up creating one! I can already think of a few winning exhibits :D
So happy to see this. Worth the wait and beautifully written, as usual :)
Appreciate that lots Ankush. Thank you for a comment that made me smile, as usual :)