Live a Little, Become a Lot — No Damn to Spare

A personal note on heavy days, light moments, and how saying yes—to joy, dogs, and a few detours—can make life feel fuller.

 "Living is not performative; it is more than mere existence, no doubt, but it is not a pantomime either."

Yesterday was a weighted day. It wasn’t a heavy-duty day at the gym, though I do enjoy lifting weights. I moved through it agonizingly slowly. Now, as it winds down into the calming stillness of a wintry night, a quiet sense of relief settles over me. I’m sitting before the television, watching the stunningly directed, cerebral thriller Shutter Island—a story that chills straight to the bone—and I find myself reflecting on this long, Netflix-bookended day.

Life is hard as it is—the daily hustle, the never-ending grind, the constant noise. It’s exhausting. Not every day is like this, but there are days that smack you on the forehead and make you sit up and wonder: Is this all? An illusion? Or is there something else waiting—something that could make every cell, every sinew, every drop of blood come alive?

The last few months have been revelatory. Certain events occurred that shifted the current of my existence and washed me ashore into new experiences—some good, some bad. And though “good” and “bad” are subjective in their meanings, I find myself lingering in that shadowy expanse of grey. I wonder how long I will stay there.

Maybe a cup of full-bodied Indian-bean coffee could put things in perspective. And to all those who might say I’m being reductive, rest assured: no experience is being downsized to triviality. Adulting, parenting, coping—the various -ings, the verbs that keep refracting into your consciousness and shaping your identity—they come for all of us in waves, some hurried, some slow, but come they do,unfailingly.

One key learning for me is to simply cease living for others. You alone are enough—simply put. The moment you stop seeking validation from the outside world, when you stop bending and reshaping yourself to fit expectations, life becomes exponentially easier. Living is not performative; it is more than mere existence, no doubt, but it is not a pantomime either.

The continual need to feel acknowledged—much like chasing likes or views—can become numbingly exhausting.

Easier said than done. We are social animals, after all, and we don’t live on an island. We thrive when we build strong bonds, when we feel held within a community. But this need often comes at a cost. One doesn’t have to shrink in order to feel seen, or sit endlessly on the sidelines waiting for the phone to ring—the call that never comes, the text that never gets read. Reciprocity in relationships is not a given. So let people be. The right ones will find you, linger in your warmth, and celebrate you for who you are becoming.

And so, live a little—loosen the hold on all that weighs you down. Dance a little more. Pick up that book you’ve abandoned for ages, or say yes to that date you’ve been quietly sidestepping. This is your life to inhabit and thrive in, not merely observe. Step into your own light; glow without a damn to spare.

I did just that. I’ve always wanted dogs—ever since I was a kid, many moons ago. Call it the universe falling into place, or simple serendipity (my favorite word), but I have ten now, and counting. A mixed bunch of bought and rescued dogs, of all sizes and breeds.

I also finally heeded my calling and founded my own business—my little passion project called Green Molecule – Clean Confidently, India’s first lead-free, 100% plant-derived cleaning and hygiene brand. The road was not easy; there were many detours and cul-de-sacs. But thinking differently, and living a little on the edges, helped in making it all happen.

A small reminder that sometimes, living a little outside the box really does make you a lot.

Molecularly Yours,

Sanjana

Curiously Irrepressible  

First dreamer. Accidental chemist @ Green Molecule - Clean Confidently

A Personal Note

P.S.: This is simply my personal experience and not a prescription for anyone else. We all find our spark in different ways—to each his, her, or their own. This is not a roadmap at all, just something that worked for me.

Tourists, Madness, Coffee, and Stranger Things

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