#mindpalacebyk

Episode 19 "Lizard"

Kids, as you know, I can pull a philosophy out of anything, well, one day, I stumbled over into the kitchen before my night walk to get some water.

Now, a lizard crossed over on the floor on my path, so naturally, I went "THIS GUY HAS THE SUPERPOWER OF SPIDERMAN AND YET STILL CRAWLS ON THE FLOOR. OF COURSE IT'S GOING TO GET CRUSHED." Yes, naturally.

But then I got to thinking, the lizard almost got crushed because... It wasn't living up to it's full potential. The lizard was always meant for the walls, to climb upwards. The problem here wasn't that the lizard was bound to be crushed, the problem was that the lizard wasn't aware of its superpower.

I suppose, kids, my point is that if you feel as if you are about to be crushed, try to think of your own superpowers. We all have one. Nay, we all have multiple. And then use that superpower to get off the floor and on the wall.

Good day, spiderkids.

Episode 2 "Village"

Kids, on my second day back to school in 2026, I didn't go. I couldn't wash out the dirt of the first day from my mind. Kids, that was one of the first times I realized the effects of a good community. The village you live in shapes who you are, try and remember that. Though, if you are ever in a situation like I was, here's the guide to escape the village that leaves dirt on your mind,

Step one: You must tune it out. You must detach. Think Elsa in snow. (The snow never bothered me anyway!)

Step two: Be so unapologetically you it pains them to look at you. Do whatever the heck you want. And if they think you're too much, remember step one.

Step three: Keep your real village close, or at least the soil. Hold it close to your heart and never ever let go. They will get you through.

Step four: Break social norms. Your comfort is more important than what is considered conventional. Fudge the society.

Step five: Remember that you are going to be fine. I have gone through this a million times, and a million times I've came out brighter. You only lose if you surrender.

Step six: Learn to say "No." That word is your best friend those years. The second you smell dirt trying to be handed to you.

Say. No.

I repeat.

Say. No.

As a teenager, kids, the strongest thing you can do is refuse to bow down. Refuse to rip out pieces of you just to be less lonely.

You have amazing people waiting out there for YOU. It's important you're you so they can find you.

Episode 25 "brachiosaurus"

Kids, back in 2026, I used to be in 11th grade. Yes, today it feels like I was just a baby, but at that time? I took myself very seriously. Sometimes, a little too seriously as you might realize in the following chapters.

Now, I have told you about the giraffe, haven't I? Although, let's give the giraffe a more dignified name. How about brachiosaurus? Perfect.

So, back in the day, I was quite intimidated by said brachiosaurus, however, brachiosaurus was in charge of something I was fond of. In school, that is. IP cell, to be more specific.

Now, kids, you know I chose commerce as my academic stream, therefore, the social expectation was that I was supposed to be as far away as innovation as earth is to moon.

However, as you know, I've always been an Apollo 11 gal. So, naturally, I told my nervous little brain 'not now', and asked.

I asked and guess what, brachiosaurus didn't growl. It was shocking for me too. I would later discover again and again that brachiosaurus was really a marshmallow trapped inside a brachiosaurus height. But more on that later.

Remember to ask, kids.

Episode 24 "Ice-cream"

Kids, it was already July 1st. It had been more than three weeks since I started going to the new school.

In those three weeks, I had been proven wrong about my doubts repeatedly. I was getting opportunities I never thought I would. I was excelling at every test. Life was going okay.

However, what I have written in my calendar, is "Amul Chocolate icecream". Not because my achievements didn't matter. They did.

But because, when life gets too large, you look at the smaller things. To anchor you. To ground you. To remind you that after everything, you're still just a a kid who loves ice cream.

Episode 23 "Half"

Kids, the twenty third day of me back to school, the date was 30/6/2026.

I remember it was a half day. I adored half days. The weight of the world was lifted half way up my shoulders, or at least the weight of my backpack.

What wisdom shall I impart today? I already told you to eat your veggies.

Oh, right. Be vaguely aware at all times that what other people think of you, is none of your business. Their perception of you, kids, is a reflection of them.

We, as humans, don't see the world as it is, we see the world as we are. And this notion goes both ways, what you think of other people says more about you than it does about them. Remember, irrational hatred's roots are never outside the soil.

Also, tilt the page forty five degrees when you're writing something, it's much better.

Episode 21 "Black Coffee"

Kids, I see "new beginnings" and "Gilmore" on the whiteboard.

Gilmore speaks for itself, it's about the girls. But beginnings, beginnings I have to explain.

Actually, I can't, I don't really know what beginnings meant but I want to tell you this.

Never. Ever. Ever. Ever. Make a whole pan of black coffee before knowing what it tastes like, which is absolute garbage, by the way.

Yes, I am speaking from eleven years old Kavya's experience. Bye.

And remember kids, coffee is disgusting.

Episode 20 "BMSUP"

Kids, looking back at the whiteboard, I see the word "quiet" Up there. Along with what seems to be "BMSUP", any idea what that means? Me neither.

Anyway, what can I say, eat your veggies and your chips, eat your tomatoes and your ice cream.

Life's too short to count your fries. And life's too long to avoid coriander.