turning 19 in zanzibar

welcome to introspection ft. harsehaj! ⭐️ i’m harsehaj, a 19 y/o always up to something in social good x tech.

this publication is a place for me to reflect on productivity, health and tech, and drop unique opportunities in the space right to your inbox daily. if you’re new here, sign up to tune in! 💌 

btw, feel free to reply with topic ideas you want me to write about for future posts.

onto today’s topic: turning 19 in zanzibar 🥂 

little me never thought i’d turn legal on an island in africa surrounded by my friends and the beach. as my friends sang “happy birthday” when the clock turned midnight in like 4 different languages, the only thing i felt was warm and content. 💗 

i didn’t feel jittery or like a changed woman. i’m just so happy to be surrounded by my friends, and living the life i honestly didn’t even know i always wanted — traveling the world, broadening my perspective, soaking in all sorts of culture, and doing it all completely funded.

i feel warmed by the love all around me. my family flooding our whatsapp group and calls pouring in as soon as i woke up. to be so loved is to be changed, and maybe that’s what the real difference at 19 is — not so much, and not nearly as significant, my 1 digit increase in the introduction of my blog post. 🔢 

at 19, i have amassed so much in life already, and i am endlessly grateful for it. i’ve learned from my many mistakes and triumphed over wins in both my professional and personal life. i’ve traveled with friends, with family, and with myself. i’ve been blessed with the certainty that i always have someone to call when i’m not feeling the best 📲 — i’ve been blessed with loving friends, and a family i wouldn’t give up for the world.

at 19, i am loved so much, and i’m happy that i’m loving life enough to love myself along with it.

19 is my year to extend even more love to the people around me. not just those that i’m closest with, but being more open with my energy. people have shown me how magical change delivered by love is, and i want to be perpetually changing alongside others. ⚡️ 

currently it’s january 27th in zanibar (my birthday!), so timezones shift around my birthday, even prolonging it, and the wave of birthday messages trickling in every few hours serve as a reminder. i’m excited to mark the start of 19 on the beach surrounded by my friends in zanzibar and of course, so much love.

who would’ve thought?

daily opportunity + resource drops 🔍️