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If you are reading this newsletter today, it is not just because you were curious to see what is inside. It is also because you were taught to read. September starts with a day that marks the start of our literacy. Yes, I am referring to Teachers’ Day.

This month’s edition is all about life lessons and new beginnings – and it ends with a special Teachers’ Day activity right at the end, in the ‘Join me in…’ section. Ready for some classy lessons, year after you left the classroom? Let’s dive in.

Best wishes,
Venkat

https://www.authorvenkat.com/

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June for me, will always be ‘back-to-school’ month. And I know it’s the same for many of you.

When I think of school, I’m lost in a sea of nostalgia for the simple joys, the happy memories, the uncomplicated camaraderie. That got me thinking – why nostalgia? Why must those joys remain in the past? You may graduate from school, but you don’t ‘graduate’ from joyful memories after all! And so, no matter how much you’ve come ahead in life, I invite you to bring those joys back again.

Read that Nancy Drew mystery. Find the time to play that fun game or sport you played during recess. Watch Giant Robot or He Man on YouTube. I promise you, reliving your best moments can sometimes be the best vitamin for your mind.

With that, I bring you your June dose of Victory Vitamin. Delve in!

Best wishes,
Venkat

https://www.authorvenkat.com/

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I am excited to meet you through this edition. May the positive vibes of May sweeten your days ahead.

May starts with Labour Day. I’m sure we all enjoyed the long weekend! Most of us can enjoy a good break – thanks to the very labourers we are celebrating. For in India, we do have the ability to engage domestic help, drivers, plumbers and other workers for a very affordable cost. In other countries, people pay a bomb for these services!

While our workplaces have a proper system to govern and reward our work, these labourers do not enjoy such advantages. So, why not start the month by acknowledging their contribution in some way – maybe with a small gift like a shawl or a meal coupon? Don’t forget to accompany it with a few words of thanks!

With that, let’s delve into this issue.

Best wishes,
Venkat

https://www.authorvenkat.com/

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March signifies the start of a hot summer. While the body needs to keep cool to beat the heat, don’t forget to keep your mind cool and calm too!

This is not just for the sake of your happiness and that of those around you. A cool attitude also helps you adapt to any changes in your life. After all, even an engine that’s been running a while gets overheated and requires a coolant to go a long way.

You will come across this theme of staying cool in most sections of this edition of Victory Vitamin. Let’s begin.

Best wishes,
Venkat

https://www.authorvenkat.com/

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People look at January for new beginnings – but February teaches us something too. It renews hope for those who started the year with excitement and remain in control of their goals. It haunts those who feel that they may have slipped into mediocrity and fear that they may not be able to make this year any different. But…

What happens when you polish an old utensil or a gadget at home? It starts to shine. Believe me – February can do that for you too. After all, did you know that February is named after Februa, the ancient Roman festival of cleansing?

Clean your mind of all self-doubts and start afresh this February. You’ll find that fresh starts and second chances are a major theme for this month’s newsletter. Let’s dive in.

Best wishes,
Venkat

https://www.authorvenkat.com/

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The new year has brought new hope. And new opportunities too.

How many people wished you a happy 2023? At least a hundred? I had the same experience. But much like me, I suspect you probably don’t speak with or meet these well-wishers through the year, unless you run into them at some event.

Why not make this, the year of deeper connections? Make your well-wishers realise that you do care for them. When you bid goodbye to 2023, be proud of having valued people who cared for you. Give them a call, start a chat, or even meet them face-to-face. Fostering trust is a big part of this, and you’ll find more about that in this edition of Victory Vitamin.

With that, I wish you an astonishingly amazing 2023!

Best wishes,
Venkat

https://www.authorvenkat.com/

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I am elated to bring you 2022’s last edition of Victory Vitamin with a powerful message. Every year leaves behind memories, brings new people into our lives and adds a new dimension to our experiences in this world. While the world gives a lot to us, how about making the next year memorable by giving something back?

I am not making a social pitch asking you to donate money to the underprivileged. How about giving a little time to make others feel a little more important? That’s the underlying theme of most of the things I talk about in this edition. Here you’ll find loads of practical tips and advice to do so, all spiced with a dash of humour of course.

With that, I wish you a happy end of 2022, and a great start to 2023!

Best wishes,
Venkat

https://www.authorvenkat.com/

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Victory Vitamin is back after a break! And I am delighted to connect with you again.

These last few months saw me conducting book reviews, airing an endearing interview to promote young super achievers, submitting poems to anthologies, finding humour in daily news and creating videos. I felt I was unable to devote the time that this newsletter deserved. But after a break, I am back refreshed – and here on, you can be assured of your monthly dose of positivity and learnings.

I thought Victory Vitamin could do with a little refresh too. You’ll notice some new sections and segments that I’ve added in, and will find more opportunities to interact, connect and share your opinions as you read the newsletter. So dive right in!

Best wishes,
Venkat

https://www.authorvenkat.com/

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May marks the end of hot weather across tropical countries, and growing up, it meant another significant milestone. June would be the month when schools would reopen after the long summer break, prompting us to pack our bags with books, our lunch boxes with yummy treats and our brains with lessons. This year, the reopening is likely to look different again — but even a virtual reopening will thrust our children back into the world of knowledge and learning.

Although most of us have graduated years (or decades!) back, there’s no reason why we cannot embrace the back-to-school spirit and continue this process of learning too. This month’s Victory Vitamin is thus packed with lessons, reflections, hope and positivity. Will you be present?

Best wishes,
Venkat

https://www.authorvenkat.com/

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Hi everyone,

World Health Day, World Earth Day and Easter were all lined up in April. These holidays signify something to all of us if you think about it — if you take care of your health, anything on earth is possible. So resurrect your hopes, dreams and desires.

With the second wave of Covid, I know that all of you must be anxious and stressed. And all those doom-drenched news clips and gloom-filled Whatsapp forwards only make it worse. Ironically, forwards do not take us forward — they only set us back. So take the mayhem out of May. Prioritize your mental health, as well as physical — think positive and stay negative. That’s why, in this issue of Victory Vitamin, I am focussing on sending you a dose of inspiration and joy. I hope this helps you in these turbulent times.

Take care,
Venkat

https://www.authorvenkat.com/
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