Beware: This Medium Publication Makes Big Promises

January 14, 2022 / trickyqueen / Leave a comment

And lives up to it.

Photo by Jorge Fernández Salas on Unsplash

If I were to start from scratch on Medium, the first thing I wish someone told me is about this pub.

The second thing I would do is become a writer for this pub.

And start making my writing dreams come true, one by one.

What is so special about this publication?

The One behind this pub has a long-term vision, not just for the pub but also for its followers. He launches new challenges to create a closely-knit writing community and transform beginner writers into better ones.

He is unstoppable with creative ideas. He makes big promises and lives up to them.

The lovely editors of this publication are invested in the success and growth of the followers like their own. They connect at a whole new level focusing on building relationships. Going above and beyond to promote the contents, in and outside Medium.
I found my tribe in this pub. 90% of my recurring readers are from this pub. This is not a coincidence.

The engagement I receive on my stories from this community is phenomenal.

My favorite thing about this pub is the “shout out” requirement for publishing the stories.

Every bit of their efforts is geared towards building a community of like-minded writers connected by passion and purpose.

Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean -Ryunosuke Satoro.

Promising challenges hosted by the pub

I participated in their “Shout out challenge” in December 2021 that set 1000 claps for the article as a requirement to qualify for the contest. The idea behind the thousand claps was to build a close-knit community to support each other.

A powerful idea manifested with intelligence!!

I used this opportunity to thank my medium friends. I called them all out in my story. And was thrilled to find, a thousand claps were only a couple of days away. It was the first time I received such tremendous engagement. Maybe because I called out 40+ people in my article?! We’ll find out.

Their recent challenge about new year’s resolution claimed even bigger. The last man standing in his own words: “Winning this competition is not going to change your life but participating in it will.”

I submitted my story at the very last minute[5 minutes to the new year] with no mentions this time. I wanted to test the water to see if I got 1000 claps.

Guess what? I got a whopping 1.5k claps within 3 days. Come on now, This cannot be a coincidence!

The second round was nothing short of mind-blowing. My story was mentioned by other people and how they reflected on it. This created magic!

I felt my soul through my work!

Top-writer is only the icing on the cake

The following week, I became a top writer in “Ideas.” The email I received from medium listed 3 stories that contributed to this success.

All these stories had one thing in common. They were all my contest articles written for this pub. Now, how could this ever be a coincidence?!

The beginning of my newsletter journey

Something interesting happened when I wrote a story about Running vs Birthing. It got rejected by a publication I originally submitted it to. Of course, that was not the best part. Actually, I felt a bit edgy thinking am probably the only one who enjoyed it.

The man behind this pub did not stop at publishing my story here. He went one step further and asked me to write an article for their newsletter magazine on Substack. His offer inspired awe in me. And relieved my creative mind from self-doubts.

I was thrilled when my guest post was featured in their newsletter. It hit 400+ views within 12 hours. The beautiful part was knowing that many people actually read the article and enjoyed it. They gave me credits and mentions in their stories.

While writing a newsletter was not even on my radar, I am doing it already. Effortlessly!

If you have not guessed the pub yet, here is a clue:

I was taken by the power that savoring a simple cup of coffee can have to connect people and create community -Howard Schultz.

Rings a bell?

Not yet?

Ok, here is a picture hint:

Please tell me, you found it!

The man behind this entirety is Winston.

And his awesome team working non-stop every day is Vidya Sury, Collecting Smiles, Marrisa W., Sharing Randomly, Drashti Shroff, Vincent Van Patten, Dr. Preeti Singh, Yana Bostongirl.

Here is his recent article about upcoming changes to the pub:

View at Medium.com

So, What are you waiting for?

New to Medium? Become a member using my referral link to get unlimited access to amazing stories for only $5 a month.

The Mom or the Runner Got the Most Cheers on the D-Day?

January 11, 2022 / trickyqueen / Leave a comment

Make a guess!

I may not claim to be one of those rare people. But I am definitely the one to whom rare things happen frequently.

It happened on the D-day of my first pregnancy. After several hours of labor, it was time to push the baby out.

What was expected to be a c-section turned out to be a miraculous natural birth because the baby girl decided to do the unexpected at the last minute. Like Mother, like daughter 😉

And I was shifted to the labor room from the surgery prep room. I became instantly famous in that hospital ward. The nurses in the hallway lifted my spirits with encouraging words. They were my angels dressed up in scrubs.

What seemed like quick progress stalled my labor at the pushing stage.

I have been pushing tirelessly for an hour and 20 minutes with no luck. So, the ob-gyn decided to use the vacuum for assistance.

Her first attempt with the vacuum didn’t go well. So before she decided to go for the second try, she ensured everything was in place. A group of nurses came into my room to prep for the newborn arrival. And they instantly recognized me from that morning.

There were at least ten of them in my room now. Standing across from me in a semi-circle form. They started cheering for me with an unexpected surprise round of applause. It was the momentum that kept me going.

One of the nurses went the extra mile and told me, “Almost there. Just give it all you have!”. That was it! I simply followed her, went for a final push, and the baby popped out. It was quite an entry. The one I will fondly remember for the rest of my life.

The following day, I left a box of handpicked cupcakes, with a note to every one of them who were present with me in the room that day! They made the most beautiful moment in life, extra special!

Fast forward two years later, at the finish line of my half-marathon race, a photographer slowed me down to take pictures. A stranger standing to my right showed me thumbs up! And someone announced my name in the mic. It was like someone forgot to add some surprise elements to the boring script!

I couldn’t spot any familiar faces within the 1-mile radius.

I never imagined the one who got cheered by an entire village in the birth room to finish an actual race with the bare minimum.

My husband and my friends arrived at the spot after almost 15 minutes. Maybe because I did the unexpected by finishing my race 20 minutes early?! Like Daughter, like Mother ?!😁

So, to conclude the question in the title:

It was the non-runner Mom who got the most cheers from the unexpected when she least expected it!!

Reminiscing on the past, I remember not the pain, but only the joy I received from unexpected kindness.

please share your experience about the unexpected surprises you received that you will remember for the rest of your life.

Check out this story to know how I became a runner mom:

View at Medium.com

New to Medium? Become a member using my referral link to get unlimited access to amazing stories for only $5 a month.

Please check out this poem by Vashni Stories. I really enjoyed it!

https://foundinmyjournal.com/your-skin-is-beautiful-abd4ceb52d07

I loved this one from Trista Signe Ainsworth about the precious treasures that bring back memories alive!

View at Medium.com

You Want to Know What I Wished?

January 10, 2022 / trickyqueen / Leave a comment

My daughter asked me this and I did not expect her answer

We were walking back home from the temple when she asked me that question.

I wanted to tell her: When you tell out your wish loud, it may not come true.

But the Mommy’s heart wanted to know what was going on in the 7-year-old’s mind.

So I said: Yes, I would love to know.

Daughter: I wish, coronavirus is over this year, Mom.

Me: What?!

Daughter: Yes!

Me: Didn’t you wish anything for our family?

Daughter: No, Mommy. I think the world becoming covid free is more important than everything else.

OMG…what have I done, a part of me came out to pat my back for raising a kid who wishes not just for herself or the family! But for something bigger and better!

Me: You mean, you wished for the world?

Daughter: Yeah, You can say that too.

Me: Wait, what do you mean? What is your wish again?

Daughter: Mommy, don’t be silly. I just told you my wish. I …WANT… CORONAVIRUS… TO… BE… OVER.

Me: Why?

Daughter: What do you mean why? Only then, we can go out to malls, theatres, toy shops,…And live a normal life!

Me: What about the world?

Daughter: Yeah, everyone else can do that too.

The part of me ducks back with no further due.

🤪🤪🤪

I want to give a shout-out to Drashti Shroff for her beautiful story about how she sparked positivity with her creative mind during the most needed moment in her marriage.

View at Medium.com

New to Medium? Become a member using my referral link to get unlimited access to amazing stories for only $5 a month

Hold Your Horses before You Share Your Top Writer Status

January 9, 2022 / trickyqueen / Leave a comment

Especially with your family

I have been waiting for this exact email for months now.

This very moment was probably better in my imagination than when it actually came true.

I was sitting in my parent’s home with my younger sister on vacation. I was watching her show me all the stuff she shopped that day. Of course, taking a glance at my phone every now and then.

And out of nowhere, BOOM!

The email popped in my inbox:

My instinct dictated I should refresh the page to confirm it was real.

“Wow,” I exclaimed and shared the news with my sister. Although she had no clue, she was kind enough to respond back with some excitement and a smile.

I came home and contained my excitement until today morning to share it with my husband. I kept the email ready for him to view on my laptop. Like when you want to surprise someone with something unexpected. Although the unexpected one here was me.

As he came out of the room, I showed him the mac screen. He appeared to read it. I was watching his eyes as he plainly concluded: “Oh, this looks like an automated email from Medium.” I couldn’t forgive the confidence in his tone.

I tried to explain to him, I am one of the top 50 out of 17.4k writers on the topic “Ideas” in Medium.

His unbudging reply hit me even harder: Oh I see.

That’s it. End of discussion!

You guessed it right, he is a non-mediumite. Yet his freaking response hit me like a stick of dynamite!

So, next time, be careful who you share your medium success stories with 😀

Until then, hold your horses!

Thanks to Vidya Sury, Collecting Smiles, and Gaurav Jain for making my not-so-great morning absolutely beautiful, with their creative gifs in response to my tweet. Another self-reminder, why I need my people on Medium!

Please share your experience about the first reaction you received on the “top writer” status from your close family.

New to Medium? Become a member using my referral link to get unlimited access to amazing stories for only $5 a month

Here is the recent “About me” story that blew my mind from Warren Patterson:

View at Medium.com

And another story from Lucia Landini about my ever favorite topic: gratitude!!

View at Medium.com

You Are Lucky to Write

January 8, 2022 / trickyqueen / Leave a comment

With no interruptions

Photo by Magdalena Kula Manchee on Unsplash

Going up on a 3mile hike with a toddler and a grown man [my husband] taught me something profound. We were both taking turns carrying our 2-year-old daughter and her stroller. Heading over to the gorgeous waterfalls in Oregon. It better be good, I thought.

When I spotted the falls from feet away, I froze. The pains left my body unannounced. My body, mind, and soul were immersed in the beauty of nature: The endless pouring of waterfalls with the gushing sound filled my heart with absolute joy.

A voice interrupted my view, “What a rough hike.” I looked back to notice a fine young couple with their cute backpacks telling me how challenging it was to climb up to the falls.

My involuntary response was instant: “Well, at least you didn’t have to carry a toddler or a stroller.”

Luck was in my favor, as they thought I was joking. Only that I was not.

We don’t realize how effortless some things are until we are left with no choice but to push our limits.

If we get a chance to go alone on that hike now, we had probably do it twice. The power of hindsight, I know….I know. But in all honesty, we never did many hikes as couples. This urge to connect with nature was an aftereffect of becoming a parent, I guess.

The same applies to my writing every morning. Some days, I can write for an hour or two with no interruptions. But once my kids are up, it gets challenging. My son wants to hold my hand as he enjoys his morning cup of milk, and my daughter’s interest in spelling is fully ripe in the morning.

Although I continue to type with my left hand to finish the paragraph, spelling out the words to the second-grader, nothing beats using both hands and a free mind for writing.

This is why I have set myself an alarm first thing in the morning. To wake up to my ideas and spill out my soul before it is too late for my hands.

“Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the fastest lion, or it will be killed.… It doesn’t matter whether you’re the lion or a gazelle. When the sun comes up, you’d better be running.” -Christopher McDougall.

In the above quote, Gazelle is the idea that sprouts in my mind every morning. And Lion is the time that waits for none.

I better write it all out before the time is up!!

I hope it was all relevant. My time is up now. Period.