Lessons from my younger self
This year marks a decade since I wrote and saw my first book published, by Random House in 2010. And just this week, I decided to re-read it for the first time in almost 10 years.
Most of us know that who we were professionally 10 years ago is not who we are today (if there was no evolution, you might think about why) — but not all of us get the chance to hold in our hands the evidence of who we were back then.
I am proud of the achievement: writing a book before I turned 30. Yet I still expected to cringe through the re-reading. After all, I cringe when I see photos where I’m sporting shoulder pads and stirrup leggings (ah, the 80s). And I know I’m a stronger writer/creator/strategist/thinker with years since of fine-tuning, growing and learning.
AT THE BANGALORE LAUNCH
As it turns out, there was less cringe than I thought. Sure, 2020 Rhea felt that there were signs of youthful impatience in the book — the storyline was rushed in places, subplots could've been meatier and more complex backstories would have benefited the characters.
Yet I also found myself admiring 2010 Rhea for, first and foremost, delivering so competently and creatively to a brief. The novel Girl Plus One was commissioned by Random House and came with two requirements, the story setting (Mumbai) and an overarching tone (“Sex and the City-esque”). From there, the field was open to create — but it had to deliver successfully on the main brief. The fact that it made it to bookshelves shows it did.
I was also reminded of my sassy confidence in addressing a topic that was pushing at the boundaries of modesty in India at the time, and that I wrote this book in the evenings and at weekends while working full time at GQ.
SIGNING AT THE MUMBAI LAUNCH
We often look back at our earlier work selves expecting to see the missteps and errors we made that taught us what NOT to do as we progressed. And no doubt, that is an important part of the learning process.
But sometimes looking back on our younger selves can remind us of positive traits and behaviors that got us to where we are — things like self-belief, fearlessness, passion, hard graft, even a bit of calculated recklessness.
It’s a reminder that not only did we do it. We CAN still do it. Whatever “it” is.
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