Author Archives: Suneet

by | February 4, 2021 · 7:10 pm

WHEN YOU NEED IT MOST or THANK YOU FOR SEEING ME

In 2004, thanks to the good graces of an old friend Rupan Trikha, I connected with a doctor who was pretty world class at addressing some of the wonkiness in my vision. It was a material enough exercise but I was in my 20s (barely still) and was pretty cavalier about it all.

May be an image of text that says 'Damn I MAKE 15GO0D GOOD LOOK'

One person wasn’t cavalier. My Daddy. He made his way into a 45 minute phone consult with my doctor (a truly world renowned expert, like when other doctors around the world, yes doctors around the world have looked at my eye, look at my eye they will say “who did this? Was it Peter Hersh?”). Dr Hersh was wonderful. Daddy was at his best.

Asking questions. Thoroughly researched and thoughtful and respectful and even honoring Dr Hersh while also making sure all the gaps in my knowledge and his were filled.

May be an image of 1 person, standing, indoor and text that says 'vamn MAKE LOOK GOOD'
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Firmly.

When I went in for the procedure, Dr Hersh even commented how lucky I was to have a father who cared so much. His own father, Dr Donald, was his mentor and also my contact lens specialist. It was one of those moments branded on my personal timeline. A thread or moments wrapped into one cohesive thought ending with me acknowledging that I was (and am) blessed.

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May be an image of 1 person, standing and indoor

Today, I’m headed back to that office. To fix some more wonkiness. Dr Hersh is no longer practicing … and my Daddy is no longer able to call in. He left this planet three years ago today. (We still say it was to watch that Super Bowl IN PEACE, go 🦅!)

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I chose today for this procedure for a reason. I’ve got your shirt on, Daddy. And yeah, I really make 75 look great (it helps that I’m only 45; you did it well at 75 itself).

Thanks for seeing me then. Thanks for helping me see then. Thanks for making time like that, when I needed it most. Thanks.

Like I said on November 19th, I won’t speak of you in the past tense. You’re here. And we got this.

#iamgrateful and #iamthankful I was able to get into the office today, of all days. I wouldn’t have had it any other way.

Luv ya.

PS: 2021 has been a great year so far. If for no other reason than I actually fit into this shirt now. 🙂

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by | February 3, 2021 · 4:52 pm

LOOK MA, NO HANDS or INCLUSIVE SHOES SPARKED BY TRUE COMPASSION AT NIKE

I woke up at 230am. It’s amazing where the internet will take you. I’ve learned that typically when I wake up at that time going back to sleep is a futile and frustrating endeavor.

So I just lean into it; and work and read and surf. Alternating.

It often leads to amazing discoveries. Like this, from Nike, with a great back story. In essence, in 2008, Nike CEO found out that the company’s first employee had a stroke and lost the use of one hand, he instantly commissioned their top designer to create a functional shoe for someone with an inability to tie their shoes. For a universe of one.

They built and delivered that shoe to the individual and in 2015, turned it into a prototype to take to scale. And in 2021, we’re set for its release.

The Flyease.

https://www.fastcompany.com/90599458/nikes-new-flyease-go-shoes-snap-right-onto-your-feet?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&fbclid=IwAR2oAmyGZgReIyzHW-xO8owxQPZThelskAdYijb1DepWmEVyjFjoSiceV7c

This represents the best of Corporate America, productism, and the infinite expansion of goods.

#iamgrateful and #iamthankful that at a company as powerful as Nike, the compassion from one person (CEO) for another (their first employee having a stroke) can spark an altruist gesture first (we’re going to make YOU a shoe) that can then be taken to scale to serve so many other people in need.

I, think of my mom. And can’t wait to buy her these.

I appreciated your support of Kapernick,

Nike. But I love you for this whole darned thing.

https://www.fastcompany.com/…/nikes-new-flyease-go…

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by | February 2, 2021 · 10:00 pm

THOUGHTFUL, SURPRISING GIFTS or THE RULE OF (TWO) AND THREE

Over the last week or so I received three random packages, unexpectedly and based on nothing more than the generosity of three people who thought of me randomly, and sent something my way.

The best gifts are these kinds of little things, sent from afar. A reminder that you’re in people’s minds or at least, that you cross them in surprising and thoughtful ways.

And that they think enough of you to go the extra mile, to buy, to package, to transport across borders, and to ship your way. It speaks more to the people I’ve come across than to the person I am. I believe that. Because it’s stuff like this that just adds her fuel to my day, my hope, my faith, in all the good people and only people can make possible.

#iamgrateful and #iamthankful to Amit MasaunDavid Sudolsky and my cousin Chandni (not on FB) for this assortment delivered legally via planes, trains, automobiles and local couriers.

I love The Rule or Three; today I am excited about the rule of three being fulfilled in twos. How beautifully powerful and symmetrical.

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by | February 2, 2021 · 5:00 am

SNOW DAY or HOW TO MAKE AN EXIT

It snowed last night. It snowed today. It will snow tomorrow.

#iamgrateful and #iamthankful for our neighbors who came by and inspired us to upgrade the sledding on our front lawn. Tomorrow my plan is to have them hit a turn on the street and then go down that hill too.

Fully chaperoned all the way of course.

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by | February 1, 2021 · 12:22 am

EASY LIKE SUNDAY MORNINGS or LEARNING TOGETHER, SEPARATELY

Based on our schedules, it tends to make sense for me to take the kids in the AM most days. So I get the kids up and ready for school M-F (Priya does pickup because, teamwork).

It’s always a hustle. We have it down to a tight routine every am and there’s rarely drama beyond what you’d expect from a 4 and 7 year old going to school. They’re great. And somehow, the routine works.

But I still hate that I have to drive them forward. Get dressed. Brush. Eat. Get ready to leave. It’s just “go” from the moment we wake up.

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So Sundays I just don’t push. (Which is what made last Sunday tough; the leash was as long as a leash could be.)This Sunday morning was perfect. Khan Academy Kids for them, Deacon King Kong for me. And a great slow ramp to the day.

And the three of us just hung together, quietly, hoping to let Momma get a few more minutes of shut eye. Asking questions. Math for Jaanu. Reading comprehension for Anaiya. We were together. Doing our own separate food kinda learning.

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#iamgrateful and #iamthankful for how good they are with their daily routines, for my sanity those days and for what it enables us to do on Sunday mornings. My favorite mornings. Straight into Pancake Breakfasts.

PS: If you want to do something nice for a random person, but this $8 book on Amazon. Mikail is a good dude, a good father, and made some magic happen for a random kid on his FedEx route:

https://www.amazon.com/Rangoul-Mikail-Farrar/dp/1643987917

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by | January 30, 2021 · 10:09 pm

CAN YOU HELP ME MAKE SOMEONE’S DAY or BUY THIS BOOK FOR $8 AND GOOD KARMA

There’s a story from early 2020 where FedEx driver randomly helped a kid on his route send a gift to Tony Hawk. It’s such a cute story. It’s such a feel good story. Link to story in the comments.

That driver wrote a book.

https://www.amazon.com/…/164398…/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0…

I was so moved by the story, I bought his book and thought I’d see if I could rally some people to do the same. It’s $8 on Amazon and $2 for the kindle version.

#iamgrateful and #iamthankful that the web makes it possible to do good things for random people who do good things for random people.

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by | January 30, 2021 · 2:54 am

A CHANCE TO MAKE SOMEONE’S DAY or REWARD GOODNESS WITH GOOD KARMA

Yesterday I shared a story about Tony Hawk :

https://youtu.be/ybhsGCwZpls

What it triggered for me was the story of Mikail Farrar, the FedEx driver who was approached by a kid (Cooper) while on his route, who asked Mikail if he could get the kid’s skateboard, somehow, to Tony Hawk.

Mikail was just a good guy doing a good thing. How do we return the favor and show good karma is a thing?

Well … I looked up Mikail, and found out that among many things, he’s an author.

He wrote a book that’s available for $7 on Amazon called Rangoul. I bought my copy yesterday and got it today. And I thought I’d use this ridiculously small footprint I have here to invite you all to buy his book too.

> https://www.amazon.com/…/B07X…/ref=dp-kindle-redirect…

Why?

Because good things should happen to good people. Buy his book. Write a review. And say thanks to a guy who did something good purely for the sake of doing good.

#iamgrateful and #iamthankful for stories like Mikail’s that just make us feel great.

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by | January 29, 2021 · 12:20 am

JT VERZUZ USHER or NUFF SAID

I’d stop time for this. #iamgrateful and #iamthankful this is even being takes about as a thing.

Let’s act like The Secret really works. And wish this into existence. You down?

Also, who wins? https://thebreakfastclub.iheart.com/…/2021-01-28-drake…/

If it doesn’t happen, thanks Judith Carmel for ruining my life.

https://thebreakfastclub.iheart.com/content/2021-01-28-drake-wants-justin-timberlake-usher-to-battle-on-verzuz/?Pname=local_social&Keyid=socialflow&Sc=editorial&fbclid=IwAR1KoqFFTPOEyrRcB0OynB_-98gk2JMJ0BdcCzIE25MC7Bm6V3YpRCato5g

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by | January 28, 2021 · 9:24 pm

TONY HAWK “720” or YOU NEVER LEFT

I loved the X Games. And I too, laughed at the co-opted and failed commercial attempt at the Gravity Games.

The X Games was the purest of sport. I grew up with a number of close friends who boarded (I helped them shoot videos in Philly in the early 90s). It was an awesome culture that produced some of my favorite people. They represented in so many ways the best of those times. Diversity. Individuality. Freedom. Creativity. Self expression. And the music. Man. The breadth of music was as diverse as the colors represented on their boards and clothes.

I remember when Tony Hawk landed his 900. It was an odd event because it was also a little contentious. People protested that he met trying. But he landed it not to win an award or the competition, he landed it to land it.

Because he had written a list of tricks he wanted to land and this was the last one on the list.

https://www.si.com/extra-mustard/2021/01/28/tony-hawk-720-age-52-video?fbclid=IwAR3n9t0jdTricU2blI6mdETW6idUHKrLykhd3MNBLSB6SdGuY0utetAazCA

He finally nailed it. It was a remarkable land. It was celebrated. And he also didn’t get credit for it in the context of the games. It was also an oddly Tin Cup moment but if it had played out well, for the trick itself and what it meant to the game, and not the awards.

Here he is. At 52. Landing a 720. Once the gold standard. Still a gold standard for anyone at 52.Tony Hawk has been around. His video game celebrity peaked when he was in his 30s! Think about that. When asked where he’d been, he paused and said, well, I never left.

#iamgrateful and #iamthankful for this throwback memory. To purer times. And awesome memories. And f*cking icon and hero, Tony Hawk.

If you want a feel good story, check this one out. It was the last time I heard his name and it also made my day, but maybe more because of Mikel Farrar the FedEx driver: https://youtu.be/jBYHKQv-PZ0

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by | January 28, 2021 · 1:27 am

CHEEK TO CHEEK or THE BEST PART OF SHAVING

Ain’t no thing today but that cheek thing today

I shaved. Anaiya came home.

She couldn’t stop smiling and giggling while we talked about her school day.

She just kept staring at my face and smiling and giggling in her best way.

Then, finally, she stopped her story mid-thought; and grabbed my face and pushed her cheek against mine.

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#iamgrateful and #iamthankful for the few hours between when I shave and when my face gets prickly again.

And … for this girl. My magic. This is a rotating week where she’s home by 3. Which means my hugs start in earnest and 3:01. The best part of this whole darned world happening as it is, is stuff like this.

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