12 Hour Walk, How to Grow, Mom Board & Uneasy Journals

#55 of 10+1 Things | Abu Dhabi

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⚡ Welcome to #55 of 10+1 Things!

Last week’s newsletter had 12 things instead of 11 and I’m so glad that some of you emailed me regarding the same. With the amazing weather here in Abu Dhabi, I had so much fun cycling around the city. Finally I figured out a route to ride within the city without much distractions. Oh, and I spontaneously went on a 12-hour continuous ride without any prior planning—it was an interesting experience!

I've found a new passion recently - helping people bring their personal blogs to life. Since this has become such a joy, I'm taking on two clients this quarter (one spot still open!) to help craft truly personal blog spaces. If you've been thinking about creating your own corner of the internet, I'd love to chat - discovery calls are free!

Also, a huge thanks to everyone who bought me coffees($1 or ₹75) last week. Your support ,keeps me inspired and helps fund all my writing!

Here are 10+1 Things that I thought were worth sharing this week:

🚶 12 Hour Walk

The 12-hour walk is an interesting concept by Colin O’Brady. The rules are simple: walk alone for 12 hours without any distractions—no music, podcasts, or internet, just you and your thoughts. Inspired by this, I decided to take on the challenge in Abu Dhabi, exploring mangrove trails, city sidewalks, and public art installations. It was truly a unique experience, walking with just me and my thoughts in an urban landscape. From unexpected art pieces to a heavy biryani lunch mid-walk, it was a day of reflection and discovery. If you’re curious about my journey, thoughts, and what I learned, read more about it on my blog.

💡 Why Are UK Electricity Bills So High?

I came across an insightful post by Ben about why UK electricity bills are so high, paired with an interactive site, electricitybills.uk, that breaks it all down. Only a third of the cost comes from wholesale electricity, while the rest goes toward maintaining the grid, supporting renewables, and utility overheads. Ben also highlights how past renewable subsidies and rising network costs continue to impact prices, while offering ideas for a future of cheaper, cleaner energy. Definitely worth a read if you’re from the UK or generally curious!

📝 Uneasy Journals

I’m not sure who this is, but I got a follow from Uneasy Journals on Substack, and that’s how I found this. I loved the post about sacrifice and how it is scapegoated as loss when, in reality, it’s about prioritizing what truly matters. The author explains how small choices, like skipping errands to study, and major life decisions, like choosing a career, are shaped by what we’re willing to forgo. What stuck with me is the line: “You are what your sacrifices are.” Short, reflective, and quietly inspiring—this piece makes you rethink how you balance your life and goals.

👩 Mom Board

I first discovered Jan Miksovsky through his Japan hike book, but his project MomBoard is what truly amazed me. Jan created this e-ink display for his mother, who has amnesia, to help her feel connected and reassured. The device sits in her home, always on, showing short, comforting messages from Jan and his siblings. They use a simple web form to update messages remotely, and the display automatically refreshes every few minutes. What’s incredible is how seamless it is—his mom doesn’t need to interact with it, and it blends perfectly into her space. It’s a thoughtful, low-maintenance way to use technology to make a real difference, and Jan even shared the source code on GitHub for anyone inspired to try this for their loved ones. Truly heartwarming!

⌚️ Gradient Watch

I was casually browsing Kickstarter the other day, and nothing really caught my attention—until I stumbled upon this gem: the Gradient Watch by LAWA Design Studio. Instead of traditional hands, it uses two overlapping gradients—one for hours and one for minutes—that create beautiful, ever-changing patterns as time passes. With sleek 38 mm proportions, durable Japanese movement, and interchangeable straps, it’s both stylish and functional. I’m genuinely impressed! I might order this!

🗾 Landforms That Resemble Real-World Objects

I came across an interesting discussion on r/geography where users shared landforms that resemble real-world objects—a perfect example of pareidolia, the tendency to see patterns or familiar shapes in random objects or landscapes. Some fascinating examples include Italy looking like a boot, Michigan resembling a mitten, Ireland being seen as either a koala or a parrot in flight, Croatia shaped like a dragon, and Chad’s border resembling the "Chad" meme face. It’s amazing how our brains interpret geography this way—definitely worth checking out!

📚 The Pleasure of Finding Things Out

I picked up The Pleasure of Finding Things Out this week, and I’m so glad I did. The book is a collection of Richard Feynman’s interviews, speeches, and essays, offering a glimpse into his fascinating life as a scientist. It’s not heavy on technical details, but instead focuses on the joy of curiosity and exploration. Feynman shares his thoughts on everything from how we think about time to his experiences working on the Manhattan Project. Each page is filled with curiosity, humor, and wonder, and it’s the perfect companion to my morning coffee. I love how it reminds me why I enjoy asking questions and seeking answers—it’s not just about learning but about the pure joy of discovery.

“If you expected science to give all the answers to the wonderful questions about what we are, where we’re going, what the meaning of the universe is and so on, then I think you could easily become disillusioned and then look for some mystic answer to these problems.”

~ As always, resurfaced by Readwise -Your personal knowledge library. Start remembering everything you read for FREE!

Last Week’s Read: Plato and a Platypus Walk Into a Bar

🐓 The Chicken World

I found this fascinating visualization that highlights how chickens have come to dominate the bird world. Once exclusive to the wild jungles of Asia, chickens were domesticated over 4,000 years ago and are now the most common bird species globally. Driven by industrialized food production and the demand for affordable meat and eggs, the global chicken population has skyrocketed to over 33 billion—roughly 4 chickens per person! What’s striking is that poultry now makes up 71% of all bird biomass, while wild birds account for just 29%, largely due to habitat loss and environmental degradation.

📈 How to Grow

I read this fascinating post by Tejas on How to Grow Professional Relationships, where he introduces the TJS Collaboration Model—a fresh way to think about building connections. It takes you through seven stages, from competition to collaboration, showing how relationships can evolve from distant coexistence to creating something meaningful together. What stood out to me was the focus on trust, intentional communication, and adopting a mindset of abundance, while also recognizing the dangers of losing yourself in unhealthy dynamics. A must-read if you’re looking to level up your connections!

💎 PixLens

Not sure if this qualifies as art, but I had so much fun exploring the PixLens—a fascinating acrylic lens that transforms the world into pixel art, no electricity required! Designed by Japanese engineer and material designer Monoli, this handheld lens uses a precise grid structure to break the scenery into an 18x18 pixel resolution, creating a pixelated effect that looks like something straight out of Minecraft. The pixelation happens naturally as the acrylic lens refracts light, dividing the image into simplified blocks of color. Quirky, nostalgic, and beautifully crafted!

🎬 How Google Maps Adapted to India

This interesting video explains how Google adapted Maps for India, where many streets lacked names. By studying how locals navigated using landmarks, they redesigned Maps to include landmark-based directions. It’s a great example of tailoring a global product to meet local needs through thoughtful user research!

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That’s 10+1 Things for the week!

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See you next week!

With Love,
Rishi

Without the Medici family, Michelangelo wouldn’t have painted the Sistine Chapel. Without his friends at Atari, Steve Jobs never would’ve started Apple. Without patrons, you won’t reach your potential.
- Jeff Goins