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Lynn's avatar

My first time in Paris… this past January. A series of mishaps…more humorous in recalling than the experience was in person. I can say I was there… I have the refrigerator magnet and stamp in my passport to prove it! 🙂

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Anjali Krishnakumar's avatar

Haha, maybe the charms of Paris!! Idk, feels funny now! Aren't the mishaps what turns it crazy mad memories after a while? Hope Paris treated you well despite the chaos, Lynn! 💙

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Divya B Kumar's avatar

I can relate—I lost count of how many times I failed in math 😂. I don’t even remember much about my family’s response. But the twist? By class 9, I turned it into my bestie.

And when it comes to firsts, I don’t have any special feelings toward them—maybe it’s weird, but to me, it’s just another day

But it was good to read how you cherished yours!

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Anjali Krishnakumar's avatar

Haha, cheers buddy!! Oh, so goood to see you go from struggling in maths to turning it your best subject! Tells a lot about you! <3 I cant even imagine maths as such! Happy that you resonate and enjoyed this!

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Wajeeha Nadeem's avatar

My first time posting on Substack was such an amazing feeling. I was coming from 10 years of food blogging, and had been hating myself for quitting it for quite awhile. My blog was doing perfectly fine, but burnout led me to just throwing in the towel completely.

For 2 years I was in a frozen state, hating myself for not doing anything about my blog. Then I discovered Substack and realized that maybe I could pursue my lifelong dream of writing for an audience. It gave me hope like no other. And the first essay I posted was about why I quit my food blog. I was so nervous, yet excited.

I was starting something new, while also giving myself a final closure on that chapter of my life. I finally, truly forgave myself once I clicked published on that post. Which led to finding a wonderful community of people, who did not judge me for all the mistakes and errors I had made. The mistakes that I had driven myself crazy over.

So for me, posting on Substack was an amazing first, and I will cherish it forever.

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Anjali Krishnakumar's avatar

Oh, wow! This is amazing, Wajeeha! Happy for you, that Substack was the turning point in your life! So proud of pushing yourself, and coming back to writing breaking the big break! 💛🥳 My recent first was also substack, so we, a match!

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Julie Murdock's avatar

Great post, Anjali! The first and only bone I've ever broken (not normally something you'd like to remember) happened while I was dancing on Bourbon Street in New Orleans just five years ago. A big tipsy dude accidentally bumped into me from behind, knocked me to the floor, and my collarbone was fractured. I've always been happy that at least I got a good story out of it instead of having tripped over a laundry basket or something. 🤷‍♂️

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Anjali Krishnakumar's avatar

Love your perspective, Julie!😂🥳 Yass, it would have been an old boring story, maybe we should thank the tipsy dude for turning it around at least! Whatta wild first, haha!!

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Julie Murdock's avatar

🤣

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Rahul Paul's avatar

I remember the first time I ever addressed a group of people (21 to be precise!) to deliver a Himalayan Trek Briefing! My hands were trembling, my throat had a lump but the experience was worth it! 🙂‍↔️

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Anjali Krishnakumar's avatar

Damnn!! Briefing at the Himalayas, double the adventure, haha! Coolest one ever! Yay, for you, and I bet you'd brief like a pro now! 🥳

p.s. you work as a trek lead, or what?

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Jacque's avatar

Love this, especially the basketball part! I’m a lover of basketball and played for many years. Most people laugh when I say I’m a 3pt shooter bc of my height, until they see me shooting lol

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Anil TJ's avatar

Beautifully written. Subscribed.

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Anjali Krishnakumar's avatar

Makes me so happy that you resonate, and enjoy, Anil!! 🥹♥️

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Bridget Saulnier's avatar

I've had so many firsts that started as I approached my 40s and left a longtime relationship and a government career for entrepreneurship and running businesses and stepping into leadership, and discovering new passions and people. It started with a leap into the unknown, as you describe - like buying tickets for a solo adventure! What I will say is having trusted voices, partners and coaches along the way helps with the bumpy parts of the road, especially when you have to keep leaping!

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Anjali Krishnakumar's avatar

You've made reinvention look sooo effortless, and easy, Bridget! Trusting your call and jumping into it, the hardest yet the most rewarding! soo happy for you, and keep rocking at life! Wishing you more crazy, happy and memorable firsts! <3

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Bridget Saulnier's avatar

Thank you, Anjali! Not the easy path, but certainly adventurous! Here’s to a lifetime of firsts!

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Nicole Boehrig's avatar

Love this reminder! Hmmm for the first time in a long time I ran a mile in under 10 minutes. 🤣🙌🏼 I celebrated that body!

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Anjali Krishnakumar's avatar

ayy!! celebrating body and health issa huge underrated win! soo happy for ya, Nicole 🥳

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Tales Of Omnipotence's avatar

The perspective here feels fresh, Anjali. You capture the thrill, unpack the magic of new moments. The way firsts light up life, the pull to savor them stands out. Your lens on these sparks carries real depth.

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Anjali Krishnakumar's avatar

Thanks a loott! Happy that you enjoy, and resonate with my story!! 💛

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Grace Grossmann's avatar

I AM an avid fan of embracing firsts - I am addicted to always pushing myself out of my comfort zone and embracing those moments that push me to grow. Loved this! What sticks out to me is my first time moving to Spain at 18 years old and being in front of a primary school class of kids to teach English. I became a kid again and had fun.

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Anjali Krishnakumar's avatar

We belong to the same tribe! Damn, Spain at 18 years old and volunteering as an English teacher sounds so fun and amazing! You must've rocked it! Wishing you a lot finer, crazier, and happy mad firsts ahead like those, Grace!

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Grace Grossmann's avatar

Aww what a beautiful wish that is, thank you Anjali

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Kiira's avatar

This month, I'm planning to go on my first slow travel trip to Rishikesh. I've always visited that place in such a hurry and it always felt like an incomplete experience. But this time I want to go solo and stay there for longer, on my own terms. ☺️

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Anjali Krishnakumar's avatar

One big yayy for you, girl!! Cheers to your soon-to-be first! Rishikesh is such a beautiful place, and definitely go for the bungee jumping (India's highest) if you're an adrenaline junkie! And slow travel changes you in a loot in person. Happy you resonate with my read <3

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Kiira's avatar

omg thanks for the recommendation! <3

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Devansh Tomar's avatar

And this is my first time writing on Substack. I loved your writing, Anjali.

I'm a new writer, would be happy to connect with you.

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Anjali Krishnakumar's avatar

Hey, that's amazing, Devansh! Maybe this be a start to many! <3

Happy to connect with ya!

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Mahadia Jannat Zaara's avatar

Heyyy, loved your writing!

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Anjali Krishnakumar's avatar

yayyy! means a looott, Mahadia! 🫂💗

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Alexis Mera Damen's avatar

Oh, I thought of so many first while reading this. My first concert (Britney Spears! haha). My first trip without my parents to Europe, I was 19 or 20 and traveled to meet a friend in Amsterdam. She was studying abroad in Italy. This was back in the day when smartphones didn't exist so when my credit card refused to work in the Netherlands, I was panicking that I'd never find my way home. So many other great firsts to think about and so many more to have!

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Anjali Krishnakumar's avatar

Damn!! Britney Spears as your first concert?! And that first trip sounds wild! You must have gone through so many mixed emotions, haha! Now you’ve got the best stories to shout about! I love this and how our firsts shape us! Happy you resonate and enjoy. cheers to more wild, amazing firsts, Alexis! 🫶

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Dr Maggie Wheeler DO's avatar

I love for firsts. They are so scary, but so magical. Just did my first solo vacation with my daughter (6yo) last weekend to NYC and it was fantastic.

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Anjali Krishnakumar's avatar

indeed, but the best memories! sharing an adventure with your little one, is always extra special, especially in such a vibrant cityscape! <33

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