Chapter 4: The Supporting Cast Who Shaped My Creator Year

Blurb

This year reminded me that growth is never a solo journey. Behind every decision, every creative risk, and every quiet breakthrough, there are people who hold you steady, guide you forward, and walk beside you. This chapter is for the three women who shaped my year as a creator in very different but equally important ways.

No Creator Is Self-Made

We often talk about discipline, consistency, and courage when we speak about a creator’s journey. But what we forget to talk about is support. The kind that does not always show up on social media. The kind that happens in private conversations, late-night calls, quiet guidance, and shared responsibilities.

This year would have felt overwhelming and unfinished without the people who stood behind me. Not loudly. Not dramatically. Just constantly.

This is my way of acknowledging the supporting cast that made my year possible.

Sakshi: The Anchor Who Held the Ground Steady

My sister Sakshi has been my strongest constant. Her support has never been about saying the right things. It has always been about doing what needs to be done.

When my health took a turn and I went through surgery, I felt helpless in ways I had never experienced before. My emotions were scattered. Fear, frustration, exhaustion. Sakshi stayed through it all. She kept reminding me that this is life and that it is okay for it to be challenging. She never rushed my healing or dismissed my emotions. She allowed me to fall apart safely.

She handled my mood swings. She absorbed my frustrations. She gave me the space to choose my path while also helping my family understand those choices so I did not have to fight every battle alone. Even when it was late at night for her in Chicago, she would sit with me on calls and let me release everything I was holding in.

Because of her, I learned to accept challenges instead of avoiding them. I became braver. I felt secure. I understood that distance does not weaken presence. Her support became something I carried within me, and that changed how I showed up in my life.

Romila: The Guide Who Changed the Way I Think

I did not meet Romila in real life. I met her through words.

I came across her blog during a Blogchatter challenge, and it made me pause. Not because it was heavy or dramatic, but because it was thoughtful, witty, and reflective. Her writing made everyday things like scrolling Instagram feel philosophical in the most accessible way. It made me think. It made me slow down.

I wrote a blog inspired by her work, tagged her, and that is how the conversation began. Soon after, we got on a call. We spoke about life, books, writing, and time management. What stood out to me was how deeply she engages with people. Her comments are personal, thoughtful, and genuinely reflective. She does not show up for the sake of being visible. She shows up with intent.

Watching her participate in blogging challenges was another lesson in itself. She was always timely, prepared, and calm. She balanced her job, writing, editing, blogging, and community engagement with a grace that felt effortless. When I once asked her if she had 25 hours in a day, she laughed and said 27. That line stayed with me.

Romila changed the way I approach my time and my writing. Her wit rubbed off on me. I became more intentional with my topics and titles. More reflective with my thoughts. She showed me that productivity does not have to feel rushed and that depth matters more than speed. She became a quiet philosopher guide in my life, someone whose way of living and thinking continues to inspire me.

Kriti: The Partner Who Turned Ideas into Reality

Kriti walked into my life when I had ideas but lacked courage. I had been wanting to do something creative for authors for a long time, but I was overthinking everything. I was scared of starting without a plan.

When I asked Kriti if she would like to build something together, she said yes without hesitation. That yes was the shift.

She brought structure to my ideas. She brought clarity where I had doubt. When she went home and immediately started looking up PR box designs and ideas, it stopped feeling like a future possibility. It became real. When we made our first announcement and later celebrated our first 100 followers with a small cake, I knew this was not just an idea anymore. It was a shared commitment.

What I value most is how in sync we are. Sometimes we send the same ideas to each other. Sometimes we think of the same plans without saying a word. She made me trust the process and myself a little more. With her, I learned that building something together does not dilute your dream. It strengthens it.

She did not just support my dream. She chose to live it with me.

What This Year Taught Me About Support

This year taught me that creators are shaped as much by people as they are by effort. Sakshi gave me stability. Romila gave me perspective. Kriti gave me momentum.

Each of them held a different part of my journey, and together they made it possible for me to grow without losing myself.

Some years are about output.
Some years are about survival.
And some years are about recognising the people who make both possible.

This was one of those years.

This blog is a part of #BlogchatterWrapParty