w/ creative chimera storyteller Abhas 🦎🇮🇳🏝 on life-changing solo trips + asking: how to reframe anxiety as excitement? (009)

Co-Host: Abhas Misraraj @abhasmisraraj | Host: Xinyi Xan @xinyixan Hi! You're listening to episode 9 of Don't Be Strangers, and I'm your host XinYi. This is a series of collaborative conversations that focuses on learning from friends and strangers alike on how to create agency in your life and deepen your connections with everyone you meet. Today's conversation was an absolute blast re-living because the co-host is my creative chimera brother Abhas who is helping me to co-create a community for fellow creatives like us. The story of how we met is a little unlikely because years ago, I recorded an episode with Aileen for her podcast called The Lavendaire Lifestyle and it was through this episode that Abhas actually found and followed my account. I have this habit of occasionally dm'ing strangers who are lurking in my instagram stories just to say hi and thank them for their support and.... that's how Abhas and I met. From years of anonymity to suddenly exchanging voice and video clips at the cusp of my 5-week trip to Chicago where Abhas happened to be based at the time... that's how we ended up meeting in-person and sparked a very special kind of friendship. He's an absolute joy to speak with and has such a big heart — get ready as we dive into topics such as (1) his dream home, (2) our shared struggles of wanting to build a place to call our own while simultaneously wanted to disown everything to travel the world, (3) his life changing trip as a solo traveler, (4) how our art has changed based on our personal growth journey, and (5) reframing anxiety as excitement to overcome the fear of public speaking. So this is Abhas describing a little bit about himself... [TIMESTAMPS & HIGHLIGHTS LINKED HERE] Thank you sincerely again Abhas, for our weekly check-in calls that are so so so nourishing for my soul. It's something akin to having a life-coach / therapy because you're just so introspective and intuitive — I feel very lucky to have a brother like you in my life. Last but not least — I mentioned in the last episode that I'm trying to expand this community by developing a pen pal club to accompany this passion project. The little one-liner I settled on is: The Don’t Be Strangers ✨☺️ Pen Pal Club is a whole-community experience supported by life enthusiasts seeking deeper friendships (hello, is this you? 👀). Join our community to… connect with like-minded and adventurous friends 💭 participate in monthly journal prompts 📓 (inspired by questions explored in the podcast!) learn, practice, and develop genuine and profound connections If I've piqued your interest and you want to find out more or sign up for the email list that will notify you when this pen pal community goes live — you can find the link in both the show notes and on the @dontbestrangers instagram page where you are always more than welcomed to leave feedback, meet other cool humans, and just drop by for the good vibes. Until next time, ciao from Playa del Carmen, Mexico and remember — don't be a stranger!