The Era of the Aayoobandits

the era of the aayoobandits

I’ve always wanted to belong to a community. You know, one of those where you’re part of something that is outside of yourself yet it’s a reflection of how you aspire to show up in the world because of what it stands for. A place where you get to be a fraction of a whole while remaining rooted in your own identity. I feel like this is one of the driving forces of the earth, this yearning for comradeship. I understood that it was probably easier to join one that already exists. That way, I could partake but remain noncommittal in the grand scheme of responsibilities but I was also aware that wouldn’t serve the purpose I wanted it to achieve.

Napoleon Bonaparte once said if you want something done well, then you better do it yourself. In March, I leapt to start a WhatsApp channel for Aayooba’s blog. The intention behind it was to create a platform where I could engage with my readers while fostering a sense of belonging that didn’t take the conversation outside of the blog itself. Considering how this is about me as much as it is about my readers, I also wanted to make it as seamless as possible such that it’s easy for me to manage without the pressure of active moderation while also providing the option of enhanced privacy for the followers. A channel felt like the right balance of these things.

Now what is a community without a name? I shared the channel link with a few of my close friends and asked them to decide on what name fits best for our collective. It was only right that they were involved too. We had four options: The faves, Aayooba’s Allies, Dream Weavers and Aayoobandits (which was a cheeky option I included for the hell of it). They were expected to vote for their favourite one and by now, I believe you can guess the one that won by a landslide. I’m never asking them to contribute to a life-changing decision ever again but I clearly couldn’t have chosen a name without their input so I would like to say a huge thank you to my co-founding mothers and fathers 😊

It’s always day one when you’re doing what you enjoy. Resistance exists for you just like it does for everyone else but what sets you apart is that in the face of it, you get up and try anyway. I’m taking each day as it comes, it doesn’t guarantee immediate success or the impossibility of failure. This journey of building a community, and indeed of life itself, is less about a final destination and more about the courage to keep showing up, even when the path is uncertain. So here we are, taking that first brave step together, ready to live one day at a time, with all its triumphs and challenges. The name is chosen, the channel is set, and the adventure truly begins now. Welcome to your era!

Follow the journey.