Practical, But Make It Hot
Less shiny, more sense.
A mini Editor’s Note, that’s taken a long time to draft.
I’d be lying out of my behind if I said I haven’t been struggling recently. Nothing holds truer than the saying “When you plan, God laughs.” Because life will always surprise you — both in the best and craziest of ways.
This year has been a constant cycle of becoming, unbecoming, unraveling, and re-piecing. In the winter, I started slowly rebuilding The Soarce into what I always imagined it could be. After spending so much time waiting for the “perfect” moment, I finally said screw it and let it rip. I dove headfirst, and honestly, the result came pretty close to the vision. Recording the podcast in a studio was a dream…until I realized I hadn’t thought through everything that comes with that dream. Also, did I mention I found out I was pregnant the exact same week I started recording? Let me tell you, that’ll change your brain chemistry real fast.
Here’s what I’ve learned through it all: at my core, I’m a practical person.
And for years, I thought that meant I was uninspired. Turns out, practical is clarity. Practical is survival. Practical is wisdom. It’s the voice that asks: what actually matters right now? It’s what’s kept me afloat while life has pulled me in every possible direction. Sometimes I even wonder if I’m on this rollercoaster because God knows my future biography will be so colorful. Can’t make some of these plot twists up if I tried.
Sometimes practicality meant saying yes. Like investing heavily in a studio and doing multiple new things all at once. Sometimes it meant saying no, like pressing pause on the podcast for now. Not dramatic, just practical. Turns out, clarity is hotter than chaos.
I’ve learned this the hard way but in a culture that worships the shiny and the “new-new-new,” practicality almost feels rebellious. Social media tells us aspiration looks like hauls, routines in cinematic lighting, and homes that look like nobody actually lives in them (I try and fail at this daily). But here’s where I’ve landed: practical is the new aspirational. The new “authentic.”
And often it’s consistently shown up in the small things too: re-wearing the clothes I already love, choosing comfort over aesthetic, or booking the weekly blowout that makes me feel like a whole human again.
Practicality doesn’t mean shrinking. It means choosing what makes sense right now, not what the algorithm tells us we should want. Maybe that’s the most modern thing we can do: not chase more, but choose enough.
So here’s what you can expect for now: more of The Soarce on here, more on Instagram, and more of me showing up… practically, but chic. I’m grateful to have a creative outlet like this because this keeps me sane (especially in 2025). And I’m even more grateful to take you along for the ride — because 99% of the time, none of us really know what we’re doing. Fake it till ya make it, right?
xx,
Arpita
Coming up soon are thought-pieces, trusted product reccs, gift guides, and of course, lots of real & pop culture thoughts as your Soarce for all.