Squid Game Season 2 absolutely blew me away — especially those jaw-dropping Russian Roulette games in Episode 1… 😲. While waiting for the finale later this year, I decided to fill the void with Alice in Borderland, another thrilling series that left me equally captivated.

In Alice in Borderland, players are thrown into an alternate Tokyo, forced to compete in games that test their intelligence, teamwork, and moral limits. Each challenge is life or death.

One episode, in particular, hit me hard. In the fourth game, “Distance,” players enter a tunnel, board a bus, and are given a two-hour time limit. With the bus out of fuel and the word "distance" suggesting movement, they assume it’s a running game. They push forward relentlessly, running nearly 15 kilometers and skipping water bottles they fear might be poisoned. Exhausted but hopeful, they reach the end of the tunnel, convinced they’ve won.

Here’s the twist: the word "GOAL" was written in giant letters on the bus they started on. The bus itself was the safe zone. They’d already won the moment they got on. All they had to do was wait.

This twist hit me hard, as it mirrors an experience in my own life. After selling my first company, I could’ve just stayed on the bus. I could’ve invested conservatively — CDs, dividend stocks, maybe a little crypto 🚀🌝 — and been done. But I felt compelled to “work the money,” chasing 15%+ annual returns and trying to grow it while staying ahead of life’s expenses. Sure, some ideas and investments paid off, but others didn’t. And honestly, constantly striving like that is exhausting. As I approach the 7-year anniversary of that exit, I wonder: was I playing a distance game I didn’t need to?

In contrast, dancing salsa has been a completely different kind of journey. When I first started, I threw myself into it — classes, practice, performing with teams, and constantly pushing to get better. But over time, I realized I didn’t need to keep climbing the ladder. I’d already reached a level where I could dance confidently, have fun, and connect with others. Now, I’m in “maintenance mode,” enjoying the activity for what it is instead of stressing to improve. And I’m more than okay with that — it’s made salsa, and life, so much more enjoyable. Salsa has taught me that not every goal is about relentless progress; sometimes, it’s about finding joy in the present.

Have you ever chased a goal, only to realize you already had everything you needed all along? Sometimes, the greatest success is realizing you’re already where you need to be.

I Pebble You,
Ankit

"I Pebble You" is a heartfelt collection of thoughtful moments — articles, memes, videos, and insights —that spark joy and connection. Inspired by how penguins gift pebbles to their loved ones, it’s a space to pause, reflect, and share. Subscribe to receive these meaningful pebbles in your inbox, and add your own to help build something bigger — because together, we create more thoughtful connections.

👉 Read the previous pebble "Side by Side 🤝"
👉 Read the original pebble "I Pebble You"

Squid Game Season 2 absolutely blew me away — especially those jaw-dropping Russian Roulette games in Episode 1… 😲. While waiting for the finale later this year, I decided to fill the void with Alice in Borderland, another thrilling series that left me equally captivated.

In Alice in Borderland, players are thrown into an alternate Tokyo, forced to compete in games that test their intelligence, teamwork, and moral limits. Each challenge is life or death.

One episode, in particular, hit me hard. In the fourth game, “Distance,” players enter a tunnel, board a bus, and are given a two-hour time limit. With the bus out of fuel and the word "distance" suggesting movement, they assume it’s a running game. They push forward relentlessly, running nearly 15 kilometers and skipping water bottles they fear might be poisoned. Exhausted but hopeful, they reach the end of the tunnel, convinced they’ve won.

Here’s the twist: the word "GOAL" was written in giant letters on the bus they started on. The bus itself was the safe zone. They’d already won the moment they got on. All they had to do was wait.

This twist hit me hard, as it mirrors an experience in my own life. After selling my first company, I could’ve just stayed on the bus. I could’ve invested conservatively — CDs, dividend stocks, maybe a little crypto 🚀🌝 — and been done. But I felt compelled to “work the money,” chasing 15%+ annual returns and trying to grow it while staying ahead of life’s expenses. Sure, some ideas and investments paid off, but others didn’t. And honestly, constantly striving like that is exhausting. As I approach the 7-year anniversary of that exit, I wonder: was I playing a distance game I didn’t need to?

In contrast, dancing salsa has been a completely different kind of journey. When I first started, I threw myself into it — classes, practice, performing with teams, and constantly pushing to get better. But over time, I realized I didn’t need to keep climbing the ladder. I’d already reached a level where I could dance confidently, have fun, and connect with others. Now, I’m in “maintenance mode,” enjoying the activity for what it is instead of stressing to improve. And I’m more than okay with that — it’s made salsa, and life, so much more enjoyable. Salsa has taught me that not every goal is about relentless progress; sometimes, it’s about finding joy in the present.

Have you ever chased a goal, only to realize you already had everything you needed all along? Sometimes, the greatest success is realizing you’re already where you need to be.

I Pebble You,
Ankit

"I Pebble You" is a heartfelt collection of thoughtful moments — articles, memes, videos, and insights —that spark joy and connection. Inspired by how penguins gift pebbles to their loved ones, it’s a space to pause, reflect, and share. Subscribe to receive these meaningful pebbles in your inbox, and add your own to help build something bigger — because together, we create more thoughtful connections.

👉 Read the previous pebble "Side by Side 🤝"
👉 Read the original pebble "I Pebble You"