October – Chills and Thrills

I am a young woman in my mid-twenties now, and you know what has been one of my greatest concerns? The wisdom tooth!

Ever since I turned 18, I’ve been eagerly waiting for the wisdom teeth to show up. It became my own funny little birthday ritual. Each year as October rolled around, I’d catch myself checking, almost manifesting them into existence. Maybe it’s because my birthday reminds me of getting older, and in my mind, wisdom teeth were a sign of finally stepping into adulthood. And of course, there’s a story behind this.

My mom and dad have never considered me an adult. Even now, they still look at me as their little child. Whenever I raised my voice or argued, they would shut me up with a quirky line: “You are still a minor, you don’t understand life — because you don’t even have wisdom teeth yet!”

I would be startled every time. I longed for the day my wisdom teeth would come, so I could finally prove I was grown up, capable of taking my own decisions. And well, I am happy to report that three of them are already here, just one left to go! But my mom still teases me: “There’s one more tooth yet to come. Until then, you’re still not wise enough.”

And every October, I smile at this little ritual of mine. Somewhere in my heart, I still dream of that last tooth, and maybe with it, the stamp of approval that I’ve truly grown.

But October isn’t just about wisdom teeth anymore. In recent years, another excitement has taken over my heart, Inktober.

I love sketching and painting, and if you are hearing about this for the first time, let me explain. Inktober is an annual art challenge held every October, where artists around the world create one ink drawing per day for 31 days. It encourages consistency, practice, and creativity. The challenge usually comes with a list of daily prompts, though many follow their own themes or community-made lists.

It all began with illustrator Jake Parker in 2009, who wanted to improve his inking skills. The idea was simple: one drawing every day in October, using traditional tools, without the luxury of undo buttons or digital tricks. Parker posted his drawings online, and by the next year, small communities had joined in. By 2013, he released the first official prompt list with words like “Tree,” “Ghost,” or “Run.” With social media rising, #Inktober soon exploded into a global phenomenon.

From hobbyists to professional artists, everyone started participating. Schools, art clubs, and even companies made their own Inktober events. Later, of course, came debates about Parker trademarking Inktober, and controversies that led to alternative challenges like Drawtober, Witchtober, and Artober. But despite everything, Inktober remains the most recognized October art celebration across the world.

And for amateur artists like me, Inktober feels like a festival. It is my excuse, my reason, my push to create. For 31 days, I tell myself  no matter what, I will draw. And honestly, without this challenge, I don’t think I’d manage to create every single day. That’s why October feels so special. (Here’s my art account on Instagram where I put my daily Inktober artworks – Namrata's Inktober)

October comes with its own little chills and thrills. The chill of feeling older, waiting for that last stubborn tooth. The thrill of dipping my pens and brushes into a fresh page. Somehow, October always makes me feel both playful and hopeful.

I want to tell you, maybe we all have our own “wisdom tooth” moments — those little milestones we keep waiting for to feel grown-up, complete, or enough. And maybe we all need our own “Inktober,” a small challenge or ritual that reminds us to create, to play, to be consistent with joy.

So, here’s my October wish for you dear reader: may you find your thrill in something that makes your heart dance, and may you never lose the childlike chill of waiting for something beautiful to arrive. Until then, let’s keep creating, keep smiling, and keep looking forward to the next Window together.