Of Nature, Seasons And Sheer Bliss!

What's your favorite part about Nature?

When I read this prompt, I got really excited being a Nature-lover. But as it happens with me always, I find it difficult to talk or write about the things that really matter to me. I have been thinking since a while about what to write for this prompt. 

My favorite part of Nature would be seasons. I love all the seasons, although I love rainy the most, followed by winter. I find it absolutely magical that water falls down from the skies and breaks into tiny diamonds on touching the earth. There is nothing I love more than sitting beside the window on a rainy and cozy afternoon with a good book in my hand. I think petrichor is the best fragrance of all. After a dry spell (and trust me, summers in Hyderabad are brutal), when the first showers of rainfall hit the earth, the petrichor that wafts through, the first cool breeze of the season and the flash of lightning followed by the majestic sound of thunder - no words can express the joy of this moment! On rainy nights when thunder and lightning are in their absolute forms, I take warmth in the feeling of lying down on the bed, wrapped in a cozy blanket and listening to the sound of the rain through the window. 

As long as I was in Mumbai, I didn't experience much of winter since the city is mostly humid throughout the year. But Hyderabad treated me to cold mornings with the temperatures ranging from 9 degrees to 11, the fog that would seep from grassy lands onto the roads and the sweaters. I can count on one hand the number of times I have worn sweaters in Mumbai. But winters in Hyderabad make it mandatory to stay wrapped in cozy sweaters throughout the day. I love the slow pace of winter. I love the fresh vegetation that the season brings. I love the feel of warm sunshine in the afternoon that would last very briefly and would quickly make way for a cold and dark evening to come through.

Summer feels quite long to me. Summers in Hyderabad start as early as March-end where it is normal for a day to have temperature of 40 degrees. April and May are ruthless, with temperatures ranging easily between 43 to 45 degrees on a daily basis. While I do not enjoy summer as much as I enjoy winter and rainy seasons, I love the early and active mornings that summer ushers in. I feel fresher and more active during this season. I love the blue shade of the sky that is a typical trait of summer. Afternoons and evenings during summers are mostly nostalgic as I have spent these times with my friends during my childhood. I often think about my friends and miss them most in summer season. 

There are probably many more favorites that I can write about Nature. I am utterly amazed by the synchronization that is present in every part of Nature. There is a divine rhythm in every aspect of Nature. There is an unspoken coordination between every season that they follow each other.  There is a common force that flows through Nature, connecting every part of Nature to the Universe.

There is no greater healer like Nature! I keep finding ways to stay connected with it. And I hope you will connect to Nature and feel its healing power. 

What is your favorite part about Nature? Do let me know! I hope this blog brings peace and serenity to your day. 

Of Childhood And Happy Memories!

What did you love to do as a child? How can you bring more of that into your life?

Today's prompt makes me reflect back on the happy moments of my childhood.

I think I was happiest while reading. I am grateful that I am doing a lot of that today. I guess that is one item ticked off the to-do list.

I would like to have a sense of adventure, something that I used to have in my childhood. It is amazing how, as children, we lived in a world full of possibilities. There was no fear most of the times, everything was possible and there were no limits to dreaming and wishing. Most of all, we were always ready to try out new things, with no hesitation or fear. I would like to have this carefree spirit back. The prompt asks me to reflect on the ways that I can bring this into the present day. 

To be honest, I do not know how to get this adventurous streak back. But one thing I do know - to get a positive and courageous mindset, we need to get rid of any negativity residing in the mind. A clear mind will make way for the good stuff. I am doing a little bit of everything to have a contented mind - reading positive content, listening to motivational and spiritual stuff, meditation (of which there could be more of) and an attempt at mindfulness (I have a long way to go with this!). I guess I will keep doing my best and wait it out. Someday it ought to work out, right!?

I remember one of the activities that I absolutely loved to do in my childhood. On some days when I would be on my own and all my friends would be otherwise occupied, I would sit on the bench near the gate of the apartment where I lived and would simply while away the time taking in my surroundings in solitude and silence. I think those were the moments when I was fully aware of the present and was contented doing nothing. 

As the days pass by, it is getting more and more challenging to sit still and not do anything for a while. There is this crazy urge to keep myself busy, to keep doing something or the other. The simple pleasure of being outside on a warm and sunny evening and doing nothing has long passed. This is one thing that I feel all of us should incorporate in our daily schedules. Just a few minutes of sitting in silence and solitude and not doing anything.

At the end of the day, I think what we all need is to bring back the child-like enthusiasm of living fully in the present moment and seeking joy in the simplest of things. Here's wishing that we create and find many such moments and live them fully!

Do share your musings on this prompt and let me know whether this blog helped you in some way!

About Peace And Serenity!

List five things that bring you a sense of peace and serenity.

I love the word serenity. There is something very beautiful about it.

In the chaotic world that we live in today, peace and serenity are the need of the hour. Today's journaling prompt asks me to list the things that bring me peace and serenity. Here they are:

Mornings, Tea/Coffee and a newspaper to read!

I am a morning person through and through. I am at my best mostly in the mornings. I love the prospect of having an entire day ahead filled with possibilities and chances. I have a specific routine in the morning.

I play devotional songs on the TV. It gives a serene start to the day. While having my tea, I listen to a short motivational video. It really sets my mood! I go to the temple in my colony. I find it a very peaceful time of the day. The deities feel like friends now. On returning home, I read the newspaper. There is a column in ToI called Speaking Tree which features spiritual and insightful articles. I love reading them. I have been reading these articles ever since I was a kid. I used to cut out those articles and file them since the internet or mobile hadn't come yet. Then I have breakfast watching The Big Bang Theory which is a truly delightful series. This is more or less my routine during week-days.

On weekend mornings, I wake up early, attend to all the chores of the morning and at around 7.30, I have a cup of coffee and read the newspaper. I love the newspaper of the weekend. There is more to read! On Sundays, I watch Rangoli, a show of the yesteryears that shows both old and new songs. It is pure nostalgia to reconnect with my past while seeing a show that I used to watch with my entire family.

Evenings are a bit tough for me but the mornings more or less make up for it!

Reading:

I don't even have to add this to the list. It is an accepted fact that reading adds value to my days. I love reading books, I love reading my Kindle, I love reading articles on the net and I love to read short stories written by my friends. Basically there are very few topics I do not read about (politics, horror-write-ups, etc). 

Writing:

Writing gives an outlet to my thoughts. I usually write short stories. It is a tedious task to think and create the story but the satisfaction that I get on finishing it makes the process worthwhile. I have recently taken to journaling in the evenings and I find it extremely peaceful for my mind. 

Walking:

I love to walk, specially if the place is surrounded by nature. I am blessed to stay in a colony where there is a lot of greenery. It is sheer pleasure to walk on a road which has a canopy of trees hovering over it. Walking soothes the mind and helps to get rid of any negativity brimming within. 

Motivational and spiritual videos/lectures:

While preparing lunch, I usually listen to motivational video sessions of Robin Sharma, an author whom I greatly admire and whose books have often helped me through difficult times. I find these videos extremely motivating. Since my next activity after lunch is usually to write, these videos give a much-needed push and inspire me to give my best in my write-ups. In the evening, while preparing dinner, I listen to spiritual talks of Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar who really needs no introduction. I cannot tell the number of times Gurudev has helped me to get through. I find his talks extremely peaceful and soothing for the mind. For a brief period of time, my mind forgets everything and just soaks in the bliss of the knowledge and wisdom that only Gurudev can impart. 

Just writing this has been a soothing experience. I would recommend journaling to all those who are dealing with anxiety and other maladies of the mind. 

So what are the things that bring peace and serenity to you? I hope my blogs are in that list! Do share and let me know if my blog helped you in any way.  

Finding Reasons To Smile

List three things that make you smile.

I have read that an adult smiles around 40 times in a day, while a child smiles around 400 times. Really makes you wonder, doesn't it?!

I have been thinking for a while about the list of things that make me smile. Why is it taking this long to compile this list!?

Even as I think deeper, I realize that at some point of time in our lives, we, as adults, no longer find things that make us smile, but we find things or events or people or just about any cause to smile. Babies do not need any reason. You just blink at them and they flash their million-dollar smiles. 

Perhaps it is the baby's heart, pure and free of any negativity, or a mind that has not formed any impression of people or things and stays only in the present moment, that makes it easier for the baby to smile without any reason. 

As we grow up, the reasons to smile start diminishing. Worries catch up. Regrets eat up. Before we realize, entire days have gone by and we never smiled even once. 

I cannot think of anything that makes me smile. But I can think of the times when I smile during the day.

Okay, I got one. I smile at my friend with whom I go for a walk in the evening. We usually greet each other with smiles and catch up on the events of the day. It is a soothing and relaxing time for both of us, as, for a short while, we come out of our daily routines and spend some time outdoors.

I smile at my kid when he comes home from school. Of late he has been coming on his own. The transition has been slow and gradual, with me dropping him off to school and picking him up as well, to him running off to school on his own and coming home all by himself. I make it a point to greet him with a smile when he comes home. Children need to know that their parents are always happy to see them!

And that's about it?! Really? Only twice in a day? I need to work on this and soon. 

This journaling prompt sure opened my eyes to something that needs to be changed at the earliest. I need more reasons to smile. The world needs more reasons to smile! 

I hope you have more reasons and occasions to smile than I have. I am eager to read your take on this prompt. Do share your thoughts and let me know if this blog made you smile!

 

Of Calm And Comfortable Moments!

 

Reflect on a recent moment when you felt genuinely calm and comfortable. What were you doing, and what contributed to that feeling?

While there are several calm and comfortable moments in a day for me, the most recent would be today's ride to the airport. 

We in Hyderabad have shuttle service to the airport. Several buses operate to and fro, providing shuttle service to passengers. The bus is named Pushpak, and I really love traveling in this bus. 

I and my kid left for the airport in the afternoon. We first reached the bus stand where, to my relief, a bus was already waiting. We boarded the bus and paid the fare (which was another delightful surprise, because the conductor charged only half rate for my kid who is already taller than me. Most people do not believe when I tell them he is only 11. The conductor was kind enough to take my word. It's all about small victories!)

We found two seats in the back of the bus, one of which was a window-seat. As the bus sped through Outer Ring Road (which is my favorite road in the city), as I took in the beautiful dividers blooming with plants, the huge boulders beside the road which are a typical landmark of Hyderabad, the huge buildings enroute and the climate being cold and cozy, I felt calm and comfortable. 

If I were to speak about calm moments of the day, the first one is usually in the morning. While having tea, I listen to short motivational speeches. The calm morning, the gentle sounds of birds ushering in the first light of the day, the hot tea and the motivational videos give a good start to the day. 

There is also that moment when the chores of the day are done and I sit in front of the laptop to write, or I sit with a good book in hand and enjoy a cup of ginger tea. The satisfaction of having done the morning's work and the prospect of either writing something or reading are immensely soothing. 

I think we find our calm and comfortable moments while doing things that we like to do. I also realize that we cannot like each and every chore. But maybe we can find ways to make it enjoyable. Sometimes if cooking feels tenuous, I either listen to some podcasts or songs while cooking. It takes away the monotony of the task and makes it something I look forward to.

Ultimately, calm and comfortable moments will not find us, we have to create and find them in our daily activities! 

Do you have such moments in your day? Do share and let me know if this blog helped you to either relive, create or find some calm and comfortable moments!

 

Of Happy Places And Happy Times!

Describe a place where you feel completely at ease. How does it look like? What do you like about it?

The first place that comes to my mind is the bookstore. Of late, Crossword has become a favorite hang-out. 

I love the sight of books arranged neatly in shelves. I like to be surrounded by books. I do not even have to buy any book. Just browsing through the vast collection is enough to make my day. 

How can you describe a place that is happiness personified? The bright yellow color of the title displayed in large letters at the top of the bookstore, the books arranged at the entrance temptingly, the sight of many many readers browsing through the shelves... I think of this part as a moment that brought together, a group of people with common interests, bonded forever to books and thereby indirectly to each other. 

Bookstore will always be the first in my list of "Places Where Happiness Resides".

I love the outdoors. Any place surrounded by nature is my place. I love the green of the leaves. I love the brown of the soil, the blue of the sky, the orange/yellow/red of the rising as well as the setting sun and I also love the black of the night only broken by the blinding white of the moon. I love the sole planet (sometimes Venus, other times Jupiter and every once in a while, both of them) adding beauty to the evening sky. Needless to say that parks are some of the places that I absolutely love to visit. Nothing heals like spending some time in nature!

I like visiting malls during festive times. There is something very joyful about the decorations and the festive aura  that is found in the malls during festivals. I make it a point to visit the mall during such times. 

To sum up, I think I can say for everyone here, that any place which we visit for a change from our daily routines, will be relaxing and rejuvenating. Most of the days, we spend time at the same place - either our workplace or home - and every once in a while when we go somewhere different, it provides a much needed change of scenery and refreshes our spirit. 

That's the journal entry for today! Reminiscing about my happy places gave a much needed distraction to the mind from its daily chaotic thoughts. 

Is there any place you like, or feel at ease? Do share your thoughts with me! I hope reading this blog reminds you of your happy place and relaxes you!