What's So Good!?

What is something you are really good at doing?

I do not feel very comfortable writing on this prompt. But I guess this is the reaction of most people when they have to highlight their positive points. There are those confident souls who would not hesitate to answer this and would sum up their pros beautifully and articulately.

Me? I am thinking if there is anything that I am good at doing. I am a good reader, that I can say with pride. I have been a reader since I was eight years old, I think. This is something that I have done consistently over the years. No matter how many tasks I have to do in a day, I always ensure to keep some time for reading.

People have been kind enough to say that they like my write-ups. Personally I feel there is a large scope for improvement. I have been writing since a decade now. I feel that I have come a long way from my first ever write-up. Although there are many miles ahead, I am grateful for where I am today when it comes to my writing.

Sadly I can think of only these two things that I feel I am good at. May be when I return to this prompt after some years, I will have many more things to write about! 

A Nostalgic Trip Down Memory Lane!

Imagine you have a time-machine. Which era or time-period you will travel to, and what will you do there?

Only one answer comes to my mind for this prompt. I would like to go back to the 90s, because for me, that was the best decade of my life.

As a millennial, I got to spend my teens in the 90s and I am so grateful for that. I feel life was leisurely even though it didn't feel so at that time. There was this awesome sense of wonder which required very less to manifest. 

Although there are many things that I love about the 90s, some stand out prominently.

I loved the community spirit that existed at that time. My childhood home was in an apartment where there were around 50 flats with 12 flats in one floor itself. The doors were never closed in any flat. Neighbours often checked in with each other. There were no secrets among families. Every neighbour was well acquainted with each other's entire family line and relatives. There was this feeling of having many people to look after you. 

The 90s were the time when I spent most of my days with my two childhood friends. We would either study together, or hang out in each other's homes or spend the evenings at the terrace. There was so much to talk about! We continued doing this till we graduated and got jobs. If I could travel back time, I would want to return to this time when there were friends in my life.

Most of all, I wish to return to the 90s because that was a time when life was full of possibilities and chances. There was a lot of positivity then. Today the days bring in chaos, worries and anxiety, something which was unfamiliar during my younger days. I would like to have the same level of confidence and optimism that I had then. 

Perhaps it is possible to live the same carefree life of the 90s. With this hope, I try to add as much activities of my yesteryears as I can. I read the newspapers even though there are several apps that can bring us the news in an instant. There is comfort in holding an actual newspaper in hand and read the articles. I play devotional songs in the morning. Although there is no tape-recorder in the house, I play the songs on TV to get a feel of those blissful mornings of my childhood when the dawn was ushered in with the divine Suprabhatam sung by MS Subbalakshmi. I watch some serials on TV just to get a feel of watching TV with the entire family like I used to do in my childhood. I try to spend some time outdoors by going on evening walks with a friend. It brings back memories of all the evenings spent with my childhood friends either at the entrance of the building where we used to live, or at the terrace, or out  on the streets where if one wanted to buy something, the entire gang accompanied her. I watch Rangoli serial on sundays. I watch one movie a week the same way when Doordarshan channel used to air a movie on Sundays. 

Maybe it is possible to travel back in time if we incorporate the same activities into our daily lives, the activities that once filled our hearts with joy and warmth. And that is exactly what I am trying to do. 

Hope this blog takes you to a good time of your life and makes you smile! Do let me know your views on this!

Past V/s Current Me

What are the five things that your past self would love about your current self?

I have always leaned more on my past, often reflecting upon the perfect moments of childhood and teenage when life was easier and there were no big responsibilities, except for studies. Until I came across this prompt, I never felt that the present Me would have something that the past Me would appreciate. 

It turns out there are some things about my current self that the past self would appreciate. 

For starters, I am finally writing. In my past it has only been a dream but today, I am writing much more than I have ever written in the past. I think the past Me would really be happy about this.

I am learning to cook! The past Me would be flabbergasted at my attempts today because kitchen was a place that filled me with dread. Having lived in a large family where there was always someone to manage the kitchen, I did not try my hand at cooking until after marriage. My recipes do not always turn out perfectly but I am sure the past Me would be shocked by my various trysts with cooking. I bake muffins, something which felt impossible during my growing years. That has got to say something about the changes I have gone through, right?

I feel that I am more confident now. I have formed a small yet precious circle of neighbors who have become friends over a period of time. The past Me only had a handful of childhood friends and never felt the need to form any more friendships. Today I try my best to be socially active and to form acquaintances and friendship. I think the past Me would be really glad. 

Because of the many books I read and the spiritual discourses I listen to now-a-days, I feel like I understand people a bit more clearly and I do not judge them. The past Me viewed people only in the shades of 'good' or 'bad', 'right' or 'wrong' and such extreme labels. But today I know that people are good but their situations and mindsets determine their behavior, and that it is totally unfair to judge a person for their outwardly reaction when I do not what goes on in their life or what they were thinking at that particular moment of time. 

The past Me had a lot of opinions and would often voice them. Today I have learnt that voicing your opinion in the social media serves no purpose other than antagonize the people who do not share your view. I think the past Me who used to often regret after sharing an opinion/view would heartily embrace this change of mindset. I do have opinions but instead of stating the same to people, I just write a blog in my own site so that it doesn't offend anyone. 

These are just some of the changes that I have gone through. There's a lot to learn! But then both time and life are great teachers, and I am a willing student, after all. 

Looking Back And Moving Forth!

Write three things, big or small, that you achieved yesterday.

While this prompt asks specifically about yesterday, I would like to look back further and reflect on what I would call as my achievements for the past year.

Writing-wise, it has been a satisfactory year. I kept writing short stories for a writing platform, blogs for my own site and articles for an online magazine. I could complete a novella and submit it for review. I got started on my short-story collection and while it is not going as I had intended it to, it is proceeding ahead every day with a new paragraph. Somedays that is all one can hope as a writer!

Reading-wise, it has been a wonderful year. I read some really wonderful books published by my friends. I read a lot of books on my Kindle. There is still a lot of reading to do. I am most thankful to 2024 for helping me pick up my reading habit.

I am also grateful for two new routines that I added to my days - going for evening walks and journaling in the evenings. Since as long as I can remember, evenings have always brought in gloom. Some people refer to this as sundowning. Walking around the colony with my friend refreshes my mind and has become a much-awaited ritual of the day. Journaling has helped to reduce my anxiety by a great measure. And while journals are supposed to be personal, I share these in the form of blogs with the hope that they will bring some solace to the people reading the same.

Another year has dawned and there are many milestones to achieve, first and foremost being health (both physical and mental). It's all about making each day count, you know. When you live your days well, you will find a good deal of stuff to look back upon during the year-end. So, instead of hoping that we have a great year ahead, I will just say that I hope we all live each day well and make our own 'great' days!

I would love to hear your musings on 2024, and your hopes for 2025. Do read this blog and share your views!

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! 

A New Routine To Be Added!

Today's prompt for journaling asks me: What can you do to take better care of yourself?

Well, there are many things that I can do. My daily activities keep me physically active but I could do with some physical exercises that I should do with mindfulness. Walking happens, but it is not related to fitness. I make three trips totally to the kid's school - once in the morning to drop him off, next to deliver his lunch-box and finally to pick him up. I also visit the temple next to his school every morning. Collectively, all the walking I do during these times amounts to a reasonable time every day. And yet, it does not feel like I have worked out. I could do with some quality time of physical fitness.

I really, really tried meditation but it is not working for me, as I said in my previous blog. Even Yoga makes me feel sleepy nowadays. I want to resume my practice of Yoga. I could devote at least 15 minutes every day for the same. 

I could do with some better options for my food intake. I ensure to include veggies in the daily diet but there is surely room for some fruit or salad too. I love trying out new recipes and keep searching for the same. Probably I could add some salad and fruit for lunch every day. That seems like something I can do. 

I could spend a few minutes to practice the lost art of doing nothing. Probably my attention-deficiency is the culprit here, but I feel the need to be constantly occupied, doing something or the other. Even if there is nothing to do, I find myself pacing from one end of the room to another, thinking about what I can do at that particular moment. I could learn to relax and just be, and not do anything for at least few minutes every day. 

It feels weird that until I wrote this, I haven't given any special importance to self-care. I am gradually realizing the role of journaling in mental well-being. It brings to the forefront, many things that we often tend to ignore or to take for granted. I have to admit that I am enjoying this ritual of writing every evening, even though it makes me uncomfortable to share my reflections in my blogs. But I share these with the hope that they will help someone who is reading these, and can relate to my thoughts, and will feel better at least for a short while.

To sum it up, these are some new additions to be added to my days:

- Physical activity / walking for fitness for at least 15 minutes every day.

- Yoga and meditation for 15 minutes.

- Fruit or a salad every day.

- At least for 5 minutes, not doing anything at all and simply being just me.

Here's hoping that a new routine forms in my day and I keep up with the same!

Of Finding Safety And Security

How quickly the weekend zooms by! It feels like just an hour ago Saturday morning dawned and now we are already facing Sunday evening blues. 

Today's prompt for journaling asks me a very interesting question: What comes to your mind when you think about what makes you feel safe?

Safety or security is something that every human craves for. Yet every one finds security in different things. For some, it is money. For others, it is the presence of people in their life. For me, it used to be my childhood home and my family. As I grew up, I included friends in the security blanket. When I started earning money, my job became my security. When I got married, another family extended my security blanket. 

But things changed, as they always do. I left my hometown, and thereby my childhood home and shifted to a new place. I left my job and my friends behind in my hometown. In a new place and culture, I realized that security cannot be found in things or people. 

For now, routine makes me feel safe. I am a stickler for routine and I do the same things at the allotted time every day. When I know that there is a routine to be followed, I feel safe and comforted. Call this a crazy or peculiar trait, but it works for me. The days in which the routine gets disrupted, I feel imbalanced and chaotic. Routine has somehow become a solid foundation for my day. 

Prayer makes me feel safe. It has been my go-to since childhood. Chanting mantras calms me down when I realize that I am on the verge of panicking or breaking down. The temple in my home makes me feel secure. The temple in my colony brings me comfort. 

While there are many things that I dread, I also know that they are inevitable. This acceptance makes me feel secure. I know that difficult times will come, but they will pass too and life will move on. This harsh truth gives a perverse kind of comfort. That the wheels of time never stop, and time is the greatest healer, comforts me. No matter how difficult times might be at one point, they will change. 

Morning is both my favourite part of the day as well as the safest part. I love early mornings when the daylight hasn't broken out yet but the birds are already up and active. The sound of the lift in my building going up and down as delivery-guys rush through their deliveries of milk and veggies is a comforting part of the morning. I specially love the time 4 a.m. There is something very beautiful and auspicious about this time. Somedays I wake up and see the time and if it is 4, I feel a strange kind of peace. 

Knowledge makes me feel safe. I often dread diseases and their symptoms but reading about them and knowing what to expect, soothes my fears regarding them. Knowledge is indeed the best security for the mind!

Studying about the Universe both scares me and makes me feel safe. I dread its vastness and infinity. I am also in awe of the same. That I am a part of this infinite void, and I always will be, comforts me and makes me feel safe too.

I guess the biggest security lies in the intangible. Things are temporary, people have limitations but the intangible concepts like prayer, knowledge, the universal consciousness - these are forever. I base my security in these and they do not disappoint me. When things go down in spite of all these factors, there is always that one assuring thought - 'At this moment, almost everything is all right.' This forms the basis of mindful meditation. Nothing grounds the self as this thought. As long as everything is okay for NOW, there is still hope, and where there is hope, things can change for the better! 

On Self-care And Mental Wellbeing!

Today's journaling prompt asks me - what is your favourite form of self-care? 

One of the biggest lessons that life has taught me is that, mind matters a lot. If the mind is healthy, so is the body. If the mind is sick, the body is sick too! I have seen people lose 20 kgs in just a matter of two to three months all due to anxiety. I have seen people overcome major illnesses with the strength of their mind. I have seen people live through various traumatic experiences and carry on in their lives, all because they had strong minds. So my form of self-care would be to take care of my mind.

Unfortunately, the daily irritations of life have started taking up too much space in the mind and I find myself losing my calm over petty issues. Most of all, the mind is weakest in the evenings and brings in anxiety and worries of the present as well as the foreseeable future. Situations became dire to an extent and that is when I started paying more attention to mental well-being.

I would like to share some of the things that I do for mental peace.

Reading: 

This seems to be a recurring theme in all of my journals. But reading really helps me to relax and to calm down. I read for about three hours every day. In the afternoon I read books on fiction mostly. In the evening, to fight its gloom, I read books on spirituality and philosophy. Sometimes the gloom makes it difficult to concentrate on just one book. So I made it a point to read one chapter from multiple books every evening. Currently I am reading from the following: Mindful Zen Habits by Marc Reklau, Be Your Own Sunshine by James Allen, Patanjali Yoga Sutras by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Fear by Thich Nhat Hanh and The 5 AM Club by Robin Sharma. While these make my desk cluttered, they help to clear the mind sure! Reading makes evenings far less gloomier for me.

Learning New Languages:

This actually started in sheer desperation. When my kid was in the second grade, Telugu classes began in school. However, that year being 2020, while the rest of the subjects had online classes, Telugu had only offline sessions. Plus, it was intimated to us by the school that Telugu isn't compulsory. So none of us at home paid attention to the offline classes or tried to learn. All of a sudden, in the fourth grade, when the school finally started conducting physical classes, we came to know that the government has made it compulsory for all schools to conduct exams for Telugu. Since my kid had no basic foundation for the subject, we all had a difficult time trying to learn it. Google helped to an extent. But then I realized that this is going to be an issue every year. So I started learning Telugu alphabets. When I started writing the alphabets, I realized that I cannot write in Tamil or Malayalam as well, these two being the native languages of my ancestral village Palakkad. So I decided to learn all three at a time. I am still stuck up in the alphabets and have a long way to go! But learning new languages takes off the focus from daily responsibilities and makes me feel young in my mind. This is a much loved ritual of the day - writing down the alphabets in my book and trying to memorize them.

Mindful Meditation:

I tried the normal method of meditation but realized very soon that I am not cut out for this. Either the mind kept running here and there or I nodded off in blissful sleep. So I gave up my attempts to meditate and now I am trying mindfulness meditation. It is nothing but trying to do every work mindfully. Walking? Take deep breaths in and out and walk in rhythm with the breaths. Cleaning? Focus on the task and its intricacies and do it with a relaxed frame of mind. Cooking? Feel every texture of the veggie/fruit you are cooking with, take in the aroma of the dishes being prepared and lose yourself in the activity to such an extent that you and the activity become one. I have to admit that this is extremely difficult for me and more often, my mind wanders and I fail at the task. But I attempt it every day and just the thought that I am trying to it makes me feel better and gives me hope that someday I will be able to do this effectively.

Yes to astronomy, No to politics!

I am fascinated by the subject of astronomy. I follow news on this topic and find myself mesmerized by the breath-taking visuals that many space-crafts and telescopes send every day, bringing the vast space a bit closer to humankind. Astronomy fills my mind with wonder. It makes me realize that I am a part of a gloriously infinite and beautiful universe. I totally refrain from reading any kind of political or general news. It throws me into deeper gloom. I do not watch the news, neither do I read it. The world is better and kinder when you do not watch the daily news!

Journaling:

This is a new attempt from me and I have journaled only for few days till now. It helps me to clear my mind and brings to my notice, the things that I am probably doing wrong or ought to have done or should do. I like the ritual of writing down my thoughts about something positive. Since journaling does not come to me naturally, I search for prompts every day and am writing on them. So far so good. I hope to keep up this practice every evening. 

These are just some of the daily attempts I do to keep the mind calm. Some days I succeed, most of the days I fail. But the struggle is real, as they say, and so is my intention to pursue mental well-being. Hopefully someday I will reach that place of inner contentment and peace that I so seek. Until then, the journal is there, the mindful meditation is there and so are the books!

Inspiration, where art thou!?

As a self-help seeker, I usually read lot of books of this genre and even listen to podcasts by authors like Robin Sharma who is my favourite author in this genre. A strange thrill comes over me when I read his works or listen to his podcasts. There is this intense feeling to do something and to not to just laze through life. 

Today's prompt for journaling asks me - What inspires you the most? This is a slightly difficult prompt, if you ask me. 

I think that I am mostly inspired by people who are not afraid of anything in life. I, for one, am always conscious about mortality. Almost every thing I do, I do it considering the fragile nature of life. I do not plan tasks for more than a week. I do not plan savings for more than six months. I do not make any travel plan exceeding four months. While many might consider this as a peculiar trait, I find it a bit difficult to let go of the thought that life is short, and it is futile to make long-range plans. 

But I know people who live life to the fullest, not giving any second thought to the future. They enjoy every minute, every day, every thing they do because they live fully in the moment. The thought of mortality does not let me be happy or to enjoy moments. It makes me stoic. I do not allow myself to be very happy or extremely sad. I take things as they are, knowing that everything is temporary. While this has helped to get through difficult times, I wish I had the ability to enjoy more. One can be aware of their mortality and still lead a happy and carefree life. I wish I could be one of these!

I am inspired by children who realize their aim at a very young age and pursue it against all odds. There is nothing more motivating than seeing a child on a trajectory of success and growth, all because he/she has recognized the aim of their life and pursued it relentlessly. Much is in the favour of a child - age, a mind devoid of negativity, opportunities to grow and develop, the chance to learn, time to pursue their dreams - so much! It is inspiring to see them set off on their journey to success and stand tall against all odds.

I will come back to the books of Robin Sharma. He weaves such fantastic tales of people conquering all odds and enjoying a life of leisure. I find that inspiring. To have struggled through life with unwavering dedication to your goal, to have achieved it ultimately and to enjoy it - now that would be success! 

People who are struggling through life but hold their head high and do not give in to negativity and despair - they inspire me. People who are not afraid to speak their mind, who are their unapologetic, original and wonderful selves always and who show no fear - they inspire me. Confident people inspire me. At the phase of early forties, reaching the state of supreme indifference to others and being my own original self feels slightly overwhelming. But I can learn!

Most of all, I wish I could learn to enjoy the every day moments of life without the sword of my mortality hanging over my head. Nothing, absolutely nothing makes me forget this. And while it is necessary to be aware of the fragile nature of life, always contemplating on it can also bring in a sense of detachment which is not always good. 

Today's prompt has brought in a new task. The quest is set - to learn to live every moment and every day and also to enjoy it without giving a thought to the future. THIS is a new moment - why not start right now!?

A Perfect Day!

I am a huge fan of self-help books. In most of the books that I read, I come across one common advice - journal your thoughts. I experimented with journaling some time ago but for some reasons, I could not continue with the same. When so many experts are swearing by this practice, I feel that I should put in some more efforts into this.

I searched for some prompts for journaling. Prompts do make it easier! So the first prompt I came across is this:  How would you spend your perfect day off? What makes that perfect for you?

Do I have ideas about the perfect day! The first thing that comes to my mind is - spending a day in the library. Preferably, a library that also has a cafe. I would lose myself taking stock of the enormous collection of books there, mentally wishing that there existed a vacancy in the library and I could work there (even better, live there!). Then I would pick a book from the adventure-fantasy genre (something like LOTR), sit beside a window with the book in one hand and the other hand holding a plate filled with hot and yummy croissants and blue-berry muffins. Of course, the coffee would follow soon. To make this day better, it would be raining outside. A book, coffee, croissants, muffins and a window overlooking a garden on a rainy afternoon - this is the ultimate bliss for me.

A day spent by the beach would be wonderful too. Walking in the sands of the beach, listening to the gentle sounds of the waves frolicking in the sea, feeling the salty breeze and having some chaat to snack upon, preferably Bhel-puri - this reminds me of perfect moments amidst chaotic days spent in Mumbai.

I had the opportunity of working in Colaba for many years. It is a pleasure to walk in the streets of Mumbai. I feel that a perfect day would be the one spent in Mumbai, spending some time at the subway beside the station, having a burger at McDonalds at Fort or delicious pav-bhaji at Canon Pav Bhaji near the subway, or walking beside the office of ToI near the station. The number of times I have walked by the office, simply to get a glimpse through the glass doors! That was another place where I wished to work, apart from the library. Just spending a whole day in Mumbai CSTM and feeling its heritage aura would be blissful. Planet M, which used to have many stores all over the city but which has sadly shut down now, was one of my favourite places to drop in after office. I loved animation movies. What gave even more thrill than buying a CD was browsing through the collection of CDs and wondering which one to buy. Brother Bear, Hanuman, Mulan (Parts 1 and 2) and the unforgettable Lion King are some of the CDs that made up my precious collection. Watching animation movies never failed to make me happy! Visiting Planet M and browsing through the collection of CDs made up for one of the perfect moments in a tiring day spent at the office, handling irate customers over the phone. Hanging around at the Gateway at the end of the day and watching the Arabian Sea simmer in the glow of the sunset would have been a perfect ending to a perfect day spent in Mumbai.

I am gradually realizing the purpose of this prompt. As the mind conjures happy situations and travels to happy and familiar places, I feel my mood uplifting. There is still the gloom that evenings bring, but it is slightly muted and numb. The numerous prospects for the perfect day have nullified the effect of the gloomy evening. 

I hope to keep up this practice of journaling regularly. It is the little daily irritations that we try to curb and control that manifest in a major breakdown one day. It is better to find some ways to deal with the daily stress of life. While yoga and meditation help a great deal to combat stress, journaling provides an outlet to your thoughts and help to clear your mind. 

I hope the reflections that I shared here help you too and bring recollections and dreams of happier times for you. I would love to hear your thoughts on what would be the perfect day for you. Happy reading and happy journaling!