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Action Replay + Gratitude List: June 2018

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So, we're now officially in the second half of the year. Wow, that was quick, wasn't it? Time is passing by so quick and everyday I find so many new things to do. Over the past couple of months, my outlook towards life has completely changed and this has made me much clearer in the head. I already spoke about letting go of unnecessary thoughts and people in my last replay post but I will state the importance of it again. We all need to take some time out to de-clutter our life. This needs to happen periodically and this should be considered vital for our survival. Once you let go of that negativity, life becomes so simpler and you become more happier.

June kept me insanely busy as I was in the middle of a really tough release at work. It took up all my time with late evening calls and weekend work that needed to be put in. Since my work life is more often than not peaceful, and rushes like these are not very often, I do not complain about them. Honestly, I do enjoy these bits of uncertainty and when it all falls into place finally, the joy is priceless. Then, the joy doubles when you are appreciated for it. My work is something that I would never compromise on and when you are rewarded for your hard work, that feeling cannot be put into words. I completed a decade of my corporate life this month, but the thrill and the feeling is still the same as day one.

I read three books this month and while I would like to say that it is less, I wouldn't, because I finally finished the magnum opus 'Gone With The Wind' this month. I have picked and abandoned this book way too many times before and I had made a pact to myself to complete reading this one by my birthday in August, and I'm glad I did. At more than 1000 pages, this book is one of the longest books that I've ever read. I hated it initially, the protagonist and the story, but later, the story grew on me. My thoughts on Scarlett, well, I'm not too happy with the woman she was. I hear there is another book talking about the story from her POV, I might give that a read some time later.

Due to the work load, I barely found any time to write. I usually write at work while taking a break, so when I did not get time to take breaks, I did not get time to write. I did manage to write five posts though and that is pretty good considering how busy the month was for me. I am at a happy, peaceful place when it comes to any thing these days, I have learnt to make the best of any situation. This has helped me lead a much happier and simpler life.

June has overall been an excellent month and here's what I'm thankful for:

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~ Job and a milestone: I completed ten years of my corporate life this month and within the same company. While people might think that I'm stuck in a boring place, I'd respectfully disagree. I love what I do and this job has given me everything that I am today. Plus, this job gives me enough time to take care of a home and nurture my passions. There is nothing more I want to ask for.

~ Appreciations: It obviously is a good feeling when you are appreciated for your hard work and effort. When you get unexpected surprises regarding this, it makes all the effort worthwhile.

~ Cooking: Since I've been busy with work, I did not get enough time to cook much this month. But we had a potluck at work last week, and my millet bisi bele baath won the best vegetarian main course award! Yay for millets!

~ Health: Remember I spoke about an impromptu decision last month? So, I decided to turn vegan on an impulse in May. I wanted to try it out for a couple  of months before actually wanting to take it up full time. While I stayed away from meat and dairy the whole of May, its effects hit me in June. I did lose some good amount of weight and my body, skin and hair felt better, but I was even losing my energy and stamina. I tried my best to pack on proteins and calcium, yet I was getting weaker by the day. Then one fine day, I fell really sick. My body that was used to the meat and curd was not taking this well. So, I ended up taking a U-turn and went back to being the carnivore that I always was. Honestly, I do not each meat on a regular basis, thanks to a vegetarian husband, so I did not miss it much. But when I started back, I started on a moderate level. Within a week or two, I got my strength back and I am back to feeling good. But, due to being overworked and ill, my diet went for a toss. But at the end of the day, I'm happy that I'm back to my energetic self. The diet will resume from the coming week.

~ Friends: Over the weekends that I was free, I caught up with my friends after a long time. It was so refreshing!

~ Me time: I realized that I get cranky when I do not get enough me time for myself. This month finding some lone time was so hard but as and when I got some, I cherished it.

~ Love: When you lead such a busy life, it is important to have a supportive and encouraging partner. I am blessed to have one. It is not easy to work full time and do everything at home too, something is bound to get left out, but when there is someone out there to do it for you or not complain about it, the burden eases. I would not have achieved what all I have today if I did not have this support from the man I love.

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As busy as June was, it sure was peaceful. Here's hoping for a wonderful July as well.

How was your June?

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Linking this post to Vidya's Gratitude Circle for this month.

Comments

  1. I have to still write my gratitude post but I rushed to read yours. �� Congrats on completing 10 years of corporate life. What a wonderful milestone and being appreciated is the icing on the cake! Writing 5 posts and reading 3 books is pretty good in my opinion. About the diet bit, having adequately protein is a challenge when cutting out meat and eggs and dairy too. I am happy that you are back to a diet that works for you.that was a fabulous June. Wishing you a fantastic July.

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    1. Thank you for rushing to read, I hope you are not disappointed :)

      If you say it is pretty good, I'll believe you as I was a bit letdown with myself for it.

      Thank God I came back to a normal diet, as much as being vegan made me feel good, it went down later.

      Wishing you a fantastic July too.

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  2. Congratulations for completing a decade in the corporate world, Soumya! I have heard it's a tough world. But, I feel, you are tougher, aren't you?
    Happy for things that shaped up well for you. And, for regaining your health after the setback. Eat what you feel is right, what you feel gives you the energy to face the day. And, take care!
    Love!

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    1. Oh I sure am! :D

      Thank you Shilpa. Lots of love to you too.

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  3. I want to write a full post about my June experiene butI have no such patience as you have.
    Next year I will have 20!!! years of the corporate life and work. But nowadays I estimate the life in a different way! I apreciate to have more free time.

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    1. 20? WOW! I hope you do write about it as I'd love to read it.

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  4. So very proud of you for completing a decade at work! How absolutely splendid :) Congratulations, dearest Soumya.

    Hugs on the diet front. That's a big step to try and go vegan, so kudos for even trying. Ultimately, you have to do what works for you. I firmly believe in this. Oh and now you have to make that millet bisi bele baath for me ;)

    I've never actually read or watched Gone with the Wind but I have heard so much about it. Maybe when the work load reduces a bit with my business I will pick it up.

    So very happy to read gratitude posts and yours I try to never miss. Always a pleasure to read you and I do mean, always. Have a lovely July and an even better August.

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    1. Thank you my dearest Shy <3

      Come home, you can have all that bele baath :)

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  5. Yay!!!! You finally managed to complete Gone with the Wind! Wont disagree that i did find Scarlett quite an irritating character. But you know when I read the book the second time( OK I have read it a couple of times now), I actually started lookin at everything from a different perspective and started justifying most of her actions.

    Congratulations on your completion of ten years. Now thats a long association with n organisation. Looks like your health is back on track. I sometimes believe what you have always been used to in your diet, is what works best for you.

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    1. Phew, yes I did! Scarlet was annoying as hell. You read it twice? Slow salute!

      Thank you, Ramya.

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  6. Aaaargh on Gone with the Wind and a double on for Scarlett - I found it one of the most annoying reads of my life - and people cribbed about Isabella Swann ;-)

    Congrats on the decade milestone at work Soumya - thats great going.

    Kudos for going Vegan- I cant give up curd n Paneer; so its a never-wil-I-do-it kinda thing for me. Sad to hear you fell ill over it- maybe ease into it gradually so that the body doesnt get so shocked ;-)

    Yay for finding both the me time and love time - that is so so so important!

    Wishing you loads of joys for July and looking forward to your next happy post soonest :-)

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    1. Oh Scarlet and Bella would be quite an interesting face-off! Never found any woman this annoying so far and this is just fiction! :P

      Thank you, Shalini. Wishing you a fabulous July too <3

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  7. Congratulations on a decade in the same workplace. It must be rewarding and challenging if you're still there :) Good to hear June went well for you. I don't get veganism...I can go without meat for a long time but not dairy. I love my cheese way too much! Hope you have a wonderful July!

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    1. Oh it sure is, takes quite a lot to keep me from getting bored :)

      Thank you, Sanch. Wishing you a wonderful July too.

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  8. Congratulations on finishing 10 years in the corporate world. It's no mean feat. I will try millet bisi bele baath. I love bisi bale baath. I never tried it with millets before. Is it the same recipe or any tweaks?

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    1. Thank you, Harini. It sure wasn't easy.

      It is the exact same recipe! Works like a charm :)

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  9. I am so happy to know you are finding yourself. I think it's a wonderful thing when we discover ourselves. Congrats on 10 years and appreciation at work. It makes all the hard work worth while knowing that it helps team/work progress. Big one there!
    Anna Karenina was the biggest book I ever read and like you mentioned about Gone with the Wind, I picked and dropped it many times. But over time and the many pages, it kind of had that growing effect.
    I know when you talk about L. Same is the case here. No complains, no demands but support. Feels so much good. Wishing you a happy July and the rest of the year.

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    1. It sure does, thanks Parul!

      The book does grow on you, but Scarlet not in a good way :P

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  10. Congratulations on the milestone at work. It's commendable to work in a corporate given the dog eat dog world, and also blog at the same time and you do it so well, Soumya.

    I left my corporate career twelve years back, and really look at awe at people who manage to go about it with a smile on their faces, as the rigour has just gone a notch higher than it was more than a decade ago.

    Vegan is a tough diet to follow. I was vegetarian for about forty days a few months back and honesty that was easy, though the last 5-7 days the cravings got a bad. But, yes like you, I too enjoy my fish and meat, not chicken so much though and prefer to being a non-vegetarian. My twenty year old has gone the whole vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian route. But currently she is contended being a non vegetarian. Oh for the love of meats! Lol!

    Here's wishing you a fabulous rest of July as well. Will return to read your July gratitude post next. :) <3

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    1. Thank you, Natasha! <3

      Going vegan was not as tough as I expected it to be. If the ill effects hadn't followed, I might have taken it up full time. As much as I love meat, turns out I can do without it also :)

      Come back to read other posts as well :)

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