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Action Replay + Gratitude List: February 2019


The shortest month of the year did feel short. When you are busy, time does fly indeed. Work has been keeping me busy since last August and I've been working non-stop because of it. Once I have taken up something, I will not rest until I complete it. So, well, it will be sometime before I rest. Apart from work, February has been a pretty moody month for me. I did manage my time better and yet was not somehow in the mood for other things. While I have slowed down a lot in terms of everything around me, in February I paused quite a bit. It did me good, honestly. We women have this innate need to want to do everything around us pretty much at the same time. This is what causes us stress, this is what makes us feel bad about not being able to do it. Over the past few months I have learnt to slow down and take one thing at a time. In February, I paused a few of my hobbies just to be with myself and not do too much.

Reading is something that had to be paused because at one point of time I felt that I was over doing it. I read four books last month and I was picking up one book after the other like there was no tomorrow. I wanted to slow down this month and watch Netflix or do something else instead. I just read one book this month and I've started another, but I'm taking my time with it.

~ The Forest Of Enchantments: This was the book I started towards the end of January and finished early February. I really liked the book as I'm a fan of the author's writing style. Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni does mythology in her own style and keeps the reader captivated. Although I did not like Sita as much as Draupadi from her 'The Palace Of Illusions', I liked the way her story was told. It was a very good read, no doubt. I will do a review soon.

~ The Fellowship Of The Ring: People have always told me that J.R.R Tolkien's writing is not for the fainthearted, and yes, they were right. I started this book a couple of days into February and I'm yet to cross a hundred pages. The font is minuscule and the prologue was roughly around a seventy pages. I was pretty exhausted by the time the story started. But, I loved the story. Yes, it is fantasy, a genre I'm not particularly fond of, but this one I liked. As much as I wanted to continue to read it, the harder it got. There are many many characters in each chapter and if you miss the back story of one, the story will stop making sense. I had to go back time and again. I'm not giving up on this one yet, but I'll definitely be taking a break from it in March and read some thrillers.

Writing has been good in February and I'm happy that I'm back to writing poetry and fiction. I had stopped it for a while for no particular reason, but now I'm glad that I'm back to it. It isn't easy to get back to writing poetry or fiction all of a sudden. There are too many ideas and too many thoughts, it needs quite a large filter. I feel that I'm still a little rusty, but with time I'll get there.

Taking a break from reading helped me catch up on many shows and watch some random television. I'm a sucker for food based shows and watching Food Factory on Discovery is my new guilty pleasure. I love watching anything that focuses on food. Nigella, Food Safari and Eat Street are a few of my other favorites. I finished watching Blindspot on Amazon Prime and Narcos season 3 on Netflix. I'm finally getting to watch Breaking Bad and am midway the first season. Seems good, so far. I have to get to watching the reruns of Game Of Thrones before the final season is aired as well. In terms of movies, I watched Gully Boy and loved it so much that it deserves a whole other post. I have a thing for watching award shows and The Oscars didn't disappoint this time. It did miss a host, yes, but with Rami Malek winning the best actor and a record number of women taking the statue home this time, it was one of the best we've had. Also, how cute was Olivia Colman with that speech of hers? She's in the running to play the new James Bond, I hear. Guess who's gonna be rooting for her now?

Short and quick as it was, here's what I'm thankful for this February:

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~ Work: Continues to drive me crazy and keep me sane at the same time. But, this is the stability I need in my life.

~ Health: Health was good this month as this was one of my primary focus. I was able to work out regularly and this has kept me really active day after day.

~ Clean Eating: A small glitch taught me the importance of home cooked, healthy food. While Cal and I do enjoy eating outside once in a while, we had been doing it pretty often. It was time to say no to junk and focus on our health and portion size. Our diet now includes a lot of vegetables and fruits and some good meat for me.

~ Local Markets: You get the freshest of produce in local markets and we've been indulging in the best of them! The greens you get from local stalls are so fresh and crunchy as are the fruits. I got some luscious and juicy Kiwis and Dragon Fruit last week and they were delicious!

~ Netflix and Prime: There are so many shows to watch and so less time! Best time pass ever and although I've never been the one to just sit quiet and watch something, I'm enjoying the occasional binge.

~ Love: February was the month of love and after eight years together, Cal and I share a mature form of love today. It still is about the flowers, the butterflies and the rush, but it also is about the comfort, the cuddles and the mutual respect and understanding. Life hasn't been easy for the both of us, but since the day we got together, we have walked hand in hand and got past everything that life threw at us. This is what companionship is all about. This is what love should be all about.

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March is going to be another good month as it is the month of our wedding anniversary! Majority of my work should be done soon and I'm looking forward to have some breathing space.

How did February fare for you?

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

Comments

  1. February has been an incredibly busy month for me workwise. Loads of work to do with my Editorial work as well as blogs. And I took on a new client who was one of the earliest clients when I had started my new career in content. Could not say no to him. Apart from that I am so busy with sorting out the kids' stuff. Older son had final exams and younger son will have starting next week. Ensuring that they are well fed and that I am around to talk is something so physically and emotionally exhausting. I haven't read anything this month though I started Ikigai. I have watched a few movies and series online, the latest one being Jack Ryan. That is my time to unwind. Absolutely loved Gully Boy. March will be hectic as well. Let's see how things go. Fitness is better though the knee pain comes back sporadically. And I am really loving gardening a lot! Hope you get your much-needed breather in March. It's okay to slow down with reading, at least that's what I feel. Sending your warm wishes.

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    1. Ah I can only imagine the stress you are under, Rachna. Sending you postive and healing vibes to help you sail through March.

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  2. You are a workaholic, yeah? Just like my mum! :)
    Take it easy, babe...multi-tasking can bog one down.

    I like the book you wrote about and am waiting when I can find time to read it, myself!
    Also, am waiting for your post on Gully Boy. I haven't seen the movie. I loved the trailer, but am not sure I will watch it in the theatre. But, what I will do, is read your post on the movie. That will be the best part!

    Hope you have a wonderful March, dear Soumya!
    Take care!

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    1. Sadly, yeah :(

      I'm learning to slow down now, finally! I'll go the Gully Boy soon.

      Wishing you a wonderful March too, Shilpa.

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  3. Good to know you were able to eat healthy, work out and take care of yourself. Your work has been a lot. I hope you get some time to slow down and still feel accomplished.
    Wishing you a lovely March Soumya. Wish you get the best this month and always.
    And yes, I’ll look forward to reading your review on the movie. Books - I have also not been able to read in February but I will pick up my books.

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    1. Thank you, Parul! I hope work gets better this month.

      Let's try to meet sometime this month and talk :)

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  4. I could also barely manage reading two books this month. I especially loved your last para on love. It is true that after a certain time it becomes more about comfort. Wishing you happy anniversary in advance. Have a great March.

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    1. Thank you so much, Balaka :)

      Wishing you a great March too!

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  5. Glad to hear Feb was a good month. I've never read LOTR and I am not sure I ever will! How addictive is Netflix? I have to work hard at not switching it on every day because I'm sure I could find something to watch that would then stop me from doing all the other things I need to do. I hope March is awesome for you! Happy Anniversary in advance!

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    1. Thank you, Sanch! I hope I get past LOTR, it is getting increasingly difficult to read :(

      Thank you! Wishing you a wonderful March too.

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  6. Hi Soumya. Even though Feb month was the shortest, your post reflects the numerous things you have done. Quite inspiring! :) Do you have any recommendations on good Netflix shows? Have a awesome March ahead.

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    1. Thank you, Anjana. I do have quite a lot of recommendations for Netflix. Start with Black Mirror and Stranger Things, we'll talk about the rest later :)

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  7. Phew the toil continues unendingly at times but you seem to be such a woman of substance to conquer it all! Love how you are taking it all in your stride Soumz - wishing you a very happy and abundant March ahead babes!! xoxo

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    1. At times you can only accept the things around you and work it out. No other go :)

      Thank you babe, love!

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