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Action Replay + Gratitude List: October 2019

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So we're officially in the last two months of the year now? Wow! How soon did 2019 pass by? I still remember the first day of the year and now I soon need to start planning another new year's party! The past few months have kept me insanely busy and I just don't recall how the time passed. October was all about work and trying to stay afloat amidst it. The first fifteen days of October were swamped and I barely had time for anything else apart from work. I even wrote my first post of October pretty late into the month. I'm surprised I managed to write and publish four posts. I have quite a number of unfinished posts which I hope to complete this month.

October was pretty peaceful otherwise. Since I realized that I cannot do everything myself last month, I'm more at peace now. I do what I can and if things don't get done I let it be. I've been happier without the guilt and I also found some time to unwind and relax in between. Thanks to this, I managed to read three books in October. The books that I read are:

The Golem And The Djinni by Helene Wecker: I'm truly, madly and deeply in love with this book! Everything about this book is so poetic, so magical, with beautiful strands of sufism woven in. I still remember finishing this book and thinking of it throughout the next day. So much that I took a break from the work I was doing and sat down to review it. You can read it here.

The Help by Kathryn Stockett: Another five star book! I loved the story, the writing, the characters, the emotions and everything else that this one held. There is something so natural about this book that you cannot help falling in love with it. It is a tale of humanity and it excels at it.

Newcomer by Keigo Higashino: If there is an author I recommend to everyone that I can, it is Keigo Higashino. I have loved all his books so far and the mystery he comes up with is out of this world! I ordered and read his latest book with huge expectations. Sadly, it did not live up to it. The build-up of the mystery, that is what the author is famous for, falls flat in this one. I somehow did not enjoy it as much as I did the others.

I started reading 'Where The Crawdads Sing' and I'm halfway through it now and loving it. I'm almost done with my reading challenge for this year and I'm so glad I could make it! It hasn't been a easy year, but thankfully reading didn't take a backseat due to it. One of the best things I did in October was to start an Instagram page just for my reading journey. It happened on an impulse! I was going through my timeline and I realized that it was very chaotic. My daily quotes, personal pictures, food, photoaday prompts, books - It was all too much. That's when I decided to separate the books from it and focus on it more elsewhere. That's how She Booked It was born. This will be a curated feed for books and everything else that has to do with books. If you haven't followed it on Instagram yet, please do it here.

October was a busy month, but it did come with a good share of gratitude. Here's what I'm thankful for.

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~ Work: Kept me busy, kept me occupied. My whole life revolves around this aspect and while I'm much less of a workaholic now, I still love what I feel for it. My work is a huge part of my identity and it makes me very proud of myself.

~ Sleep: Sleep has been much better and I'm in a better mood these days. Also, I get a lot more things done thanks to some good rest.

~ Working out: During the second half of the month, once the sleep cycle was in better shape, I started going back to my fitness classes. I enjoy Dance Fitness the most and I'm glad to have resumed my work outs.

~ Reading: I love reading. I know I have said that time and again, but if there is only one hobby that I could choose, it would have to be reading. Books always cheer me up and take me to a different world. I love investing time and money on books and I know that it is well deserved.

~ Blogosphere: A big hug and thank you to all my blogger friends who reached out to ask why I was away and if everything was fine. The number of friends that the blogging world has given me increases day after day and I cannot be more glad.

~ Love: They say it makes the world go round. It also helps me stay grounded and gives me immense courage and strength. My partner is my rock and I know that as long as he's by my side, there is nothing that I cannot do.

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The first half of November would continue to be busy as I have a release coming up. Once done, I should be a little free until the work for the next one gets started. I'm hoping to write some good posts and read some great books this month. I haven't had the time to visit, read and comment on other blog posts, due to the limited free time I had, but I'm going to make up for that in November. I promise.

That was all about my October. How was yours?


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


Comments

  1. You have an awesome choice of books. I always struggle to find the right one. I love your reviews because they help me pick good books. Dance fitness is awesome. Glad you are getting better sleep, which is just as important to have a healthy life. Have a great November.

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    1. Thank you, Raj!

      You have a great November too.

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  2. October was a productive month for me, although I did fall down with the flu for one week. But hey, I'm glad I've started blogging again!
    Cheers!

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    1. Oops, I hope you are feeling better now Chicky.

      Thank you for visiting.

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  3. Oh I ma glad to hear that fitness is back on-dance workouts sound like such fun. Sadly I havent been motivated enough to go for them yet.

    You have been reading a bit and thats pretty good to see; loved your review of Golem and Jinni- hope you give Jonathan Stroud a chance next.

    Blogging friends are just the best and thats what I am discovering too-love the support and feedback I keep getting from everyone too.

    Hope November is as good if not better for you Somz :-) XOXO

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    1. You should go, it is so much fun! I'm addicted to it :D

      I'll definitely give Jonathan Stroud a shot. It's you recommended <3

      Wishing you a fabulous November too, Shalz!

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  4. I took a break from blogging last month. The burnout caused due to thinking too much about pro-blogging and not achieving it all made me lose a lot of my peace and wrecked my mental health. Being a mental health blogger, I felt I was being an impostor who did not practise what she preached! Now I am slowly getting back into the groove by first commenting on my last post on why I was on a blogging break and then will plan for what I need to write about and what I need to focus on.

    It makes a lot of sense having your own goals and dreams and following them through keeping into consideration what you can work on, how feasible it all is really. It's what I learned from my experience.

    I love your new Insta handle about books, Soumya. The pictures are so professional--classy, stylish and eye-catching. You have inspired me to take better pictures! :P

    Wish you the very best for a lovely November!

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    1. I'm so glad you took that break, Shilpa. You deserved it!

      Thank you so much, Shilpa. I'm trying my best to take some decent pictures these days :P

      Wishing you a fabulous November as well.

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  5. Nice round up Sou. You always accomplish a lot every month, but I am so happy you decided to let certain things be. I've loved dance workouts and longing to start them again. Though I haven't been a part of any class as yet, I'd love to in the future. A place where they'd involve mom's and kids 😬 somehow right now it's all with her, right! So that would be enjoyable in it's own way. 🙈 I love your book recommendations. I follow it, but right now am out of SM, so would visit it soon. Have a lovely November.

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  6. Yes, time passes much too quickly, but it seems you are making good use of yours.👌 Happy November!

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    1. Thank you, Debbie. Wishing you a very happy November as well.

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  7. Sounds like a decent month for you. Glad the sleep is better as it does make a huge difference! Good work on the reading front and getting back into fitness. My fitness has taken a massive hit but I'm slowly trying to get back into it. Hope November is wonderful for you!

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    1. It sure was, Sanch and I'm glad.

      I hope you get back to your fitness routine soon. You are an inspiration to many people like me on that front, you know that already <3

      Delete

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