tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91406988027307564642024-03-18T08:32:18.834+05:30LOL: Life Of LeoOpinion Writer - Saying it the way it is.Soumyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07439590494620390907noreply@blogger.comBlogger1596125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9140698802730756464.post-66712589163811953632024-02-16T14:01:00.006+05:302024-02-16T14:01:30.655+05:30Love With A View<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvsNOpb2_CXgiGD-p6H7stPNkrQdn2rQkEw1aN2sq7cH4CYo4N4sJRHMw_zgZxT1em3Bo_QzhEktw0BCAsmlIi_scOlGstaKyhXWCCOKEikplhlR7if1GOIQf6IeGdUAVX4Dg2zfBONpbgzCESqIwUUiyE9u-cokuUKQ3ZPqK4NQiD1zgm4ZORjo2b0nWR/s2048/dale-icy-prompt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1455" data-original-width="2048" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvsNOpb2_CXgiGD-p6H7stPNkrQdn2rQkEw1aN2sq7cH4CYo4N4sJRHMw_zgZxT1em3Bo_QzhEktw0BCAsmlIi_scOlGstaKyhXWCCOKEikplhlR7if1GOIQf6IeGdUAVX4Dg2zfBONpbgzCESqIwUUiyE9u-cokuUKQ3ZPqK4NQiD1zgm4ZORjo2b0nWR/w640-h454/dale-icy-prompt.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">PHOTO PROMPT © Dale Rogerson</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Nel and Sam walk hand-in-hand, as Nel is blindfolded. Waiting for the perfect moment, he removes her blindfold.</p><p>"<i>You brought me to an ice-rink for Valentine's? Really?</i>" Nel looks at Sam with blurry eyes.</p><p>"<i>Yeah</i>" he beams.</p><p>"<i>What were you thinking? You know I'm not the adventurous kind.</i>"</p><p>"<i>We've been together for fifteen years, Nel. I know.</i>"</p><p>"<i>Then?</i>"</p><p>"<i>Hear me out. We're here for the view. This is what we're going to do.</i>"</p><p>He lays out a thick blanket on the side with a picnic basket and two books.</p><p>"<i>Fine?</i>" he smiles.</p><p>"<i>The best.</i>" Nel leans forward for a kiss.</p><p>This drabble (100 word fiction) is written for Friday Fictioneers, <a href="https://rochellewisoff.com/2024/02/14/16-february-2024/" target="_blank">16th Feb 2024</a>.</p>Soumyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07439590494620390907noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9140698802730756464.post-38503780314873968942024-02-14T16:03:00.000+05:302024-02-14T16:03:23.627+05:30Hand In Hand<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiCfDUSGXY1sAc31DcwSIRtLLWbLvazy76wSBYteILQjpLatwUDxbAQ68y_8g9b7nQ9SZIEjzETI76CRSyvsx6s7UV04bN-S3Tu4OSZ1JrbhxF_sgpUUljjkG6U5xS7LyyTDvOV_rmqVdAzLLAObWTD4kcgtANXdri8vSPQ8nnQffWECvo-nUhYkGGlxZq/s1000/AdobeStock_76286710.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiCfDUSGXY1sAc31DcwSIRtLLWbLvazy76wSBYteILQjpLatwUDxbAQ68y_8g9b7nQ9SZIEjzETI76CRSyvsx6s7UV04bN-S3Tu4OSZ1JrbhxF_sgpUUljjkG6U5xS7LyyTDvOV_rmqVdAzLLAObWTD4kcgtANXdri8vSPQ8nnQffWECvo-nUhYkGGlxZq/w640-h426/AdobeStock_76286710.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://biofreear.live/product_details/615561.html" target="_blank">Image Source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="text-align: center;">Love sure is magical</p><p style="text-align: center;">Yet it needs to be more than a promise band</p><p style="text-align: center;">You need to surrender to the feeling</p><p style="text-align: center;">Love and trust go hand in hand</p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Show your love in simple things</p><p style="text-align: center;">Not all gestures need to be grand</p><p style="text-align: center;">Have eyes only for them</p><p style="text-align: center;">Love and loyalty go hand in hand</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Love is about being equal</p><p style="text-align: center;">It is not for obey and command</p><p style="text-align: center;">Value each other for everything</p><p style="text-align: center;">Love and respect go hand in hand</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Togetherness should be written within</p><p style="text-align: center;">Not like water that washes away the sand</p><p style="text-align: center;">Through good, bad, thick and thin</p><p style="text-align: center;">Love and commitment go hand in hand</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Evolve and grow together</p><p style="text-align: center;">On each other's side you always stand</p><p style="text-align: center;">Don't fall for petty disagreements</p><p style="text-align: center;">Love and maturity go hand in hand</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Take time to understand each other</p><p style="text-align: center;">Spice one up when the other feels bland</p><p style="text-align: center;">Give and take should be on both sides</p><p style="text-align: center;">Love and patience go hand in hand</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Love a lot, but talk more</p><p style="text-align: center;">Discuss every topic on air, water and land</p><p style="text-align: center;">When everything else might seem bleak</p><p style="text-align: center;">Love and conversation go hand in hand</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span></span>Don't let the drama die down</p><p style="text-align: center;">Let everything not be planned</p><p style="text-align: center;">Leave room for impromptu silliness</p><p style="text-align: center;">Love and madness go hand in hand</p>Soumyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07439590494620390907noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9140698802730756464.post-46863398394783029712024-01-20T20:49:00.000+05:302024-01-20T20:49:29.059+05:30Why We Need To Stop Romanticizing The Early Bird<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinvlDqSspU13tPXDSAuPt0Fu5NMjNOgzI0BQsNse18-aA8cufx-TPMBmrP2QYRSWiU5YKyWsxxg7epQFdThEbOugfGmxmcl6fn_cf_Ne0l-qbqdaSoTDPngMWTpvYNQm-17JNJiUbmQECL_-EH1c0V1R62M4F8081Qn4Nx0qB0IrWHQewCqEhqVQUXHsSj/s420/img_1737.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="294" data-original-width="420" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinvlDqSspU13tPXDSAuPt0Fu5NMjNOgzI0BQsNse18-aA8cufx-TPMBmrP2QYRSWiU5YKyWsxxg7epQFdThEbOugfGmxmcl6fn_cf_Ne0l-qbqdaSoTDPngMWTpvYNQm-17JNJiUbmQECL_-EH1c0V1R62M4F8081Qn4Nx0qB0IrWHQewCqEhqVQUXHsSj/w640-h448/img_1737.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://notsoperfectparentblog.com/2015/03/12/not-a-morning-person/" target="_blank">Image Source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The early bird catches the worm. Well, good for those who like worms. I prefer coffee and over-night oats. Or toast. Or muesli with soy milk.</p><p>I'm not a morning person and I never will be. That's because I don't want to be one. Until a few years ago, one of my major resolutions was to wake up early. Of all the things I had difficulty in being <a href="http://www.lifeofleo.in/2024/01/consistent-woty2024.html" target="_blank">consistent with</a>, this one topped the list. Probably because I did not see the need in it. Honestly, my days are hugely productive all thanks to my planning and routine. For all you know, trying to wake up early might actually derail this properly working system for me. I haven't been a morning person for close to 4 decades now and I'm totally happy. I'm successful, financially independent, in the best shape and phase of my life, living with the best man and the best pup in the world. I've done this without feeling the need to wake up at 4 or 5 AM.<span></span></p><a name='more'></a>I think there is a lot of pressure on people, women mostly, to wake up early in the morning. It almost is an unsaid rule now that you need to start the day early to look and feel good and to take care of the family. The common idea to wake up early before everyone else does is to do a certain number of things without distraction. For example, a parent needs to wake up early if they need some lone time without having the kids up and hyper around them. A home-maker needs to wake up early to have breakfast ready before the rest of the family wakes up. For those who do this, good for you. For those who don't, do not fret. There is nothing wrong with you. Just because you are choosing a different time of the day to be productive doesn't mean you are lazy. You would still be doing all of this, albeit a few hours later. It is high time we stop romanticizing the concept of the early bird. <p></p><p>Let me bore you for a couple of minutes before I go ahead. If you want to ensconce yourself with a beverage, please do. You might have already heard of these two concepts, but if you haven't, here we go - Circadian rhythm and Chronotype.</p><p>Circadian rhythm is the 24-hour internal clock in our brain that regulates cycles of alertness and sleepiness by responding to the light changes in our environment. - <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK519507/" target="_blank">Source</a></p><p>A chronotype is a person’s circadian typology or the individual differences in activity and alertness in the morning and evening. - <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/chronotype#about" target="_blank">Source</a></p><p>This entirely depends on your biological hardwiring, that depends on your day to day routine and conditioning of the body and mind over the years.</p><p>Growing up, we never had a fixed routine at home. We did not have specific times of going to bed, eating meals or waking up. Everything was random. Of course we woke up just in time to head to school/college/work. Honestly, nobody thought much about a routine either. I guess middle-class families don't have the luxury for that or it wasn't something that crossed our minds ever. As a child, I slept and woke-up at random hours. I was someone who preferred staying up late to study than waking up early to do the same. That's what is wired inside me. I cannot expect it to change over night. I wouldn't be entirely truthful if I said that I haven't tried being a morning person. I've tried umpteen number of times and I've failed an equal number of times. After a while, I neither had the motivation or felt the need to wake up early. This also would be one of the reasons why I'm happily childfree. Go ahead and call me selfish, I'm not going to lose sleep over it.</p><p>Thankfully, my work doesn't require me to connect at the wee hours of dawn. It definitely needs me to stay up late though and this is something I'm totally fine with. I start my work post 10.00 AM and it is more than enough for me to be up by 7 AM or even 8 AM at times. I travel to office thrice a week and this suits me. Occasionally, I do need to visit a far away office for which I need to set sail by 8 AM, and those days I'm up early. Not because I want to, because I have to. Same goes with other events, professional or personal. If it is unavoidable, I do wake up early. Would I want to do that on a daily basis? Never.</p><p>Not to gloat, I get a lot done in a day usually. Be it actual office work or household chores. I'm someone who needs to "complete" her sleep. I usually sleep late after reading for a while, as that's the only time I get to read. Still, no matter how many hours I've slept, I'll only wake up after I've completed my sleep. In other words, when I naturally awake feeling relaxed and rested. Else, I'm grumpy and exhausted throughout the day. I'm a light sleeper, so good quality sleep matters a lot to me. Next, I'm prone to migraines since childhood. Lack of sleep is a primary trigger. I'd rather sleep in and start the day later than have an unproductive day marred with pain and discomfort.</p><p>You know yourself best. Do what works for you. Your success and productivity depends on the effort you put in, irrespective of the time of the day. Don't let yourself be defined as an early bird or a night owl. Just be a free bird and do what you want to do.</p><p>My partner, on the other hand, is a morning person. So is my pup. They both have their own dynamics going on in the mornings while I'm tucked in bed, warm and cozy. While he initially didn't understand how I function, he now knows and respects it. He's super productive during the mornings while I am for the rest of the day. Together, we get a lot done and that's all that matters to us at the end of the day. We're different in our own way and we love and respect each other for that.</p><p>The same way, each one of us are wired or conditioned differently. There is nothing special about being a morning person. There is nothing special about staying up at night either. While I've heard from people and read umpteen articles on how waking up early changed peoples' lives, I do not envy them at all. They are being themselves and I'm being me. Having said that, not being a morning person doesn't mean that I hate mornings. That is a common misconception created by some uninformed balatron. I love a good sunrise, the clear blue skies and the chirping of birds. Do I need to witness it first hand everyday? No. </p><p>Take care of your health and listen to your body. That's all one needs to do to live a good life. The articles out there claiming to make you an early bird make me cringe time and again. Routine, consistency, productivity, blah blah. Who decided that this needs to start at the crack of dawn? These articles also try to prove that you are missing out on something great or aren't successful enough if you start your day late. Don't let that get to you.</p><p>The early bird has become a mocking bird. Ignore. You do you.</p>Soumyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07439590494620390907noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9140698802730756464.post-46844957021347348622024-01-16T16:58:00.006+05:302024-01-16T20:21:25.725+05:30Sixty Thoughts That Crossed My Mind While Watching RRKPK #NotAMovieReview<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkB3fYEsZdFsa4k9niGDYQODA14OWxi_DQC_m7mTuaWWgELIOteABIl3l1CVOdtGPoWmeeoTtI17dHUpik16gZxEkEIa0_Y3sG-IHsPdJeRYQBT-ie02aHaAxnnuYBS4Ci8ICpZOnOU7nXXDrmyWrWaj2xCnisnnx9326_523wAhtidX45XeuMgh_2VfWU/s553/1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="553" data-original-width="517" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkB3fYEsZdFsa4k9niGDYQODA14OWxi_DQC_m7mTuaWWgELIOteABIl3l1CVOdtGPoWmeeoTtI17dHUpik16gZxEkEIa0_Y3sG-IHsPdJeRYQBT-ie02aHaAxnnuYBS4Ci8ICpZOnOU7nXXDrmyWrWaj2xCnisnnx9326_523wAhtidX45XeuMgh_2VfWU/w598-h640/1.jpg" width="598" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/entertainment/rocky-aur-rani-kii-prem-kahani-crosses-rs-50-crore-mark-in-four-days-531059" target="_blank">Image Source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><p>It is no secret that I'm obsessed with Karan Johar. No, not with his sexuality like most of the people who troll him online are. I'm just obsessed with him in general. He has a fantastic sense of humor and a very interesting sense of fashion. Above everything else, he's entertaining to say the least. Unfortunately you cannot say the same about his movies. Well, they are entertaining, but not exactly in the true sense of the word. As I write this I realize that most of my #NotAMovieReview posts have been on his movies. Like <a href="http://www.lifeofleo.in/2018/09/sixty-thoughts-that-crossed-my-mind.html" target="_blank">this</a>, <a href="http://www.lifeofleo.in/2019/07/sixty-thoughts-that-crossed-my-mind.html" target="_blank">this</a> and <a href="http://www.lifeofleo.in/2019/12/sixty-thoughts-that-crossed-my-mind.html" target="_blank">this</a>. Then of course is my <a href="http://www.lifeofleo.in/2018/10/koffee-with-karan-notamoviereview.html" target="_blank">infamous chat</a> with the man himself! Can't believe it was five years ago. Once he completes his season 8 of KWK (yes, I continue to watch it), I'll probably invite him for a chat again.<span></span></p><a name='more'></a>One of the pointers that I missed to mention in my <a href="http://www.lifeofleo.in/2024/01/2023-in-23.html" target="_blank">2023 in 23</a> post is that, I'm no longer a fan of going out to watch movies. Unless it is an MCU movie or an SRK one. When Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani (talk about being a mouthful) released, I had no intention to watch it. While I was initially <a href="http://www.lifeofleo.in/2017/07/why-i-love-ranveer-singh.html" target="_blank">excited about the person</a> that Ranveer Singh is, over the past few years I've found him plainly annoying. Perhaps, as I became an introvert with time, I'm finding extroverts intolerable. And Ranveer happens to be an extrovert on gallons of Red Bull. Alia, on the other hand, is adorable and an exceptional actress. Post her relationship with Ranbir Kapoor, marriage, baby et all, she kind of seems full of herself and fake. I don't know what exactly it is, but this is just what I think. So it was pretty clear to me that I'd not be watching this one in the theatre and the sole reason that I'd be watching it on OTT is to write a post like this.<p></p><p>Even the trailer of the movie did not excite me, especially since it was evident that Ranveer Singh was playing himself. Still, after having watched an ample amount of great content driven movies, this one seemed like a breezy watch. Plus, I had a post to write. So, armed with my trusted notebook and a black pen, I sat down to watch KJo's latest magnum opus that was not Koffee With Karan.</p><p><i>Here are the sixty thoughts that crossed my mind while watching Karan Johar's Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahaani:</i></p><p>1. I like the Dharma music, basically the Kuch Kuch Hota Hai theme, that comes at the beginning of all Dharma movies. It is pleasing in a way. The only hope is the movie will be too.</p><p>2. Jaya Bachchan is Dhanlakshmi, the matriarch of the family who runs the family business, Dhanlakshmi sweets. Not a narcissistic name at all.</p><p>3. Oh, apparently she loves money so much that she named her son, brace yourselves, Tijori. This Tijori worships and fears Dhanlakshmi. What else would you except from parents who name their son a vault?</p><p>4. The father is Dharmendra. Gosh, it hurts me to watch him. Cringe max.</p><p>5. Tijori's son is Rocky aka Ranveer. Of course there is an intro song with multiple guest appearances. Heart-throb erm. He seems to love his protein shake and his cleavage equally. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuzbBG0grUC_XorYZ_vaKVPrExtNr99ngEA0NptaojAj2CPMniw4aFumGfiuSqeH7ZeejcUMltV2a-AVR313cGAwF0ReRaWszTPLODR0rIdLEkukstPpidFYWPnCnSipNv4LdqawB6fcLO-j41ri-5tXrwrM4Gik1LJSkiaSMrj6ZOAeAVqR-FA63WWQ01/s1200/2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuzbBG0grUC_XorYZ_vaKVPrExtNr99ngEA0NptaojAj2CPMniw4aFumGfiuSqeH7ZeejcUMltV2a-AVR313cGAwF0ReRaWszTPLODR0rIdLEkukstPpidFYWPnCnSipNv4LdqawB6fcLO-j41ri-5tXrwrM4Gik1LJSkiaSMrj6ZOAeAVqR-FA63WWQ01/w640-h360/2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.jagran.com/entertainment/bollywood-jaya-bachchan-forgets-her-lines-in-rocky-aur-rani-kii-prem-kahaani-watch-bts-video-23501790.html" target="_blank">Image Source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><p>6. Why is Jaya Bachchan frowning and cursing all the time. Oh, she plays herself too!</p><p>7. OMG! Is Dharmendra pecking the cheek of a random woman at a public occasion? Why is he calling her Jamini? Most importantly, why isn't the woman creating a scene?</p><p>8. Apparently the old man is senile and can only recall a name - Jamini. As per his wife, he doesn't know anyone named Jamini. Something fishy? You bet.</p><p>9. Since it is all about loving your family, Rocky is determined to find Jamini for his grandfather whose actual wife is hale and healthy, next to him, albeit annoying to the power max.</p><p>10. Jamini turns out to be the grand-aunt of Rani, who by the way, brace yourselves again, is a news reporter. Even though she's dressed like an actress who is about to run under a waterfall and start dancing.</p><p>11. Hat's off to KJo for casting Alia Bhatt as a intellectual woman. No, really.</p><p>12. Rocky lives in a white house type of house in Delhi. Well, at least it is not the castle from Downtown Abbey like K3G. </p><p>13. Rocky meets Rani and their kahani begins? Apparently not. They want to complete the prem kahani of Kanwal (Dharmendra) and Jamini (Shabani Azmi). Isn't the movie title a bit too misleading then?</p><p>14. Rani can't take her eyes of Rocky's cleavage. Nice to see a man being objectified. Oh, he seems to be enjoying it? Wrong message, KJo.</p><p>15. Jamini and Kanwal, who had an extra-marital affair eons ago, meet again and kiss! In front of both the families. Dhanlakshmi is watching looking like <a href="https://m.indiamart.com/proddetail/plastic-ghostface-halloween-costume-mask-2850425704755.html" target="_blank">Ghostface</a>.</p><p>16. Rocky and Rani help Jamini and Kanwal meet in secret. I thought KJo was done with extra marital affairs after KANK. </p><p>17. Both couples are making out every chance they get. Please tell me there won't be a product placement for some brand of Chyawanprash. Please.</p><p>18. Thankfully no. Neither of the couples look like they are in love. Where is the prem in this prem kahani? Rocky and Rani seem to be a part of <a href="http://www.lifeofleo.in/2019/08/combust-stories-notamoviereview.html" target="_blank">Lust Stories</a> and Jamini and Kanwal, well, I feel really bad for them. To be forced to do this.</p><p>19. Rocky is in love and Rani is not. While they should be dumb and dumber, Rani thinks they don't match intellectually.</p><p>20. Oh sweet Lord! To test his GK, she asks him where West Bengal is and he says if it is West Bengal it should obviously be in the West! Kill me now. Anyone who has attended primary school should know this.</p><p>21. Rocky proposes and Rani disposes. Please tell me there won't be a melancholic song now.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHFskOVU_6AAUAfosg4DXQoJctZ35gbhYWmzXj2aZOKZaYuBwWUKpbPh2hmjd8bwOAWw-cJKBxKPYkgQwpM4gpdlFbP9ykZg7LzTDDyXw7azD6uBVezOCjQ7aCKofTJzAr457SWrLBPmAd1ubHwTuAyf-plxWjXYhM3HH2k7NHX9wkCB5oPBIXglAGLzc8/s1280/3.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHFskOVU_6AAUAfosg4DXQoJctZ35gbhYWmzXj2aZOKZaYuBwWUKpbPh2hmjd8bwOAWw-cJKBxKPYkgQwpM4gpdlFbP9ykZg7LzTDDyXw7azD6uBVezOCjQ7aCKofTJzAr457SWrLBPmAd1ubHwTuAyf-plxWjXYhM3HH2k7NHX9wkCB5oPBIXglAGLzc8/w640-h360/3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.radiocity.in/entertainment/news/tum-kya-mile-did-you-know-alia-bhatt-shot-rrkpk-song-right-after-giving-birth-to-raha-deets-inside-12016" target="_blank">Image Source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><p>22. Of course there is a song. In snow clad locales, of course! Wouldn't expect any less from our KJo. Why is Rocky swaddled in jackets and boots while Rani is in transparent sarees and backless blouses? Are they trying to say that Bengalis have thicker skin than Punjabis? Maybe the message is that women are strong and they can put up with anything. Snow and vexing men included.</p><p>23. Oh this is a dream sequence to get Rani to realize that she's in love with Rocky. Never mind if they only make out and have no topics to talk about except Jamini and Kanwal.</p><p>24. Gosh, this is a very loud scene. Why are both of them overacting? Do what you do best. Kiss and make up.</p><p>25. What do you know, they do kiss and make up.</p><p>26. To get to know each other's family better, they decide to swap homes for 3 months. This is what happens when you think with your biceps, Rocky. </p><p>27. So, Rani is at the Randhawas. It is hate at first sight for Rani and Dhanlakshmi. Gosh, Jaya Bachchan's expressions are more tiring than her interactions with the media in real life.</p><p>28. Rocky is at the Chatterjees. They have no misconception about him. They know he's dumb and so does he. </p><p>29. I feel really sad for Namit Das. Such a good actor reduced to a silly sidekick.</p><p>30. Rani is trying to bond with Rocky's meek mother and slightly overweight sister. By singing 'Aap jaisa koi'. Not kidding.</p><p>31. The comments made on the overweight sister are off-putting. Looks like KJo is trying to address way too many issues here. Calling Gayathri as Golu, is not helpful at all. I hope she doesn't turn into a svelte swan by the end of the movie like Rohan from K3G.</p><p>32. She's interested in trading? How, when, why? Out of the blue this angle is introduced.</p><p>33. Rocky is going shopping with Rani's mother to buy bras. You read it right. She makes him try them on to check out the design and pattern. If this is not feminism, then I don't know what is!</p><p>34. Rocky is offended and so am I! If this is a take on equality, it is absolutely ridiculous. If the idea is to normalize men buying lingerie for women, there is no need for them to try it out! I don't try out the boxers I buy for my partner.</p><p>35. Rani's father is a Kathak dancer and teacher. He dances at an occasion and the Randhawas and their side of relatives and friends ridicule him. Apparently a man dancing to kathak is frowned upon while unruly men dancing to the beats of bhangra is considered macho. What's on your mind, KJo?</p><p>36. I like Rocky's parrot green kurta though. Has Manish Malhotra all over it. He designed it probably, I mean.</p><p>37. What's this speech on cancel culture all about? Did I miss something?</p><p>38. It is about Rani's father's dance? How and why? Why is Ranveer learning kathak now? Over compensation much.</p><p>39. Rani posts a video of Rocky's mother singing, without her consent. She's selected for a reality show. Nothing seems to be real about the movie now.</p><p>40. Rani also helps Gayathri get a job as a trader. Were these women waiting for another woman to come into their lives and boss them over? Weren't they tired of Dhanlakshmi and Tijori doing the same to them?</p><p>41. Oh Rani is empowering women! I get it now. Especially when the woman decides to sing 'Aaj phir jeene ki tamanna hai' on the reality show.</p><p>42. Rocky meanwhile is learning how to be self-reliant. By watching how to make tea on YouTube. Rani's parents are impressed.</p><p>43. Where are Jamini and Kanwal? Why are they being overshadowed?</p><p>44. The Randhawa women finally stand up for themselves. Even if it is Gayathri singing "Gup chup gup chup" in front of a likely suiter.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3amNMFSTwJ9qcvecS_BYOwhh-_0n1gsuU7jf6c0B0GUuuWdGHlWaQWW7Jgn-hRJZxtxyJhmIJuka_lRDNy_pioruksO_CqmgRNwjfcJiGdM8BMousxnlBdvdwulCOfZY73JiRkR4Fv0gWHa17JqjrmnelYw3JVpsUDZ8p1Q9bIFsPoLbJsRELbqoFfgQY/s900/3.5.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3amNMFSTwJ9qcvecS_BYOwhh-_0n1gsuU7jf6c0B0GUuuWdGHlWaQWW7Jgn-hRJZxtxyJhmIJuka_lRDNy_pioruksO_CqmgRNwjfcJiGdM8BMousxnlBdvdwulCOfZY73JiRkR4Fv0gWHa17JqjrmnelYw3JVpsUDZ8p1Q9bIFsPoLbJsRELbqoFfgQY/w640-h426/3.5.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.telegraphindia.com/entertainment/dhindhora-baje-re-alia-bhatt-and-ranveer-singh-revel-in-red-in-latest-rocky-aur-rani-kii-prem-kahaani-song/cid/1954196" target="_blank">Image Source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><p>45. Of course no KJo movie is complete without a grand song and dance sequence. Everything here is so red. I understand it is Durga Puja, but still. Poor Mr. India wouldn't be able to hide here.</p><p>46. The choreography seems so trashy. Alia's moves are so weird. </p><p>47. Oh family drama! Fingers pointing. Oh pushing too. Rani pushes/hits/shoos Rocky's father away. Ohhhh, not done Rani, so not done. Bad move. We all think about trashing our in-laws. We don't actually do it.</p><p>48. Thankfully, Rocky thinks the same too. Good that our man is not so blinded in love that he cannot notice disrespect. </p><p>49. Annnndddd they break up! This relationship made no sense in any way. She seemed in awe of his stupidity and he in awe of her intellect. How?</p><p>50. Tijori's wife speaks up! Yay for women empowerment. 50 shades of feminism anyone?</p><p>51. Kanwal and Tijori mend their issues and Kanwal almost immediately dies. Was it the shock of feminism or the fact that his son actually considered his wife a living being?</p><p>52. Has there ever been a KJo movie without a funeral? </p><p>53. The Chatterjees come to pay their last respects. Jamini has to cry out loud as Dhanlakshmi sticks to her Ghostface.</p><p>54. Fumes of the last rites clear Tijori's brain and he visits the Chatterjees to apologize. Wait? Why?</p><p>55. They accept the apology and now Rani must run all over town trying to find Rocky. In a saree and heels.</p><p>56. Rocky is found accompanied by a lot (and I mean a lot) of noise. One wouldn't expect anything less from Ranveer Singh.</p><p>57. "Tu kya hai yaar?" - Rani. "Jo bhi hu, tera hu yaar!" - Rocky. Ladies and Gentleman, the new definition of love.</p><p>58. Poor Jamini and Kanwal. They were the pawns here. Was this supposed to be a mystery?</p><p>59. Rocky and Rani get married to a song called "Kudmayi". Dhanlakshmi refuses to attend the wedding but decides to share the recipe of the world famous laddoo with laddo grand-bahu instead. Has there been a KJo movie without a wedding sequence? </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBS7R9gJn-Vx6Vk5YfjMBeQwlzRbkYCbdvKun4LzLG1EVVfd20E7QUFJx4y3gCi55ixTKyRrLd6LuhxQMULXvHbhQh_A65G9WWYzk3sjOrb0iDCMQ-ut2c8WQkTOKt6KPyPyIW3Be9iVvo-DgzMwadRAPz1PU4DhqcRJTse0_5qAYHp5PFmz8qmI9Knkg8/s1280/4.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBS7R9gJn-Vx6Vk5YfjMBeQwlzRbkYCbdvKun4LzLG1EVVfd20E7QUFJx4y3gCi55ixTKyRrLd6LuhxQMULXvHbhQh_A65G9WWYzk3sjOrb0iDCMQ-ut2c8WQkTOKt6KPyPyIW3Be9iVvo-DgzMwadRAPz1PU4DhqcRJTse0_5qAYHp5PFmz8qmI9Knkg8/w640-h360/4.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.reddit.com/media?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.redd.it%2Fmost-progressive-scene-of-the-year-v0-sqbccaasxfrb1.jpg%3Fs%3De18820f2a842e316a647f4263b175f7b00e27442" target="_blank">Image Source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><p>60. Rocky has finally learned how to wash and dry bras! This has been hailed as the most progressive scene of the year. </p><p>Yay, what a moral to the story.</p><p> </p>Soumyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07439590494620390907noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9140698802730756464.post-92096343622837244292024-01-12T15:15:00.001+05:302024-01-12T19:57:50.143+05:30Not An Investment<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjae4iW2KSIKsCc1_xST4vSSrZAwIygi9MNjpxUdqnRtcfvjCfMvdwnWngzCPqmQgO-W_5777NSd3yECuaV6D5EnSSdKgs005x0RojK5RFaW3bLpN1VeXBMHDeE5ChVWRStjJEmRwH-acsy0pDItuQIDLAL7iv6d59jOxRn3fvcxgEzQT6Y84ONBMakkiB6/s4032/susan-rouchard.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjae4iW2KSIKsCc1_xST4vSSrZAwIygi9MNjpxUdqnRtcfvjCfMvdwnWngzCPqmQgO-W_5777NSd3yECuaV6D5EnSSdKgs005x0RojK5RFaW3bLpN1VeXBMHDeE5ChVWRStjJEmRwH-acsy0pDItuQIDLAL7iv6d59jOxRn3fvcxgEzQT6Y84ONBMakkiB6/w480-h640/susan-rouchard.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">PHOTO PROMPT © Susan Rouchard</td></tr></tbody></table><p>"<i>How long are you there for</i>", Alan's mother yelled on the call.</p><p>"<i>Not sure, ma. For a while</i>", Alan said coldly.<span></span></p><a name='more'></a>"<i>Aren't you aware of your responsibilities? I can't believe you are throwing away money on a holiday, instead of giving it to us.</i>"<p></p><p>"<i>It's my life, ma. I've worked hard to be able to afford a vacation. I'm well aware of the responsibilities. You never stop reminding me.</i>"</p><p>"<i>That's your duty as a son.</i>"</p><p>"<i>I'm your son, not an investment.</i>" Alan said and hung up the phone knowing very well that he'll not be booking a flight back home.</p><p>This drabble (100 word fiction) is written for <a href="https://rochellewisoff.com/2024/01/10/12-january-2024/" target="_blank">Friday Fictioneers, 12th Jan 2024</a>.</p>Soumyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07439590494620390907noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9140698802730756464.post-80777695181260778032024-01-10T15:11:00.001+05:302024-01-10T15:11:20.473+05:30Consistent #WOTY2024<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB2diTX0xBVI1JLL9mBjiDqVSN5iYIPqXdyBwQKRgMi9U4xB0aohmR5rsfjTGtkqjTKRJRFT1jsUSP9QvAETqoBspTjFlEDZ0fB9nvegpau4YAMu8nccXg3lz7GLZ1YKHUoHI2mmgM4w6Xu0r3D4K16d6uivZ_XHb2zNrPsP6_FGPTDiZvZkS4AZnfM3TK/s1024/how-to-be-consistent.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1024" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB2diTX0xBVI1JLL9mBjiDqVSN5iYIPqXdyBwQKRgMi9U4xB0aohmR5rsfjTGtkqjTKRJRFT1jsUSP9QvAETqoBspTjFlEDZ0fB9nvegpau4YAMu8nccXg3lz7GLZ1YKHUoHI2mmgM4w6Xu0r3D4K16d6uivZ_XHb2zNrPsP6_FGPTDiZvZkS4AZnfM3TK/w640-h422/how-to-be-consistent.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.thoughtfulgrowth.com/how-to-be-consistent/" target="_blank">Image Source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Survive, Simplify, Balance, Nurture - These were the words I chose from 2018 to 2021. The past two years, I did not choose any word. It was not only due to my scanty writing, but I did not feel the need to do so. This year, I want too. Because it is the need of the hour.</p><p>I'm an organized and planned person. You see all those best selling planners? Well, they are made for people like me. I like to plan each day to the T and I try to ensure that I get all the tasks on the list completed. My work meetings are pretty ad-hoc now, so a lot of things on my list are left undone. They mostly are personal, self-care stuff. While I'm able to do them for a day or two, it falls off the list pretty often. This year, it is imperative that I stay consistent with the things that I want to do. Easier said than done, I know, but I've found putting things in writing to be helpful.<span></span></p><a name='more'></a>I'm a creature of habit and a sucker for routine, so my regular life is pretty mundane and monotonous, and trust me I love it! Most people find monotony boring, but I find a sense of comfort and certainty in it. I'm someone who likes being in control of things pertaining to me and I would want it to go a certain way. Like most of us, I plan yearly/monthly goals. I'm someone who likes to take things from start to finish at one go, but I find myself being unable to do it of late. I'm struggling with consistency and I'm not ashamed to accept it. I work on my personal goals for a few days and if I'm unable to get it done for a day or two, the whole plan goes downhill. I restart it, it goes well for a few days, and then again back to square one.<p></p><p>While I'm not afraid to begin again and again, I need to get into a rhythm and define what consistency means to me. This is what I'm going to try.</p><p>~ <b>Setting clear goals.</b> Earlier, I used to plan five to six activities at a stretch. This time I'm just focusing on one at a time.</p><p>~ <b>Starting small.</b> Consistency is about doing something regularly at the right pace. It need not be everyday, that would feel like a compulsion. I intend to plan this to include alternate days, weekly or bi-weekly activities.</p><p>~ <b>Be realistic.</b> I know that change doesn't happen in a day. Based on my plan of consistency, I need to be realistic about the results too.</p><p>~ <b>Use the 'If.... Then' approach.</b> I read about this recently and I think this would be a great way to build some good habits and stay consistent. For example:</p><p><span> </span>If it is 3PM and I have no work calls, then I'll do an hour of yoga.</p><p><span> </span>If I'm tempted to take a nap, then I'll read/write instead. </p><p>~ <b>Don't set rigid timelines.</b> Consistency > Perfection. A 30 minute walk is still better than a no walk for an hour. I'm going to focus on the activity, not the timing.</p><p>~ <b>Learn to love the activity in hand.</b> It goes without saying that nothing feels like a chore once you start loving it. </p><p>~ <b>Multitasking is a myth.</b> I'm not falling for that again and looking at myself as inadequate for not being able to do it all. Instead I'm going to focus on serial tasking. For example:</p><p><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>After lunch, I'm going to take a brisk walk for 15 minutes.</p><p><span> </span><span> </span>After my morning chores, I'm going to take a break and read for 15 minutes.</p><p><b>~ Repetition is key.</b> I need to try my best to do the activities day after day to build a regular habit. It will take time for it to come naturally, I'm going to make my way through it.</p><p><b>~ Revisit my goals.</b> Every fortnight I'm going to look back at my goals and see how far I've come. If there is room for improvement, I'll go forward for it.</p><p><b>~ Not get complacent.</b> I've had this habit of doing something regularly for a few days and then going off it completely. It takes a lot of willpower and effort for me to get back to it. While I intend to include cheat days once in a while, it is going to be a structured break and not something I'd extend day after day. </p><p><b>~ Delegate.</b> If something else comes in the way of the planned activity, I'll delegate it. Household chores can be picked by my partner while I go ahead with building the habit in hand.</p><p><b>~ Motivate and celebrate. </b>While most of us might find it silly and irrelevant enough, I think self-motivation is key to get anything done. I've been my own cheer leader for decades now and I need to motivate myself more now, for the sake of my physical and mental health. Next, I need to celebrate even the smaller milestone. Not by giving in, but with small rewards. It is important, else everything would feel like a chore or worse, a punishment.</p><p>These are the steps I intend to follow to get consistent in my day to day life. A few months down the line I'll take a look at the progress and provide an update.</p><p>Meanwhile, if you have any tips to help me get consistent in my life, please let me know in the comments. Thank you!</p>Soumyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07439590494620390907noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9140698802730756464.post-10882203278413584732024-01-01T18:23:00.000+05:302024-01-01T18:23:10.865+05:302023 in 23<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOrDfGll2F8GlnS0hMneyhXDUgfKBNbwXSxbX7j8KR0zO_VJsBgDhoSdjUNfOaS7s_n0SaVZ-U-UQ8bqNA0GQWpSUTtsSVFbqp9f_dK9Gm_hmZAsd5l2m3EzgD8jgX_cj2JjgUBObvckX1BCs2e04HNNnPSu5bHGfcjoa3e95Mki99c3pOxwfJDZjcCY2b/s1200/happy-new-year-2024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOrDfGll2F8GlnS0hMneyhXDUgfKBNbwXSxbX7j8KR0zO_VJsBgDhoSdjUNfOaS7s_n0SaVZ-U-UQ8bqNA0GQWpSUTtsSVFbqp9f_dK9Gm_hmZAsd5l2m3EzgD8jgX_cj2JjgUBObvckX1BCs2e04HNNnPSu5bHGfcjoa3e95Mki99c3pOxwfJDZjcCY2b/w640-h426/happy-new-year-2024.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>At the end of the year, when I look back in retrospect, I feel that I haven't done justice to this space. I started last year in high spirits, determined to write regularly and keep the blogging mojo going. I was fairly regular until March and then life took a U-turn. A big risk at work paid off and I was looking at a new role with truckloads of responsibility. It was something I hadn't dabbled in, so it needed all my focus. Everything else automatically took a back seat. </p><p>It has been such an experience that I cannot begin to articulate it. It was an emotional roller coaster and in the end I came out a better person. That's all that matters, right?<span></span></p><a name='more'></a>2023 has been fascinating in more ways than one. It has been a motley of emotions, high, low and in-between. Having been away from the writing space for a long time, it will take me a while to get back the creativity to flow. For now, I'm going with the most unoriginal concept of trying to summarize 2023 in 23 points.<p></p><p>1. Busy. If I had to describe 2023 in one word, that would be it. My entire life turned topsy-turvy and the first thing to go kaput was my work-life balance. Like a chain reaction, this took down my mental health.</p><p>2. I learned that multi-tasking is a myth. You can't do multiple things at once and ace everything. Also, something always gets missed out, no matter how much you do. Once I accepted this, things became clearer and better.</p><p>3. As much as I hate it, I'm someone who associates her self-worth and identity to the professional work I do. Coming from a family background like mine, this job gave me everything that I have today. It is almost impossible for me to not be heavily vested in it. But yes, I'm working on finding a right balance for my own sanity.</p><p>4. There was a decent amount of travel this year too. Before taking up the new role, we went on a holiday to Europe. It was one of the best experiences of our life. Travel makes you humble and teaches you so much. There was a good amount of other travel too, most of which included road-trips and staycations with our furry boy.</p><p>5. Trying to restore a semblance of normalcy in my busy life, I turned to reading before hitting the bed every night. This was the only me-time I had for myself and I cherished it. Now, when I look back at my Goodreads account, I see that I've read 105 books this year. Considering the year that I've had, if this is not a victory, then I don't know what is.</p><p>6. Honestly, it is not like I did not have the time to write. I guess my mind was so occupied with other things that I could not put my actual thoughts to paper. I have more than 8 draft posts at the moment. Posts I intend to get to this year.</p><p>7. As I grow older, I'm feeling the need to go slower and disconnect. I'm more closer to my 40s than my 30s now and I've realized a plethora of things over the last five years. A smaller social circle, good conversations, family time with my boys - this is all I need to stay content. Everything else is irrelevant. </p><p>8. I've become a much calmer person. Work pressures and being responsible for 50+ people will teach you that. It also is the need of the hour. I've been a volatile and impulsive person for most of my life. I've seen myself change the last decade. For the good.</p><p>9. I've mastered the art of indifference. This is what helped me become a calm person. I've learned to not react to the unimportant things and only focus on things that matter to me.</p><p>10. Not everyone you know, will be happy for your success. Some people only watch you to see what you are doing and how. </p><p>11. You are never truly alone. Chores will always be there for you. It is only when you stop doing a few things at home, you realize how much you actually do. Gosh, it actually is exhausting to be woman. A woman working outside and inside the house, at that.</p><p>12. It is hard to detach. As an highly emotional individual, I tend to get emotionally involved with the people I work with or those in my personal life. I've learned to draw a line now and be okay with letting them go. This has made me a much stronger person.</p><p>13. At the risk of sounding a fossil years old, I'm going to say this. I find social media noisy and unnecessary these days. Not to mention that it is filled with vitriol. My love for reading and writing is the only thing that is keeping me there. Blogging entirely depends on readership, without SM it almost becomes impossible for your posts to reach your readers. I run a fairly successful book page on Instagram. That is something that I cherish and intend to continue. </p><p>14. Privacy has never mattered more to me than now. I'm trying to stay as low profile as I can and keep my life guarded. People have been calling me boring for this. So be it.</p><p>15. I've realized the importance of networking in a professional environment and genuine connections in personal life. Quality over quantity, any day.</p><p>16. Unlearning is probably more important than learning new things. When you come from toxic households, unlearning is the first step in trying to lead a normal life.</p><p>17. I no longer feel the need to debate or argue. I still am a highly opiniated person, but, I've learned to keep it to myself now. </p><p>18. Apart from marrying the love of my life at 26, being voluntarily child-free has been the best decision of my life. People often ask me if I regret it, especially as a woman. Not one bit.</p><p>19. This year, I've seen that women don't stand-up for women as much and as often as they should. It is sad to see that, but it is a relief to realize that I'm not one of them.</p><p>20. Maturity makes you an introvert. It also makes you realize how toxic you have been in the past. That's when unlearning matters the most. You can't go back and correct those situations, but you can ensure that it doesn't happen again in the future. At least, you shall not be the cause for it.</p><p>21. People ask me to make up with the people who have wronged me, as life is too short. I decide to stay away from them for that very reason. Life is really short, I'd rather spend it with the people who matter.</p><p>22. I took a sustainable approach to life a few years ago. This year on, it would be simplistic too. Materialistic possessions do not excite me anymore. My focus remains on the needs and not the wants. </p><p>23. If there is one thing that 2023 has taught me, it is to believe in yourself and work smart while working hard. Be it in a professional or personal space, never let the work in front of you consume or define you. You are an individual first, with passions, desires and interests. Everything else is secondary.</p><p>That was 2023 in a nut shell. I intend to write more regularly this year and keep this space thriving.</p><p>Here's wishing you all a very Happy New Year and hoping that 2024 will be the best year of our lives.</p>Soumyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07439590494620390907noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9140698802730756464.post-26244240967701613912023-08-01T14:09:00.001+05:302023-08-01T14:12:09.070+05:30Dos & Don'ts Of Being A Reader<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRraESdJ6KD23AOWFqhTp8ofzSC_ep41kTxOEZcF8jdzkmEdCOvb7dMtwEuEaFP9EBjb1pb2jieemTfaKlUyrh4zFk3ene5LAk8XtOpyrimMXimzEwiOjllO9xXVqVaFQeNhF_faOaZndCJH0hbuxdjqZoSLs0qUswZ7xPX8xc0JHPtcNS0Tf-m5wHtdrF/s1248/hero-image.fill.size_1248x702.v1682976653.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="702" data-original-width="1248" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRraESdJ6KD23AOWFqhTp8ofzSC_ep41kTxOEZcF8jdzkmEdCOvb7dMtwEuEaFP9EBjb1pb2jieemTfaKlUyrh4zFk3ene5LAk8XtOpyrimMXimzEwiOjllO9xXVqVaFQeNhF_faOaZndCJH0hbuxdjqZoSLs0qUswZ7xPX8xc0JHPtcNS0Tf-m5wHtdrF/w640-h360/hero-image.fill.size_1248x702.v1682976653.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://mashable.com/article/booktok-reading-aesthetic" target="_blank">Image Source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>This is a post that has been in the making for a decade! As an avid reader and a more avid list maker, I note down points about reading with the intention of translating it into a post someday. Better late than never, right?</p><p>Books have been an integral part of my life since I introduced myself to it three decades ago. Over the years, I've matured as a reader and as a person thanks to the diverse books that I've read. I've already spoken about <a href="http://www.lifeofleo.in/2023/06/five-reasons-why-you-should-read-more.html" target="_blank">the importance of reading</a> before. Today I want to talk about the dos and don'ts of being a reader.<span></span></p><a name='more'></a><b><u>Dos:</u></b><p></p><p>~ Read for the pure joy of it.</p><p>~ Read books that intrigue you.</p><p>~ Invest time in researching books and genres that you will enjoy.</p><p>~ It is not necessary to review every book you read. </p><p>~ Talk about books to fellow book lovers. Understand your crowd. </p><p>~ Take care of your books. They need to be cleaned, dusted and flipped every now and then.</p><p>~ Give e-books and audiobooks a genuine try. They take up less space and are good for the planet.</p><p>~ Lend books to people who will care for it the way you do. Reusing and borrowing is good for the planet too.</p><p>~ Feel free to get lost and consumed by what you read. That is one of the best pleasures of being a reader.</p><p>~ Talk about the books you read honestly. Likes and dislikes both.</p><p>~ Set aside time for reading on a daily basis.</p><p>~ It is totally okay and normal to not understand a few books. Re-read or look up online discussions to understand better.</p><p>~ Tag the author on positive reviews and let them know you enjoyed their writing.</p><p>~ Have discussions with people who have read the same book. It really is fun and you come across so many different interpretations.</p><p>~ Read and let read.</p><p><b><u>Don'ts:</u></b></p><p>~ Reading is not a competition. Read at your own pace.</p><p>~ Do not read books just because it is trending. Such books more often than not aren't worth the hype.</p><p>~ Don't judge others for the books they read.</p><p>~ Don't bring up books in every conversation. Non-readers might not like it and it is only decent to be respectful.</p><p>~ Just because you are a reader, it doesn't mean you have to carry a book everywhere.</p><p>~ Don't make everything about reading. You don't always have to use a book or a quote from it as an example. </p><p>~ Don't force your choices on people. Let people read what they want to.</p><p>~ You don't have to be a part of every reading challenge or trend.</p><p>~ Do not lend books to people who can't care for it.</p><p>~ Don't (I cannot stress this enough) give out spoilers while discussing a book. This is a sure shot way of getting killed.</p><p>~ You don't have to like every book you read.</p><p>~ Do not tag the author on a negative review. Again, decency.</p><p>~ Don't compare your reading progress with others.</p><p>~ Don't argue with other readers if they don't like the books you loved. Everyone is entitled to an opinion.</p><p>~ Last but not the least, don't think that you are above others just because you are well read.</p><p><br /></p>Soumyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07439590494620390907noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9140698802730756464.post-87595642836785743572023-07-25T15:46:00.000+05:302023-07-25T15:46:36.812+05:30An Ode To The Others<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1OoHUzRC1km11ZnLGuyce4i7J0Ojh_raiTfVzG-gdmUXPP0aGj5VmsvnMN7gKG_7wNa_Ao5KkHeq7UbxZUH0z-P-RVuFEBbvYSqKmrr37nrMNSAnr-zQ0UyIF4ZYvkZjGVIQUJ-rgNczDwatGUUijLjJapigG9Finfc-2u0Mcp3r80rJyhu0oHamf6cig/s1024/Egyptian-Streets_illustration1-01-copy-1024x536.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="1024" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1OoHUzRC1km11ZnLGuyce4i7J0Ojh_raiTfVzG-gdmUXPP0aGj5VmsvnMN7gKG_7wNa_Ao5KkHeq7UbxZUH0z-P-RVuFEBbvYSqKmrr37nrMNSAnr-zQ0UyIF4ZYvkZjGVIQUJ-rgNczDwatGUUijLjJapigG9Finfc-2u0Mcp3r80rJyhu0oHamf6cig/w640-h336/Egyptian-Streets_illustration1-01-copy-1024x536.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://egyptianstreets.com/2021/07/26/defying-a-culture-the-challenges-of-being-a-childfree-woman-in-egypt/" target="_blank">Image Source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><p>This Sunday, there was <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/times-special/of-mothers-and-others-relaxing-into-the-idea-of-never-having-a-child/articleshow/102047851.cms" target="_blank">this interesting article in the paper</a>. Of mothers and others. Just the title made so much sense. I'm not a mother, so I guess I must be the other. The word sounds offensive or not, is a debate for another day.</p><p>My partner and I did talk about kids while we were dating. We had even thought of names and how we would bring them up. Still, there always was the question if we would feel the need to have one. Once we got married a couple of years later, we were clear that we wanted to be child-free. It was purely a personal choice, something that the both of us have discussed often and this is our decision alone. I don't think anyone else has a say in this. Yes, we do revisit our decision once in a while if some situations or scenarios pop-up and we always end up sticking to our original decision. We've been married for a decade now. We are voluntarily child-free and happy.<span></span></p><a name='more'></a>Since it has been years and the people in my inner circle know me and this decision, they don't ask me anything about it. When I meet new people and they hear this, they are not so kind. When I visited my obgyn for the first time and she asked me if I was planning a pregnancy and I said I don't intend to ever, she did not even flinch. She said okay and went ahead with my routine check. I was so happy to have a found a doctor with no judgements what so ever. Most people on the other hand haven't been even close to this.<p></p><p>Things I've heard as a child-free woman or as the other over the past few years:</p><p>~ How can you not want to have a child? As a woman, you MUST feel the need to have a child.</p><p>~ You are newly married, that's why you say this. You'll change your mind in a few years.</p><p>~ Are you that focused on your career that you cannot look beyond it?</p><p>~ Are you worried about getting out of shape? Stop being so vain.</p><p>~ Look at your friends having kids. Why would you want to be left out?</p><p>~ What about your future? Who will look after you?</p><p>~ Are your families okay with this?</p><p>~ Do you have a medical problem?</p><p>~ Aren't you worried about what the society would say?</p><p>~ Don't you have any maternal instinct?</p><p>Things my partner has heard as a childfree man:</p><p>~ Your wife doesn't want to have a child?</p><p>It is funny how the onus for this too, lies on the woman. Honestly, I don't know many people who have been voluntarily child-free. Just a couple, maybe. I know of people who aren't able to have children but want to, and it breaks my heart. People who want to have children should be able to have them without any hassles. The rigmarole of treatments might be worth it at the end of the day, but the emotional pain they have to go through is something else. I just read that today is World IVF Day. The very fact that the day exists shows how important having children is to most people.</p><p>Child-free couples or the others as now known are clearly a minority. Almost all our married friends have had a child or two by now. They may or may not understand our stand and we are fine with it. For us, having a child or not, is an option we can have an opinion on and not an inevitability. It is a conscious decision and we have no regrets. Down the line,<i> if</i> we feel the need to have a child we will. I'm totally fine to have a child in my forties too. I'm no Kareena Kapoor Khan but I trust my body and I shall trust the natural process. This is a very big if though and I already know the answer to it.</p><p>Like the article says, the descriptor 'childless' makes it feel like you are missing something in your life. While 'child-free' sounds a tad better, it can mean things in a cribbing sense. My partner and I like children, we just don't want to have one of our own. Yes, it makes complete sense.</p><p>We need to normalize not talking to couples about their plans on having children. It is insensitive and out-right nosy. Most couples want to have children and are trying their best to conceive, they might not want to talk about their struggles. Some couples might not want to have a child at the moment but are now pregnant and aren't completely happy about it, they too wouldn't want to talk about it. Couples who have never tried having children too fall in the same list. This is a personal call and no one else needs to know about it.</p><p>However, if the concept of being child-free is mentioned, it needs to be normalized. There is nothing great about being able to have a child. There is nothing offensive about not wanting to have one either. </p><p>"<i>A convention loses its force when breaching it doesn’t need an explanation</i>" - this cannot be more true.</p><p>My Instagram bio proudly says that I'm a plant and pup mom. I am and nothing will change that. For me, mothering (not motherhood) is a state of mind. I've completely changed as a person since we got our pup home. I'm more organized, more aware and more sensitive now. It is not necessary for all women to have a maternal instinct. And if they do, it need not be for a child alone. I'm completely aware of the fact that my pup is not a substitute for a child. It is the world outside who thinks so.</p><p>Mothers have been celebrated enough! They have special days, movies, TV shows and articles written for them time and again. How about we celebrate the others once in a while? The ones who are still human and want to stay away from convention. The ones who know what they are doing. You don't have to overcompensate for the choice of not having a child. You don't have to become a CEO, run a business, have multiple god-kids, or travel the world. Do it if you want to, not because you have to, owing to the absence of a child. Rejoice in your choices. Rejoice in being you.</p><p>Here's to the others! You aren't doing anything wrong. You don't have to answer the questions thrown at you. You aren't special either. If motherhood is normal, so is otherhood.</p><div><br /></div>Soumyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07439590494620390907noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9140698802730756464.post-72704368213838228492023-07-21T13:04:00.001+05:302023-07-21T13:04:50.655+05:30Slow Down<p style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV8QQBdDMTx_HYVeWyHWCHrFroKVLuoFAnzqeWGNVNQL2gYu3mlAUj5p6wb5Ki0uo4CewJSuFqveNf7PmxBXDacTHCK5VmBa5q12KvUT3Uzmajnf5vMFM1Imq5bDBrfGYs3_1Ptw1KjcDoyXilaKY3nWZNgHNUvjsw4zTIg7Z653Os3p8XEBaM2NIOazOq/s1050/mindful_march_the_unexpected_benefits_of_mindfulness_1050x700.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="1050" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV8QQBdDMTx_HYVeWyHWCHrFroKVLuoFAnzqeWGNVNQL2gYu3mlAUj5p6wb5Ki0uo4CewJSuFqveNf7PmxBXDacTHCK5VmBa5q12KvUT3Uzmajnf5vMFM1Imq5bDBrfGYs3_1Ptw1KjcDoyXilaKY3nWZNgHNUvjsw4zTIg7Z653Os3p8XEBaM2NIOazOq/w640-h426/mindful_march_the_unexpected_benefits_of_mindfulness_1050x700.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://daily.jstor.org/mindful-march-the-unexpected-benefits-of-mindfulness/" target="_blank">Image Source</a></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p style="text-align: center;"> Pause is an important word</p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">It is time to give it its due</p><p style="text-align: center;">Learn to slow down intentionally</p><p style="text-align: center;">You'll come out feeling new</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Life is all about a balance</p><p style="text-align: center;">At times, it is okay to do nothing</p><p style="text-align: center;">Rushing through life with blinders</p><p style="text-align: center;">Is often what comes back to sting</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">Allow your body, mind and soul to heal</p><p style="text-align: center;">For once, ignore the daily flow</p><p style="text-align: center;">Do not try to rush the things</p><p style="text-align: center;">That need their time to grow</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">You deserve those quiet moments</p><p style="text-align: center;">You cannot pour from an empty cup</p><p style="text-align: center;">Slowing down is at times</p><p style="text-align: center;">The best way to speed up</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Take one day at a time</p><p style="text-align: center;">Stay on a diet of laughter and rest</p><p style="text-align: center;">Embrace the clarity that comes with it</p><p style="text-align: center;">You'll see, it is for the best</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">The intention is to pause not stop</p><p style="text-align: center;">Regroup, refocus and trust the process</p><p style="text-align: center;">Multitasking is a joyful myth</p><p style="text-align: center;">One thing at a time, learn to address</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">You win some and you learn from the others</p><p style="text-align: center;">Every shot you take cannot be an ace</p><p style="text-align: center;">At every moment be wholly present</p><p style="text-align: center;">Life's a journey, not a race</p>Soumyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07439590494620390907noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9140698802730756464.post-31846652552920020432023-06-05T23:15:00.000+05:302023-06-05T23:15:13.899+05:30Baby Steps To Sustainability #WorldEnvironmentDay<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjk200w6z9NIniqsT9QXtPllBTot1yMwsX8R_pAmpGWTOYD0hncHe7Yrv5VxP3-CTDncnkXl_q1SyGHhA9YgQwqAuYc6i2e8khtZHzeQrH2wr3lP-zG8d6KdIgRABQy0udQP-uaLE1Q863qalWA7rSXoPeSGMMYAY_VFnYfAnENaqvLn9aPk5yrIyfSA/s1200/world-environment.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjk200w6z9NIniqsT9QXtPllBTot1yMwsX8R_pAmpGWTOYD0hncHe7Yrv5VxP3-CTDncnkXl_q1SyGHhA9YgQwqAuYc6i2e8khtZHzeQrH2wr3lP-zG8d6KdIgRABQy0udQP-uaLE1Q863qalWA7rSXoPeSGMMYAY_VFnYfAnENaqvLn9aPk5yrIyfSA/w640-h426/world-environment.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.aimsindia.com/blog/world-environment-day-protect-our-environment-and-protect-our-health/" target="_blank">Image Source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><p>I've been a sustainability practitioner for many years now. I'm still quite far away from where I intend to be, but I'm glad I've made a start. One of the main reasons why my partner and I are childfree is that we aren't sure how well equipped the earth would be a few decades down the line. We know that natural resource depletion is real and it can drastically impact human and animal lives. If basic livelihood is threatened, we wouldn't want to add to the population. We wouldn't want our kids to wonder why were they brought into this world.</p><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a>Today, I don't recall what triggered me to start living consciously, but I know that this is something that I would continue for life and encourage others to do the same. <p></p><p>The concept of sustainability is simple;</p><p><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">If it can’t be reduced, reused, repaired, rebuilt, refurbished, refinished, resold, recycled, or composted, then it should be restricted, designed or removed from production. </span></i></b></p><p>As per Wikipedia,</p><p><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Sustainable living is a lifestyle that attempts to reduce an individual’s or society’s use of the Earth’s natural resources and personal resources. Practitioners of sustainable living often attempt to reduce their carbon footprint by altering methods of transportation, energy consumption, and diet.</span></i></b></p><p>Honestly, living a sustainable life is not that easy, but with a few initial efforts it does get easy down the line. Sadly, though this is something that should come naturally to us, it doesn't. Sustainability is a conscious effort and it takes time and a lot of learning and unlearning to get it right. As a novice practitioner, these are the baby steps I took towards a sustainable lifestyle and I continue to maintain it.</p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">~ Use natural light and air as much as possible.</span></b></p><p>When we were looking to buy a house, the most important criteria for my partner and I was ventilation. We needed a house with ample light and air coming in. Both of us grew up in households that needed artificial light throughout the day. In an unhappy household, this adds to the miasma of toxicity. This obviously affected our growing minds. Natural light and air is vital for good mental health and we wanted that to be a priority for us. We found a place that has the whole east side open and that is what sold us. It was way out of budget back then, but we knew it would help us down the line. We don't have to switch on the lights until after sunset. Sadly, the Bangalore summers these days ensure that natural air is not enough. We're working on replacing a few areas of our house with natural cooling elements. I dry vegetables and my washed clothes in natural sunlight. Although it sounds basic, natural light and air is most vital for all of us and making the most of it should be the first step for sustainability.</p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">~ Reduce the consumption of water.</span></b></p><p>I take a bath with a bucket of water and do not use the shower. This is how I've always been, even before sustainability became a concept. A shower uses too much water and most of it usually goes waste. I don't like the idea of bath tubs for this very reason. While on vacation, I do indulge in an occasional mineral salts soak in the bath tub after a long day of walking around. As a consolation, I don't ask for the towels to be replaced that day. Our apartment community has a separate water line for the sewage treated water. This water is used for the flush and for gardening. While looking for a house to buy or rent, ensure the place has an sewage treatment plant (STP), solar panels and a rainwater harvesting unit.</p><p><b>~ Eliminate or re-use plastic.</b></p><p>Plastic is something that you'll rarely find at my place. All my grocery storage containers and water bottles are glassware and our crockery is stoneware. Our ladles and spoons are all wooden or steel. If we do order in, and we do quite often, we don't ask for cutlery and if there is an option for reusable containers, we take it. Else, we clean and store the take away containers and use it to share food among neighbors and family. That way you don't need to keep track of who has what container of yours. Juice and water plastic bottles can be used as vases or planters or to store homemade cleaning liquids. When it comes to dishwashing and clothes washing liquids, opt for refill pouches instead of the plastic bottles. The pouches are plastic too, but leave a smaller footprint. Carry your own water while going to the gym or travelling so that you don't have to buy disposable ones.</p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">~ Shop for sustainable products.</span></b></p><p>Clothes now come with a sustainability index and most websites have a "sustainable" filter too. Sustainable fabrics are often made from natural or recycled materials, aiming to reduce harm through the production process and overall environmental impact. These materials grow with no pesticide or fertilizer use, consume less energy and water, and employ no chemical treatment, reducing the overall carbon footprint of these brands. This is the first thing I look for while shopping and thankfully most brands are taking this approach seriously. Be it clothes, bags, footwear, toothbrushes or makeup, choose sustainability. Most importantly, carry your own bags while shopping. Newspapers make for great dustbin bags. Just fold them into an envelope and use as a bag in the bin. Easy peasy.</p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">~ Buy one, give one.</span></b></p><p>Having seen my parents hoard stuff for decades, I'm completely averse to it. Ditto with my partner. Every time we buy something new, we donate something old. Be it clothes, electronics, kitchenware, bedsheets, shoes or anything else that can be useful to someone else. We live in an area where there are some trustworthy charitable institutes and we make our donations often. While this is a huge step when it comes to sustainability, it is the first step towards living a minimal life. I'll talk about that in another post.</p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">~ Minimal use of power.</span></b></p><p>Most of our work involves being constantly glued to our computer which in turn is plugged in to a power source. Very few people un-plug it once it is fully charged. We also have a constant need to keep checking our phones which drains its power and there is a need for us to charge it again. This needs to be minimized. Charge your phone and other devices only once a day or when needed. My Kindle is the most used device for me and I only charge it once a week. Use solar water heating and you'll never have to use a geyser again. Even during winters, they can provide some decently warm water. Long story short, think before you plug-in.</p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">~ Choose sustainable menstrual products.</span></b></p><p>The menstrual cup didn't work for me and I was looking for better sustainable products. Biodegradable tampons and reusable pads work best for me and they are easily available on Amazon. While biodegradable tampons still generate some waste, there is zero waste when it comes to reusable pads. They just need to be washed and dried after every use. Sanitize all of them at the end of your period and store them. That's it. They are very economic and can be used for up to a year. Same goes for reusable diapers for babies.</p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">~ Audiobooks or e-books over paperbacks.</span></b></p><p>This was the hardest bit for me. While I've adapted very well to audiobooks and e-books, paperbacks are a different feeling altogether. I changed my humongous bookshelf a few months ago to a more compact one, so I gave away most of my books to the people I know. Some of them I sold at minimal rates (which covered the price for the new bookshelf) and the rest I gave away to a used books store. I still have a large number of physical books and I do buy them occasionally, but my primary reading happens on the Kindle and via Audible. This means lesser books at home and lesser clutter. I consciously opt for non-paper books now and while I used to not let people borrow my paperbacks earlier, I do so more freely now. Reduce and reuse is the mantra.</p><p>These are a few steps I've taken towards living a more sustainable lifestyle. These are just the basics and the best way to make a start. </p><p><br /></p>Soumyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07439590494620390907noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9140698802730756464.post-69817939428283826472023-06-02T15:06:00.002+05:302023-06-02T15:06:27.001+05:30Five Reasons Why You Should Read More<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpJA8hhynKBECSKXDncaKX1AipuRqL9uWit-0cyo36ZoYfVknjNq5-nHPlv487nqwbEJzABFG59dPdG-lFCWaFKPIsRpUqliD3EI7HqhKv3txx11l11NrZeVtu0_sveg86rXsaH6oChRU87EFSHpmplcTJWEr5ibNRb8DyaCxD3ZlUlWotre3DsRBV1g/s2249/pexels-photo-2228561.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2249" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpJA8hhynKBECSKXDncaKX1AipuRqL9uWit-0cyo36ZoYfVknjNq5-nHPlv487nqwbEJzABFG59dPdG-lFCWaFKPIsRpUqliD3EI7HqhKv3txx11l11NrZeVtu0_sveg86rXsaH6oChRU87EFSHpmplcTJWEr5ibNRb8DyaCxD3ZlUlWotre3DsRBV1g/w640-h426/pexels-photo-2228561.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-sitting-on-window-reading-book-2228561/" target="_blank">Image Source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><p>I recently read '<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55276648-the-reading-list" target="_blank">The Reading List</a>' by Sarah Nisha Adams and it took me down a nostalgia trip. No, I did not find any reading list in any book. The way books affect the people in the story is what I could relate to the most. For those who haven't read the book, this is the story of two unlikely friends, Mukesh Patel a recent widower and Aleisha, a teenager who works at the local library. Mukesh's wife was an avid reader and Mukesh could never understand her love for books. When he finds an overdue book, which happens to be '<a href="http://www.lifeofleo.in/2018/06/book-review-time-travelers-wife.html" target="_blank">The Time Traveler's Wife</a>', he sits down to read it and falls in love with it. With a tiny understanding of why books might have been so important to his wife, he steps into the library to return this book and borrow more.<span></span></p><a name='more'></a>Aleisha on the other hand has no interest in books or in reading. She's working in the library to make ends meet to care for her mother and brother. One day, she finds a crumpled-up paper in the back of '<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2657.To_Kill_a_Mockingbird?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=9GSvCrD9h4&rank=1" target="_blank">To Kill A Mockingbird</a>'. It turns out to be a list of books. Nothing else. Bored with her monotonous life, she decides to read all the books in the list (books she has never heard of until then). When she befriends Mukesh, she passes on the list to him. Together they decide to read the books in the list and in the process fall in love with the written word. What started as an excuse to escape pain and boredom, becomes a lifelong passion and interest.<p></p><p>This is pretty much my story. I could relate to both of them. I come from a family of non-readers where non academic books did not make sense to any of them. Initially, including me. I encountered reading by chance and haven't looked back. As a teenager, I was always on the lookout for new books to read. I couldn't buy them because my parents did not want to spend money on something that I would just read once. I made the most of my school library and a library near home. Reading changed my life and I never miss a chance to say this. </p><p>People around me never understood it. Honestly, none of my inner circle of friends are readers. Now that I think of it, I find it funny. I love to talk about the books I've read and the fact that I can't with a group of people I love so much, sometimes doesn't make sense. Also, apart from my current partner, the other men I've dated also were non-readers. Perhaps this should have been the biggest read red flag. I guess what I'm trying to say here is that not all the people who are close to me understand my love for books and the importance of reading and that's fine. I know why books are important to me and that will never change.</p><p>I'm taking this opportunity here to list out five reasons why one should read more or at least start reading. Why one chooses to do a thing varies from person to person, so these are my personal thoughts alone. </p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">1. Reading makes you smarter.</span></b></p><p>Yes, non-fictional and fictional books can do that. Reading a book is like going on a journey and it teaches you many things on the way. New words, new scenarios, new emotions and what not. Books also teach you to understand yourself and others better. You can learn about anything in the world by reading about it. Historical fictional reads have taught me so much about history that I wouldn't know otherwise. You can turn any conversation into an erudite discussion when you read. You are exposed to so much of information and you can choose what to retain. In short, reading non-academia books can make you smart too.</p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">2. Reading helps with imagination, focus and concentration.</span></b></p><p>Reading is an investment. Of time. When you invest time in reading a book, you gain focus and concentration. Your mind accommodates whatever you are reading and helps you retain it. In a crowded, chaotic place, a book can give you the much needed solace. When you are reading a story, you paint an image in your head. What the characters might look like, how gorgeous would the surroundings be etc. It widens your imagination and opens up your mind to more possibilities.</p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">3. Reading helps you communicate better.</span></b></p><p>People who read more can express themselves better, be it verbally or in writing. I've often been appreciated for the way I speak and my written communication skills; reading plays a big part in it. I have a document on my phone where I note down new words I read. Once I have a complete grasp of the meaning of the word and how to use it, I use it in my day to day vocabulary. When people say that they wish they could talk like me, I ask them to invest time in reading. They say they are too lazy for that. I let it be. The most important thing about being a good conversationalist is knowing when to stop. Trust me, reading teaches you that too.</p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">4. Reading helps you travel the world.</span></b></p><p>Yes, I do travel a lot. Honestly, I travel more through books. Books have the capacity to take you to different places from the comfort of your home. You learn so much about new cities, their culture, their food, their people and everything else in between. When you actually get to travel to that place, you already know what to do and what to explore. Reading paints a vivid picture in your mind and there is so much beauty in it.</p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">5. Reading helps your mental health.</span></b></p><p>This probably is the most important reason why we all should read more. Most of us are not new to stress and we have accepted it as a part of our lifestyle. Reading is known to reduce stress levels and help one sleep better. No, not by boring one to sleep. Books can help provide clarity in one's life and that can calm a person down to a large extent. Readers are also known to be more empathetic and understanding because they live through stressful scenarios in a book. They can help others dealing with stress and themselves. Reading takes you to a calmer place from where you are transported elsewhere. A magic place.</p><p>This is how reading has helped me become a better, calmer, intelligent and empathetic person. While most people appreciate these qualities in me, they don't want to invest their time in reading. Most of my friends now have children and they ask me if they should try to inculcate reading in their children. I always say yes and suggest books they can start with. I'm not a parent, but I think the five reasons I've mentioned above hold good for children too. </p><p>At the end of the day, we all could benefit from reading more. </p>Soumyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07439590494620390907noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9140698802730756464.post-37386498476867284572023-05-29T12:39:00.000+05:302023-05-29T12:39:25.927+05:30Of Women & Burnout #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1eXtnFXeHApxrprx9WF2bXOaXub6VHBNEZjvPWllKwmQiujVkoaZ5cMeCELuFnShoF1bDATT9xEPp5Q7OPlkrdAqs_xTBNN-Fa_TiwTVNmA1MJ6zjzDUxfw7-ungRyuRc3Ty2zzMjrzab28XkeRNp4hx6WxGHRziMA6nDU8ygQ4tOQWkkeJapwnc2Qw/s900/burnout-900x600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1eXtnFXeHApxrprx9WF2bXOaXub6VHBNEZjvPWllKwmQiujVkoaZ5cMeCELuFnShoF1bDATT9xEPp5Q7OPlkrdAqs_xTBNN-Fa_TiwTVNmA1MJ6zjzDUxfw7-ungRyuRc3Ty2zzMjrzab28XkeRNp4hx6WxGHRziMA6nDU8ygQ4tOQWkkeJapwnc2Qw/w640-h426/burnout-900x600.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.phillymag.com/business/2019/06/24/burnout-is-hitting-women-the-hardest/" target="_blank">Image Source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><p>I've been wanting to write this post since the start of the month, finally got to it now. Why? I simply did not find the time. Why? Read on.</p><p>Burnout (as per Helpguide.org) - Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress. It occurs when you feel overwhelmed, emotionally drained, and unable to meet constant demands. As the stress continues, you begin to lose the interest and motivation that led you to take on a certain role in the first place. Burnout reduces productivity and saps your energy, leaving you feeling increasingly helpless, hopeless, cynical, and resentful. Eventually, you may feel like you have nothing more to give.<span></span></p><a name='more'></a>I read this <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/women-leaders-higher-risk-burnout-panini-balaji%3FtrackingId=2KzuLMFKTW%252BuIyP2qGcREw%253D%253D/?trackingId=2KzuLMFKTW%2BuIyP2qGcREw%3D%3D" target="_blank">post on LinkedIn</a> recently. While I completely agree with the article, I think that it is not only the women leaders who are at a higher risk of burnout. Every woman is. Women at a junior level might not even get to a leadership level because of burnout. Women who take care of a home would be more prone to a burnout. Bottom line is, women definitely are at a higher risk of burnout. I'm not saying men aren't. As a woman, I choose to talk about why I think women are at a higher risk.<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU7SLaMZ78bClmMGjUDBtnWSk5WGAL5PtIFxA2k-eMMSVKPD2ohnX88z06dgzv8kP1J0Uxg4LxR8fIPPPp4xdqFVHyQcPmeM2GZoANXzi3N1T4kAQ2DW9bX0EYcCnQW3_x5ZdgZLPeuZXmf-LmW4JBuQBTmsM3IKDYuINympL5psSE5pwqdTnt4ihpdg/s367/Fui8DnJaYAAU-mI.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="367" data-original-width="359" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU7SLaMZ78bClmMGjUDBtnWSk5WGAL5PtIFxA2k-eMMSVKPD2ohnX88z06dgzv8kP1J0Uxg4LxR8fIPPPp4xdqFVHyQcPmeM2GZoANXzi3N1T4kAQ2DW9bX0EYcCnQW3_x5ZdgZLPeuZXmf-LmW4JBuQBTmsM3IKDYuINympL5psSE5pwqdTnt4ihpdg/w626-h640/Fui8DnJaYAAU-mI.png" width="626" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://twitter.com/paraschopra/status/1650776091592908802" target="_blank">Image Source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The above image appeared as a tweet on my timeline some time recently. I thought it must be nice to have a woman or anybody else who enables a man to have a routine like this. Where have dinner means just eating dinner and not cooking and washing up. Imagine finishing a tough day at work and coming home to a homecooked delicious and warm meal. Then having the time to do whatever he wants to do. Sigh, the pleasures of being a man.</p><p>When someone, irrespective of a man or a woman, lists out their plan for the day it is only natural for one to look at their own plan. These are the things I usually do in a day. Of course some of them don't feature on the list everyday, but they remain on my mind.</p><p>~ Wake up and have a cup of coffee. Read the newspaper while having coffee.</p><p>~ Empty the dish rack of the utensils washed the previous night. Arrange them in their places to make it easy for when I'm cooking.</p><p>~ I have planned the menu of the day the previous night in my mind. Time to put it to action.</p><p>~ Cook lunch.</p><p>~ Cook food for the pet. Chicken, rice and vegetables. Each one cooked separately. I do this once in 3 days.</p><p>~ Clean the house. Put everything back in place.</p><p>~ A quick breakfast.</p><p>~ Start work. Mails, meetings etc.</p><p>~ Deal with an anxious pup who feels the need to climb on your lap every time they fire a shot (to shoo away the birds) at the nearby airport.</p><p>~ Play with the pup to make him feel loved and heard.</p><p>~ Empty the clothes rack of washed and dried clothes. Fold them and arrange them in their respective places.</p><p>~ Run the washing machine for the next batch of clothes. </p><p>~ Put them out to dry.</p><p>~ Feed the pup.</p><p>~ Take the pup out for a walk.</p><p>~ Eat lunch and wash the utensils.</p><p>~ Office work and meetings.</p><p>~ Water the plants.</p><p>~ Vacuum the house.</p><p>~ Mop and dust the house.</p><p>~ Fill up the water bottles.</p><p>~ Keep track of groceries/fresh produce.</p><p>~ Book/follow up on the laundry sent for washing.</p><p>~ Keep track of a gazillion online orders buying stuff for home.</p><p>~ More office work and more meetings.</p><p>~ Cook dinner.</p><p>~ Dinner for the pup.</p><p>~ A walk for the pup.</p><p>~ Eat dinner.</p><p>~ Wash the utensils.</p><p>~ Groom the pup.</p><p>~ Check work emails.</p><p>~ Hit the bed.</p><p>~ Mental load of what to cook the next day.</p><p>~ Mental load of what other household chores are pending for the next day.</p><p>~ Exhaustion doesn't let you sleep immediately. Else, it is the heat.</p><p>~ Toss and turn and sleep poorly.</p><p>~ Wake up and repeat.</p><p>Most of this get done when I'm working from home. On the days I go to office, the chores get piled or ignored. As a woman with ample passions and hobbies, including even a single additional activity would mean that something else on the list gets left out. I used to feel bad about it before, but now I've come to terms with it. A quick workout would mean the plants would not get watered today. Thirty minutes of reading would mean I order in lunch. It always is a trade, come what may. I used to have a maid until some time ago. She would wash the dishes and vacuum/mop the house. The rest of the chores were still left to me. Of course I have a supportive partner who finds time from his busy schedule to take up a few chores as and when he can.</p><p>Many women have spoken about the stress of domestic life and chores. Trust me, it is as exhausting as they make it to be. Some women say that some of us are lucky as our partners "help" us with chores. I hate the word help in this context. When a man offers to help, it still means that the primary onus of the chore is on the women and men are only expected to assist if they want to. Will a man's to-do list ever have chores? I highly doubt.</p><p>I wouldn't be lying if I said that I face burn-outs quite often. A majority of my day goes in tasks that are mind-numbingly boring and dull. Not to mention repetitive. It is almost impossible to not feel overwhelmed. This is not normal stress. A burn-out is much beyond that. It questions you as a person. It drains you out beyond measure. It detaches you from everything around and wrecks you emotionally. Self-doubt creeps in at that moment and your brain refused to see any worth in you as a person. Nothing seems good enough, least of all you. Domestic chores can do that to you. Perhaps now we can understand why our mothers, aunts and grandmas were so tired and angry all the time.</p><p>Household chores are not the only thing that can lead to a burn-out but it definitely is high up on the list. I know of well-deserving women letting go off promotions as they would not be able to handle the additional work while managing a home. A colleague of mine adjusts her work timings in such a way that she can drop and pick up her children and then drive them to their multiple extra-curricular activities. She works late night to complete her work once the children are fed and tucked into bed. It is only normal to think what the father of the children does at home.</p><p>It is time for things to change. A home should no longer be the reflection of the homemaker. It should be a reflection of all the people who live in it and contribute to it. When we were working on the interiors of our new house and the kitchen was somewhat ready, my MIL clearly pointed it out to me that "my department" is ready. Back then, I was a woman with 10+ years of experience in the corporate world, leading a team in a highly demanding industry. Yet, the kitchen was my department. My partner immediately pointed it out to her that it was not. It was something for both of us. This is how the change must start.</p><p>I have a partner who understands my ambitions and my determination towards work and believes that household chores are not meant for a woman alone. Yet, at times I feel the burnout. Now imagine those women who don't have this support. It sends a chill down my spine just thinking of it. We need household chores to be gender neutral no matter what it is. I also know of some women who believe that it is their duty to be servile and cater to the needs of the man. If you are one among them, good for you. Don't judge those who don't believe in this archaic norm.</p><p>Let us break the chain. Let us refuse to do the things we can't or don't want to do. Let us focus on more important things that matter. Let us pursue our ambitions and passions and not get burdened by the chores that give no meaning to our lives. Teach your sons to be independent. They don't have to be high-flying chefs or Marie Kondos. They just need to know how to survive and take care of themselves and their surroundings. The men need to pick up chores around the house and not just offer help. It needs to be a priority for them too and go on their lists. Everyone in the house need to contribute to chores to make it a home. </p><p>Let's start at the very beginning. Home. </p><div><br /></div>Soumyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07439590494620390907noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9140698802730756464.post-65989202749068950342023-04-21T15:31:00.003+05:302023-04-21T15:31:46.549+05:30Diamond In The Sky<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhftvSttlDZR6g2g_cfpbV72p7TVVdwjUcfkhHqqfJN2vz-FhwTLvkmThQTDOX2RQ6gQsciwE_OYiZkF1HZTiPw-0yqEfAgvOXik9of86dxMq1Sf02R7QtZumWGf4WUst0yk1m5FcPlcyYSrrVtEfvyCqwX_G9DrBhTA8jBjsZb1LsFy5hnkHPSUV54Cw/s564/74f306d2f820c055ffc198e937a32744.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="564" data-original-width="564" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhftvSttlDZR6g2g_cfpbV72p7TVVdwjUcfkhHqqfJN2vz-FhwTLvkmThQTDOX2RQ6gQsciwE_OYiZkF1HZTiPw-0yqEfAgvOXik9of86dxMq1Sf02R7QtZumWGf4WUst0yk1m5FcPlcyYSrrVtEfvyCqwX_G9DrBhTA8jBjsZb1LsFy5hnkHPSUV54Cw/w640-h640/74f306d2f820c055ffc198e937a32744.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://in.pinterest.com/pin/844636105122701403/" target="_blank">Image Source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"> You are not supposed to do that</p><p style="text-align: center;">As women, we often hear</p><p style="text-align: center;">That's because if we can do it</p><p style="text-align: center;">Everything about us they'll fear</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">They'd rather not give us opportunities</p><p style="text-align: center;">Instead of watching us succeed</p><p style="text-align: center;">Women are meant to stay behind they say</p><p style="text-align: center;">When we know we're born to lead</p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span></span>They don't understand equality</p><p style="text-align: center;">Let alone want us to have it</p><p style="text-align: center;">For them to feel powerful</p><p style="text-align: center;">We're expected to be the ignorant bit</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Demand credit for what you do</p><p style="text-align: center;">If they don't hear, scream</p><p style="text-align: center;">Don't stop until you have fulfilled it all</p><p style="text-align: center;">The idea that once was a dream</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">True strength is what forms your core</p><p style="text-align: center;">Be proud of everything that you are</p><p style="text-align: center;">Ambition is not a bad word</p><p style="text-align: center;">Honor it and you'll go far</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Everyone will question your approach</p><p style="text-align: center;">They'll have unsavory things to say</p><p style="text-align: center;">Ignore it and march ahead</p><p style="text-align: center;">From today, everyday is your day</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Daughter, sister, wife, mother</p><p style="text-align: center;">You can be all this and more</p><p style="text-align: center;">Write a new chapter of your story</p><p style="text-align: center;">Together, we can challenge the lore</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">When they say you cannot do it</p><p style="text-align: center;">Do it with your head held high</p><p style="text-align: center;">Wear your crown and continue to shine</p><p style="text-align: center;">Like a diamond in the sky</p>Soumyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07439590494620390907noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9140698802730756464.post-23837565267372976562023-04-13T12:30:00.000+05:302023-04-13T12:30:02.870+05:30Life Is What Happens To You...<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR0brRDeLG1Aapd22nDYfnkxmlnyj2jkt-2MFyhpVz0bZOztHbW2vpO4lEwOSKjACrqKlG6rjHtw1STzDHlLs6CputSOr5-Di524KMOAtlRztJb8GEtVoF2taAJVQ8aAUFbA3x13PjL216n0zLO-GkQAPQEcdaugYwBF03oo9N_dDYjizV8_L66CQEKg/s800/Life.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="418" data-original-width="800" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR0brRDeLG1Aapd22nDYfnkxmlnyj2jkt-2MFyhpVz0bZOztHbW2vpO4lEwOSKjACrqKlG6rjHtw1STzDHlLs6CputSOr5-Di524KMOAtlRztJb8GEtVoF2taAJVQ8aAUFbA3x13PjL216n0zLO-GkQAPQEcdaugYwBF03oo9N_dDYjizV8_L66CQEKg/w640-h334/Life.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.christianity.com/wiki/christian-life/what-is-the-meaning-of-life.html" target="_blank">Image Source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p> ... when you are busy making other plans. That's one way to put it. The other one would be, Life shows you the middle finger when you are least expecting it.</p><p>I'm just back from a glorious European vacation. This is the vacation we were supposed to take in 2020 but couldn't, due to Covid. However, it felt more special this year as we were celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary. When we visited Europe for the first time in 2018, it was our 5th anniversary and we had joked that let's make this a five year thing. Well, it turned out to be that way unintentionally. So, we were all set for our travel. Bags packed, pup dropped off at boarding, day to day itinerary planned, emergency food packed for the vegetarian partner etc. We boarded the flight as expected. This was the first time we were travelling by Air France. Soon we would learn, this would be the last time too.<span></span></p><a name='more'></a>Paris was our first destination and we were to reach by 9.00 AM. While we were just two hours away from landing, an air-hostess smelt plastic burning in one of the aisles. Those who know me well know that I hate flying. Any flight, short or long, troubles me. I'm someone who likes to be in control of the situation all the time and honestly, flying is not something that aligns with it. I hate the strong pull during a take-off and the shudders during a turbulence. I'm kind of okay with a landing though. Something about being back on land soothes me. Now, coming back to our Air France flight. Thanks to the smell, it was considered a security hazard and the plane had to make an emergency landing in Istanbul. We were on the tarmac for a couple of hours as technical staff scanned the area time and again. After a while, the staff announced that the issue was resolved and the captain announced that we'll take-off in the next 20 minutes. I surprisingly was calm throughout this situation, my partner always is. I guess I was glad that a mishap was averted.<p></p><p>We would be a couple of hours late in reaching Paris, but if we would hurry when we landed we could still make it to our original itinerary. We had two events planned, one during noon and one during the night. Everything was booked and paid for. We were glad that we could make it after all. All of a sudden, the captain announced that the technical issue is not yet resolved and that they were cancelling the flight. We were asked to de-board and wait at the airport. No one from Air France was at the airport and there was no one to let us know what would happen next. 230 odd passengers were stranded at the Istanbul airport with no updates as to what next. We were young and could handle the situation, but there were many aged passengers on the flight and young mothers with their toddlers who had no access to the lounge or food. It was depressing to watch them. While Paris was our destination, for most others it was a connecting destination. They had flights lined up for the rest of the day and they most likely were going to miss it.</p><p>Wi-Fi at Istanbul airport is not free. After the first hour you need to pay. We had an International Roaming plan but the others struggled. After a few hours they announced that we'll be sent to Paris by a 6 PM flight and provided food vouchers. We had already missed our afternoon plans but had a tiny hope of making it to our night one. We were being ridiculously positive. The flight arrived late and by the time we took-off from Istanbul, it was past 8 PM. They sent us a smaller aircraft and all the business class passengers were crammed in with the others. No body was happy. When we finally landed in Paris at around 11.30 PM, we thought the worst was over. We had missed out on our entire plans for the day, but at least we were safe and could have a nice holiday from here on. We were wrong again. Since Air France had sent in a smaller aircraft, not all the luggage could be loaded. Our baggage did not arrive.</p><p>So, we had lost an entire day in Paris and were now stranded without any clothes or toiletries. We purchased the bare minimum and reached the hotel at midnight. Air France was supposed to send our luggage to our hotel the next day. We explored Paris in a day wearing the same clothes we had worn when we left Bangalore. Thankfully, we had carried our heavy jackets with us in our carry on, as it was quite cold. In spite of all the chaos, we had a great time in Paris. We explored as much as we could and ate some delicious food. When we got back to our hotel at night, our luggage hadn't arrived as yet. We had a flight to Barcelona the next day.</p><p>We had to get on a call with Air France again and they agreed to send the luggage to our hotel in Barcelona the next day. Thankfully, this time, by the time we arrived in Barcelona, our luggage had arrived. We were so relieved! The trip went on smoothly from there and we explored Spain for a week before flying to Portugal. Both these countries are insanely gorgeous! The food, the people, the scenery - everything was splendid. Three days before we could leave back to Bangalore, Air France cancelled our return flight. Owing to this, we now had a 13 hour layover at Charles De Gaulle (The Paris Airport) and our connecting flight was the next day. Air France refused to provide us a hotel. We decided to buy lounge access and spend the night at the airport. Now comes the best part. CDG shuts down at night! No kidding. The eating establishments starts to shut down by 9 PM, followed by the other stores and the lounge too! They actually close down the shutters and switch off the lights! No kidding. The staff told us to book a hotel ourselves and spend the night there as the airport is not safe at night. We could see why.</p><p>Meanwhile, a few other Air France flights were cancelled too and there were hordes of passengers stranded at the airport and at the customer care center. After waiting in the line for a couple of hours, we found someone who understood our problem and accepted that it was a miss from the airline and provided us a hotel for the night. We had to take a connecting train from the airport to the hotel and come back the next day. Thankfully, this flight was not delayed and was uneventful and we landed in Bangalore safely at midnight. So did our baggage. What was supposed to be a beautiful 10th year anniversary celebration had a terrible start and end, all thanks to an airline. While we had a brilliant time in Europe, when something like this happens, it takes away some of the joy.</p><p>I know that these are technical and unpredictable issues. No one can do anything about it. What troubled us more was the apathy of the Air France staff. They had no clue what to do and were far from helpful. While we read up on the airline, it turned out to be a regular affair for them. Flight delays, cancellations, luggage going missing - this almost seemed routine. The exact flight we took to Paris had had an emergency landing in Austria a few months ago because of the same issue, smell of something burning. Was the issue ever fixed? No one knows. </p><p>We were just glad to be back home. First thing next day, we picked up our pup. All three of us were under a roof together again. Nothing else mattered more than that. Then came a shocker from work. My project was being restructured and people were being let go. I was being moved to a new, better role and that turned out to be a silver lining in this grey grumpy cloud. This would be a fresh start for me and I was thrilled. But, seeing some of my colleagues leave and the condition of the project at the moment did not go down well on my mental space. It was such a pity. I had just come back rejuvenated from a vacation and I was instantly plunged into stress. I had to backout of the A to Z challenge because of this. I did not have it in me to plan and post everyday. I was so looking forward to this challenge, but life had thrown another challenge at me. One that needed immediate focus and clarity.</p><p>So, long story short, life is uncertain and can throw any or many curve balls at you at any moment. While we cannot be prepared all the time, we can try our best to accept the situation and make the most of it. Life goes on, and we need to go on with it.</p><p>Life is going to get busy now with a lot of learning and unlearning planned. This is a period of growth for me, both personally and professionally and I'm going to embrace it whole heartedly. They say that change is the only constant in the world. Couldn't agree more.</p>Soumyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07439590494620390907noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9140698802730756464.post-15866965273792940392023-03-15T11:00:00.005+05:302023-03-16T21:15:41.417+05:30A To Z Challenge 2023 - Theme Reveal #AtoZChallenge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQqMuRxixcdB4z4jSPC_PYQg5nxOnu-wbiB9kMCOCIHaSY3VBA2vpxakJ12BEwGyyrndOx_ZLPb0FgrEkjVWxla99bfAOG_GDyysGU5eUwlUCMhWxDOV09UxDmYvWF8gRAq2ZR59_07OkQeJUCtGUtpMbUNkKshguOyLw7ABH5SGk-LkpPza0cM72i4g/s398/Theme1b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="175" data-original-width="398" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQqMuRxixcdB4z4jSPC_PYQg5nxOnu-wbiB9kMCOCIHaSY3VBA2vpxakJ12BEwGyyrndOx_ZLPb0FgrEkjVWxla99bfAOG_GDyysGU5eUwlUCMhWxDOV09UxDmYvWF8gRAq2ZR59_07OkQeJUCtGUtpMbUNkKshguOyLw7ABH5SGk-LkpPza0cM72i4g/w640-h282/Theme1b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>The <a href="http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/" target="_blank">A to Z blogging challenge</a> seems ancient to me now. I religiously (we seriously need a better word for agnostics like me) participated in this challenge from 2014 to 2019, six consecutive years, 26 posts in the month of April. Honestly, I did enjoy doing them. I picked great themes and was usually prepared beforehand. 2020 to 2022 barely saw any writing from me and A to Z was the last thing on my mind. Since I've been wanting to write more this year, I've decided to participate in the A to Z Blogging challenge for 2023.</p><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a>This time too, I'm prepare to an extent and I'm ready to set sail with this challenge. Motivating me along the way, would be my favorite bookstagrammer and book buddy <a href="https://www.shalzmojo.in/" target="_blank">Shalini</a>. We've decided to do this together and even have the same theme. Check out her theme reveal post <a href="https://www.shalzmojo.in/2023/03/bookish-endorsements-theme-reveal-atozchallenge-2023/" target="_blank">here</a>. As much as we love books and can discuss them endlessly, our tastes are quite diverse and different. Which is exactly why this challenge would be super fun. We take on the same prompts every day. Same prompts, different points of view. How amazing would that be?<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzlKjumVLlOPGYvHGFHLc6qtNFF5gjgZKW5_2BUvvaWIp-nylNpQq4XRfBMC9O6N2uOlzZuumL8LsjxwqsXXlJpCDQeN72eJpa8Ync5uepGQHZISb5wK_EN2Vh8K3Xz4Qe8tk5AucsyxpIUYINr9vqDBNTrBNBPUZLcLn3yFC2To-TCvnm4JMd_16Ttg/s1135/Top%20Reads%202022%20Updated.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1135" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzlKjumVLlOPGYvHGFHLc6qtNFF5gjgZKW5_2BUvvaWIp-nylNpQq4XRfBMC9O6N2uOlzZuumL8LsjxwqsXXlJpCDQeN72eJpa8Ync5uepGQHZISb5wK_EN2Vh8K3Xz4Qe8tk5AucsyxpIUYINr9vqDBNTrBNBPUZLcLn3yFC2To-TCvnm4JMd_16Ttg/w380-h400/Top%20Reads%202022%20Updated.jpeg" width="380" /></a></div><p>The theme we have chosen for this year is 'Quirky Bookish Words'. If you follow <a href="https://www.instagram.com/shalzmojo/" target="_blank">Shalini</a> or <a href="https://www.instagram.com/bluntpages/" target="_blank">me on Bookstagram</a> you will recognize this theme from the #DecBookLove theme of 2022. While we are using the same theme, we have changed a few words to make it more appealing. </p><p>Follow our journey all through April as we will be talking about books, authors, genres and everything else in between.</p>Soumyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07439590494620390907noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9140698802730756464.post-63575471738361950852023-03-13T15:02:00.000+05:302023-03-13T15:02:11.204+05:30Happy Place<p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjgpqics6U5Kz0gVe75r68Vo5JVxP8IBC2n7pqgs84WFaFzTblQarZj7RE3nTeIf8R2HMo0_XVgd8qYciSNxfPxN-69DCWcgqI9untJFuMjpt-cDK5DTPRSo8sCoJEDWmjsk3uMwDDduRfWlRlCp_xIsrer9efIaLW3BZLLP13GDhT1npThh3gAsE2eA/s1360/girl-reading-book-drinking-coffee-while-sitting-on-balcony-painting-q5-1360x768.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1360" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjgpqics6U5Kz0gVe75r68Vo5JVxP8IBC2n7pqgs84WFaFzTblQarZj7RE3nTeIf8R2HMo0_XVgd8qYciSNxfPxN-69DCWcgqI9untJFuMjpt-cDK5DTPRSo8sCoJEDWmjsk3uMwDDduRfWlRlCp_xIsrer9efIaLW3BZLLP13GDhT1npThh3gAsE2eA/w640-h362/girl-reading-book-drinking-coffee-while-sitting-on-balcony-painting-q5-1360x768.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://hdqwalls.com/wallpaper/1366x768/girl-reading-book-drinking-coffee-while-sitting-on-balcony-painting" target="_blank">Image Source</a></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p style="text-align: center;">We all could do with a break</p><p style="text-align: center;">From this, that and everything in between</p><p style="text-align: center;">Find that peace within yourself</p><p style="text-align: center;">Where you can escape and not be seen</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">It need not be anything special</p><p style="text-align: center;">Can be between the pages of a book</p><p style="text-align: center;">A cocoon that calms you down</p><p style="text-align: center;">Just for you, a personal nook</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">It can be a dish to create</p><p style="text-align: center;">Plain ingredients coming together</p><p style="text-align: center;">Creating an aroma of flavors</p><p style="text-align: center;">Perfect for every weather</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Solace is often found</p><p style="text-align: center;">In a warm cup of tea</p><p style="text-align: center;">Gazing away to oblivion</p><p style="text-align: center;">Doing nothing as far as the eye can see</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Find cheer among the colors</p><p style="text-align: center;">On a canvas or just a sheet</p><p style="text-align: center;">Creativity doesn't need a form or shape</p><p style="text-align: center;">Your inner artist you can meet</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Writing is the perfect way to let go</p><p style="text-align: center;">Of everything that has been eating you</p><p style="text-align: center;">Simple words tend to do that </p><p style="text-align: center;">Erasing the old, making way for new</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Find companionship in plants</p><p style="text-align: center;">Tend to them, watch them grow</p><p style="text-align: center;">Get your hands dirty</p><p style="text-align: center;">Through you, feel the energy flow</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Spend some time with a pet</p><p style="text-align: center;">The purest form of love there can be</p><p style="text-align: center;">Of wet noses and furry snuggles</p><p style="text-align: center;">Happiness that you can actually see</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Pamper yourself the way you want</p><p style="text-align: center;">Leaving behind all the guilt</p><p style="text-align: center;">Celebrate the life you are given</p><p style="text-align: center;">Everything that you have built</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Every once in a while</p><p style="text-align: center;">Disappear to this space</p><p style="text-align: center;">Of pure bliss, sanity and magic</p><p style="text-align: center;">The one called your happy place</p>Soumyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07439590494620390907noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9140698802730756464.post-27025283982979189182023-03-09T12:19:00.001+05:302023-03-12T14:32:27.036+05:30LOL - 14 Years Later<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0KwyoufCKDUljJX4Q6xNGmh6jstRhIDgQDv-K2v8DMEbYJK8IYIg0ddpHA00C7MmT0xHNI9nyDosciNKvOXWHzhO8txUPco1W7Ga0tt-vHaDI2abLFAx_9p5TdPKEC54xTZbyC5dZokvBVP1xOUt7LAIOn3tIA3UJ2xNUNGy2hgrHJ5hQEFNfb3szYQ/s1280/maxresdefault.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0KwyoufCKDUljJX4Q6xNGmh6jstRhIDgQDv-K2v8DMEbYJK8IYIg0ddpHA00C7MmT0xHNI9nyDosciNKvOXWHzhO8txUPco1W7Ga0tt-vHaDI2abLFAx_9p5TdPKEC54xTZbyC5dZokvBVP1xOUt7LAIOn3tIA3UJ2xNUNGy2hgrHJ5hQEFNfb3szYQ/w640-h360/maxresdefault.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vzrqmw2Qg6Q" target="_blank">Image Source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Yesterday I read a blog post that spoke about one's blogging journey. That is when I remembered that my blogging anniversary was actually the next day. It has been a few years since I blogged regularly, so these milestones were usually missed. Forgotten even. Now, I am giving my space the credit it deserves. As of today, it has been fourteen years since I wrote my <a href="http://www.lifeofleo.in/2009/03/my-first.html" target="_blank">first blog post</a>. Can you believe it? I honestly can't. I was twenty-two when I started this space and now at thirty-six, my blog has been a part of my journey through thick and thin. Since the only way I know to talk or write is by being honest and straight-forward, this space has it all. It has seen every phase that I've been in. It has given me a space to say what I want, whenever I want. That is only one of the reasons why I love this space so much.<span></span></p><a name='more'></a>I started blogging because I was heartbroken. I was more in love with the idea of love than the person and that gave birth to the poetess in me. Until then I had not read or written a single piece of poetry. I guess melancholy does that to you. In Rockstar it was music, for me it was poetry. I'll forever be grateful for the pain I went through back then, though it was self-inflicted in so many ways. I have this space and few hundred poems in my name thanks to that. Since then, this space has seen all my love and life stories and more heartbreaks. That is the thing about having this space. If I ever have to revisit a phase of my life that has faded in my memory, I can find it here.<p></p><p>Many bloggers have either deleted their old blogs or individual blog posts as they moved on from a person. Perhaps their current partner wasn't happy with it being out there or they simply did not want a reminder of the past. Funnily enough, I've never felt the need to do any of it. There is not a single post out here that was removed after being published. If I wrote something, I know I wrote it for a reason. It was a part of me and it deserves to be here. The men I've dated, the friends I've had, they are all still here in some post. They were an important part of my life back then and while they have been removed from the pages of my life, they are still here. Today, I can look back at those posts with a smile. They all made me the person and the writer I am today.</p><p>Having said that, there obviously are many posts that make me cringe when I read them today. I was so silly, so stupid, so naïve, so brash, so rude, so vengeful back then. Some of my old posts make no sense at all and no matter how much I try, I cannot remember what was going on in my mind back then. Still, I've let them be. These posts add a character to this space and paves a beautiful path to the journey of LOL. I've come so far away from the girl back then and this reflects in my recent posts. If you have followed my journey from the start (Thank you so much!), you'll see the progression of my life and I post after post. Everything I was back then has contributed to everything that I am today.</p><p>This space has won multiple awards and has been on the list of the top blogs of the country for many consecutive years until a few years ago when I stopped writing regularly. My space also made it to the top five creative writing blogs in the country. I have received many prizes and made a decent amount of money via this space. While it is a huge motivation, all that is secondary, when it comes to the satisfaction of saying what you want to say.</p><p>Unfortunately, not all that I've honestly and openly spoken about has been applause worthy. A bunch of people exist who have made it their life's purpose to dissect every word I write and find it libelous in their heads. People have actually called my folks and my in-laws talking about the stuff I write and demanded an explanation or an apology. The people who have never appreciated a single piece of my writing were suddenly distributing my work all over the place. They have tried to vilify my work here and me as often as they can. I honestly didn't care about the melodrama that came with it. My blog statistics were ramping up, I was getting to work with great brands and I was laughing my way to the bank. I know what I wrote, about whom and why. My conscience is clear and nothing else matters.</p><p>In fourteen years, I have made so many wonderful friends thanks to this space. Most of the online friends back then are now my very close offline friends. Blogging is moribund now. The boom in influencer marketing has taken away the charm of genuine writing. Personal and creative writing has been dying a slow death and I'm so glad a bunch of us are doing all we can to keep it alive. Twitter, Facebook or Instagram, none of them can hold a candle to the personal and creative freedom you get when you have a space to write your thoughts and opinions. From its inception, my blog has been known for its raw and unfiltered content. While maturity has polished my writing now, the original feel remains the same. No matter how many years pass, that will never change.</p><p>My dear LOL, I love you beyond words can measure. You helped me survive when I was at my lowest. For that, I'll forever be indebted to you. </p>Soumyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07439590494620390907noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9140698802730756464.post-22334614499918924622023-03-06T15:58:00.001+05:302023-03-06T15:58:50.435+05:30A Slump Called February<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibSr4Mth-8VPueTTwlsclYxeT3ourQiFzyOTve80MObyNjgef46Pm-OItfhxJyc_4VlRKfGMkP2s5hEFeCZ15g8tXTSBpbg842dU8ATldRQsq9lnRNEbyFdnR4k-JLat9y9vim5FH6TMCrDlWDfhqMtQ2EGXNkkV_Yv_OQv-psxXAcILPmim_YbWbFRw/s800/slump.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibSr4Mth-8VPueTTwlsclYxeT3ourQiFzyOTve80MObyNjgef46Pm-OItfhxJyc_4VlRKfGMkP2s5hEFeCZ15g8tXTSBpbg842dU8ATldRQsq9lnRNEbyFdnR4k-JLat9y9vim5FH6TMCrDlWDfhqMtQ2EGXNkkV_Yv_OQv-psxXAcILPmim_YbWbFRw/w640-h480/slump.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://oldpodcast.com/slump/" target="_blank">Image Source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>February and I don't get along, that is established now. Over the past few years I've been noticing that the shortest month of the year always seems the longest to me and it more often than not is unappetizing. Nothing grave, but February puts me in an overall life slump. The most bleh month of the year if I might say.</p><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a>Work for me has always been linked to my self-worth as a person. The work in February was light, and that didn't go down well on me. I'm not someone who likes to have a lot of free time, it puts me into a state of ennui. This was the primary reason for me to not be in the pink of my mental health. Not being busy made me feel worthless.<p></p><p>After years of being totally independent when it comes to housework, we hired a maid last year. Since we have a puppy now, the house needs to be cleaned regularly and as often as we can. I had gotten used to the rhythm of her being around to help everyday. This was my first time dealing with a maid. My partner and I both come from lower middle class households and maids were a luxury back then. Almost unheard of for us. I was just glad to have found a nice lady who loved our pup as well and did not create a fuss. Or so I thought.</p><p>Just a week after she started, she asked me for a huge sum of money. No, not her salary. Just something she wanted to borrow and asked me to reduce it from her salary every month. Considering the fact that my partner and I are self-made and know the value of money, we're very cognizant about it. I refused to give her the money, but helped out with rations, clothes, beddings etc. I told her clearly that we're not the ones to encourage borrowing. She was fine with it, but continued to ask for money time and again. I continued to ignore it and helped her out with every other thing possible. She was very clean with her work and was quite prompt and regular, so this was something I could overlook. </p><p>After a year of working with me, she again asked for a huge sum stating the last year as an example of loyalty. I outrightly denied and offered to increase her salary instead. She asked for an outrageous raise. I asked her to be practical and we finally agreed on a decent raise and I paid her for the month. The next day, she stopped coming. She wouldn't answer my calls nor turn up. Apparently, most maids are like this, from what I hear from my friends and neighbors. This was my first time and trust me, I'm not sure if there will be a second time.</p><p>This hit me hard. Not only because there were additional chores in my kitty now, but also because I felt cheated. I treated this woman with respect and dignity and went out of my way to make her life better. But, all she wanted was money. According to her, people like us should help people like them, because we can. Not with our deeds, but with money. She felt entitled to keep asking for it. In a way, I'm glad she's gone. But, this upset my entire routine.</p><p>Thanks to this, the life slump continued. Reading, which is my go to comfort when things don't seem right, was impacted too. I was feeling stymied by everything around me. Wanting to get out of my reading slump at least, I decided to read thrillers. They would keep my mind occupied and busy, I thought. Oh man, was I wrong or what! Why do all thrillers or mystery novels have to have a podcaster these days? Why do they all have to have an LGBTQ angle? Or be filled with all the trigger warnings in the world? What happened to genuine story telling? While I read more than ten books in February, most of them were close to trash.</p><p>This tedium spread to my writing as well. I wanted to write about so many things, but I couldn't bring myself to sit down and write. I was bored, I was distracted, I was angry, I was frustrated, I was tired, I was saturated. Before I knew it, I was having a meltdown.</p><p>Thankfully, I have a partner who knows and understands why I behave the way I behave. Together we sat down and addressed my feeling of being overwhelmed by everything around. I slowed down, prioritized better, managed time better and I automatically started feeling better. The thing is, I usually know what is wrong and what I need to do to address it. Sometimes, you just don't want to see it and do it. Am I the only one like this?</p><p>For now, I'm just glad February of exhausted languor is done with. March is looking good and that's all I'm going to focus on. </p>Soumyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07439590494620390907noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9140698802730756464.post-49787152970986177842023-02-14T12:35:00.000+05:302023-02-14T12:35:06.380+05:30Talk About Love That Matters<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUKRd79OBmkGpzihdnIJ6sLrUjjnaS-a_5n2bgGOH-ImGvUGYHT8yTGzcCfwSMAPE0nP_Sc4UNqMmOm1z-TmQaMGcDcYnP-UHnko4IWHneH4vaMg2PrmA0tSjdZwgCZxtTMcHH-E0AgzFZW2tD50pOb2FSOECjc5bJfiYAsr1bSUI7IOG0EknMkSIOyA/s646/What%20are%20the%20signs%20of%20love_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="646" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUKRd79OBmkGpzihdnIJ6sLrUjjnaS-a_5n2bgGOH-ImGvUGYHT8yTGzcCfwSMAPE0nP_Sc4UNqMmOm1z-TmQaMGcDcYnP-UHnko4IWHneH4vaMg2PrmA0tSjdZwgCZxtTMcHH-E0AgzFZW2tD50pOb2FSOECjc5bJfiYAsr1bSUI7IOG0EknMkSIOyA/w640-h294/What%20are%20the%20signs%20of%20love_.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.artofliving.org/in-en/wisdom/signs-of-love" target="_blank">Image Source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="text-align: center;">Mad love sure is fun</p><p style="text-align: center;">It also is overrated</p><p style="text-align: center;">Loud declarations of affection</p><p style="text-align: center;">Is definitely getting outdated</p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Talk about love that heals</p><p style="text-align: center;">That which soothe your scars</p><p style="text-align: center;">Leave behind the candle lit dinners</p><p style="text-align: center;">Together, look up at the stars</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Talk about love that respects</p><p style="text-align: center;">Everything you are and all that you'll be</p><p style="text-align: center;">Nothing to pretend, nothing to hide</p><p style="text-align: center;">Something that sets you free</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Talk about love that's secure</p><p style="text-align: center;">Leaving behind all the shred of doubt</p><p style="text-align: center;">Cheering for them time and again</p><p style="text-align: center;">When they are with you or without</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Talk about love that's strong</p><p style="text-align: center;">Hands that always hold you close </p><p style="text-align: center;">Shoulders that lift you high</p><p style="text-align: center;">Strength that forever grows</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Talk about love that's proud</p><p style="text-align: center;">Of every teeny tiny bit of you</p><p style="text-align: center;">The one that accepts all your flaws</p><p style="text-align: center;">The one that doesn't try to make you new</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Talk about love that lasts</p><p style="text-align: center;">Through thick, thin and in between</p><p style="text-align: center;">The one that helps polish you</p><p style="text-align: center;">When you seem to have lost your sheen</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Talk about love that supports</p><p style="text-align: center;">To enable, to grow and to soar high</p><p style="text-align: center;">Root for their ambitions</p><p style="text-align: center;">Together, grow wings and fly</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Talk about being calmer in love</p><p style="text-align: center;">Of comfort, maturity and conversation</p><p style="text-align: center;">The madness will always remain</p><p style="text-align: center;">As long as love doesn't leave the station</p>Soumyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07439590494620390907noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9140698802730756464.post-22949672241936346592023-02-08T13:15:00.004+05:302023-02-08T18:33:18.221+05:30Of Raj, Rahul Or Pathaan<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvpFOgz8puL1uYx0g-9uU0Mv4y0pOZ4JYe5vyw9J4YzlhFFyjutl1ajvN18F3ug2zwIInxpcUxTugN3B72WiEA7guAYgh0NST39vK6B4RJAcR7ibPMGeGbYrT6y-EQHp7gmqiskJ1HqHgKvLP1T-M1tN-5yhxzG8I-sytLmMuUHV37Run6CDdGkFSaCQ/s800/shah-rukh-khan-pathan.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="795" data-original-width="800" height="636" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvpFOgz8puL1uYx0g-9uU0Mv4y0pOZ4JYe5vyw9J4YzlhFFyjutl1ajvN18F3ug2zwIInxpcUxTugN3B72WiEA7guAYgh0NST39vK6B4RJAcR7ibPMGeGbYrT6y-EQHp7gmqiskJ1HqHgKvLP1T-M1tN-5yhxzG8I-sytLmMuUHV37Run6CDdGkFSaCQ/w640-h636/shah-rukh-khan-pathan.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.postoast.com/shah-rukh-khan-reply-girl-who-ask-him-out-on-valentine-day/" target="_blank">Image Source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I watched Pathaan the day it released in spite of my <a href="http://www.lifeofleo.in/2019/01/hero-to-zero-notamoviereview.html" target="_blank">mighty claims after watching Zero</a>. The movie is a below average no-brainer, yet, I loved watching it for one reason alone. The sole reason why the movie is faring so well at the box office. One man. Three words. Shah Rukh Khan.</p><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a>I was seven when I saw him on screen for the first time. A scrawny young bloke wearing the most hideous of eye gears atop a horse in the "Baazigar O Baazigar" song. This was the era of Doordarshan and the only outlet for some entertainment. I used to be glued to the episodes of Chitrahaar to get a glimpse of the song. Here was an average looking man with barely any dancing skills. Yet, there was one thing that was screaming out. Originality. He looked like a hard worker. He looked like someone who would give it all to make his way here. He did it and how!<p></p><p>What works the most for Shah Rukh Khan is the fact that he's Shah Rukh Khan. The Rajs, the Rahuls and Pathaans can come and ago. SRK will still remain. Will always remain. This man is clearly my first love and it has nothing to do with the way he looks or the characters he's played so far. It is just about him. The man in front of you. His charm, his charisma, his wit, his humor, HIM.</p><p>He's been an integral part of almost three decades of my life and it is only natural that I'm vested in him. I want him to do well. I want his family to do well. I want the best of everything for him. Here's a man who came out of nowhere in an era where there already were two Khans with excellent lineage and yet stood out. He threw women off buildings and stalked them to death, yet, you could not not love him. His sincerity does the work for him. The world has tried to malign him in every possible way, yet, he's maintained a dignified silence through it all. Imagine being in the public eye and doing that. He's pilloried for almost everything he does, yet, he doesn't retaliate. He just lets his hard work speak for him. That's SRK. That's the King.</p><p>I may not have loved all his movies. Now that I think of it, I've rarely enjoyed his latest movies. I came out of Jab Tak Hai Jaan with the worst migraine of my life and Zero momentarily made me have zero expectations from him. Ra.One might have worked if he had not portrayed a South Indian in it. It surely would have worked if it had just been a video game instead. <a href="http://www.lifeofleo.in/2017/08/jab-i-met-sejal-notamoviereview.html" target="_blank">Jab Harry Met Sejal</a> had the worst character graphs ever written and Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi was unbelievable for obvious reasons. Chennai Express and Happy New Year were brainless and stupid, yet, his humor was top notch. Dilwale was let down by the script and the overacting by the other cast. Fan was a tribute to himself. Why he chose to be a part of these movies, only he can say. I'm sure he'll say it in a way that will make you respect him more.</p><p>I know not every movie can be a Swades, Chak De India or Dear Zindagi; these roles brought out the SRK in him. These characters were so close to what he's in real life and that's why these movies were so good. I've actually loved most of his unsuccessful films, mainly because they show the real him. Yes boss, Duplicate and Baadshah was subtle comedy at its finest. One of his roles that showed a beautiful depth to him was his cameo in Saathiya. Alongside Tabu, they stole the show. They really need to be cast together in a movie. A mature romance, maybe. </p><p>Movies aside, let's talk about his interviews and appearances in talk shows. He's wit personified and that comes from being the fabulous man that he is. He doesn't put anyone down, nor does he put anyone on a pedestal. He knows he's the best and acts like it. He'll never let you forget it too. Not in a pompous way, just in a "I'm Shah Rukh Khan, you cannot write me off" way. Probably that's why watching Pathaan on the big screen felt so emotional for me. After the Zero debacle, it is hard to come back and do something that you've never done before. Physics defying action is the last thing you would expect from him. At 57, his body shows his effort, but you cannot ignore the effects of years of smoking and age on his face and eyes. Do they matter?</p><p>Not when you are Shah Rukh Khan. I love the man I've watched on screen for thirty years. He can be pot bellied or have an eight pack, for me he'll still be the young soldier from Fauji. No role he plays will take away the genuine charm that he's blessed with. No matter how old he grows, what he is will remain. Brand Shah Rukh Khan exists because of Shah Rukh Khan. That's something you can never write off.</p><p>As for me, I'm a fan for life. As long as I'm around, he'll always be the man I first loved.</p>Soumyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07439590494620390907noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9140698802730756464.post-33910996748823258312023-01-30T19:49:00.000+05:302023-01-30T19:49:08.308+05:30Finding JOMO<p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtD3V7qqAOAdwEnC7-mTD8qIo97oNWq8v6aDPnfT9SNA-uaQLtczpRabiEKMDMoUqUQXA-P7Nt4yFzgMpc85yZ_kSnp7yLcbo2jsabetV-cuj5dxNhaQU3UNd7lL2atfE209lRe8H7qMCZtXc5Ex-INoe9bUC7bmiB83IMR4OZcwbcbnWMREFQ0tLDdQ/s640/IMG_7795.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="515" data-original-width="640" height="516" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtD3V7qqAOAdwEnC7-mTD8qIo97oNWq8v6aDPnfT9SNA-uaQLtczpRabiEKMDMoUqUQXA-P7Nt4yFzgMpc85yZ_kSnp7yLcbo2jsabetV-cuj5dxNhaQU3UNd7lL2atfE209lRe8H7qMCZtXc5Ex-INoe9bUC7bmiB83IMR4OZcwbcbnWMREFQ0tLDdQ/w640-h516/IMG_7795.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://daylescommunitycafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/IMG_7795.jpg" target="_blank">Image Source</a></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p>I just came back from a mini vacation and I'm thrilled. Not only because I had a great break, but because this was the first time in my whole life where I did nothing for a few days. It was a short road trip with our pup and we had a nice little house with a lawn for ourselves. While I had carried my books and the Kindle, I didn't even touch them. My partner and I talked endlessly, watched random movies, ordered in food, played with our pup and caught up on some much needed sleep. It was the best time ever.</p><p></p><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a>Those who know me know that I'm not someone who can stay still. I need to keep doing something at all times. I'm a control freak and at any given point of time I have about 48732 things running in my mind. I know it is not good, but unfortunately that's just the way I'm built. Of late, I've been feeling quite overwhelmed by the number of things on my plate. There always is food to be prepared, shopping to be done, laundry to be washed and dried and folded up, plants to be watered, menus to be planned, bottles to be filled, a pup to be taken for a walk or groomed, a zillion books waiting to be read, multiple ideas floating in my mind waiting to find words, office work, future ambitions, other interests and passions and what not. At times I feel that I'm just going to burst. Sometimes, that feels like a solution too. Just getting it all out.<p></p><p>I have a house help now and I also have the most supportive partner on the planet. Still, the mental load remains. I'm not sure if we women are programmed a certain way or if I just take on too much. As much as I have learned to the let go and take a step back from pretty much everything else apart from the top most priorities, I still tend to feel overwhelmed periodically. </p><p>I've never been one for YOLO or FOMO, I honestly abhor such terms. Having discovered JOMO only recently, I might just make it my word of the year. This year as much as I'm going to focus on my "me-time", I'm also going to focus on my "doing nothing" time. No, I'm not being lazy or putting things off knowing very well that they will be waiting for me until I get to it. I'm just going to sit with a cup of coffee on my balcony and enjoy the view outside. I'm sure the thought of chores will fill my mind, but I'm consciously going to try to put it off. Doing nothing for a couple of days made me feel free and I was not cranky or antsy. I need more of that. </p><p>I'm a creature of habit/routine and an avid planner. Now, I'm going to consciously plan such breaks for me. I don't have to go on a vacation all the time, I want to implement the same at home too. Let the laundry be, order in for a few days, sleep as much as I want to. I think we all need to do this every once in a while. I knew that <a href="http://www.lifeofleo.in/2015/11/why-i-suck-at-taking-breaks.html" target="_blank">I sucked at taking breaks</a>, but after having tasted it now, there is no looking back. This is for my own health and sanity.</p><p>I'm not saying that the sky looked more blue or the stars shined more, I'm still realistic. It is just that not having anything to do made me feel light. Free even. What's not to like there?</p><p>Whether you are busy or not, overwhelmed or not, take some time out to embrace JOMO. Miss out on the mundane things. Turn a blind eye to social media and its ilk. Leave the kitchen alone for a few days. Let the laundry pile up. You'll get to them when you get to them. </p><p>Remember, you cannot pour from an empty cup. Find JOMO and ensure you never run out.</p>Soumyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07439590494620390907noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9140698802730756464.post-86884140508134278212023-01-20T19:36:00.002+05:302023-01-20T19:36:33.755+05:30Of Peeping Toms & Tanyas<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzlg2ehEOsS9pQNyXVtOTZUE8_PH84DE-JaNXAVQ-8WXCQSZa2kmsPVDju0PnCqm83rKoiUPEWknHWFBNfd3tPF53fHBfeYhIEdwCymEI4EjUQ3nfb_hTbAjYN9or7Y_YDu1OBhcqrcbiXn0eWlEVg-NnhDVmO-BvM4CM7YsRgQ3N3U3HJqycl_aOdpg/s640/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="349" data-original-width="640" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzlg2ehEOsS9pQNyXVtOTZUE8_PH84DE-JaNXAVQ-8WXCQSZa2kmsPVDju0PnCqm83rKoiUPEWknHWFBNfd3tPF53fHBfeYhIEdwCymEI4EjUQ3nfb_hTbAjYN9or7Y_YDu1OBhcqrcbiXn0eWlEVg-NnhDVmO-BvM4CM7YsRgQ3N3U3HJqycl_aOdpg/w640-h350/1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://steemit.com/writing/@nirgf/where-voyeurism-and-reality-tv-meet" target="_blank">Image Source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Don't judge me, don't ask me why, but I recently started watching this show on Netflix called Dubai Bling. Half way through the most ridiculous first episode, I stopped and asked myself as to why I was doing this. There was a plethora of other content out there, but yet I decided to watch this one. Honestly, I was just curious and I thought it was about the magnificent city of Dubai. I do love watching documentaries on big cities, mega kitchens, crime, famous personalities etc.</p><p>Turns out, it is a reality show about a bunch of richie richs' of Dubai. A woman who lives pretty much in a palace, but wants to move to a bigger place due to lack of closet space. Her Indian husband smartly asks her to have another baby and expand the family before expanding the home. There is a female real estate Mogul who feels the need to repeat "I came to Dubai from Lebanon with $300 and I'm a millionaire today" time and again. She also happens to be the co-owner or something on the similar lines of the Versace Palazzo Hotel in Dubai. Then there is a young widow who is fresh on the dating scene and is ferried on to a hotel in a chopper and is still unimpressed. We also have an RJ who is a millionaire and happens to sell health products. I couldn't watch further and I just logged out.</p><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a>Basically, these shows are all about commercializing the lives of the rich. So, the stinking rich are getting more richer by showing people what they are missing out on. Closer home, we have The Fabulous Lives Of Bollywood Wives (TFLOBW) and the most recent Moving In With Malaika (MIWM). I've watched both of them and I admit that it is entertaining in its own way. It is meaningless and stupid, not to mention overtly fake and yet it finds an audience. Big Boss (BB), I've never watched a single episode of this one, runs back to back seasons in pretty much all languages and industries. That is voyeurism at its peak and people have been indulging in it for decades now. Thanks to reading two newspapers everyday and following MissMalini on social media, I get all the updates of this show without watching it for a minute. This time they have a kid or an adult who looks like one and that just breaks my heart. That show is nothing but mockery of the human race.<p></p><p>I started watching the two shows that I've mentioned above just out of curiosity. I'm sure that's the reason most of them did too. How do the rich and famous(?) live? Is their life actually as fabulous as they make it out to be? I mean they are stinking rich, why wouldn't their life be fabulous right? If you have watched the shows you'll know that things aren't hunky-dory all the time. You might actually end up feeling genuine emotions for some of the people out there had the episodes not been so obviously scripted. </p><p>MIWM felt like multiple episodes of Lakme, Lotus, Natural Diamonds, Dyson, Evocus and Happilo ads. I love Malaika. I think she's gorgeous and she's the benchmark of a fit woman for me. While her choices of clothing is questionable, it is her life and she does what she wants to. She's always been private when it came to her personal life, so I was interested to watch the show to see what goes behind the scenes in her life. Apart from the fact that she has serious problems with her sister (clearly the victim of the show), I learned nothing new. Even if there was a new side to her personality, it gets lost behind all those product placements.</p><p>TFLOBW was more a comic show than a reality one. That show thrives on one thing - vanity! What else would you expect from a KJo show? Most of the husbands of the said wives didn't even make it in Bollywood and some of them currently are not even their husbands, yet the show made it to two successful seasons. Body shaming, cosmetic correction, bullying, ostentatious holidays, extra drama for no reason is the USP of the show and it actually works. Throw in many celebrity cameos (ditto with MIWM) and you have a show that people wait to watch. I might have been rolling my eyes, laughing my a$$ off, or sighing before, after and during every episode; yet, I continued to watch it.</p><p>Why do you think we're so interested in peeping into the lives of other people? Especially those who don't even know that we exist.</p><p>Google 'Alternate Reality' and you will get the answer. Watching others live the life you might never have is a guilty pleasure. We try to live it vicariously knowing very well that it is not and will never be real. Also, we're an audience who enjoys making fun of people who can't hear us. We look at their lives and go thank God I'm not in his/her place, whilst secretly wishing a part of their life was yours. Probably watching their silliness and humiliation gives us some sadistic gratification as well. Because honestly, for a realistic like me, sympathy and empathy are the last things I would feel for them. Now that I think of it, I think I watch these shows so that I can write about it. Others do to talk about it.</p><p>While the singing and dancing reality shows set unrealistic expectations in normal families, these 'get a glimpse of my life' shows are outrageous and unrealistic. We know that. We obviously know that. Yet, we cannot stop peeping.</p>Soumyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07439590494620390907noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9140698802730756464.post-35108800938680235092023-01-09T17:18:00.000+05:302023-01-09T17:18:57.197+05:30Why I Came Back To Facebook<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZwMJEyY_nxtnIINdRL9mRPpOTY1uEPNJ6GZDXYz8ltGo6ggSqYhz_kV6JA5pAj990dV_yQ-S4A1eU43WD-B2rmpTRhYm8K4C6ly2HwHcip79bITbg0nnYdonMx3UGskqq0ceETQW681EQD8yjaiT1YgfTZoR35KMHezuKdhGpVkjDuTipShYyWTap2Q/s652/facebook-like-dislike-button.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="330" data-original-width="652" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZwMJEyY_nxtnIINdRL9mRPpOTY1uEPNJ6GZDXYz8ltGo6ggSqYhz_kV6JA5pAj990dV_yQ-S4A1eU43WD-B2rmpTRhYm8K4C6ly2HwHcip79bITbg0nnYdonMx3UGskqq0ceETQW681EQD8yjaiT1YgfTZoR35KMHezuKdhGpVkjDuTipShYyWTap2Q/w640-h324/facebook-like-dislike-button.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://garyploski.com/is-facebook-good-or-bad-for-the-world" target="_blank">Image Source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Circa 2004. The time when you needed an invite to join Facebook. I was so excited to receive one and before I knew it, I was pretty much updating every bit of my life out there. "What's on your mind", was taken very seriously and looks like I felt the need to answer that every thirty minutes or so. Things only got worse a few years later. I had just started working and was nursing a heartbreak. Internet access became more easy at work and I apparently was good at finding quotes on pain, crying, heartbreak and sharing them. Some of the memories that pop-up these days make me want to cringe and die at the same time. Long story short, Facebook has been a vital part of my growing up.</p><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a>Roughly around four years ago, I finally did what I wanted to do for a long time. I de-activated my account. I was tired of the number of updates I kept getting about people I never or no-longer cared about. Also, I no longer had the patience to go through 476 pictures of someone's vacation to Goa. Add to this life updates, travel updates, materialistic gloating, melancholic cribbing, it all felt too much. I was already very closely in touch with the people who mattered to me. Offline. This space no longer felt necessary. Or needed even. I had already disabled all notifications decades ago. My usage of Facebook was solely in my hands and I no longer wanted it to exist. Just like that, one fine day, I went off.<p></p><p>It would be very profound to say that it changed my life and all that jazz. Honestly, it did not. One day it was there and then it wasn't. That's about it. Life moved on and so did I.</p><p>Then, sometime towards May 2022, I decided to get back on Facebook. Why? Blame this space! I'm not kidding. Blogging was the only reason I came back to Facebook. Writing had taken a backseat over the past few years, but I realized that it was also to do with the lack of readership. Without Facebook, I wasn't sharing my posts anywhere. Those times had long passed when people had bookmarked blog pages or subscribed to the posts. Without updates, how would people know that there was something new to read? I thought about it long and hard. Facebook was a space I had given up on and I never expected to return. All the other blogging communities were now extinct too. The only way to let people know that I was writing again was to announce it. So, I found myself crawling back to Facebook.</p><p>Having said that, the only reason I'm here is because of the Facebook Blogging Community that I'm a part of. Blog-A-Rhythm or BAR as we are known. We are a group of bloggers who still write for the genuine love of writing. Most of us had lost the motivation to write and were looking for a push. That was exactly what I needed too. Writing and sharing my posts here gave me good readership, genuine comments and it felt nice to be back again. Probably the only reason that I'm still writing is knowing that I am a part of this community that never gives up.</p><p>My return to Facebook was not as easy as I expected it to be. I thought the place would have changed and people would have understood the perils of social media, turns out not so much. I came back to ample life updates. A wedding, a baby, a second baby, a move, a new car, another new car, and yes, there still were a few hundred pictures of Goa and the likes. This time, it did not bother me much. Just because I did not want to share anything about my personal life, doesn't mean that others did not want to either. Just because I find it superficial doesn't mean that others too. Maturity had settled in and I realized that people are different and their ways of conveying things is also different. While it was not my cup of tea, for many others it held the tea set together.</p><p>For me, Facebook is an outlet to share my blogposts and nothing else. I'm more active and interactive on Instagram. Facebook and Twitter have lost their shine for me. Still, I have a reason to use it. Blogging is that reason for me. For others, it is something else. Honestly, I find it quite cute and innocent that people are still sharing every detail of their life here. Writing is my outlet, this is theirs. I've finally understood that. Everyone is here for their own reasons and I've now learned to respect that. I have a different set of priorities, so do they. As much as a toxic and fake place social media can be, if used right it can be magical.</p><p>So, well yeah! I'm back on Facebook to keep my blogging passion alive. I'll stay here for that very reason.</p>Soumyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07439590494620390907noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9140698802730756464.post-35183147963356147622023-01-04T16:53:00.005+05:302023-01-04T16:53:51.003+05:302022 - The Year That Was<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnO9y9btHbi0SXeTTQV5W8Bp6gpJPt_gdMaxIlVAt-euJyuH0mSnemo8EX-ll_56b7ul52RIAeSgkx_HciTdzuh4Czn5W6Z1pX_DAAuMe4HSjxCJcYWcrq2NcmZJHiK0DpZbrBnw4XukzH-0uMoPGpTUPKhWnJyJb8uPgVm5cHM_iT0wP7cmi71i09ew/s640/happy_new_year__1672447178.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="640" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnO9y9btHbi0SXeTTQV5W8Bp6gpJPt_gdMaxIlVAt-euJyuH0mSnemo8EX-ll_56b7ul52RIAeSgkx_HciTdzuh4Czn5W6Z1pX_DAAuMe4HSjxCJcYWcrq2NcmZJHiK0DpZbrBnw4XukzH-0uMoPGpTUPKhWnJyJb8uPgVm5cHM_iT0wP7cmi71i09ew/w640-h360/happy_new_year__1672447178.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.livehindustan.com/astrology/story-wish-your-loved-ones-a-happy-new-year-2023-by-sending-such-messages-thorough-facebook-and-whatsapp-7566314.html" target="_blank">Image Source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>If there is one thing that I want to focus on in 2023, it has to be writing. I wrote just 5 posts in 2022 and I'm embarrassed and sad. Embarrassed because I'm ashamed of not being dedicated in pursuing something that I love. Sad, well, same reason. As someone with a genuine "have to be in control" problem, it doesn't go down well on me that I'm not able to do something. Especially something that I want to do. Now that I look back, I realize that it did not bother me as much as I thought it would. Perhaps, it no longer was a priority. How and when that happened, I'm not sure of. One thing I know for sure now, I want to get back to writing and I have a plan in place. I intend to stick to it, come what may.</p><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a>One of the posts that I wrote last year was about <a href="http://www.lifeofleo.in/2022/02/is-blogging-still-relevant.html" target="_blank">blogging and its relevance</a> in today's world. In a world where even news comes in short, who has the time to read an entire page of content. The comments on that post proved me wrong. Good writing and good connections will always be important and relevant. Writing is cathartic and is something that I genuinely enjoy doing. Without making too many promises, I'm going to say this. I'm going to write as often as I can. My thoughts, my experiences, and obviously my opinions on anything and everything possible. This space exists for a reason and I want to do complete justice to it.<p></p><p>What better way to start the new year, by taking a look at the year gone by? Clichéd much, I know. The reason I want to talk about the year gone by is because I intend to sunset the Action Replay and Gratitude List posts. Nothing personal or strategical here. I just want to write more content on things that matter to me. It literally has been years since I wrote a piece of poetry, I want to get back to doing that. As much as I want to and will continue talking about my personal life, I also want to talk about the current topics and how they have an effect on me. Instead of monthly updates, I'd rather do a single one at the end of the year. This would better summarize my journey through the year as well.</p><p>Now, back to 2022. It has been a fantastic year in so many ways. With the effects of the pandemic mellowing down, things seemed bright already. As quickly as 2022 went by, it also felt turtle paced in places. Ever since I became a dog-mom my priorities have changed and how! I still am a workaholic, but I've let go to a very large extent. Work is now hybrid and I need to go into office for a couple of days a week. Surprisingly, I still enjoy going to office. My closest friend and colleague left the company and I thought that I'll not feel the push to go to office. As much as I miss her, I enjoy the conversations and the hustle-bustle that you can only get at a work place. Work is going great and I have a whole new set of targets for this year. This is something that I've been wanting to do for a while now and have been waiting for the right mentor to come along. I've set the things in motion and I hope to succeed in this pivotal endeavor of mine.</p><p>2022 will be largely remembered for helping me come to terms with past baggage and inner demons. I'm more mature now and I can understand toxic upbringing and the effects it has on the person that you are today. I've been trying to make peace with it for years, but this year I finally got somewhere. Maturity also means accepting the toxic behaviors you once had. This was not easy. The process was filled with a lot of anger, shame and guilt. It slowly transitioned to acceptance and then to realization. Soon, I was able to make peace with myself. What happened in the bargain was that I became an introvert. That's honestly one of the best things to have happened to me. As a loud mouthed, strongly opiniated person, you tend to know more people than necessary. I cut down on my circle keeping only the most important people within. I've mellowed down and have developed oodles of patience. People who have known me from years, now call me boring. So be it.</p><p>A lot of the changes that I talk about above has been due to reading. The right books. No, not the preachy self-help ones, I still can't bring myself to read them. Books on love, history, relationships and pretty much everything else. I have also evolved as a reader and it makes me very proud. I read a hundred books this year and it has helped me become a better person on so many levels. I still run my book page on Instagram. You can follow me <a href="https://www.instagram.com/bluntpages/" target="_blank">@bluntpages</a> if you are interested.</p><p>Travel has been pretty decent this year. As soon as the restrictions were eased, we started planning. While we travelled to Maldives at the start of the year, we went to Singapore towards the end. We actually wanted to attend the Guns'n'Roses concert there and we made a trip out of it. In the middle we travelled to Uttarakand as well. While our trek up the valley of flowers was cancelled due to a landslide, we still enjoyed the place and its beauty. We also went on a few short trips with our boy. He needs a large place to run around freely and the farms on the outskirts of the city provide that. As much as travel is important to us, we ensure that Waffle gets a change of scene too.</p><p>That's pretty much everything that I had to say about 2022. I'm no longer the new year, new me person. I've evolved into a new year, better me person. I have some great plans for 2023 and yes, writing will continue to be one of them.</p><p>Wishing you all a very happy and healthy 2023! </p>Soumyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07439590494620390907noreply@blogger.com27