Optimum Happiness

When I think of fun it is always associated with happiness. And I am the most happiest when I do these 5 things:

Buying/ Organizing Stationary – I love stationary. They give me so much joy and over the years I have become some what of a hoarder. I hope to continue growing my collection over the and maybe someday gift it to a younger version of me just starting out.

Painting/ Sketching – Art.. any kind of it always calms me down. It calms all the turmoils in my mind and appreciate what it there right in front of me

Writing – Words have always been my companion. It always was a drain to my sorrows. Once I pen the words to paper it just makes like a little bit more bearable. At the end of it, I feel that I can breathe again.

Long Rides on a Dewy morning – I love traveling on my bike but it becomes especially amazing when I we take a ride in the morning air. The air seems more fresh and if there is dew then it almost seems like snow hitting your face. It’s just amazing.

Watching movies in an Empty Theatre – It doesn’t matter if the movie is good or bad I just enjoy the experience of it. Sitting in the center of the the theatre (the best seat per Sheldon) and munching away on nachos and making crazy noises with no one around to hush you.

Daily writing prompt
List five things you do for fun.

Danger

My pup is probably one on the most whackiest and hyper pet one can have. He became a part of my family a little over ten years ago but he still has his personality. In other terms, age has not given him any sought of maturity.

I don’t know if science would back me, but according to me he understands emotions. I think the first time I realized this was when I was upset one day and he abandoned his usual crazy zoomies and chose to just calmly come and sit in my lap. And just like that the world became a better place.

So when I think about something I wished he could understand is probably the word “Danger”. He generally timid but he was also the one that was hitting around a baby Cobra when he was just a pup. I screamed on the top of my voice but he kept going at it. I had to run the other way around and sit on the ground to have him abandon his opponent and come away. He is the one that would go into danger if it would keep me out of it. But sometimes, I just want to yell danger and I wish he would just run away from it with me.

But that is pets for you. They understand love, anger, sadness.. but when you expect them to understand danger they would gladly chose to ignore it as long as they can keep you safe.

Daily writing prompt
If you could make your pet understand one thing, what would it be?

Fears and Opinions

When I think of things I am scared about, the list seems endless. There are the common ones like siting in a room that has a spider on the wall, the jumping insects grasshoppers in particular, the list could go on.

However, the one thing that I have always feared is to be the centre of attention. Over my lifetime I have developed my own set of insecurities on the way I look, the way I dress, well mostly what people would call superficial. I always dreamed about being the one that turned heads around and it has come true except for the part that they were not turns of appreciation. I learnt how to make myself small, to be invisible..

Today I have learnt one thing, no matter what you do people judge. Maybe not always in mean spirit but they do judge. In fact I do it too. I have chosen to not to let their opinions effect me as much. I keep reiterating one line – “Just cause they are right I am not wrong. Unlike mathematics, in life there are more than one right answer”

Keeping that in mind, I try to be whatever makes me happy in that moment. It may draw attention but if I don’t keep the focus judgements I will have the memory that I tried. I may succeed or fail and that’s okay. And sometimes being the centre of attention is good cause everyone deserves their spotlight! So take courage, make noise, let the world see you…

Daily writing prompt
What’s the thing you’re most scared to do? What would it take to get you to do it?

A Warm Embrace

I have never been a person who likes to share their feelings with others. I prefer to bottle then up and build mile high walls so that no one can cross them over. I mostly feel awkward with overtly emotional gestures. In our house no one says the words “I Love You” or something else cheesy as “I cherish you”. Though words are never spoken the care is always implied.

To those other than my family, they would call me indifferent and cold. And though I have tried in the past to be more expressive of my emotions i always end up feeling the cringe. I prefer to observe people. I see the subtle movements of their hands or the slight twinge in their eyes to know the emotions that they are going through.

However, there was a day, when all I wanted was a Hug. I had a huge smile on my face when I asked for it and oddly it was my mother who ended up giving me one. My mother and I have very similar characters which ofcourse means that I am constantly at a war of words with her. But on that day she said this “If she is asking for it she needs it. Come here.” and then she hugged me. And just like that all the taunts and curses she hurled at me over the years just faded away. Now, everytime I think of those horrible memories it is replaced by the memory of the most loving hug she ever gave me.

And Yes, now I realize her love for me and my love for her.

Daily writing prompt
Can you share a positive example of where you’ve felt loved?

Neither yesterday nor tomorrow

There was a time that I used to spend a lot of my time thinking of the past and the future. Almost everyone always regrets the past and hopes for the future. On any good day, the past teaches us and the future drives us. And for sometime in my life I had only good days. Till reality struck.. and boy did it strike hard. It threw me off my game completely. Now thinking of yesterday just makes me upset and the future makes me anxious.

So for now, I just think about today. No burden of hopes and no regrets of the past. One day at a time. I made it today. And like Master Oogway says “Yesterday is history, Tomorrow is a mystery, but Today is a gift. That is why it is called the present.”

Life today is beautiful.

Daily writing prompt
Do you spend more time thinking about the future or the past? Why?

Attachment and Memories

When I think of an item I am attached to, I don’t have a distinct thing that comes to my mind. All through out my life I have cherished many small, seemingly insignificant things (to others). It could be something as simple as the mini shells I collected on the shore of the beach, small notes that friends sent me during classes, the pens I wrote my last school exams with. All of these things hold such beautiful memories for me. I think those were the days that I was truly happy and everytime I see them it brings back those emotions.

Since I have attachments to so many small items, all of those memories (those items) have been kept in two shoes boxes which have been ideally named ”My Box of Memories” (part 1 and part 2). Everytime I’ve had to relocate, my boxes of memories have moved with me carrying in them those precious days where all was right with the world!

Daily writing prompt
Describe an item you were incredibly attached to as a youth. What became of it?

Travelling on a Lie

Well my parents would disagree but my best ever road trip was when I lied to my parents and then hit the road with my friends. We rented a car and the guy who was the designated driver for the trip didn’t have his license cause it was confiscated by the police on an earlier stop (it may have been an accident). And the rest of us either didn’t have a license or never took a car on the main road.

But the whole ride was fun! My driver friend loved racing the car and boy do I love going over the speed limit. We went on hairpin turns uphill and downhill which was amazing! Yes we were rattling in the passenger seats and thank God we didn’t eat a lot before we started the trip. We played music in full volume and rolled down the windows and enjoyed the wind going through our hair. We may have not spent a lot of money or visited a lot of places but to me it will always remain part of my core memory.

Where it may have not have been right to lie and go for the trip but I have also come to realize the memories we make in secret are the ones we cherish the most!

Daily writing prompt
Think back on your most memorable road trip.

Goodbye to 2023

Another year has gone by.. I guess everyone reminiscences the whole year at the last day of the year. This year by definition has been a whirlwind for me. The year started with so much joy. I was living alone in my own home. A place that I could be my lazy, boring and introvert self. I could sit all day and do nothing and the icing on the cake no judgement at all. The remainder of the year may not have been ideal. Lots of challenges between faith and self love.

Am I happy today? Not Really… Am I still breathing? Definitely! I think this year taught me to keep hoping. I want so many things to change in my life. Maybe this time it will actually happen. Step by Step I will get there. I will make plans and I may even fail but I will never stop planning. I may not get everything I hope for but I am betting on the idea than the more shots I take, one, sooner or later will hit the target.

And I know that I am not the only one struggling and there are people with much bigger issues than me. All I can do is say a prayer for courage and hope to all.

Long Life, not for Me

It may sound morbid or dark. But I don’t look much into the future. I never had long-term goals. It may be because I always think of worst case scenarios and since I have lived through a couple of them I don’t know how long will I last against them.

Short life, making the maximum people in my life happy. Maybe give them some cherished memories to hold on to. Be the reason that someone smiled today.

If I ever do consider a long life, it would mostly be in solitude with all my affairs in order with a will to fulfill any obligations that would occur after I die. That way, the people who love me can move along with their life with the most minimal disruption.

But to those who see a long life for themselves, I admire you and I hope one day I too can start dreaming of the future.

Daily writing prompt
What are your thoughts on the concept of living a very long life?

Accepting Myself

Like many others, my biggest challenge has always been to accept myself. I have never given myself the benefit of doubt. If self criticism was a crime I would live the rest of my life behind bars. I used to wake up with the thoughts that I am not good enough and that I don’t deserve the good things in life. Through out the day the feelings continued to build over small things that would seem insignificant to others. I have always been my worst bully. I took two bouts of depression and recovering from thoughts of self harm for me to finally give myself some slack. The war with myself is ongoing, I may not win everyday but I think I have learnt to keep fighting. My faith in the Power greater than me has kept me from staying down and today I try to give others the courage to accept themselves and to keep fighting.

Daily writing prompt
What are your biggest challenges?