The items that broke my bank

I am a calculated impulsive buyer. I do not know if that makes sense.

Name the most expensive personal item you’ve ever purchased (not your home or car).

It’s just that when I really want to buy something especially if the item in question is on the higher end of my usual spending bracket I take my time.

The “take my time” statement does not make sense when I call my self impulsive. Self Contradictory. To put things into perspective, the desire to buy is impulsive. As soon as I see something I like I want to buy it! The only thing that restricts me is my need for financial stability.

I end up saving for the item first. I take my time and restrict my expenses to the come up with the money to buy it. Sometimes by the time I save the money the item is out of the market and I loose the chance to buy it. However, on the other hand there are few items that I did end up buying.

My largest spends till date are: my Samsung Flip phone, my iPad and my Sony Camera. These may not be “pricey” according to some peoples standards but with my education expenses buying even these were a challenge.

Totally worth the wait and worth the cost! I think the wait to buy it made the actual purchase even more special!

Music beyond Genre

What is your favorite genre of music?

I have never had a proper understanding of the different genres of music. In fact for a long time, I did not even know that there were different genres.

My mom and sister love listening to music so I never was a stranger to it. Add to that the fact that I was 5 when I first joined the junior choir, it was a natural progression that I would develop an interest in music of my own.

My music interest started with gospel music. Closer to my teens I developed my interest in music separate from my family. Though I was not aware of it at that time I believe that I automatically divert towards “Pop” music.

Though pop music has always been my top choice that spans across languages. I have ventured into other genres like R&B, Blues, Hip-hop, rock etc..

I love exploring new music and listening to artists from different regions. Music is my daily requirement now. I listen to music when I work, when I study, when I cook even at times when I sleep. Genres have never restricted my choice or interest in music and I hope that I continue to love music in its many forms.

Everlasting Smile

Daily writing prompt
When are you most happy?

In the first instance of listening the question I would say when I buy new stationary. I get extremely excited when I place an order for a new marker or sticker. The joy of opening that package when it arrives is almost like opening a gift to myself.

However, if I were to think about it for a while about when am I genuinely happy I would have a different answer. I am the most happy when I can stand aside in the background and see the people I love be happy.

I am trying to be better person. The people that I love: my family and my friends they have given me a lot. When I was weak they have supported me in the ways possible by them. I won’t lie they have given a share of hurt but the joy they give is totally worth it.

I love seeing them smile and enjoy life. I wish I could remove all the horrible memories in their life. I know that it is not possible. However, I do hope to give them to enough happy memories that they forget the pain of the horrible ones. I think then I would the happiest i have ever been in my life.

“Show me a hero, I will write you a tragedy”

This quote by F. Scott Fitzgerald is my most favorite quote.

I first heard this quote when I was watching the TV series “Criminal Minds” and it instantly resonated with me.

We all like a hero’s story of victory but little to we understand the ordeal that individual overcame to be that “hero”. Some of my friends told me that this sounds like a very negative quote. They said the quote focuses on the point that no hero has a happy backstory.

But in my opinion, I think the quotes shifts the focus from the end of the journey to the journey in itself. Yes, the hero is the victor at the end, however, it was the struggles that defined him. Everyone loves to have that happy conclusion to the story. When victory is achieved you always find throes of people following you. But it is in the long arduous journey that you find yourself lonely. You find true friends and realize your courage to face the obstacles that were stacked up against you.

Every failure, every setback is what defines you. Two steps forward one step back. Every little experience defines your character. How you deal with every circumstance that comes your way is what makes you a hero or a villain.

I am still on the journey to being a hero not for others but for myself. Hoping that someday I can be someone’s hero too.

What is your favorite quote? What does it mean to you? Please do share links to your post in the replies.

Happy Memories

Daily writing prompt
What is the legacy you want to leave behind?

I used to think that I was a good person. Then one fine day, someone told me that I had ragged them. I realized that day that even with good intentions we sometimes do the wrong things.

It was a good shocker for me. It was since then I decided that I needed to be conscious, not about the message I want to communicate but of the how the message is received.

I have tried since then to be a better person. I am trying to learn how to give space to the other person in a situation. I hope that whenever someone remembers me, they associate me with a happy memory. I hope that their memory of me gives them a reason to smile and maybe give hope that they will have more such memories.

Out Doors?? Maybe Not

Have you ever been camping?

Would you call it camping if we do it within the school compound?

I was part of the Girl Guides till middle school. As a part of the badging we were required to camp outdoors. However, for safety of the children it was decided that we would camp in tents in the school ground. I think more than the safety many of us were not okay with the lets say “outdoor toilet” situation.

Despite the adulterated camping experience, all of us were super excited. We made food using gas stoves that we carried, made a camp fire and had… let’s call them charred marshmallows. We sang songs , danced and shared scary stories.

We set up our tents which proved to be more frustrating than expected with the winds dragging us along with the tent. Finally, we had people sit inside the tent to finish the pitching.

It is definitely worse in the open, but right about past 2 am we all felt like we would freeze to death. That of course, made us huddle to together and when the morning came one would literally call us a “pile”.

The most hilarious part of the whole experience, was walking all the way to the school building to use the toilet at night. Nobody wanted to go alone so we all were using the “mind over matter” mantra. Thankfully, someone spoke in the darkness of the tent saying “Anyone? Washroom?” instantly 5 of us switched on our torches.

We reached the main school building with jittery teeth. While we were in the washroom thought we kept hearing closing classroom doors and people whispering. Of course, there was that one person in the group who seemed to know about the eerie history of the school being on a burial ground. Then all of a sudden we hear a lot of what I now know is a “Flapping” noise.

But unlike most people who take flight when there is danger, I stood perfectly still when the rest of my group ran down the hallway screaming. Funny when I am really scared, my screams seems to be muffled. Probably because my mouth just does not want to open to let the scream out. Anyways, when I finally figured out the noise it turned out to be a pigeon stuck in the exhaust.

My group did return with a teacher to retrieve me from the dangerous situation they had abandoned me in. But the walk back to the tents was just continuous bouts of laughter.

So going back to the prompt, there was camp fire, tents and half cooked food. And whether it was camping or not I leave it for you to decide.

Undisturbed Routine

Describe your ideal week.

Ideal week?

To me, the ideal week would be when I achieve all that I set to achieve for the week.

I wanna be able to wake up every morning, pray sincerely, complete my morning exercise, prepare my meals. Then, go to work and complete all the targets for the day, share some good conversations with my friends. At the end of work, get back home and take some time to maybe do some art or something I like. And finally have a good nights rest..

I would say something is ideal when not much goes wrong. I know it is challenges that help us grow, but some days you just want to live without a care in the world.

However, as much as I like a carefree life, I know that I would definitely get bored of it soon. But maybe once in awhile, little break wouldn’t harm anyone.

Sleep.. Read.. Eat..

How do you relax?

When somebody talks about relaxation, the first thing that comes to my mind is sleep.

I love sleeping. After working 12 hours days, my comfortable bed and warm blanket seems like heaven. It is my dream to sleep for 15 hours at a stretch, but somehow I always wake up at an eight hour mark.

The second most relaxing thing for me is a nice novel and a hot cup of hot chocolate. Reading always relaxes my mind. It takes me to places that can literally only be imagined. It’s somehow helps me forget all the worries of this world. The book literally transports me to a place in time where everything seems magical.

And of course, though I am not a foodie, good comfort food, really relaxes my soul. when I eat food that is prepared by either mom, dad or my elder sister for that moment, everything seems right with the world. It doesn’t matter that I had people yell at me throughout the day all that the frustration at work reached to a point where I just wanted to bang my head against the wall. Home made food always makes me feel better.

And in summation, sleep for the body, read for the mind and eat for the soul. The perfect recipe for relaxing day.

I want them all

If you had to give up one word that you use regularly, what would it be?

I think this would be a very difficult choice for me or rather not a choice for me.

I like to use words and I use a plethora of it. The words that I don’t use that often may not hold much significance to me. However, if there are words that I use regularly, which of course I am not particularly aware of there is no way that I would want to give up on any of it.

If I am using a word regularly, it means that I am comfortable with that word, and why would I do something that makes me uncomfortable?

So there you go, I ain’t giving up on any word.

Distant travels

Share a story about the furthest you’ve ever traveled from home.

Unlike the rest of my family, I have had an opportunity or more like multiple opportunities to travel abroad. And shocking. Most of this travels were not with my family,

Every trip was to a new place and on every trip, I learnt something new. I really hope that one day I can say that I have travelled to more than 20 countries at least.

So far the farthest trip, I have taken was a 20 hour flight on account of my work. I did sleep through most or more like 90% of the flight duration. However, the experience that I had in each place that I touched down at have been added to my cherished memories.