I started 2015 with a lot of promises to myself for me and for my family. Specially for Gnan. I promised myself I would read more. I've been keeping that up, thanks to e-reading and recommendations from friends. I started this book called The Happiness Project which is almost everything that was happening in my life. It's a book written by a person who built her own project for a year to remAin happy. She wasn't depressed, she just decided she wasn't happy enough. I was in the exact same zone for a while at the end of last year and this book came at the right time. I had done my own version of cleaning, making space, retail therapy (which mostly included adding western clothes that I no more wear often to the online cart and then closing the browsing tab) - aaah, the joy of window shopping. I almost missed those days of mindlessly wandering around in a Spencer plaza for free air conditioning and window shopping. I still had some place in my head that said, 'well, not enough!' I sprung into buying books at the end of last year and started reading. A few days later I felt better but after I finished every book I would wonder why I wasn't in that world. The Happiness Project almost switched on the lights and showed me the way to get out of the dull hole in my head. I figured out I could do so much more with my time. I wrote down a list of all that I wanted to do and two more lists. (P.s : if u don't like making lists or any kind of written illustration, pls don't bother. My head works this way)
Notepad out. List one.
What didn't work in 2014.
1. Switching off early.
I realised I had a plan for 2014 like I have every year but somehow I didn't keep up with them through the year. For example, I had challenged myself to read 12 books that year and I completed that challenge, in May. I had a solid six more months to have read another 12 books, but I didn't make an effort. I could have. I
2. Didn't blog enough
I just don't realised why I don't, or didn't. I spend a lot of time with the iPad in hand browsing random stuff instead of which I could have written. Nothing like the written word.
3. Didn't exercise enough
Aah, well. Padhu and I end up saying we should, but we never do.
4. Nothing new
In 2014, I did nothing new. I didn't make an attempt to make a new friend also. Well, it's not like I meet a hundred people everyday but I didn't even make an effort. Somewhere, I was comfortable with the atmosphere and didn't make a move.
5. Travel wise
After a heartbreaking cancellation of the whole Bali trip, I had given up on planning things. I decided I should never plan ahead cause somehow it doesn't work at the end. A series of other trips failed after that, assuring me I was right.
Turn page. List two.
What worked in 2014
1. Potty training
The happiest days of a toddler mommy. If u r smiling, pls clap also? Thanks! It's that difficult.
2. Staying out of closet trouble
I'm the one who likes to hoard a lot of stuff. And most of it is stuff I do not need. At the end of 2013, I took an oath to never add anything to the room that we will not use every week. For example - It was very difficult to say no to the nail cutter with the hippo on top. U press hippos butt and hippos mouth open revealing the blades to cut your nails. It took me a lot of effort to say no to that. I removed all that clutter from my room. When I read The Happiness Project, I smiled to myself thinking - haa, that was me - a year ago. It is true. I had to throw out 3 Apple boxes - a phone, iPad, iPod. These three r used on a daily basis and the boxes are such a waste of space. It was a heavenly feeling to throw out chargers. I had Samsung, Panasonic, LG, Nokia, some Korean company and at that point both Padhu and me were using blackberries sharing one charger. (Fighting over who gets to charge overnight was fun though). I kept my 2014 promise and didn't add any clutter to the room. I gave away all of G boy's old clothes, the carry cot and toys. Discarding is fun!
3. Buying smart
I was the kind of buyer who always bought during the sales. And since I was pretty much stuck at home after the baby, I didn't bother to splurge on clothes. In 2014, I decided to put an end to that silly habit (not entirely) and buy what I like. Padhu hated it when I mentioned prices and silly discounts. I kinda gave that habit away (not entirely) in 2014. I deserve a pat on my back for that (not entirely).
4. Shed the fighter cock feather
I'm a fighter cock. If u r smiling - either u know me too well or you r one too. I kept out of picking a fight with anyone (mostly Padhu). I never had the last word of any argument. I gave in, listened. Thanks to I don't know who!
Turn page. List 3.
The third list I had written out was a lot less smaller initially. I added a few bits after I read The Happiness Project. The book helped in a way nobody would. Other than the author, of course!
List before THP
1. Drink 6 bottles of water everyday (up until 2012 I used to)
2. Read more
3. Blog every week
4. Exercise
5. Wake early
6. Start Carnatic music classes for Gnan and me
7. Change Gnans bedtime stories (I'm sure even the hidden mosquitos inside the room are bored)
8. Start helping out Padhu in office
List after THP
1. Drink 6 bottles of water
2. Read more. THP says give yourself a number. So I gave myself 5 a month. If I do, I'd be at 60 at the end of 2015.
3. Blog every week. THP says give yourself a number. I'd rather go by something common to write about every week. Like a book I read, things I did with G boy, new people I've met etc.
4. Exercise. My mum's orthopaedist has given her a stretchable rubber sheet that is used to exercise. I love and it makes every muscle happy. It a great tool to own for those who cannot afford equipment with three babies running inside the house. It's 220 bucks and I'm buying it as soon as I get out of home next. Did I say I love it?
5. Wake early. Both Padhu and I have had issues with this one every time. So I set my wake time to 7am for those days Gnan goes to sleep before 11pm. For the days G sleeps later than 11pm, I'm allowing myself wake time till 730am the next morning. And for those nights that we get back home late or end up sleeping later than 11pm, I give myself 745am. I hope to stick to it. Poor Padhu does to.
6. Start Carnatic music classes for me and Gnan.
7. Bedtime stories. (I bought a new show and tell book which involves his favourite things - farm animals, balloons and colours)
8. Start with Padhu in office - this won't be until June. G starts school and I have time to figure out where to start.
Additions..
9. Make an effort to dress well. I find myself being very lazy to wear the right footwear or jewellery. I ended up going to a wedding in my flip flops once because I was in a hurry. Not like anyone noticed, but seriously? Flip flops in a wedding is a wake up call.
10. Avoid using my phone or iPad when G is awake. Almost all of us parents use our screens so much, we don't realise when our babies are saying the loveliest things. I missed out on Gnan saying 'caterpillar' and the way he explained how honey bees go from flower to flower and give us honey. I realised only half way.
11. Write short stories. I used to. So I decided to brush that hobby back to life again.
12. Learn something new - fondant figurines.
13. Be Pragi. This is totally from THP. Her first rule is Be Gretchen. It makes sense when things go wrong. All you need to do is stop and ask what Pragi would do. Made so much sense cause somewhere down the years, I did lose the way many a times.
14. Keep in touch. Well, according to my friends I'm the best at that. Well, to me, just not enough. Who says enough to friends?
15. Gift each other. I used to. Brushing it back to life again, the habit.
Phew. Some lists huh! Hoping 2015 turns out well.
P.s : today is Jan 23 and I'm done with 6 books this month. Thanks to e reading. I've cleaned clutter, which is lesser than the clutter I threw away in 2014. I still shop during sales, but only for the good ones. Who doesn't! G and I go on our usual evening walks. This week we are collecting flowers a color a day. Not like we live in a botanical heaven, but we are trying. My water levels don't seem to be reached. I'm working on avoiding the flip flops (though they are comfortable as hell and who the hell cares what is hiding under the saree).
Reminders
Drumming prime ministers exist.
Purple dinosaurs exist. My son's just said the ABCs.
Clouds will break into chocolate gems. (My niece wants kinder joy)
People buy orange cars.
An umbrella with a hole can still stop the rain some part.
Once a swimmer, always a swimmer.
Photo frames are the best.
It's okay to want to buy something all the time. Keeps you wanting something in life.
Milk is the magic solution. (G boy says so. And after my grandma's legs condition, I think so too)
Speed dials change. Friends don't. If dad was 2 when u were in college, mum can be 2 after you are married.
It is ok to finish Nutella in two days. It adds to the waist, the bum, the shoulders, the cheeks and also when shared with a baby brother - memories.
A phone call is so easy. Visiting someone is easy too.
When in doubt, always saree. Not fat, not thin - just right. Also, a dash of Kajal.
Happy birthday mags are good. Calls are better.
For those times in need of space, hand over the playdoh. It's ok. No guilt.
When friends are far, there is always Amazon!
Any kind of therapy ends in retail therapy.. Baaaam. Book therapy too.
House MD may have ended. Get over it.
Two little bunny teeth are always smiling. Needs a little tickle to make a laugh! At the end of the day, that is worth a million!
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