𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐰𝐧….

𝐖𝐞𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐬 # 142

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐰𝐧….

In the world surrounded by stories, reels, flood of messages and notifications, I came across an interesting reel about “The art of being on your own…” – the short video said everything… and I could relate to it….

Being on your own doesn’t mean cutting off from the world… or being a loner all the time…. Rather being in the world but also being in your world. Doing something you enjoy by yourself or simply not doing anything at all…..

Having stayed away from home for many years, I absolutely loved the time I could get to spend with my- self. Reading that book, eating that favourite dish, or going to that favourite place and taking a stroll.
Even now I try to be on my own for some time of the day – mostly during my morning walks 😊

In the world of social media and the different fears like FOMO – we tend to keep ourselves surrounded by people and stories all the time. We often forget that there is a world inside us, still waiting to be explored.

Most of us are busy with family, work and other commitments – running round the clock from one place to another, talking from one person to another, connecting online from one connection to another, moving from one task to another…. Ignoring to stop for a moment at the most important person - ourselves. Even if we are able to sit alone for some time, we have our smart phones smartly governing us – pulling us into the other world again 😊

So, in this sweltering heat, stop for a moment, take out some time for yourself – the 'me' time or being on your own time.
--Do that thing which you enjoy doing,
--or introspect,
--or remember the good memories,
-- or celebrate, rejuvenate
--or go to that favourite food joint of yours and eat that dish alone,
--or go to that movie with a bag full of popcorn alone,
--or go to that walk alone,
-- or spend time in your balcony or window, watching the things going around
-- or look around and soak the wonderful feeling you may get of being on your own.
--or simply don’t do anything but be on your own….

With the summers setting in, take care of health and stay cool. While staying cool, remember and share the fond memories of summer vacations and what you love about summers – would love to hear it as I start with my Summer special whistles from next week 😊

I leave you to this on your own thought in this hot summery this 𝑾𝒆𝒅𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒅𝒂𝒚........ 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒈𝒖𝒚 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒊𝒅𝒅𝒍𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒌... 𝑹𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒆... 𝑵𝒐𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 '𝒃𝒍𝒖𝒆𝒔' 𝒏𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒘𝒆 '𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒌 𝑮𝒐𝒅' 𝒇𝒐𝒓! 😊

#WednesdayWhistles

(link of the reel in the comments)

The नन्हें मुन्ने joys of our lives….

 

𝐖𝐞𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐬 # 141

The नन्हें मुन्ने joys of our lives….

A lot of noise was coming from the next door flat – looked like some shifting of furniture was happening. Morning noise on a weekend raised my curiosity and I opened the door to check.  Our neighbours were moving out and the noise was coming from the packing going on. Good people but we never interacted much. And that let me thinking who will occupy this flat next… and after two days someone shifted in. While coming back from my walk, I noticed two cute little bicycles outside the flat – and a smile came automatically – so our new neighbour is some cute kid with miles to go in this adorable bike. And indeed, the two kids next door keep the whole floor alive with their chatter and pleasing noise bringing smiles.

Just the sight of those two small bikes brought so much joy – and made me forget the larger joys on hand. Isn’t this the case many times- small unnoticeable or taken for granted things but which give us an instant relief or joy.

Something like  

✨a fresh warm bread toast or well roasted 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘪

✨ seeing a known face among a sea of unknown people

✨The lovely smell of rain on mud

✨The early morning sunshine

✨Catching that train or bus on time and getting a seat to sit

✨Not having to wait for the elevator

✨Getting the desired seat at the food court or office cafeteria

✨An unplanned catchup with a friend

✨ Noticing something wonderful about nature – I happened to notice a snail today which gave me a happy surprise

✨getting a traffic free route while driving to work or for some errands

✨a wonderful cup of your favourite coffee, tea or hot chocolate after a long day

And the list is endless…

While we enjoy the bigger joys – success in work, cracking that deal, kids doing well in exams, family enjoying the vacation, having a comfortable meal with family, being popular, having a good bank balance, and so on- we often overlook those small things which bring joy to the soul and bring a smile on our face. We keep running and chasing dreams and material things missing out those small, immaterial but pretty things around us, with us, and walking along side us.

What are the small joys which you enjoy? Can you add something unique to the list?

I leave you to this thought of the नन्हें मुन्ने joys of your lives on this 𝑾𝒆𝒅𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒅𝒂𝒚........ 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒈𝒖𝒚 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒊𝒅𝒅𝒍𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒌... 𝑹𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒆... 𝑵𝒐𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 '𝒃𝒍𝒖𝒆𝒔' 𝒏𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒘𝒆 '𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒌 𝑮𝒐𝒅' 𝒇𝒐𝒓! 😊

#WednesdayWhistles

(picture of those two little bikes 😊)

खुशिओं के डब्बे

 𝐖𝐞𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐬 # 140

खुशिओं के डब्बे

खुशियों के डब्बे सजने लगे हैं घरों में, होली जो आ रही !!!
कुछ डब्बों में माँ के हाथ की गुझिया हैं,  तो कुछ में वो महकते बेसन के लड्डू,
शक्करपारे भी अपने आप को किसी से कम नहीं समझ रहे,
और पापड़ धूप में सुख कड़क होकर तलने का इंतज़ार ही कर रहे हैं
वो पड़ोस के घर की कलोंजी भी छत में पक के काली हो गई

कुछ डब्बे रंगीन हैं - उम्मीदों से, ख्वाहिशों से, अबीर से और गुलाल से
-- ख्वाहिशें फिर से अपनों के साथ उत्सव मानाने की, और फिर उसी बचपन की होली में गुम हो जाने की,

जब न ज़िम्मेदारिआं थी न कोई रोक - बस थे तो मुट्ठी भर रंग, भरी पिचकारियां और ख़ुशी की किलकारियां मारते हम!!
-- उम्मीदें अपने जिंदगी के हर दिन को खुशिओं और सपनों के रंग से भरने की और उन्हें पूरा होते हुए उत्साह के रंग में डूबने की

और सबसे महंगे डब्बे हैं यादों के जो हर रंग, हर पर्व में रंगमय हैं

जिनके खुलते ही निकल आते हैं वो अनमोल मोती - हर त्यौहार की खुशियां समेटे

कल ही खोला था एक ऐसा महंगा वाला डब्बा - और होली की यादें और पल छप्प से निकल आये

होली UP का तो बहुत बड़ा पर्व रहा है हमेशा से -- दिनों पहले से उसकी तैयारी शुरू हो जाती है

पकवान बनते हैं - गुझिया, मठरी, लड्डू, पापड़, और जाने क्या क्या

बचपन में पापड़ सुखाने की ड्यूटी हमारी रहती थी - और गुझिया की मिठास चख के बताने की भी

इतने सारे पकवान बनते थे,  नए कपडे लिए जाते थे, घर को सजाने का भी सामान - क्यूंकि जब कोई होली मिलने आये तो घर तो सुन्दर दिखना चाहिए

दिनों पहले से रंगो और पिचकारियों की दुकानें लग जाती थी - जब भी बाजार से निकलो तो आंखें अनेकों रंग और पिचकारिओं को ही देखती रह जाती  - किस्म किस्म की पिचकारी - कोई गन वाली, कोई कुछ बना हुआ

हमारे लिए तो पापा ३-४ पिचकारी ले आते थे - की एक टूटी तो दूसरी रहे - लेकिन बिटिआ हमारी त्यौहार पर उदास न हो

होलिका भी सजाई जाती थी हर चौराहे पर, और किस जगह की ज़्यादा अच्छी सजी , ऐसा competition भी रहता था

और जब आता था होली का दिन -- अच्छे से तेल चुपड़ के पुराने कपडे पहन के पहुंच जाते थे हम दादी के घर जहाँ पूरा परिवार जमा होता था

हम बच्चे तो बाहर ही सबको रंगते रहते थे - competition करते रहते थे

फिर घर के अंदर भी मस्त होली होती थी - और फिर होली खेलने के बाद रंग छुड़ाने की मेहनत वाली प्रक्रिया

 

होली के दिन पूरी कचोरी खाने की परंपरा है - आखिर इतना रंगने पुतने के बाद खाना तो अच्छा ही होगा :)

तो रंग खेलने और पूरी कचोरी के परम आनंद के बाद होता था होली मिलने का कार्यक्रम- अगले ७ दिन तक करीबी दोस्तों रिश्तेदारों के यहाँ होली की बधाई देने जाना, उनके यहाँ की गुझिया चखना और मिलना मिलाना

 

ये सब के बाद, मेरी माँ के शब्दों में "होली होली, हो गई होली " करके होली खत्म हो जाती थी- अगले साल का वादा देके

त्यौहार तो अब भी होता है - लगभग वैसा ही - अब समय की किल्लत और रंग छुड़ाने की मेहनत रोक देती है ;)

गुझिया अब भी बनती हैं और पापड़ अभी भी तले जाते, लेकिन हम health conscious लोग अब थोड़ा सकुचा जाते हैं

होली मिलने जाना भी WhatsApp और दूसरे social media  ने कम करा दिआ - फ़ोन पर होली की बधाई काफी हो जाती है - और होली मिलने गए भी तो फटाफट वाले लहज़े में

 

हर साल उत्साह रहता है और त्यौहार मनता है लेकिन वो बचपन वाली होली तो शायद अब अगले बचपन में ही मिलेगी 😊

तो फ़िलहाल जो नयी यादें बन रही उनको ही इस महंगे डब्बे में जमा करते जाते हैं -- फिर से किसी पल खोल के उनमे खोने के लिए और खुश होने के लिए

होली मनाइये सबके साथ - हर्ष और उल्लास से - बचपन की यादों को भी याद कीजिए और यादों के रंगों से सराबोर होइए

रंगमय पर्व की सुभकामनाओं सहित I leave you on this colourful 𝑾𝒆𝒅𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒅𝒂𝒚........ 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒈𝒖𝒚 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒊𝒅𝒅𝒍𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒌... 𝑹𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒆... 𝑵𝒐𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 '𝒃𝒍𝒖𝒆𝒔' 𝒏𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒘𝒆 '𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒌 𝑮𝒐𝒅' 𝒇𝒐𝒓! 😊

#WednesdayWhistles

The comfortable discomforts of our lives!!!!

𝐖𝐞𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐬 # 139

The comfortable discomforts of our lives!!!!

It was pitch dark, nothing could be seen--- as Reena struggled to find her way in her house. Suddenly she heard some weird sounds and was horrified to see the origin of the noise – the clothes in the washing machine and the food items in her refrigerator were shouting and screaming….. Reena quickly opened her eyes – what a weird dream!! Actually a result of a 6 hour power cut which suddenly happened early in this Sunday morning which spoiled her full routine.  

Reena remembered the days of her childhood when any power cut was always a good time – people sitting together outside the house or on the terrace, enjoying the breeze under the stars, kids listening to stories, playing, and counting the stars. Adults talking to each other and discussing the day. A good family time in spite of the power cut. All the tasks were managed well without any botheration of whether power is available or not. Things had pretty much changed now….

Rajesh couldn’t walk more. He could see his team members moving ahead in the trek but it was becoming difficult for him to keep up with them. He sat down for a break.

And suddenly went back to his study days when he would walk a good distance to reach his school and walk back in the scorching sun without a bother. That walk gave him a  good time to meet friends and look around. Reaching home, he would have a glass of normal water , have food and again run out to play or meet his friends. When he started going to college and then started working, he was using local transport and was walking a good deal to catch them

How now he could not stay a minute without AC, walking has become a big task as he now has a car to go anywhere – why to walk!!!

Ahh the comfortable discomforts of our lives!!!!

The various comforts which have made a our lives way more easier and comfortable than the earlier times. And yet they bring a lot of discomfort!!!

😑A slight power cut makes us uncomfortable – us who endured and enjoyed such power cuts in our good old childhood days

😑Physical activities are replaced by vehicles – by us who walked to schools, colleges, markets, friend’s place etc etc

😑AC is a must- to us who could spent hours in the scorching heat

😑There is no life without internet – to us who visited libraries to get information, reached out to elders and teachers for guidance

Somewhere while getting a comfortable life, we forgot those discomforts which gave us joy and rejuvenated the mind. A walk, a visit to a friend’s place, a book to read, time spent with family… and the list is long.

While it is good to have these advancements and comforts, we tend to forget the joys we had when these comforts were not around. The simple joys of not having the luxury and comfort… May be its time to revisit them and take out time to enjoy those moments – definitely बत्ती बंद करके नहीं 😉 but in your own unique way

I leave you to this thought on this 𝑾𝒆𝒅𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒅𝒂𝒚........ 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒈𝒖𝒚 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒊𝒅𝒅𝒍𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒌... 𝑹𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒆... 𝑵𝒐𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 '𝒃𝒍𝒖𝒆𝒔' 𝒏𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒘𝒆 '𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒌 𝑮𝒐𝒅' 𝒇𝒐𝒓! 😊

#WednesdayWhistles