doing our best
Looking Inwards #18: one task at a time, partner love, sleep, caring less, writing tips, kindness, world history, flying on goose, cats as pets, and Pondicherry buildings.
Hi there!
Thank you for joining me.
I hope you are doing well and your week has been peaceful.
This past week I have had a hard time making things flow smoothly. But everything has progressed in parts and so I am happy to write what I have observed/found/learned. Instead of a narrative, this week I’m sharing three thoughts.
I work better when I don’t think about the next thing. Otherwise it is an article, but then a creative writing deadline stares at me. If I am writing a story, a book is waiting to be read. While I am out in the library, I have to get back to do yoga.
But slowly I am learning how to do what’s at hand and not worry about the list. If I don’t get to the next task, I am still fine. I will get to it tomorrow. The little me is finding herself to be much happier this way.
When I sit, laugh, drink tea, walk, watch a movie, read, or just be with my partner, I experience joy. Sometimes such is the delight with him, I don’t feel anything else is important.
And then in a rare moment he shares something that sticks on. Like how he feels one cannot be happy without a partner. I asked him why does he think so. He said, “I feel we will be happy without someone, we will be free, we will do this and that, but only to want to come back to that human, our human.”
I know we can be happy without a partner, too, but I love hearing how he perceives life and what’s important to him. He still does whatever he likes and goes wherever he wants to. Neither is he stopping me from doing anything nor do I block his way. And perhaps it’s the freedom that gives him the power to think so freely.
When one is tired, overworked, or angry, one of the best ways to reenergize our system is to sleep. Sleep early and sleep tight. Sleep snug and sleep light. Sleep has always worked for me and science supports sleep whole-heartedly.
What do you do when you are tired?
For this week’s letter,
Some of my writing,
quotes I love,
things to read,
things to watch,
and
travel tips.
Past Articles I’ve Just Renewed
14 Things We Can Care Less About
Unimportant things cloud our minds like the winter fog. Except that we rarely have a change of weather. Clear days with the sun shining bright outside our window are forever elusive.
In this piece, I share 14 things we care too much about. Let’s lift off some fog to make way for sunlight.
Click to read the ideas. Or Pocket for later.
27 Writing Tips for Beginner Writers [All You Need]
Once a coder, now I'm a writer. Here are 27 writing tips for beginner writers from my 4-years of back-breaking writing experience.
Read all the 27 ways to improve writing now. Or Pocket the tips for later.
Quotes I Love
“It’s a little embarrassing that after 45 years of research and study, the best advice I can give people is to be a little kinder to each other.” — Aldous Huxley
“People would say, ‘Just make a rom-com, babe. Just go to Los Angeles, and just be one of the pack.’ But anybody can be one of the pack. What I learned was that I should follow my own heart, always, and do what I want to do, and do what is actually very difficult to do, and do what you think you can’t do.” — Mira Nair
“Love isn’t a state of perfect caring. It is an active noun like struggle. To love someone is to strive to accept that person exactly the way he or she is, right here and now.” — Fred Rogers
“When sometimes you feel you aren't giving your best, understand what you are giving is always your best.” — Yours Truly
What I’ve Been Reading
I’ve been reading short stories, books, articles, and so much more. I can’t possibly list all what I have read in the past week so I’m putting down the things I found most relevant and worthwhile.
Delving a bit into history,
A New History of World War II by Daniel Immerwahr — An article that changed how I look at the World War 2.
“There was no Nazi atrocity” W. E. B. Du Bois, a leading African American thinker, wrote after the war,“which the Christian civilization of Europe had not long been practicing against colored folk in all parts of the world in the name of & for the defense of a Superior Race.”
Danish Siddiqui: Remembering India's Pulitzer prize-winning photographer — The incredible Indian photojournalist Danish Siddiqui was killed in the Afghan war. Remembering Danish through his almost unreal photos.
A Series of Forgotten Photos Capture What Life Was Like in 1980s India — India we don't see anymore. But some of it remains.
And for the writers here,
Punctuation Tips — the only punctuation guide you need.
Beautiful books from the week,
The Wonderful Adventures of Nils by Selma Lagerlöf — I found a vintage edition of this beautiful children’s book in the local library and devoured it fully. Though the adventure is of a child who finds himself turned into an elf and then on the back of one geese migrates with the whole group flying above the Swedish countryside, these little stories and fantastic escapade would suit readers of all age. Dive in.
What I’ve Been Watching/Listening
that’s worth mentioning
The Electrical Life of Louis Wain — I watched this hilarious depiction of the life of one of the world’s greatest artist Louis Wain. Wain’s beautiful, funny, and poignant depiction of cats popularized the felines as pets in the UK. Though the movie could have been a bit short, it shows how devoted and obsessed one has to be to work well. The movie is colorful, lively, and full of cats.
Bhaag Beanie Bhaag — This Netflix TV show might not be the best, but beautifully shows how a person who choose to follow her passion gets alienated from her loved ones. The story is set in the Indian city Mumbai. I related closely to this drama of an aspiring stand-up comic who progresses in work but feels the pain of losing her family a bit too deeply. There’s a lot to learn about Indian culture here.
I also saw a Hindi movie called Kaamyaab — It shows how side actors get side-kicked while the world remembers the lead actors and actresses. This one is particularly applicable to Hindi cinema (but also shows how the 80-20 rule: the 20 percent of the world takes it all applies to everything).
And for all my Wanderlusters!
I’m sharing a couple of photos here from the week. Hope you enjoy.
flowers that are capable of lifting anyone’s heart
Attending Sanjay Subrahmanyan, a Carnatic vocalist’s live performance. Do listen to his music.
in an old Pondicherry building now converted into a restaurant and bar. Love the wooden beams in the ceiling and the long strokes of the peacock green.
Thank you for reading.
I hope your Sunday is refreshing and restful. Take good care of yourselves :)
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Yours,
Priyanka
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