If there is one thing I do unfailingly every weekend is skimming through the set of newspapers of the week and trying to catalog them for future use. There are categories of Contra Punto (quotes), jest in jest, bell curve, Tweet of the day, speaking tree, the thought of the day, jugular vein, and finally the most interesting one “bliss of life”. All these sections have helped me in writing and speaking. The very act of stacking it, categorizing it, and cutting the newspaper gives me a sense of excitement and satisfaction. Time and again randomised reading during the whole process has been of great help and also made me aware of some of the news going around in the world. There was recently an article on “Living a wonder-filled life”. That piqued my curiosity. That article was just the right one for me when I was having an Americano in a coffee shop yesterday. So let us pose one question, ” What is the difference between a wonderful life vis-a-vis a wonder-filled life”?
Back to 5 clippings from the ” Bliss of Life” section of the newspaper which is very close to my heart. I am sharing the first paragraph from these clippings with my short take. It has two parts.
———————————————-EARLY RISING ——————————————-“There’s a quiet hum of the dawn when the world is still asleep. Being up at this time holds a unique pleasure for the early riser. Being the first one in the house to wake up is a secret indulgence, a stolen moment to savor the lull before the storm ensues. Stillness is a luxury all yours“.
Last week I did wake up early and I had similar vibes mentioned above. I noticed how calm the surroundings were and also saw the early runners and walkers. There is always a thrill followed by a sense of excitement, if you have a good sleep the previous night. Right off the bat, I have to channel my set of habits. I had stacked 5 habits ( Thanks to James Clear) in the first 2 hours of the day. After brushing and unloading the dishwasher the next three things I do accomplish make a big difference in my day. Coffee, journaling, and meditation. If time permits I do the morning walk with some podcast and additional reading. So here’s my inclination to continue to rise early after all there is so much at stake.
—————————————Choosing a Coffee Mug—————————————–
“It is a challenging task but a pleasurable one for coffee lovers. Choosing a coffee mug, that is. For them, it’s a daily ritual transcending the mere act of sipping a morning brew. It is a moment of personal expression and can set the tone for the day”.
My morning cup of coffee, when I am home, is from a favorite cup that was gifted by my elder daughter’s friend to her. It is an oversized cup and for any normal human being, it will be too much of a coffee in the morning. I keep that coffee nearly for an hour so that I can finish all my morning activities. I have this fascination for ceramic cups that even in coffee shops I would request for a particular type of cup. I had gone to the extent of having a coffee in a beer parlor after noticing a beautiful cup. One day I was attracted to a store as I saw a flash sale of coffee mugs. I took pictures of those cups and shared them with my family and made sure and reserve my choice of those cups.
—————————————Looking Up to A Blue Sky—————————————
“After the monotony of utter grey, the emergence of a brilliant blue sky becomes a source of immeasurable joy and relief. The sight of the heavens painted is nothing short of heavenly. The sheer contrast between the dull, overcast days and the radiant azure of a clear sky is a reminder not just of the change of time but also that of a place”.
I recollect how much I loved watching the skies in Rome. I used to regularly take pictures when I was in Rome with my DSLR EOS 350D. I used to venture out in the streets on weekends just to experience the sunny days. The beauty associated with the blue sky is a treat to watch.
————————————-Steppinng Outside for A Walk————————————
“For starters, the cacophony and the hum, in this curated jaunt, is more like a window into the world you no longer have a touch with than a descent into chaos. Treat it like an adventure safari, and you’ll find a certain thrill in stepping out on the street”.
I had the opportunity to walk into Higgin Botham’s today. It initially had a deserted look. I recollected some bad memories from my wife on how the staff treated her last time. I spotted a book ” Effortless” and it was serendipitous. In the morning I had gone through a set of videos and I had seen a good review of this book and was looking forward. I decided to delay that buying decision. Instead, I decided to walk along the streets with my cap, backpack, cooling glass, and a bottle of water. Walking in the street is so much fun and that too when it is not that packed. I also ventured into a T-shirt shop to check some of the latest styles. You witness some of the things that people are crazy about doing these days like making videos for reels, stories in IG, and two ladies taking a selfie with the latest book of “Sarah.J.Maas” which my daughter is crazy about reading these days.
———————————————Rearranging Books —————————————
“Rearranging books on shelves is about more than just tidying up. It’s a nuanced art that brings the pleasure of order to one’s fingertips. There is a thrill in deciding the order. Should you go by alphabetical order, genre-based, or perhaps the color of the spine of the book, each yielding a different aesthetic? Should fiction and nonfiction intermingle, or stand apart?”
This is the best part these days. I call being amid books my soul space and the table and chair the place to write and ship out my blogs. If I am not in a great mood and if the events of the day have taken a toll just by taking out some books and doing some random reading it lifts your spirits. The very act of looking for 5 books last week “Influence, Fooled by Randomness, Antifragile, Influence, and One Thing” was done instantly thanks to the sections that we have arranged. This was done after hearing about these books from an influencer. He was raving about these books which need to be read again and again. So I made a separate section for such books. I thank my mother-in-law and wife for creating those categories (Leadership, Productivity, Spirituality, Fitness, Coaching, Personal Development, Management, People & Culture, Finance, Mind & Brain, and Technology). As a practice, I write down on the first page of the cover the date, place, and thoughts that passed my mind when we bought the book. Today when I go through those pages it gives a different perspective.
My sense of wonder comes when I encounter those 5 activities that I had listed above. From the article Marguerite Theophil explains the meaning of wonder. “It can be used as a noun or a verb, referring to a source of awe, astonishment, or admiration; pointing to something miraculous or mysterious and new. It usually has a positive connotation”. So when I am looking for a wonder-filled life, I wish that I will build the capacity to move by those 5 activities from the bliss of life, places, and people, to see things always with fresh and excited eyes, to pause often and savor these experiences and encounters.
Finally, as I shared my perspective in a speech to a section of people today, ” To have a wonderful week, I look forward to wonder-filled weekends“.
