May 2013 - The Elusive One

Think back to a month in your life. Do you remember any month or period specifically from the sweeping past or present? Maybe the month before the board exams, last month in the hostel eagerly awaiting to get back home, the month before you were getting hitched that was crammed with frantic shopping and plans on the side to run-away solo or when you were expecting your first baby, waiting for the moment and savoring the peace as you balance one of the last books you will read in peace on your tummy.. I seem to have always had conflicting emotions in every situation, constant yin-yang and the entire range in between.

As a part of this group celebrating our first anniversary on June 2, 2013, we were given a small challenge. Totally voluntary, I must add. The theme being 'The Elusive One'. One could choose to do something new, make a small change in your lifestyle, person..something you've been putting off for too long. You get the drift, move out of your comfort zones and explore/experience something different. The emphasis is on the attempt, not the result.

As usual, I jumped into the fray. I am a kind of person who gets easily bored with one thing. So I like to attempt different things simultaneously. Like reading different books, all at the same time. If you are reading this blog, you may know I'm learning two languages at the same time, which I use as an excuse to my limited progress:) If you read in between the lines, read non-focussed and easily gives up. Which is what I need to address mainly.

I hadn't planned for anything very difficult or out of the ordinary. One was to give up chocolate and sugar! Chin to my chest, a low-voiced confession, I plead guilty, it happened not even for 3 or 4 continuous days. I don't eat chocolate everyday but it's been very difficult for me to have my tea sans sugar.

Another was to stay far away from my phone when my children were home from school. And give them my complete attention just by being there. It wasn't easy to wean myself off the phone. And initially I took a lot of loo-breaks and even used displacement tactics to check updates on the fly. But overall, it is much better and I can live without checking my phone every hour to say the least. In fact, the husband and me have had a lot of fun times giving up our digital toys and watching the kids playing and saying the most cutest things which I've decided to post sometime. I also thought in a fit of generosity to include not getting irritated by frequent interruptions or not raising my voice but am intelligent enough to realise that that level of maturity or saintliness can't be acquired in a single month :D.

The giving up sugar was tied to physical fitness. No, I did not get around to the swimming-pool (totally blame the weather for this!) and for walks. Just about managed to eat sensibly. Nor did I take up the time spent indoors to finish some long-pending projects like this - taken up when Big G was a little over 3. As on date, still W-i-P and now that lil G is going to be 4, seems like I'm going to have to adopt a long-term vision on this one.

Relegated as a project for my grandchildren

I've already talked about driving and the 'graduation' of sorts. Which ended my month's challenge with a crash bang.

Some unplanned stuff for the month  was a 3-day trip to Prague which was a great change for us. It is a beautiful city and loved it. Last week was also the last class for my French course. I don't know if I will ever meet those people with whom I've spent every Thursday night speaking halting French during the class and switching to English or Dutch in the break ever again. We were all from such different walks of life, still we laughed together. And we had a swell Professor. Bitter-sweet realizations in life.

The biggest highlight has been to connect with such wonderful ladies on this group. I am a painfully shy person, if that does not come across through my blog in any way, let me say it:) And I loved to be part of this group and share experiences, trials, tribulations, successes of so many people with an open mind without the smallest tinge of envy or rancour, which is something one sees so often in real-life situations. Here's to the IndianBlogeshwari's group and loads of love and best wishes.