Away from the Cacophony

— Posted inPersonal, Writing — 2 min read

We are lucky to live somewhere close to nature and silence. It is rare to find apartments in a big, bustling city that are in the lap of nature. Being amidst this quietness helps me to shape my thoughts. Every evening after work I try to organize my thoughts as well as what the day had to offer. Sometimes the results are positive, and at other times quite morbid. However, I plod on through each day carrying the hope in my heart, that amidst this hustle and bustle I will be able to carve a niche of impeccable quietude somewhere during the course of each day.

Quite a few plots have been hovering around the periphery of my mind, but one in particular has captivated my attention. I propose to jot it down on paper as soon as possible. Of course the basic blueprint or the bare skeleton. Nothing ostentatious. Nothing too baroque at present. Let me use a couple of productivity tools to shape my plot, and then maybe I will get down to writing it. By tools I mean a good voice to text app (I am till hunting for one), an online notebook like OneNote or Evernote or Samsung Notes, and maybe an efficient online diary/organizer to help me plan my future deadlines.

Keeping fingers crossed and hoping for the very best ! At least our home and the nature around the same is something that makes me want to wake up to new mornings filled with new promises. All this and more…away from the cacophony.

selective focus photo of green vine

The Ambling Autumn

— Posted inLiterature, Personal, Privacy, Productivity, Writing — 1 min read

It is almost Autumn. or as some would like to refer to, Fall. The air is crisper and the nights more mellowed. This is the festive season over here in India. However, I prefer to remain secluded with my books, writing and other paraphernalia. Writing this journal also makes me more calm and composed than usual. I usually attempt to devote sometime to writing every day and some time to journalling whenever time permits. Also reading through newsletters from the Foreign Affairs and Current History Journals help since they provide additional reading material. Whenever I am not writing I try to devote my time to reading. This may include reading from reputed literary magazines to books and/or articles of importance. Thus letting this ambling autumn and her undulating waves of seclusion bring out the best in me both mentally as well as physically.

Till next time. Signing off from here….Au revoir !

tilt shift photography of maple leaves

Reclaiming Back Our Lives

— Posted inPrivacy, Technology — 1 min read

Since I have quit Facebook, I am seriously away from all the information overflow. I refer to newspapers for my daily news (since we do not own a TV….my husband and I being seriously bored by that contraption), and phone calls and text messages for communication. Sometimes my husband shows me interesting things that others have posted from his Facebook account or reads out comments that others have written, but thy seldom leave me as enthralled as I was earlier. The pattern of incessant scrolling is over. I am more at peace and more grounded than ever. Also this gives me the opportunity to look inwards and appreciate reality for what it is. I spend more quality time with my husband and other family members. I am less on the phone. And whenever I need to blog or write, there is a definite time that I have relegated to the same.

I advise all my readers to reclaim their lives back as it once was before the virtual world stole everything away from us…even our identities as individuals.

two person holding red mugs

The Disappearing Email

— Posted inSoftware, Technology — 2 min read

Before I quit Facebook, I emailed a few important contacts of mine (they included both relatives and friends). I assumed like the good old times that they would check their emails and reply back in due course. However, apart from a single gentleman who is well into his 80s, the rest are yet to contact me. I must presume that people do not email each other these days. I still remember that the very first email that I had was on Yahoo. I still use my Yahoo email, although I had dabbled with Gmail for sometime till I was overwhelmed by the Spam and Phishing on that particular site. Nowadays I keep Google only for work. My primary mode of communication are other secure email accounts. Having said that, it is a pity that email is gradually disappearing from our daily lives. With everyone more accustomed to texting and the social media, emails are relegated only to the workplace.

I can understand why Dr. Cal Newport states that the social media has rapidly changed our way of communication and has thereby fashioned each one of us into tiny islands…cut off from each other…in a non communicative mode….

I remain an avid follower of the email culture as well as the blogging culture. Perhaps being old school, still makes me more communicative than my fellow countrymen/women. The Disappearing Email culture is indeed an extremely important facet that must be pondered upon.

smartphone screen showing facebook application

Ahoy There Weekend!

— Posted inPersonal — 1 min read

Yet another weekend is just round the corner and it is time to make the most of it. Maybe I need to look inwards and less outwards throughout this weekend. The positive side of it will be that I will be at home these entire two days and therefore I can catch up on my writing. Also, with the weather turning cool due to the rains, working for long hours should not be a source of discomfort. There is plenty to do…write, read and in general remain secluded from the rest of the world with umpteen number of coffee cups to keep me snug and happy 🙂

Hectic for the Edelweiss Mindset

— Posted inPersonal, Writing — 1 min read
black office rolling chairs and table

Things have been pretty hectic for the writer’s or rather as I put it, the Edelweiss Mindset. I come back home from work and I am quite exhausted by the end of the day. However, I understand that I must break away from this ennui and try to regain that old spark if I must devote my entire life to the written word. At least 500 a day should be enough. I am not being too ambitious and trying to put down around 2000 words per day. Perhaps baby steps should be the order of the day.

I have done away with all the distractions. That is something to look forward to. Actually i have pulled away from most distracting apps and websites in the last few days. My life these days is quite minimal. It is peacefully. Only work seems to drag me away from my writing. I swing back and forth like a pendulum between work and writing. However, this needs to stop if I must really be serious about writing.

Looking forward to a more productive day tomorrow…actually a more productive week ahead….

Peace…

We, the Writers…

— Posted inPersonal, Uncategorized, Writing — 1 min read

We, the writers, live double and sometimes triple lives. We have invisible people swarming around us. Others cannot see them nor hear them, but we do. We live a life fractured into even more minuscule lives…unseen and unknown by the world. I am living with such characters nowadays. No one can see them except me and none can hear them breathe nor witness then glide away into nothingness. I love this feeling of living multiple lives…living secret lives and pristine lives. Once upon a time I used to write about K only. Nowadays I write about others.

This journey, which has just commenced, is sure to be a mighty long one….

Au revoir !

September Digital Detox

— Posted inPersonal, Privacy, Technology — 1 min read

A fellow blogger kindly referred this wonderful website to help me de-clutter my electronic gadgets and life. I’ve watched Dr, Cal Newport’s videos before, but this time I find his website extremely helpful. Sharing the link for all those who may benefit from the same. September is surely going to be a month for Detox in more ways than one.

https://www.calnewport.com

Enjoy !

Feeling Positive

— Posted inPersonal, Writing — 1 min read

Took a break from work today. Since it is a Friday today, I will be having a long weekend this time. I need to finish my proof reading and begin working on my second book in all earnestness. With social media out of the way, and work taking a backseat, I have the entire day laid out in front of me with endless cups of iced coffee and my laptop. Let’s hope I become productive this extended weekend. Also, with the amount of time that I am saving avoiding Facebook, I’ve also managed to catch up with my French lessons. I need to reach my goal of speaking, writing and reading workable French by the end of this year.

The weather outside is hot and I am glad I didn’t have to go out this morning. Hoping that I make the most of today without procrastination hitting me….