The Joy called Jalebi 
Happiness 
Lemon tea 
Seasonal Delight 
Floor patterns 
1000+ followers
The first month of the shiny new year is over. The new year wishes, resolutions and all that hoopla seems like a thing of the past. Not in a negative sense but then, remember the memes at the start of the year? Now workout places and parks are back to being peaceful.
When January started, it was like any other month with its usual flow. One thing that it did tell me was that nothing is permanent. Absolutely nothing. No one knows when what would change. One moment you smile and giggle and the other, you are finding a way to stay strong.
I am grateful for things that are going well and I want the universe to make it even better. This month, VT had to fly to his hometown during the middle of the night. Things were not (are still not) good at home. I am grateful that he is where he should be. Every time things show an uptick, I want to hold my breath so that nothing goes south again. Like I said, nothing is permanent. We will have to face what is thrown at us. We can only choose how to react.
The month wasn’t bad either. It filled me with hope and hope is a big thing. So here are a few things that made me smile.
Workout experiments: As a yoga lover, I can’t believe that this month I practiced an equal number of classes of Yoga and Zumba. I also tried two classes of boxing and one HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) class apart from a couple of strength and conditioning classes. I love the change and it keeps me happy. Starting my day with a work out first thing in the morning keeps me energized and focused. I am grateful that I am able to take care of myself.
Winter in Bangalore: Bangalore has never been chilly. It gets slightly cold during winters but it would still be called moderate and pleasant. The only thing that I miss from up North since I moved here 13 years ago, is this season. But this time was different. It was foggy almost the first two weeks of the month and I had a week of wearing sweatshirts to work. I made the most of the season with a big smile.
A new help: I have a new help at home these days and she is fun to work with. Can you believe we send each other voice messages? She can’t read English but then is an avid cell phone user. She knows how to pick a recipe from You-tube because hey! Google assistant is her friend. She cooks well, is honest and I am happy. What more can I ask for? Truly grateful to have the support I need to run my little household.
Food experiments: One thing that I wanted to do this January was to turn vegan for at least a week. I did that for five days and enjoyed it. I did not continue because my diet is heavily dependent on dairy and I started feeling the pang. So I discontinued, went back to my chai and eggs but I have stayed away from meat. It’s not a change but a choice for now. I am not craving so it’s fine. I enjoy experiments and I am grateful that I am able to change things around.
Uri: The Surgical Strike: VT and I watched a movie in theatre after 6 years. Or may be 8. I can’t remember which was the last movie we saw together and when. So when the feedback for Uri started pouring in, we pulled in our friends and watched the movie. What a day it was! I was excited looking at the fabulous interiors and the big screen. Little joys are a real thing, people.
Blogging: A good month I would say. I completed 6 years of blogging, hit 800 posts , now have over 1050 followers and the stats have been great. In my heart I know that I want to write more non-fiction but for now and all that’s happening around I am sticking to being consistent. Always grateful to my reader base. Thank you, all!
Work: New learnings keep me going at work. The month was enriching in a lot of ways and continues to be. I am all set to move out of my comfort zone again and while it scares me now, I know it will be help me grow. I am grateful to have a job that I love.
My little joys this month: When I write my gratitude list, I don’t want to miss those little things of the month that make me happy. So here is just a quick list:
- iD has launched a filter coffee decoction that I am loving. I call myself a Kannadiga by heart and this launch found a way in my refrigerator.
- The #10yearchallenge – what a sweet thing it was and let’s not talk about the facial recognition fact that did rounds on news.
- The tree shaped word cloud I made for myself from the feedback I got at work.
- A bit of cleaning up and organizing at home.
- Talking to people who care – includes family and friends.
- Sleeping on weekends.
February looks better but like I said earlier, who knows? It will be busy at work but there are only 28 days this month so they should fly by faster. I want February to be calm and peaceful. And I wish that you too have a month that makes you happy.
Until next time, keep smiling and stay positive.
Linking up with Vidya’s Gratitude Circle.
happiness and food 
Oh I do hope all is well with you guys – hugs and strength to the both of you!
You are rockstar at Cult Parul – I have given it up since two months now as I lost interest in it. Sigh! me and my short attention span!! 😉
1000+ followers is huge and very well deserved too – I have said it often enough that I just love reading your posts as they bring calmness to my mind. Wishing you loads of success and highs here!!
Cheers to a fabulous feb ahead!! xoxo
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Good like always .May coming months be better and you with your family, friends and followers spend happy n blissful days.
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Absolutely true, we can only choose to react. Even I felt same for the month January.
So many experiments in a month is great! Loved your tree shape feedback image!! Wish you happy February Parul.
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Thanks Shilpa!
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Hi Parul. I am new to the blogging world and loved your gratitude post. You have listed all the January on goings in such a beautiful way. I particularly like your idea of listing out the little joys for the month! even if a person glances the blog quickly, they just can’t miss out on the little joys section. I am planning to add this for my Feb post. Felt really connected by reading “I am a Banglorean” & “I love Bangalore” kinda stuff. Being a native of the garden city, it gives me deep happiness when people from other cities love the city. I have been to few cities, live currently in a different one too and love them for different reasons. Sense of belonging to a place comes up when we first start liking and respecting the habitat. High respects to your ideology! Looking forward to your future posts.
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Nice to meet you Anjana. When you write your Feb post, let me know. I would love to read it. Writing brings immense joy when someone can take something from it. I would look forward to it. I came to Bangalore 13 years back and like you can imagine there is a post on that too 🙂 but coming back to point, Bangalore gave me everything I could think of a home city. So it is home. I call myself a Kannadiga by heart. 🙂
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Oh that doesn’t sound good re VT needing to go to his family home and things still being uncertain. Hope things work out well. Good on you on the workout front! I hear you about wanting to write more nonfiction on the blog…I’m in a similar spot. The filter coffee decoction sounds really good! Hope you have a wonderful February ahead
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We are hoping for that too. I’m also out now. I hope for a better February too. Let’s see how it shapes. Thanks for your wishes.
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I am sorry to hear about emergency at home; hope things will get better soon. ❤
It's good to start the day with workout and I am glad that you are able to do it. I can't go to the gym first thing in the morning or do my yoga at home that early as the little one takes care of my morning time pretty well. 🙂 Good thing is 3 days a week I'm at gym now after dropping Akku in his daycare and I'm enjoying the uninterrupted workout. 🙂 I have my eye on a Zumba dvd; will see how I fare this month and will buy it as a reward if I am sticking to my workout goals. 🙂
This time around, we, too, are having a colder winter. In fact, it is way too cold tonight, at this moment. We do enjoy the cold only because it is a rare phenomenon here. 🙂
Your new help sounds fun to work with. 🙂 It's nice to have someone to depend on.
I wish you a calm and peaceful February, Parul. 🙂 ❤
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Oh wow! Thats a lovely tech savvy maid out there. Interesting to note that she gets recipes out of Youtube. Having grown up in bangalore and having lived for 25 years there, would like to add that Bangalore did have short winters where temperatures in teh night would fall to around 12-15 deg. However over the years, this winter had totally disappeared. Looks like it did make a comeback this year. And those are awesome stats on the blogging front. Keep them going Parul !!
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Oh I hope things are better at VT’s home.
I love that you’re trying new things. I loved Zumba and was completely hooked to it while I did it. Then the instructor left and it was never the same for me. I’m walking these days and that’s keeping me happy.
Your new help sounds like a maid from heaven. It’s cute that you guys talk on voice mail and she seems to be smart of she can get recipes off the Net.
Turning Vegan is really hard, mostly for the milkless tea. I think I could get by the rest of it but chai isn’t chai without milk and sugar.
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I also want things to be better. We are all hoping and praying.
Walking is my to all time favorite activity. Next comes yoga. Vegan was good and felt really light but my diet is dairy heavy. Chai, milk, paneer wali. So I started wondering if my body would miss out on the nutrients it is used to of. So, gave up!
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Sorry to hear about the difficult phase with family, Parul. I hope things turn out allright.
I love how consistent you are with your workouts. I am getting better but nowhere near as regular as you are. And 800 posts &1000+ followers is no mean feat, it definitely calls for a celebration. So does finding such a cool maid. 😀
I wish you a wonderful February ahead.
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I’m also hoping the same Shantala. It’s a tough time and I wish no one has to go through these things ever.
Thank you for stopping by and encouraging.
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Happy to read your gratitude list, Parul. Wishes to your blog anniversary. Tree shaped word cloud, that’s really cool and interesting. Happy February to you!
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Thanks Vasantha. I’m also looking forward to February being better.
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I hope things are better now, Parul. I love how you continue to focus on your health and well-being and yet make time to take in so much. Stay you!
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Thanks Corinne!
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