An Unexpected Break

After quite some time, I am enjoying some free time with no deadlines to worry about. So it is kind of a busman’s holiday, since I am taking care of all the pending stuff. But I love that. I could never sit still and “relax” – I prefer to be doing at least two things at a time.  Also, no work deadline actually means I go about my stuff mentally relaxed, while physically on high alert. (Note to self: I really ought to make it to the dentist for a long-pending filling.)

Funny how everything looks different without the tension of a work deadline. I am making good use of the time. Today I did two things:

• Shopping
• Prayers

Shopping was, as always, a jolly old experience. First, I went to the flower market. Oh Joy! Humming happily, on the way back home, I went into the supermarket. I enjoyed listening to the radio as I shopped for essentials and checked out an aisle I usually don’t spend time on. And was pleasantly surprised to see some interesting stuff there.

Now, if you’re a regular reader here, I am sure you recall my mentions of visits to my local supermarkets. I consider my morning shopping activity my social moment of the day. Working from home can seriously curtail human face-to-face interaction through the day. I find it an education to shop and watch other shoppers. I am crazy like that. It is so amusing to see someone pick tomatoes the entire time, as I finish my shopping and pile my trolley high. There’s this particular guy who feels each tomato for a few seconds before pronouncing it unsuitable. He only buys a kilogram or less – yet – finds it challenging to pick his requirement from the huge twenty-kilo bins stacked there. Talk about picky. There’s a life lesson there, somewhere, no?

Then what about the guy who keeps on adjusting his “goods” (come on, you know what I mean!) and then surreptitiously sniffs his fingers and looks around to see if someone noticed? Oh yes. I never disappoint. I may be visually challenged, but I have an extra sense for these sights. Then there’s the lady who casually puts her hand inside her blouse and adjusts her innerwear. It is so funny to see that activity going on under the sari draped across her chest. Looks like “inner turmoil” to me!

Incidentally, I realized I missed one of my regulars. There’s this lady who walks in, I am guessing she’s going home after a jog and has decided to pick up stuff on the way. Oy, this woman stinks like crazy. It is an aura around her. The worst time is while we stand at the billing counter, unable to move. I once switched counters just to avoid the smell. Bad smells give me a headache, folks and a headache puts me at less than 100% performance through the day. And guess what? She bought three cans of deodorant. Truth. But it IS rather funny to stand there with twitchy nose. I mean, one can only do deep breathing and breath-holding for so long.

So, anyway, I finished up and headed home, because, folks, today is a special Friday for us. This is an auspicious month when we offer special prayers to Goddess Durga. We make a special dish and light a lamp in it. Then, we pray for the health of our family and friends. After the lamp burns for a while, we finish our prayers and distribute some of it to our neighbors.  Since it was Friday, I also lit lemon lamps for the Goddess. As I did these things, I missed my Mom very much. And got a little lost in nostalgia. Impulsively, I also decided to offer prayers to Sri Satyanarayana, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. We believe, in tough times, if we pray to Lord Satyanarayana, what we wish for will come true. Not sure if it is a kind of Law of Attraction, but let me tell you, while I am not overly religious, I do love some of our rituals – probably because I’ve grown up with them and they are like – routine. As far as Satyanarayana is concerned, I have had a few seemingly impossible situations resolve. Call it faith. I could only call it divine intervention.

It was a peaceful day. Our house is filled with the fragrance of jasmine flowers and a faint smell of cardamom. I actually contemplated taking a nap this afternoon, but thought that would be taking the happiness too far!

Here’s what I learned, as I reveled in my “free” time.

• I can read my favorite bloggers’ posts without worrying about my time-management
• I can enjoy a long leisurely bath
• Saying “no” to projects that take up 80% effort and bring in 20% income feels absolutely marvelous.
• I do deserve weekends to take a break from work
• I can catch up on my reading
• I can actually put myself first, without feeling the guilt
• I can explore some creative projects

I am looking forward to a nice cozy weekend. I hope you are, too! And then, I’ll be looking forward to Monday. I love Mondays.