Early this week, I found Vikki’s fabulous Celebrate the Small Things weekly blog-hop that goes live every Friday, thanks to Michelle at Writer In Transit.
The wonderful theme of this linky is to celebrate the small things on a weekly basis. It especially appealed to me because I maintain a gratitude journal and am a big fan of appreciating the little things. I decided to hop right in. What a wonderful way to rejoice as we usher in the weekend! So…
Let’s Celebrate the small things
A digital break with benefits
We had a seven hour power cut today thanks to some unannounced repair work. Yes, 7 hours of no power – no computer, no mobile phones, no Television, no DVD player, no radio, no refrigerator, no washing machine, no mixer grinder, no kettle, no microwave. I mention these because these are the things we usually use. Solid soul giggles moment. Still, I’d say we were a lot better off than most others. We could have ordered pizza for lunch, but I had already planned a menu for today – I wanted to make cluster beans the typical Telangana cuisine style accompanied with a spinach dish called “palak paneer“, a lentils dish and rice.
So rather than order pizza, I decided to go ahead with the original plan. With sunshine playing hide and seek in my kitchen, I loaded up the pressure cooker with rice, dal (lentils) and the chopped cluster beans and set about washing and cooking the spinach. I took care to chop it this time, instead of cooking the leaves whole and running them in the blender. No blender, you see. Music filled my ears, however, with Vidur and Sury singing songs and the cooking got done an hour later. The three of us happily settled down to a long leisurely lunch. Then we cleared up together – and the music continued while we washed up.
It was an afternoon meant for reading, what with a happy full tummy. Tea time of course arrived sooner than usual. The pleasant afternoon seemed to demand it. So, we enjoyed our tea. We had no idea when power would be restored and didn’t worry. We simply decided to celebrate the small things and I was grateful:
- for the welcome digital break
- that it was cool enough not to need the fans
- that I had finished my work deadlines yesterday and emailed my clients
- that I had run the washing machine yesterday and the clothes were merrily dancing on the clothesline in the breeze
Enough reasons to celebrate!
Smooth sailing
Two days ago, we went schoolbook shopping for Vidur – and got everything in one shot. Usually at least one of the books is out of stock, but this time it was different. A great “yay!” moment.
Another wonderful thing that happened last week – I got a set of books I had been coveting like crazy. I used to own the entire set when I was in high school and treasured it, but somehow, over the years, they got borrowed and never came back. So I got the digital version – but that’s good enough! I am comfortable with e-books, so it is all good!
More good news!
A dear friend of mine is moving to Bangalore and will arrive on June 22. I am so excited!
Another dear friend and I have started working on a project we’re collaborating on. It is so exhilarating!
Remember I spoke about a friend’s daughter’s accident in an earlier post? She started to walk this week, with the help of a walker!
My ankle, which had nerve damage from my accident in Jan 2013, is showing signs of recovery.
My fabulous Indiblogeshwaris group’s website was launched this week and we started a brand new weekly series today called “Friday Fables” that will feature two “Indiblogeshwari” posts every Friday. I am honored to be featured in that space today along with another amazing blogger-friend, Suranga Date. Here’s my featured post: A shower of kindness.
Truly, happiness starts with gratitude!
That rounds up my “celebrate the small things” week.
What is your favorite moment from the week gone by?
P.S.: Have you had a chance to check out the 30 Days Of Bold course? Register before June 24 to enjoy the pre-registration discount and bonus gifts. Make fear your friend!
Have a lovely weekend!
Hi Vidya
Wow, that worked out really well for you. Had power out a few times and think oh I could do this or I could do that. Only problem is everything I could think of required power!
At least you could still cook, I have electric for cooking, but gas to stay warm. It was great that it happened during the daylight hours. Much easier to enjoy no power when you can actually see what you are doing. Old eyes don’t do so well with trying to read in candlelight. With all of today’s gadgets you do have to think about what to do if you can’t use them. Did not have much equipment back when I was a kid, so it was much easier when the power went out. It did go out a lot in the winter, especially if there was snow or high winds.
Sounds like everything is going wonderfully for you.
Have a great weekend.
Mary
Hi Mary! 🙂 We’re so used to power cuts, especially the longish unscheduled ones! Luckily I grew up with absolutely no gadgets. Why, our first refrigerator came in when I was 22 or 23 years old! Thinking of it now seems weird – how did we ever manage without one? We worked with things that did not need electricity, so don’t panic too much when the power goes off. But yes, mobile phones, the computer, etc. especially if there’s work, can be miserable! But worrying won’t help, so I just go ahead and do happy stuff!
Hugs! Glad you dropped by.
Hi Vidya – I’m so WITH you on the celebration of little things, or as I call them, small wonders. Our ability to be open to beauty, in all its large & small forms, is so central to happiness!
Thanks for all you do to help promote awareness, curiosity, wonder and gratitude.
Thank you so much for your wonderful comment, Jeffrey! I love how everything looks brighter, sometimes without the haze of the internet and electricity.
I enjoyed your post about the Sun!
It sounds like you enjoyed the black out.
I did, Nana! 😀 Thanks!
I love when we can stop and savor these little moments, but it sounds like you have a lot to celebrate, big and small. This post was so uplifting!
Thank you, Emily. You know I wait for your blog updates! Hugs!
That was some week. And some meal. 🙂 Invite me over next time. Loved the way you celebrated the small things in life.
You are always welcome, Jyothi! Thank you 😀
Vidya, if you can find gratitude when the power’s cut, you can find gratitude in everything. lol that is one time when I usually feel like the world is conspiring against me and someone is playing a cruel hoax on us by cutting the electricity for a bit 🙂
GLad to hear of your celebrations for all the small things in life and a good reminder for us to be grateful for all small and big things in our lives! Once we appreciate something, we tend to see more good things like that appearing in our lives. Although I don’t wish too many more power cuts your way:)
😀 Vishnu, when I have a work overload, I too fell that the universe is mad at me! But I’ve learned to live with it, why – revel in it. My UPS makes up in a big way. Beyond that, it is an Act of God.
Thank you for commenting! He he – too much of even good things can be cloying!
It’s so easy to forget the small things, thanks for the reminder Vidya; I have so much to be thankful for 🙂
BTW which set of books did you find online?
So nice to see you here, Freya! 😀 I got the “Sudden” series by Oliver Strange – westerns. Ten books. Nirvana!
Actually, we also had a rare powercut here and it was a surprise to us how easy it was us to enjoy the evening without any kind of screen activity! I love your palak paneer dish photo…looks so yummy and gorgeous!
Thank you, Roshni! Powercuts are quite the norm here. Nobody can say we lead a boring life 😀
So great that you still had enjoyable moments with the family. Love your list of exed out activities! When the power goes out, your mind is still stuck on things you’re used to doing with power, then you have to remind yourself that you can’t do that. Funny brain! Have a wonderful weekend.
Oh yes, Nancy! I am always grateful I grew up without most of the things that run on power – but these days, there are essential things like the mobile phone and other gadgets that must use electricity to charge. 🙂 Still…it is a state of mind most of the time. 😀 Thank you for dropping by!
We have power outages on a regular basis. Good, reliable paperback books, and a fully charged i-Pad save the day!
Of course, there’s always the option of going to visit friends or a trip to the mall!
At least you had wonderful “power-free” moments with your family, which don’t come around too often, I’m sure?
Enjoy the rest of your weekend Vidya!
Ah, Michelle – we have plenty of power-free moments together – by default. We just choose to make it “by choice” 😀 Yes, good books, good meals, good company. I actually wanted to go stroll in the mall nearby but my folks wouldn’t hear of it! 😀
Hugs!
It’s so great when you can make the best of a 7 hour outage and really find the good in it. I am celebrating friends this week too, only mine are just visiting not moving here.
Rhonda @Laugh-Quotes.com
🙂 Friends are fun! I am so glad I have mine and can’t wait to connect with the one who moved here. She’s still jet-lagged. 😀
Hugs and thanks for coming by, Rhonda!
I love how you can see the positive in every situation and the goodness in every person Vidya. No matter what or who causes your black-out you still see the light and shine through 🙂
Thank you Carolyn – I’ve learned that it is the best way to be – positive and ready to face things. 🙂 I don’t know how I would’ve managed many situations in my life if I were different! 😀
You have a lot to celebrate Vidya!! So glad for so many of the things you mentioned in your post! Your friend’s daughter, Vidur’s books, your ankle, your special collaboration project, your delicious food and an afternoon of reading. I did the same thing yesterday afternoon. I had to be out of the house but I didn’t have a car so I read on the patio all afternoon… completely guilt free. What is the series you got for yourself ?
Thanks for all the reminders that we need to have gratitude for the small stuff!!
xoxo
Betsy
Hey Betsy! 🙂 Yes, the little things are all very “tasty”! I got ten books from the western series “Sudden” by Oliver Strange. i loved those growing up and find I am equally ecstatic reading them now. 🙂 Hugs!
My favorite moment of the past week. I think they were the simple times when I just laughed out loud. Most notably when I spit up my milk while watching Arrested Development. I also enjoyed some time with my family.
How nice, Sebastian…sounds a lot like my day – milk spilling included! Laughter – what would we do without it? Sad to hear you’re taking a blogging break!
I love Palak Paneer! That picture is beautiful!
Thank you, Jodi!
I love Palak Paneer too,and that pic is sooo genuine.Locky you!
🙂 Thank you, Mona!I enjoyed reading your post about twelve solid motivators. So true!
Excellent, I like! I want to celebrate the little things well.
Thank you, Leovi! 🙂
Love that pic of the Palak Paneer. Looks yumm. And so true Vidya, little things are what count in the end 🙂
Yes, Bhavya – the little drops make the mighty ocean! My folks love palak paneer. 😀 So we make it often. Thank you for commenting!
Vidya, your posts are always full of so much sunshine. Thank you for being the warmhearted person that you are. We so need people like you …………….Cheers!
And it was an honour to have you on the IndiBlogeshwaris page. Thank you for sharing your post with us 🙂
Thank you, Vinita! 🙂 Ah, being an Indiblogeshwari is my privilege!
Love you!
This post shows your simplicity and positivity
. Its awesome how much I get inspired every time I read you 🙂 !!
I dont want U to change even slightly 🙂 Power cuts r murdering me but this post is so uplifting !
Paneer pic yummm
Thank you, Afshan! Yes, the power cuts are annoying in so many ways. Don’t let them get to you! Show them who’s boss and just pick up your camera and go for a walk! 😀 I am also tackling issues with my ISP, silly gooses. 😀
Hugs!
Your posts always fill me with sunshine 😛 It is so important to see the positive in everything and enjoy the simple pleasures of life.
My best part of the week was Sunday.. which I enjoyed in total solitude like you without any distractions !
Thank you, Ruchira! I love Sunday afternoons best – after everyone settles down to their own thing after a happy lunch. 🙂 Hugs!
Vidya-
I LOVE your essence. As I was reading this post, I thought how blessed all of us are to have you sharing how you walk through your day with us. What can I say? You are an inspiration! 🙂 Fran
Thank you Fran. Sometimes it is fun to grab life by its happy handles. 🙂 Then it becomes a habit! Love you!
Palak Paneer is no small thing in my book but definitely worth celebrating. YUM! 🙂
🙂 I used to think it was a big deal, Farnoosh – then I realized that the big deal is my folks’ reaction to the menu! 😀 Hugs!
First I have to ask if that’s the palak paneer you made and how did you get it so green? Looks delicious. I love palak.
We have loads of little things to celebrate, if we’d only stop and think of them more often! Thanks for the reminder.
No, Corinne. That’s not the palak paneer I made. 🙂 I used Picasa’s Boost function to enhance the color. But palak does stay green. I wash the leaves whole and steam cook them covered – they cook in less a couple of minutes. Then puree them in the blender. I stew the soft paneer cubes in the “masala” to soak up the flavor and then add them to the palak. A dash of lemon juice – this keeps it green.
In fact I am making this again today! 🙂 as I went slightly berserk shopping greens yesterday. I would happily send you mint, coriander and curry leaves “tight chutney”
Yes, the little things have always built up to the big ones for me. Especially now.
Thank you for commenting, Corinne!
I have made palak paneer before but it never looked so green – I’m guessing the lemon juice may be the trick I should try. Haven’t seen too many greens out here yet. We’ve been having a fruit fest with lychees, plums and peaches! Again the little things, huh?
I’m waiting excitedly for the corn to make an appearance. Only here, we most get American corn – doesn’t quite seem like our good old ‘butta’! 🙂
That IS yummy! Bhutta and the rains! Sounds heavenly! Yes, the lemon juice is the secret. Even the chutneys look green thanks to it, when stored in the fridge.
Wow Vidya! Your post filled me with a silent prayer that I got a powercut but then I remembered the north heat with bangalore breeze and the wish became dimmer 😛 well well what can I say every single word was like sunshine bright and beautiful. It filled my heart to know that people do enjoy small things (because I keep doing that all the time!) and also remember to share it with others.
Thank you for writing this post to remind us that happiness is only a moment away we only need to realise it soon 🙂
What a beautiful comment, Richa! Thank you! Hugs!
We get a lot of powercuts in Punjab too. I am glad you had a lot to celebrate!
😀 Yes, Bames! And now, internet issues 😀 talk about life’s balance!
Telling post. appreciate your writing style.
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