Wandering with Words

Random musings of a reckless soul.

Tag Archives: books


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34 Things I Have Learned in 34 Years

Every birthday, I write down the things that have made me wiser over the years. I am still learning and discovering life every day, but here are the things that made the list:

1. Learn to love your life and yourself.

No matter how messed up you or your life may seem (or people say it is) there’s always something unique about you. Find that. It’s there somewhere, you just have to look carefully. Be grateful and appreciate being alive.

2. Chocolates, books, and music can uplift your mood.

In that order.

3. The sunrise, the sunset, and the moon are three miraculous beauties that come to you every day.

Learn to appreciate it. Find some time in your busy life to sit and look at these beauties and calm your mind and soul.

4. Never stop learning.

‘One who stops learning becomes old. One who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing you can do is keep your mind young’ Henry Ford said that.

5. Improve. Mature. But never “grow up”

I have seen people give up on many things just to look more “mature”. Make sure you never lose the inner child in you.

6. Smile when you wake up and forgive people before you sleep.

Somethings you should do for your own peace of mind.

7. Eat, sleep, laugh, and talk in moderation.

Because an excess of anything is bad. But smile a lot! Smile and shine!

8. Give charity and gifts regularly.

Charity softens your heart and gifts increase love between the giver and receiver. It doesn’t matter whether it’s small or big. It’s the intention that counts.

9. Make time for your family. Family is very important.

Love them. Serve them. Be with them.

10. Make sure you spend some time with people below 7 and above 70 regularly.

They know the magic to make you feel better.

11. Tell your parents you love them. You may not have the chance later.

And I mean, tell them! Like, tell them on their face, “I love you, Dad” or “I love you, Mum”. The regret of letting them go without letting them know is too much to handle.

12. Spend a day without your phone. Spend another without looking at the clock.

Experience the slow-mo life!

13. Selfishness is a virtue.

Sometimes.

14. Stop complaining about how life sucks.

It doesn’t. Even if it does, get up and make it better.

15. Spend time with people who support and believe in you.

And be that person for others. Be someone that is happy for others’ success. Remember, what you give out comes back to you.

16. Travel

It’s the only thing that money can buy that makes you richer. And travel to places to explore the culture, the history, the food, the language, and the people, and not just for the Insta-worthy selfies.

17. Do yourself a favour and follow your passion.

Figure out what lights your fire and then chase the match.

18. When in doubt, always ask mom.

She carried you safely for nine months. Trust her. Remember, when in doubt, ask mom.

19. Not everybody will like you. Stop trying to please everyone and get with it.

After all, you are not the centre of the world.

20. Chivalry is not just for men.

Courtesy before chivalry. Always.

21. Listen to your body.

It talks to you. Befriend your body. Listen to its signals and you are sure to feel calm, peaceful, and aligned.

22. Think before you speak and read before you think.

So basically, read more, speak less.

23. Let makeup empower you.

But never be ashamed of your natural self. Believe in your beauty.

24. Drink more water.

And when you do that, your skin, hair, mind, and body will thank you.

25. First impressions are worthless 50% of the time.

So try not to judge people over that.

26. Never cease dating your spouse.

That’s a fine way to keep the spark alive!

27. Dream, dare, and droll.

Get a wishbone, a backbone, and a funnybone.

28. Nurture nature.

Beauty lies in the green of trees and this earth needs nature to survive and we need the earth, don’t we?

29. Stop eating after 7 pm.

Call it intermittent or whatever you like. Just give your body the time to reboot and refresh. 

30. If you can not find a door, look for a window. 

Life becomes even more beautiful with an optimistic attitude. 

31. There is always time. 

Each morning is a fresh start. If you couldn’t do it yesterday, now is a good time to start. 

32. The world is not white or black. 

“The world isn’t binary. Everything isn’t black or white, yes or no. Sometimes it’s not a switch, it’s a dial.” Jeff Garvin said that. 

33. Do not waste time trying to “fit in” or “stand out”.

Just be yourself. 

34. When you buy something new, give away something old. 

It helps you simplify your life, declutter and improve someone else’s. 


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Notebooks



You know those kinda crazy people who love collecting stationery. They love buying new pens, fancy pencils and above all the stationery-notebooks. They may or may not use it but they just gotta have it! Yeah, I am one of them.


Maybe it’s about how they come in so many different sizes and colors and themes. Some of them have squared edges, others rounded. Although I am not a knowledgeable collector, there is something about notebooks that attract me.


Maybe it’s because a notebook is an item in which I can unleash my emotions, creativity and thoughts. Or maybe it’s the idea of something fresh, something new, something untouched…. The act of writing down my thoughts and ideas is extremely satisfying.


Also, anything handwritten has the power to generate excitement in a way that emails and text messages just can’t.
Most people these days don’t even carry a pen, let alone a notebook.


So, here’s a suggestion- own a notebook. What you fill it with- favorite moments, ideas, grocery list, budgets and expenses, poems, favorite quotes, songs, drawings, doodles, 3am thoughts and ideas, dreams, passions, bucket lists, places you want to visit, jokes, love notes, your feelings – is entirely up to you.

Thank me later.
 


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What teachers make?

The following illustration by Zen Pencils is my personal favourite as it combines my love for comics and poetry.


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Everyone should have a Hobbes!

Calvin and Hobbes is the only comic strip I have read that discussed philosophical topics in a humorous and relatable manner.

I love the story telling, the art, the wit, the subtle and sophisticated humour, the wisdom but most of all I love the characters – Calvin, the parents, Susie, Moe, Stupendous Man, Spaceman Spiff, Tracer Bullet, the teacher, the Babysitter and of course my favourite, Hobbes!

Every time I read it, I am reminded that we all have a Calvin within and we all need to let our imagination run free once every while.


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28 by 28

I guess it’s about time to change my age in the About section. 😛

28 things learnt by 28 :

  1. Learn to love your life and yourself.

No matter how messed up you or your life may seem (or people say) there’s always something unique about you. Be grateful.

  1. Chocolates, books and music can lift your mood.

In that order.

  1. The sunrise, the sunset and the moon are three beauties that come to you everyday.

Learn to appreciate it.

  1. Never stop learning.

One who stops learning becomes old. One who keeps learning stays young.

  1. Improve. Mature. But never “grow up”

Make sure you never lose the inner child in you.

  1. Smile when you wake up and forgive people before you sleep.

For your own peace of mind.

  1. Eat, sleep, laugh and talk moderately.

But smile a lot! Smile and shine! 

  1. Give charity and gifts regularly.

It doesn’t matter whether it’s small or big. 

  1. Make time for your family. Family is very important.

Love them. Serve them. Be with them.

  1. Make sure you spend some time with people below 7 and above 70 regularly.

They know the magic to make you feel better.

  1. Tell your parents you love them. You may not have the chance later.

And I mean, tell them! Like, tell them on their face, “I love you pappa” or “I love you mummy” You have no idea about the regret of letting them go without letting them know.

  1. Spend a day without your phone. Spend another without looking at the clock.

Experience the slow-mo life!

  1. Selfishness is a virtue.

Sometimes.

  1. Stop crying about how bad your life is.

It isn’t. Even if it is, get up and make it better.

  1. Spend time with people who support and believe in you.

And be that person for others.

   16. Travel

   It’s the only thing that money can buy that makes you richer.

  1. Do yourself a favour and follow your passion.

Figure out what lights your fire and then chase the match.

  1. When in doubt, always ask mom.

She carried you safely for nine months. Trust her.

  1. Not everybody will like you. So stop trying to please everyone and get with it.

After all you are not the centre of the world.

  1. Chivalry is not just for men.

Courtesy before chivalry.

  1. Listen to your body.

It talks to you. It really does!

  1. Think before you speak and read before you think.

So basically, read more, speak less.

  1. Let makeup empower you.

But never be ashamed of your natural self. Believe in your beauty.

  1. Drink more water.

Then your skin, hair, mind, body will thank you.

  1. First impressions are worthless 50% of the time.

So try not to judge people over that.

  1. Never cease dating your spouse.

That’s a fine way to keep the spark alive!

  1. Dream, dare and droll.

Get a wishbone, a backbone and a funnybone.

  1. Nurture nature.

Beauty lies in the green of trees.  

 

 


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Some books can change your life…

Yes it’s true… a good book can change your life. 

So which one has done it for you? Do leave your replies in the comments! 

Some books that have had a positive impact on my life are : 

  1. Enid Blyton’s The Famous Five Series. (Because this was my door to the world of fiction)
  2. Jeffery Archer’s The Prodigal Daughter.
  3. Tony Robbin’s Awaken the Giant Within.


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Read!

image

“Oh, books, what books they used to know,
Those children living long ago!
So please, oh please, we beg, we pray,
Go throw your TV set away,
And in its place you can install
A lovely bookshelf on the wall”

-Roald Dahl

Read the full poem http:// m.poemhunter.com/poem/television/


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Healed.

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You are the books you read,

The people you meet.

The dreams you make,

The words you speak.

And  you are, what you take from these.

Let the colors fill your mind

Carry your own sunshine

Live the truth,

Express your love,

Do more, need less,

Laugh a lot and be blessed.

See the wonder of it all,

Marvel at the sight,

Share the happiness,

Celebrate the life.

Dream big, but never be,

In too much hurry,

To stop and smell… to feel… to touch or to see.

So celebrate what has been given,

The tiny bit of heaven!

#HappyBirthdayToMe!


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The Book Bucket Challenge.

The challenge is to list ten books that have stayed with you for years / changed your perceptions / are simply great pieces of literature.
Here are my ten books :

1* Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime
– Mark Haddon.
Because seeing the world through the eyes of someone else is a rare experience.

2* The Old Man and the Sea – Ernest Hemingway.
A book you could not fall out of love with.

3* The Famous Five – Enid Blyton.
For these were the very first books I read and, still read. They introduced me to the world of books and I am ever grateful.

4* Collected Poems Of W.B.Yeats.
Because, Yeats! The man who stirs storms in heads, hearts and souls.

5* The Fault in Our Stars – John Green.
This book made me cry and cry until I learnt to live life and enjoy every moment. Also, because I am an emotional fool.

6* The Shadow Lines – Amitav Ghosh.
Childhood, growing up, unrequited love, violence, internal struggles and forgiveness. I highly recommend this book.

7* The Book Thief – Markus Zusak.
There are many things in this book that hits you, hard.
“Even death has a heart.” and “So much good, so much evil, just add water.”

8* Coasting – Jonathan Raban.
“I hauled up the anchor and moved on with the tide and let the winds guide me.”
This books makes me want to do the same.

9* Who Will Cry When You Die – Robin Sharma.
~Too many people die at twenty and are buried at eighty~

10* Watership Down – Richard Adams.
It is not a children’s book. It’s everyman’s book. Every animal, too.

*11* Almost anything by P.G. Wodehouse and
Kurt Vonnegut!

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