A 38-Step Journey

I woke up early this morning,

only to live my moment in the sun.
I wore "outside clothes",
put on my watch, earrings and sunglasses,
everything that I have not used
for the past month and a half...
I let down my untamed tresses,
otherwise secured in a usual bun,
as they are scared of falling off!
All this, in celebration
of my 38 step journey...
with my tea and cake...
from the kitchen to my terrace!

#coronadiaries #lockdownbirthday #quarantinecrafts

:: On a deeper note, my 38-step journey talks about how, in these unprecedented times, the importance of everything around us has changed... We have come to appreciate simple things in life. We have started doing many activities which we never had the time for. 

How those 38 steps from the kitchen to the terrace ---from a 'busy, worried working mother' mind frame to a relaxed, grounded, grateful one, can be enough to make up a quiet enjoyable celebration, as I count 38 years of life going by... ::

:: Handcrafted Chocolate -Walnut Cake with a nutty crust ::

:: Cant keep their hands off! ::

New You

I like to give life a chance,

of a completely unusual encounter.

A tiny variance in thought patterns,

with slight nuances of liberation.

The lingering beauty,

as it renders to my soul,

yes, each journey does change me!

Renewed, when I return to the mundane,

the old seems likable again,

under the soothing shades of the new.

Be Your Own

Feel the rush,
towards a design-conscious living.
Stretch out, widen your exploration.
Be your own CREATION!

Unleash the maddening spirit.

Bathe in the creative juices,
Your thirst for the deep to quench again,
Be your own RAIN!

Each of us has a dark side.
Own yourself fully once.
An incredible dream to brighten,
Be your own SUN!

Listen to your heart's tune.
Compose your life's own song.
Let thoughts soar high,
Spread your wings in your own free SKY!

Close your eyes.
Bloom from within.
Trace the fragrance of possibility,
of your own higher self, that YOU CAN BE!

:: Motherhood is an aching journey full of ups and downs. Today, as I celebrate four years of quiet happy blogging, I need some inspiring lines by me, for me! Hence sharing this motivational poem from my book "quiet Happiness" to pull myself up and keep going. Of course, I have tweaked some lines ;)

At Home with You

: : Today quiet Happiness has turned three. This year my book reached many like minded readers from my new workplace. Some heart warming feedback never fails to bring a smile ---
"I decided to fold the page of the book whenever I liked a poem. In the end, the entire book was folded!"
- Tia, Urban Designer, Serbia

As I look back at life, much has changed. A new man has become a part of life --- our baby boy Abhiir born on April 8th 2015. Perhaps it was 'this' change that I was looking for last year around the same time...
As I quietly celebrate the blog and book anniversary, I cannot think of any other poem that perfectly reflects my current mind frame ..." at home with you "

I peep outside,

into crisp summer noons.

Shadows play on sandy stone walls.

My mind wanders.

Wants to soak up the outdoor scent.

Yet comes back to the shady coziness,

at home, with you.

Pale orange frills of the evening sky,

glaze faraway minarets.

My heart roams.

Wants to be the pigeon,

perched upon the mosaic dome.

Yet returns to the innocent love trap,

at home with you.

Dew laden breeze carries

subtle indications of inspiration.

My soul flies up high.

Wants to be that cloud,

watching the world go by.

Yet held firmly by new silken threads,

at home with you.

*previously published in quietHappiness, the book.

Such Moments

: : Today, quiet Happiness, the book, has completed two years .Quietly and very happily with over a hundred posts, the blog has reached many more countries and touched their hearts.

"Dont price them too high. What matters is that you sell a large number of them. Your creations (drawings) must go out into the world "--- Pablo Picasso.

Thank you dear readers for the continued appreciation. Hoping to collect more of 'Such Moments' -

Life is made out of magical layers.

I could go on living silently,

when I know I have memorable times,

collected with love and preserved tastefully.

Whenever skies turn grey,

into my favourite moments I rewind.

Continuing the song onward,

I quietly soothe my mind.

Laughter – natural , innocent;

little excited eyes – sparkling almost!

Unexpected words of care;

strong arms that hug me when I need it the most.

I wish I could actually stock these,

in my urn of happy tones, rare.

On those tough turns,

with my jar of sad shades to compare.

Hope will override depression,

while smiles make tear drops dry up.

Serenity leads confusion,

as I proudly measure my half full cup!

*Previously published in "quietHappiness", the book. 

Quiet Happiness Again

:: As I celebrate a yearfull of quietHappiness, I realised that my book has travelled many places and hearts and earned some kind words of encouragement ---

"Quiet Happiness ---Quite good…very good. Keep going!
The following lines from your poem particularly caught my attention:
…Each one has some magic beans, its all about the realization"
- Geeta Chhabra,
a well known Indian poetess with two poetry collections published in Dubai.


" Quiet Happiness is put together very well. The cover photograph is very striking and draws you in. I liked the poems that are visual
pieces where you describe an emotion in a visual context which really works..."
- Emer Davis,
an Irish poetess with several poems published in magazines along with her own published book of poems.

Sharing the title poem from the book --- quiet Happiness ...


My mind is now a clean slate.
On a new page, to write on, I try.
Free of a bad memory to erase,

I rise up like a bright kite in the summer sky.

To accept being completely happy,

frightens me many a times.

Shining beads of tears more precious

than laughter like tinkling wind chimes.

Then I wonder if I am less in tune,

with my emotions, my arts…

Isn’t this what I have waited for?

The stoic poet in me slowly departs.

A quiet sense of happiness lingers,

as my heart fills with content.

Nothing more to complain about,

towards none, I look down with contempt.

There is a unique fullness

in this emptiness of the mind.

Fresh pure atmosphere,

above the moody clouds, I find.

I recall the confused phase back then,

as pride in what I have, I flaunt.

What an ignorant way of life that was,

never finding out, what I really want.

When there is permanence,

thoughts have an eternal quality.

No matter where you are,

you can retain your own identity.

To know what you have is good enough,

is truly a serendipitous occasion.

Each one has some magic beans,

its all about the realization.