Hand Written Journal - Mini Essays Series (3)

                                                             Photo by Grianghraf on Unsplash

As regular readers of this website you will already know, the one thing that has kept me going through life & also through pandemic has been reading & writing.

I am perpetually refining my writing each day capturing details of mundane life as my day goes by; using apt words & describing it. Jotting down ideas, quotes and sentences that move me. Words that put a spell on me. An accidental habit I stumbled upon once upon a time. Going back to the older books, each page is written in a different mood; handwriting justifying it. I find remnants of the former self, memories, days that have gone by and patterns that stay the same — the fall of day and night, the ebb & flow of life. The clarity in thoughts, of being myself. I can relate to the era gone by, the notes — the personal essays, the ache in the pages, happiness gleaming through words and feel grateful filling these journals, recording my memoir.

Herbs N Health by Premnath Shenoy - Book Review

                                                           Source: Shweta's Phone

Title: Herbs N Health by Premnath Shenoy
Language: English
Genre: Research-backed Self Help Health Guide

Pages: 212
Rating: 5/5

Excerpt: 

Most of the herbs and spices we know are good for your body. It is known for them to improve your gut flora, and keep your immunity high!

This book will help you make the best choices to maximize the benefits of herbs, spices, & other plant-based nutrition, to use them for healing purpose & to fix any discomfort keeping you firmly in charge of your own biology.

With the pandemic ruling our lives for a year now, the need to increase immunity has never been more necessary. Herbal medication has been on a rise ever since as a course of alternative means to fight off maladies.

To begin your journey into the world of herbal medicine and natural remedies, I recommend you start by reading Herbs N Health. It has a lot to offer. Capturing micronutrients, quick home remedies to tackle bodily concerns.

Some foods are often overlooked, vital to maintaining optimal levels of vitamins & minerals, which are referred to as micronutrients. The lack of these does not show any adverse effects instantly until they run low in your body. The addition of certain foods can help bring back the levels up to the required mark.

My Thoughts:

Above description vocals elements of alternate medicine. It serves as evidence of the tangible benefits these plants and herbs can offer and how traditional Ayurveda for centuries are healers. We often ignore this traditional knowledge over the “over the counter pills and prescription”. This no doubt over time has diminished belief in traditional cures and remedies. We chose to close our minds to a whole avenue of alternate remedies. This book reminds us there is still a cure, there is still hope, based on centuries of evidence.

This book would make an excellent addition to your library to help you bring the focus. It is easy to read easy to understand but thorough with details. I am extremely pleased with my purchase. I love the simplicity of the book of introducing readers to different herbs and foods, their benefits & usage. There is no requirement of specialized equipment, or to go to the drug store, to pop in pills, purely the exotic herbs and spices all affordable, safe, and readily available at your local grocery store!. The author has done a great job of making herbal support accessible to the open-minded.

Overall a comprehensive guide perfect place to start learning about natural remedies!

©Shweta, 2021. All Rights Reserved.

Tourist in my city - Delhi!

On a particular Sunday night in February, sleep dint come to me like it always does. I tossed and turned so much so that I was bored. I woke up, walked out of the room so I don’t disturb my partner. I tried to read a book with a flashlight and at early dawn, I gently drifted away to sleep.

This whole incident left me groggy when it was time to wake up time. So I decided to call in sick at work. It is impossible to work with a headache and groggy feeling. I function very poorly in a state of mind like this one.

I slept in longer than usual. When I woke up, I felt the need to take a relaxing hot bath. As expected, I felt relaxed post the shower. As if the ablutions washed away my discomfort of a sleepless night. A relaxing hot bath seldom fails to calm me. 

I know at a rational level I should stay in, but a holiday like feeling refuses to go away. I donned my sneakers and mask and headed out. And here, in no particular order of importance, is how I spent my day despite the doom and gloom all around me:-

• Playing Tourist. This is undoubtedly the best way to explore your city. The opportunity to pull out your curious caps while the excitement is of a vacation mode. An unusual day like this one, allowed me to sparkle as I hit the road on a Monday morning, where otherwise people would be heading out to work.
  
  
• Flying Solo & Free. I know, sounds cliched, I was exhausted from work calls. That day I let my guards down and marched right into the world with courage and enthusiasm. It was as if my spirit was on fire that day. I was content going from one spot to another, in a cab. Talking to cab drivers about how their lives were during the last year, their earnings, their perspectives, etc. It felt great to talk to strangers and learn about their life. That is what makes us humans, isn’t it? Connecting with people and sharing our experiences.
  
  
• Reader. I see myself as an avid reader and reading in nature is magical, it is a haven. While I visited some historic monuments in the city surrounded by a garden, I also carried a book with me. I sat there in its sylvan surroundings and read. Read to my heart's content. With no one and nothing to distract me, no task to be done, no chore calling for my attention. It was blissful. 

Quite literally, it was travelling back in time as I wandered off through the city. They say that at least five cities once flourished on the site where Delhi now stands; and undoubtedly each one of them has left some evidence behind in the form of parks, monuments, landmarks or structure of the city. It felt the best use of my time to explore this heritage. You bet, yes I did the rounds of the usual suspects: Qutub Minar, Purana Qila, Humayun’s Tomb, Safdarjung’s Tomb, all of which were much less crowded. One because it was a Monday morning, second covid fear and third of course there aren’t any foreign tourists in the mix.

As for myself, now I will wait for the city to heal, will wait for it to find its way out of the glorious mess and a mountain of the dead the capital is currently buried in. I will stay home as I plough my way through my summer reading list and call of duties at my job. I will look out from my window taking in the beauty of nature, the best way I can. And I will be dreaming of hills, where I can escape the heat for a glorious few days in the months to come.

Thanks for reading! Here are a few more pictures from that memorable day. Tune in again soon.

©Shweta, 2021. All Rights Reserved.

     Humayun's Tomb

                                 

Qutub Minar

Till the Spring Lasts

                                                                                                                                             

The days are getting longer and nights shorter. Finally, spring is here! It is time to make the most of the pleasant weather in Delhi and other tropical regions too. For spring is short-lived it is best to get most of it. Picnics, outings, and visits to all the places you have been putting off. The sun with a blink of an eye is going to engulf us into its heat.

It has been over about 4-5 months, I visited the Lodhi Gardens in Delhi. It is one of its kind. And now is the best time to visit such a park. Taking a brisk walk by the sides of the lush greenery and colourful flowers is enchanting.

Springtime to me comes as music to the soul, with flowers glooming bright in its seasonal bed-chamber. The spring flowers bring an inner smile, the kind that burns warm and long. Making us feel light and content, with colours illuminating our world after long wintry cold days.

As of the Lodhi garden built in the 15th century, my favourite is a sprawling green park at the heart of the city where once upon a time Delhi rulers’ mausoleums rest surrounded by 90 acres of garden. The impeccable serene green setting and natural beauty echo its rich history. The gardens tranquil ambience, large spread jogging track, indigenous butterflies, birds and trees and flowering plants are what makes this park spring heaven. My love for old edifices, historic museums, forgotten ruins makes this a jewel in the crown.

The breeze in spring brings mild cool air rather than our usual winter chill, making me want to make the most of it before it dissolves into summer. Just exploring as much possible in this jubilant fiesta and storing them as memories for the rest of the year, for the harsh summers in Delhi isn't going to be merciful. 

©Shweta, 2021. All Rights Reserved.

Photo by Marie Tevosyan on Unsplash

Unannounced Hibernation

Hello there - Happy New Year 2021

Photo by Hans-Jurgen Mager on Unsplash

I know, I know it has been a while I have been writing and sharing my posts. But, you see I had to take a hibernation from my creative writing to keep me going in this period of the pandemic. I needed a change of routine & plans. I put my mind on a hiatus, no more thinking of ideas to write, edit & edit over & over and then bring a piece to life to schedule publishing. 

The last couple of months has enmeshed our lives, with the new challenges thrown at us by pandemic, and it still is in various parts of the world. We all had to re-think our priorities & pay attention to tiny bits of our day to day life which never crossed our mind, demanding more attention than ever before. More to a point, where we were getting our butts kicked and our hats blown, so much so that I needed some time to breathe. To soak in the change in my reality. 

So, I had to take a step back from my writing and refocus my energy and set the course of the wind to see how this site and my passion for words could thrive as a parallel universe outside my steady life. 

This was not a ‘good-bye’ but only ‘so long’ — for a short time.

I cannot express adequately how much I appreciate and value your time, patience and your support. It is in this spirit I took the liberty to best serve my well being by taking care during these extraordinary times as I hope you are doing the same & did the same last couple of months.

I intend to keep this rhythm of writing going. 

Till then, keep your spirits high, be kind and live to your fullest each day! :)

©Shweta, 2021. All Rights Reserved.