I grew up with lots of lovingly delivered good advice and life lessons from my mom, grandma, and uncles that bordered on the idealistic. I didn’t always take it seriously. But you know what they say — when the student is ready. So it was with me. Over the years, though,…
Vidya Sury, Collecting Smiles
There is something quietly powerful about sitting down with a blank canvas, a set of colored pencils, or a ball of yarn. The world keeps spinning, emails keep arriving, and the to-do list stays long. But for a short window, none of it matters. Your hands are busy. Your mind follows.…
I opened my closet today–the one where I keep my saris–and could not stop crying. I think it must have been the nostalgia of hours of talking with my friend when I visited her in New Jersey a few weeks back. We were lost in conversations about “those” days. We first…
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Where I am From
Inspired by teacher, award-winning poet, and author, George Ella Lyon’s poem Where I am From Where I am From I am from my mother’s delicate henna-ed hands, from discovering fragrant dried petals of Magnolia in her diaries, with recipes for food lovingly cooked from scratch, cherished from treasured steel tiffin carriers.…
“Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will. “― Suzy Kassem Do you find yourself constantly filled with self-doubt over your decisions? Are you always worrying about what others think about you, what you do, what you say, their reactions to your actions or opinions? You are not alone! You are…
Even mopping can be enjoyable when we practice mindful cleaning. I was reading Thich Nhat Hanh’s book Peace is every step for the nth time last week. Especially wonderful are the mindfulness exercises related to mindful cleaning, eating, listening and many more. It is a lovely book that brings a sense…
“Embrace your inner self.” This is wonderful advice to live an authentic life. However, most of us have a tendency to avoid standing out from the crowd. It is probably the belief that there’s safety in numbers because our survival depended on it from the beginning of time . . . …
Everyone, at some point in life, finds themselves holding on to a grudge because it feels justified. To let go of grudges is easy. Even when it appears justified, no good can come out of holding a grudge. What is a grudge? A grudge is a persistent feeling of ill will…
I woke up this morning and lit the lamp, and had my conversation with the divine as usual. As I sat with my tumbler of coffee, warming my hands and waiting for my son’s call, my mind rolled back to decades ago when Diwali was a big deal at home. Oh,…
A cozy interior is rarely created by softness alone. Plush upholstery, warm lighting and layered textiles may establish comfort, but the rooms people remember often contain something more personal. Art plays an unusually important role because it gives a space character without requiring another piece of furniture or a major renovation.…
I just turned 63. It’s the sort of milestone that makes you look in the mirror and want to say, “Well, I’ve aged reasonably well.” While my body has been aging, my attic has been growing. Somewhere between my thirties and now, my home has become a sort of reluctant museum,…