life
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10 Cups of Creativity: A Forgotten Reminder
Found this gem deep in an old folder from my Creative Thinking course. The assignment? “Draw 10 cups.” That’s it. No brief, no model, just 10 different ways to cup.Looking at them now, it’s wild. There’s the cracked, detailed one; the fluffy, blue, on-fire one; the messy scribble one; and the structured grid one. They’re all over the place, and that’s the point. At the time, I was just doing the work, probably stressing about the grade. But the prompt was actually asking: “What does creativity look like to you?” Looking at them now, it’s wild. There’s the cracked, detailed…
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The Tragic Beauty of Weekends & Leisure Time
In my pursuit of precious freedom, leisure time becomes my sanctuary. I fragment these fleeting moments into rejuvenation, family love, cherished friendships, and growth. Each experience enriches my soul, be it meditative stillness, laughter-filled family moments, or skill-building endeavors. I strive to live fully, embracing life’s beauty without regrets.
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When We Pack Our Life Into Two Days A Week, My Love…
When we pack our life into 2 days a week,we’re not just folding clothes into a bag.We’re creating memories – with the people we love,and for the people we love. A little bit of pamperingwith food, laughter, and love.A little bit of funplaying around like kids with badminton rackets in hand.A little bit of rest and relaxationjust lying down, letting the world slow. A little bit of staring at the sky,singing your favorite song,watching your favorite shows.Skimming through a comfort bookas the sun tans your skin further.And later, staring at the stars,wishing for a life with ease. And then you…
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Ladders Never Touch Mud
The ladder gleams, but never rustsit’s never met the soil. From polished heights, they summon contracted ghosts, specters in suits, hollow hands that sign but never build. Greed wears a tie, apathy seals the deal. We, the handlers, catch the crumbs of their lazy feasttardy briefs, half-baked decks, pixels that scream “we didn’t care.” You never want to call out the rot. You want silence, compliance, a nod that costs us sleep. Are youyou hypocritethe one who preaches excellence while outsourcing mediocrity? They say you’re vile. They whisper bribes. They count the favors you never earned. But a corner of…
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Being the living
It’s always the living that has to carry the brunt left by the dead… It’s always the living that has to live the rest of the life staring that the vacuum left by the dead… It’s always the living that has to pull themselves together and move on… Is that the cost that comes with being the living? –A Solivagant’s Shoes
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A Break from “Caring What Others Think About Me” and “Me Caring To Much About Others Feelings Over Mine”
The content reflects on the struggle of individuals in prioritizing others’ opinions over their own desires, highlighting how societal pressures can hinder authenticity. The author seeks freedom from these constraints, aiming for a life uninfluenced by external judgments.
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In the eyes of my Dogs
Can you share a positive example of where you’ve felt loved? Being a human has made me lonesome the moment my door of consciousness opened. The human-human connection. The longing to be loved by fellow humans has always been beyond my scope. It’s just a facade. Or should I say a mirage. The love I am talking about is not the one that fits just as romance. Love is never a one size fits all. We all know that. To be accepted for who you are is the purest form of love. Every time I watch anime, I love the…
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The Echo of Discourse
It lingers still,those fractured frames of memory,etched in the static of my thoughts.Your cursed cryptic wordsencrypted, fragmented, staying alive in me… Through me…still haunt the algorithm of my discourse. Some nights,the void stares back harder,a black hole swallowing the lastof my certainties.But I know,it’s just my past reflection fracturing,a glitch in my solitude. How often have I scrolled,paused at your pixelated silhouette,searching for proof of existence,a breadcrumb of your now,as if that image could patch the cracks. What ache,what unbearable ache,a virus in the system,a loop of trust corrupted. And then the whispers came,warnings disguised as wisdom:“Never trust shadows that…
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Never an Admirer of a Pot
Never an admirer of a pot,Pots on the street or pot on the gallery,Never bothered by its presence either.Pots are of types…The outcome of the clay and the potter.Either sits as a show-off,Speaks with a deformed voice,Or ends up storage of the needs of human kind. I came across one such pot,Never an admirer of this pot.Looked neat… Looked clean…Looked spotless… Looked as if it could hold on to the waterI seldom poured in any before.Everything on the outsideWell and fine. She thought, he thought, and I thoughtThe pot is bought.It lays on that table idle.Should I use it to…
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Falling in Love with Flawed Mangoes
It all started accidentally, one of those moments when you’re not even looking. I was scrolling through Spotify late one evening, lost in the endless sea of suggestions, when I stumbled upon Flawed Mangoes. I didn’t expect much, but something about the name intrigued me. In a world that often expect you and force you to be perfect… I am someone who learnt it’s okay to be flawed. So the name Flawed Mangoes hit a home run right there. I clicked play, and before I knew it, I was falling into a world that felt like it was waiting for…
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Colosseum of Time
I am aliveBreathing, laughing, loving,After years spent in shadowsAs a sick child clinging fear, and fight.Grateful for this fragile heartbeat,For the sunrise I never thought I’d see. I no longer chase the world,Nor care to please its fickle crowd.It’s okay to be oblivious,To stand alone inside truth.Let me be free from the weight of others,Their opinions, their fleeting praise. But still, things often makes me crossThe career, the grind,Responsibility that demand to protect who I love.We inherit no riches, no legacies,Only dreams of distant lands,Where I long to roam but need to earn.In this world, in this culture,The work is…
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The Mountain’s Whisper – Poem
He says that Mountain never excites him,But he savors the views as he reaches the mountain’s peak.He always says he never love that Mountain,But he feels his best while exploring its thickest terrain,Amidst the echo of murmuring beasts. He says he never falls in love with that Mountain,But he always returns, drawn by an irresistible pull when loneliness knocks at his door.He says he is never meant to be a mountain person,But he always comes back broken,And leaves like a golden vase, whole again,As if that Mountain is his true home. He says he never loves that Mountain,But he cherishes…
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Pondicherry: A Short Weekend Trip From Chennai
Pondicherry Pondicherry, just the name brings to mind cozy cafes, sun-kissed beaches, and streets lined with bougainvillea. For folks in Chennai, it’s like our backyard, just a few hours away, perfect for a quick escape from the city’s hustle. Whether you’re looking to sip coffee in a quaint French cafe, gobble some dessert, get your tan on at the beach, or just laze around doing nothing to recover at Auroville, Pondy’s got you covered. It’s a destination that works for everyone—from wide-eyed kids to the ‘I need a break from life’ adults(that’s me). My Earlier Visits to Pondicherry Let me…
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Making Myself A Priority Again
Life is a journey with its ebbs and flows. Sometimes, we find ourselves at a crossroads. We feel lost and undervalued. Yes, people are scary and unpredictable. It’s okay to close the doors to your heart after getting yourself pushed to the edge of a cliff. It’s alright. It seems hopeless today. But this is also the sign that life is protecting you. It keeps things and people that are not meant for you away. It’s in these moments that we must remember to rank ourselves, to find our way back to self-love and self-care. It’s not just a way…
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The Quest To Happiness
What are 5 everyday things that bring you happiness? How to define happiness? We all define happiness differently, don’t we? Not everyone is made happy by the same things or people. For me, happiness feels like warmth and comfort. It’s like resting under the shade of a tree while watching big, fluffy clouds move aimlessly across the sky. Happiness is like breathing without difficulty. It’s the overflowing emotion I see in my dogs’ eyes when they catch sight of me as I return home. Some days, happiness is just a feeling that comes naturally. Happiness is the kind of emotion…
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Sink or Swim: Learning Swimming as an Adult
Picture this: A land-dwelling creature (Me) with lungs that occasionally protest. And then there’s water, the mysterious, liquid abyss that I have never understood, always seeming like it’s waiting to swallow me. Back in 2019, I decided to create a bucket list. List of – things that I wanted to do, things that I thought will give me a reason to look forward to the future, things that drifted me from the thoughts of existential crisis. My list had everything from “Seeing Fireflies” to “Travelling to Barcelona”. But nestled among those wishes was the granddaddy of them all: swimming. Yep,…
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Grandfather
I always want to shut my ears when someone talks about their grandparents, especially their grandfather. Maybe it’s because I don’t have them. That’s what I told myself when I was a kid. Maybe it’s because I couldn’t relate. That’s what I told myself when I was a teenager. Maybe it’s because I couldn’t change the past. That’s what I told myself today. The past me always looked in awe at kids who talked about their grandparents buying them this and that, giving them allowances and hugging them hard, cooking them their favorite dishes, telling them all the random funny…
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Being Weak: Personal Reflection
Weakness is a word that we often associate with our inabilities, negativity, shame, or failure. We tend to avoid it, hide it, or deny it. But what if we could see weakness differently? Weakness has two sides: physical and emotional. I experienced the extremes of both. Physical Weakness The first time I felt physically weak was when I was diagnosed with a health condition that affected my muscles, nerves and bones. I had to undergo several diagnostics, and treatments, and I spent months in the hospital and at home, unable to do the things… Things which I thought were not…
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For Some, Experiencing Life Close To Death Teaches Self Worth
How do significant life events or the passage of time influence your perspective on life? We are the sum of all the people we met since our birth, all the things we have seen, all the food we ate, all the books we read and most importantly all the experiences we had. Feeling Out of Place: How I Struggled With Fitting In From my childhood, despite having parents and siblings who loved me I found myself not fit in this world. I have allowed people to define who I am most of the time but I am always unclear what…
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Marching Away From My 25th March
March, the month I love the most. The reason is quite simple, it’s the month that my mother gave birth to me. It’s the month I feel at home. It’s the month that made me cry a lot. It’s the month that made me who I am. It is also the month I reborn. It’s the month of spring. I turned 25 this year on March 18th. Since I was a kid, I have never dreamt of my future self. Strangely…? Nope. Naturally… Given what life put me through, I didn’t have time to dream about being an actual adult…
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Tall Girl 2: Breaking Stereotypes and Embracing Imperfections
If you haven’t watched the first part of Tall Girl before, watch that and then start watching Tall Girl 2. Tall Girl has a special place in my memory. The way it broke the stereotype, the way it fight backs louder than any scream could get. It seems like another highschool drama. But, it is more than that. Besides, Jodi(Ava Michelle) and Dunklemen(Griffin Gluck) is one of my most favourite Netflix couples. Their charm has always been so surreal. And with Tall girl 2, we get to see the beautiful and talented cast coming together along with some new faces,…
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Poem: Back To My Shell
The author reflects on their return to poetry after a long absence, citing personal brokenness as the impetus. Themes of loneliness and introversion are likely explored.
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Art: A Way To Let Go Of All Your Complex Feelings
Art is for everyone, not just the talented or trained. It defies standards and rules, offering a liberating outlet for emotion. Embrace it for therapeutic expression.
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Yumi’s Cells Review: Creative and Relatable!
“Yumi’s Cells” is a relatable and heartwarming South Korean series that portrays the everyday life of a woman through the perspective of her cells, highlighting self-love and relatability. The well-casted characters and romantic elements make it a must-watch.
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Gardening Lessons: Patience, Perseverance, and Joy in Nature’s Gifts
Gardening holds varied importance for individuals, from hobby to livelihood. It offers spiritual presence and teaches patience, life lessons, and perseverance. Building a relationship with nature brings the reward of soulful rejuvenation and valuable experiences.
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Travelling Virtually Around Pacific Asia Like…(Dream To Travel Virtual Event)
The writer shares their experience of virtual travel events organized by PATA, expressing excitement and learning from sessions on Thailand and Bhutan. They emphasize the impact of COVID-19 on the tourism sector and encourage support for it in the future.
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A Solivagant’s Friend: Books
A solitary traveler always carries a book, finding comfort and companionship in literature. The Chennai Book Fair holds a special place, shaping the writer’s worldview and providing solace during difficult times.
A Solivagant's Shoes 