Growing up I always felt my parents were strict and conservative. But right now, at the age of 36, having gone through experiences, places, meeting people, interacting with them and simply watching how the world and the people in different cultures function… I look back and realise, I have had such amazing childhood and forward-thinking parents. There was never a moment when my parents discussed/gossiped/spoke ill about anyone. Neither did they ever compare us with others nor did they ever pressurise us to behave/act a certain way for the sake of others! Continue reading The Art of NOT being Conditioned/Controlled by Other’s Opinions
Category Archives: Lessons Learnt
The Art of Simple & Slow Living
I think I will never run out of lessons that I learnt during our stay in Sweden. I could say, during those couple of years, I got born again in many aspects of thinking, beliefs and perspective ✨
One of the fundamental lessons I learnt is what the Swedes are known for globally – SIMPLICITY & MINIMALISM ✨
Their ‘Lagom’ nature is something that catches one completely off guard. Once it does, it miraculously simplifies life, slowing us down and makes it so much more enjoyable ✨
Today, I not only find myself being drawn to monochrome’s and simpler clothing,
– I don’t bite more than I can chew, like even literally 😅
– I commit to few but important things and give my 100%
– I set expectations right at the very beginning (Ex: if I invite guests, I keep them informed that I will only be serving a simple meal and not to expect a banquet). I would rather have friends over for a simple meal, than not invite anyone out of the fear of cooking a three course meal 😅
– In cases when I would like to spend time with a person but I feel I don’t have the time and energy to host them at my home, I suggest ‘Fika’ (Coffee & Conversation in at a cafe or restaurant) ☕️🍰
– Be it a birthday party or my daughters’ weddings… No more themes or fancy, complicated, elaborate agenda, inviting strangers and people we hardly know in order to impress or please people. I am learning to keep things simple, practical, little to no stress and make it fun and memorable!
– I have stopped abiding to protocols that in my opinion are completely unnecessary!
– If I shower love or respect, I ensure it’s from my heart! No more pretending!
– I have started to invest in relationships & habits that matter for life.
– Mindful purchases, whether toys/clothing/gadgets 🧸
– Quality Family and Me-time now take high precedence. Everything else revolves around it. Anything/anyone that I feel would affect this balance shall not be entertained!
– Most importantly, be it my kids education or my career, I am no longer in a fight for survival or in a rat race. We have begun to LIVE LIFE at our pace and on our terms ☺️
Tack Sverige för att göra mig till en bättre, gladare människa 🇸🇪 Thank you, Sweden, for making me a better, happier person 💕
The Art of Saying ‘No’
“Learn the art of saying ‘NO’. Don’t lie. Don’t make excuses. Don’t over explain yourself. Just simply decline!”
This is something I have learnt pretty late in life. I attribute this to one of the several things I learnt living in Sweden and watching the Swedes way of life 🇸🇪
In India, being surrounded with numerous relatives, friends and acquaintances, it used to be my nature to say ‘Yes’ to invitations, meet up, assignments and the like just to please people as it’s considered very rude to say ‘No’ 😅
Learning not to live to please everyone has not only been one of the greatest life lessons I have figured, it has also liberated me to live life on my own happy terms!
Today, I say ‘yes’ only to those things that strike a chord in my heart and to things that I can fit in my schedule without over burdening myself or affecting our family time and my me-time. My ‘yes’s are no longer to please people to be in their good books. I am also mastering the art of very politely saying ‘No’!
I realized, by making conscious yes/no decisions, we are investing due value and respect to time, relationships, our potential and things that really matter. In the process not only are we enriched and empowered, we save ourselves from a lot of unwanted stress!
We should cultivate the ability to say NO to activities for which we have no time, no talent, and which we have no interest or real concern. If we learn to say NO to many things, then we will be able to say YES to the things that matter most!
Kronicles of K80 & Krissy 