After years of trying to be Everything, Everywhere, All At Once, I had hoped this would My Year of Rest and Relaxation. With H away at college and N shifting to a local PG to be near hers, I had thought I’d simply Eat, Pray, Love (and read and write) and lead a quiet life. I imagined my days would follow the gentle routine of A Convenience Store Woman.
However, I soon realised that being in a Happy Place wasn’t all that easy.
First up, after years of chaos, peace didn’t quite suit me. I felt lonelier than The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny. Books helped, so did long Conversations with Friends — the kind that wander and meander, that make you linger at cafes or stay up late into the night.
Then came bigger troubles.
A health crisis with a younger cousin served as an eye-opener. Suddenly the Husband and I realised we needed to reconfigure our lives through tiny Atomic Habits. It is moments like these that make one one realise that All Roads Lead Here – to wake-up calls one never asked for, but probably needed.
But more on that in my next post.
Just as I was settling down, a manpower crisis hit at work. Much as I tried to Think like a Monk and remain calm, that was not to be. It felt like a War of Worlds was raging in my head as I debated letting go of an old employee. But things have a way of working out. I may not have a Godfather to pull strings and make offers that people cannot refuse, but there is always a God of Small Things quietly rearranging the pieces of my life.
With that out of the way we eased into the festive season. The children came home and that was quite the highlight.
If I carry one lingering regret, it’s that I still haven’t managed to have a Room of My Own. Nobody can quite understand the longing — after all, I often have the whole house to myself. But it’s not the same thing. I have always dreamed of A Spare Room, lined with books and beanbags and cushy sofas where I can read, write and nurse my BookWorm Crush(es).
Somedays, that absence fills me with dissatisfaction, days when even the gentle wisdom of The Dalai Lama’s Cat fails to uplift my spirits.
But then I am a Remarkably Bright Creature and I do realise that no one is Happy All The Time.
I am learning to enjoy My Imperfect Life.
Letting my longings weigh me down instead of being grateful for the things I have gets me Neither Here Nor There. I have learned that such unnecessary unhappiness messes your life. It Was the Enemy Within.
The trick to life, My Friends, is to bask in the glow of your own Heart Lamp or open the Book of Love and read a page or two everyday. And then you’ll realise that Love Awaits you at every corner, and that’s really all one needs in life.
So despite the chaos of life and a few unfulfilled desires I have to say I am Completely Fine.
*********
Over this week I am partying with Blogchatter as I wrap up the year doing a series of five posts — three here on the blog and two on Instagram. I do hope you keep me company. #BlogchatterWrapParty
This is Chapter 1 – Title of my year.
We were supposed to give our 2025 a fun name like a book or movie. Rather than creating a name I thought I’d simply pick out a book/film name but once I started thinking, a host of titles jumped out at me and the only way out was to put them all in.
What title would you give your 2025. Share? Please?
Find next chapters here
Chapter 2 : The Plot Twist of 2025
Chapter 3: Creator Bingo
Chapter 4: The Supporting Cast
Chapter 5: Vision Board for 2026
*************
“This post is part of the Bookish League blog hop hosted by Bohemian Bibliophile”
Drop by her blog for some wonderful book-related content.
Loved the post, Tulika. Such a creative one! I can so relate to the shake-up post your cousin’s health crisis. My cousin’s (who is a good 5 years younger) heart issues was the push I needed to get my health back in order.
Ritu Bindra recently put up this amazing post…A Quiet Reading Year 2025 and Reading Challenges for 2026
Yes, health scares in the family are scary. It changes our perspective. We often forget that taking care one one’s health is non-negotiable.
Such a wonderful post! Love your creativity. Really enjoyed reading it! :))
Tarang recently put up this amazing post…My English Translation of a Beautiful Hindi Poem by Rajeshwar Vashisht
Thanks Tarang.
I, too, had this mental picture of what a quieter chapter in life would feel like — peaceful, easy, settled. But real life seems to mix the calm and the chaos in the trickiest ways. Your writing made me smile and nod because you captured that tension so honestly — the hopes, the disruptions, the little wins we cling to. I especially loved how you threaded in all those book parallels — it gave the whole piece such heart and texture.
Jaideep Khanduja recently put up this amazing post…When the Sky Learns Your Name
Thank you so much Jaideep. Life has a way of surprising us, rarely going as per our plan.
I love this post, Tulika. You always surprise us with something different. I hope 2026 treats you very well.
Aw thank you Sonia. Hope 2026 is wonderful for you too.
Really enjoyed this honest look at finding balance. Your reflections on chaos and calm hit home. Loved the book references woven in too.
Manali Desai recently put up this amazing post…Movies with M ~ Dec’25 Wrap-up
Thanks Manali.
Oh this is gold the way you so smoothly weaved the story around various book titles is so clever. I enjoyed reading it.
Rajlakshmi recently put up this amazing post…Black Pen Zentangle Artwork – Short Tutorials for a Mindful Hobby
Thank you. Makes me happy to hear you enjoyed it :-).
Tulika, I am so much in awe of your creativity! This was such a fun, interesting way to thread the books. And thank you so much for including Love Awaits!
Aw thanks so much Harshita.
That’s a riot! I was thinking, I should pen the number of books that came into your life as the article moved along. It was a really good read.
ambica gulati recently put up this amazing post…From Dynasties to Democracy by Deep Mukherjee and Tabeenah Anjum
Glad you enjoyed the post Ambica.
Haha, enjoyed reading this post a lot! Didn’t know some of the books mentioned here, but the way you wove them into what you wanted to say was just so unique and refreshing!
Thank you Ananya.
This was a lovely read with all those book titles woven in. So creative. I can’t think of any book title that would suit the year I had. Reflections, Travel and Realignment is what I would think of as defining terms this year.
Rachna Parmar recently put up this amazing post…You Hurt My Feelings
You’ve had such an eventful year. That title sounds perfect.
Wow! This is creative writing at its best. But why is that that spare room with books and a lounge area to dream, to write, still a distant dream? I have been wanting one, too, for quite a long time.
Vinitha Dileep recently put up this amazing post…Fiction Monday – 282
The thing is I am reluctant to change up the children’s rooms and make space for my things, even though they’re home only for short spans. I do have a plan though, so maybe at some point it’ll happen.
Hi Tulika, I loved reading your post with the mention of so many book titles! Absolutely fabulous and clever weaving of ideas! May you have many more book ideas in the years to come as well!
Welcome here Deepti and Thank you. That’s a wonderful wish.
You are so clever for writing a post like this. Loved reading it and thank you for mentioning my book <3
Thank you Suchita. This was fun to do.