BREATHE!!

After a long hiatus of two years I wake up today morning with an insane urge to get back to blogging and thinking aloud. There are so many things happening around my life at present; I feel the need to get back into taking out some time for myself and doing things which have always given me much joy.

We have just shifted to a new city with new environs and it has been busy month settling into the new house and making it a home for the family.

So for the umpteenth time I set up my home and sigh in relief as the last nail is driven through the wall to hang my trusted companion-THE CLOCK in the living room. Every now and then as I flit across the rooms doing my daily chores I glance at that clock and it has this subtle way of asking me- time is passing, what are you doing with yours?

I have lunch boxes to be packed, clothes to be washed and hung out to dry, the garden needs to be watered, lunch has to be cooked and many more little chores which fill up my entire morning and noon. So I tirelessly go about doing the same. Time moves on and soon it is evening and once again I busy myself with dinner preparations, taking my daughter for her riding classes and picking up things and tidying the home.

Time marches on even further and as the evening fades and nightfall approaches I am all ready to sign off on this day and start planning for the next one to come.

Now, don't get me wrong. I love doing these mundane things, in fact I take pride in them. It gives me immense satisfaction to see a cozy home; it re awakens the Martha Stewart goddess in me. When I cook for family and friends I can't help but envision Nigella Lawson being proud of me, albeit I am generally sweating it out and not looking graceful as she does. A Taurean - good food and an earthy home are my birth rights or so I would like to believe.

But, there is always this tiny voice which makes me want to do more....more than just taking care of home, the family. Now don't get me wrong. I am not talking about stepping out and looking for a career to fill up those empty blanks.

The above can be held true for any lady, even the one who is managing a job and a home. When it comes to our species I feel that we women are extra ordinary. We are a race which dare to take on any challenge and give it our best shot. Kudos to that.

But, still there lurks the need to do more...much more. So I asked myself what more?

 Yesterday, I opened up my old recipe books and decided to bake a carrot cake, and I did so. I enjoyed baking it thoroughly. It is not the same as everyday cooking. I donned my best apron, and set to bake....the outcome was delicious to taste. But for me I was on Cloud 9.

That very evening I decided to go for a long walk, it was invigorating. I came back more energized and full of life. Generally it is a quick shower and back to home needs but today I have decided to light up the bath with all the candles and just take out those extra 10 minutes to wallow in their scented smells.

Tomorrow, I will be taking out my tin box which holds my quilling strips and tools and get to creating something new. I am on a roll now.

Many a times we women for get to take out time just for ourselves. There are so many things I love to do, I think about them and promise myself that I will someday get about doing it. That day is NOW, TODAY.

Read a book, go swimming, bake, listen to music, hang out with friends, get hands dirty with craft work, shop till you drop, hit the gym, learn to strum the guitar, learn to ride a bike, plant a flower bed...finish that old painting, write a letter or get back to blogging like me. Do whatever YOU want....but take out some time for yourself. BREATHE!!!

No more excuses about house work, kids, job or partners. My trusted companion ticking away has always walked along side. It was me who chose to run ahead. Now, I live....for others and most importantly for me. Pictures of the carrot cake along with the recipe coming soon. Like I said I am on a ROLL, so ladies out there get ROLLING and get in touch.