It’s almost the end of the year, so why am I starting something new now? Sometimes, you just know the time is right for a certain thing to manifest, to hold itself out and show you the way.
Today, I welcome you all to the weekly series, Soulful Sundays. I’m not sure if a similar hash tag or concept already exists, but this is my version of it. Can I keep it up week after week? Time will tell.
Sunday has always been a day of rest, relaxation and rejuvenation for the week ahead. In a world where we are constantly plugged in, connected and a click away from each other, it feels necessary to re-connect with someone very important, at least once a week. That person is oneself.
Beginning today, each Sunday I shall aim to disconnect from the world without, unplug from social media, go inward, reflect on the things in my life from the previous week and share it with you all. Some of it will be generic, others may be specific. Here are 5 things I learnt this past week:
- Death comes calling when you least expect it. Losing a loved one (my grandma) is never easy but learning to accept that death is inevitable is a valuable lesson.
- Strife on social media shall always exist. How you choose to respond to it determines your emotional wellness.
- Life can throw you a curve ball, upsetting all your plans. Don’t plan too far ahead. Focus on just the day.
- Relationships with close family members are fragile and need nurturing. Turn off the laptop, put away the phone and listen with all your heart to your children when they speak.
- A cold glass of water works wonders when you are angry. Drink one to calm down and see the difference.
Did you have a soulful Sunday?
Would you care to share your moments of peace with me?
Hi Shailaja,I was curious about the idea of soulful sundays more so coz I wondered if its borderline spiritual in nature. Interestingly , it is , but in a more practical way.
I agree with you when you say , Sundays are for reconnecting with oneself too – much needed , often ignored.
I guess we get too busy like you said with the chaos and the todo lists , we do forget the person at the centre of this frenzy , us.
It’s nice to see how thankfulness and gratitude comes easy to you. For most of us , its the ranting that’s effortless.
While we may have different learnings and life hacks week after week- its surely worth trying to write down what the week gone by taught us. Let me give this is a shot 🙂
Thank you for your love, Neha. Happy new year 🙂
Ooh the new site looks good! Happy new year 🙂
all the best for new start
Yes. It takes practice and loads of memory triggers 🙂
Sounds lovely! I just started Mindful Mondays 🙂 and am loving it. Even though I had to skip a couple. Hugs! Take care!
Soulful Sundays.. that sounds something..!! And I avoid checking my phone when sitting with someone.. the cold water thing sounds interesting.. I think I should try it out some day..
Loved this post 🙂
Cheers
Love the thought, and the name -Soulful Sundays.
Will look forward to them.
P.S. I know that a glass of cold water works wonders, but I just can’t seem to remember that when I need it the most. 😛
So glad to hear that, Rekha <3
Very true, Beloo. Without these lessons, there would be no growth and no personal progress. Always grateful for the lessons 🙂
Sounds like a perfect Sunday 🙂
I’m practicing point number 3 and 5 these days.
Some important lessons you learned, lessons we all need to learn and re-learn and re-learn. I guess that’s the way life works, it will keep bringing you situations that help you revise these important lessons.
Hugs Shailaja 🙂
Soulful Sundays sound nice 🙂
My sunday was quiet – I took a very nice and long nap. that made the day perfect! 😀
Yes, it really works! Try glaring when there is cold water going down your throat. Practically impossible 😉
That is heartening to hear, Parul. I am glad for you. I don’t look at my phone when in company but tend to do it when I am working from home and my daughter needs me. Consciously working on reducing that now 🙂
Thank you Vishal. Lovely insights, I agree. Keeping our focus on the things that matter will help us keep our sights grounded and better able to absorb these lessons.
Thank you, Aditi. Wishing you a peaceful new year.
Never easy, Tulika. It also gets progressively harder as we age and the knowledge that life can throw us curve balls with regard to our own parents or ourselves. Life is so very short. Seems pointless to waste any of it in frivolous matters.
I know how you must feel, Cat. Never easy to lose a loved one. I doubt I will ever be able to feel all right about the concept of loss but with each one, my resolve to look inward is strengthened plus it makes me look at people with more kindness than ever. It’s a great leveler, this thing called Death.
Thank you, Lata. Look forward to sharing my journey with you.
I agree Sundays can seem like that, but we need to consciously work towards one day of the week where we reconnect with ourselves. Gives us the much-needed sanity that will help us head towards a more peaceful week. Glad to have met you on this journey, Kala.
Cold water, really? I am gonna try that!
Disconnecting from social media for a day or two is so refreshing. But of course, thanks to your monthly disconnects, you know that 🙂
I like the concept of Soulful Sundays. I’d tried something similar on my blog, but you know how I am – I don’t work well with streamlining posts, so I gave it up.
I like the name. Soulful Sundays 🙂 It has got a nice ring to it. I have never tried disconnecting from social media but I am very conscious of giving my best when I am with people. My phone is always on sleep mode with no notifications audible or felt (no vibrations). But yes, to your thought – so important to introspect!
I am so glad to hear that, Shilpa. Yes, look within and all will be well. Life will still go on but it will be finer and sweeter. <3
Love insights Shailaja. Each of them are as valuable as the rest that you have shared. And it’s great to hear that you are detaching from the online world on Sundays. Sorry to hear about your grandmother.
Some insights that I have learned for moments of peace:
1. The secret to happiness is bettering your own life rather than looking at others.
2. Money can never replace personal satisfaction. So do what you love rather than loving what you do
3. Don’t apologize for something which means a lot to you.
Soulful Sundays sounds like a great idea! Reflecting on your past week, learning and moving from there…rec-connecting with yourself…Will look forward to this Shailaja!
Points to ponder Shailaja. As of now remembering No 5 tops my list. And No1. That is the hardest. Is it even possible to accept the death of a loved one? No matter how much you know it is inevitable you always think – not just yet. Hugs to you Shailaja. You are one brave person.
Love the idea of your Soulful Sunday, Shailaja! We should all take time to reflect like that. Good idea about drinking water when angry. I should try it. I’m always dehydrated, too, as winter is so drying so it will be good for me. At least drinking the water will make me pause and calm down. Should have tried it the other day when I yelled at my son for leaving the door wide open and then got the hubs yelling, too. Sigh. I was cranky as they both went to Cuba and arrived back at 1 in the morning and I had to get them at the airport so lack of sleep was mainly to blame. That’s my story, anyhow!
Number 1 is so true about death coming calling when you least expect it. Still miss my mom so much but learning to accept that she’s gone and trying to continue on without her. As I get older, death will come calling even more, a signal to me to live each day fully as I don’t know how many I will get either. Nothing is guaranteed.
Lovely insights. I am looking forward to your new series. As you said, the best time is always ‘now’ to start anything. Wish you the best..
Soulful Sundays sounds good! For me Sundays are far from being idyllic, probably more hectic and chaotic…sometimes making me wish to get back to routine weekday! I could give #5 a shot…..to drink down one’s anger! My Soulful time is typically Fri night I guess, when the whole week is behind me and a happy weekend lies ahead of me! I think I’ll look forward to your Soulful Sundays to tide me over my own chaotic ones 🙂
It is really very essential that we re-connect with ourselves. .brings us closer to ourselves, doesn’t it? You know, sometime back I read somewhere how we ought to take care of our body because that is the only place we have to live; how we ought to accept and love ourselves because we have to live with ourselves for the rest of our lives. People come and people go, but we are the only ones who are there for ourselves. How true! I have been doing some peeping into my soul since some time now and it is helping in some ways. I am giving my people my undivided time and attention, but I do it for myself more often than I used to. And I have stopped planning for the future. Living every day as it comes is so much easier!
It is a wonderful concept, Shailaja. I liked it and am going to be here with you, doing some soul-searching and reflecting – a tiny favour we will be doing to ourselves.
❤
Thank you so much! Have been meaning to move to self-hosted for a while now and was putting it off forever. Finally took the plunge 🙂
Pleasure to be here! The space looks awesome too. 🙂 very clean design.
I tried it this morning and it worked wonders, Vinay 🙂 Thank you for stopping by! Welcome to the new space 🙂
Interesting idea, Shailaja.
I could relate to the 3rd and 5th points. Cold water to cool down the heated mind is a very effective, yet mostly unused solution, I feel. 🙂