Letter#23 The Beauty of Everyday Life, Yiruma & Solitude in Recurrence

I care for myself. The more solitary, the more friendless, the more unsustained I am, the more I will respect myself. - Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre

Last night, I had a profound moment of introspection at a cozy restaurant as Yiruma's melancholic piano music played in the background, and the rain poured outside. It reminded me of the beauty of everyday life that we often overlook in the midst of our busy schedules. For me, beauty starts with a cup of coffee in the morning. Being a self-proclaimed coffee addict, brewing a medium or dark roast pour-over every morning has become a daily ritual that I take immense pleasure in. As I have started prioritizing my health, I also cook nutritious meals in the morning, consisting of steamed or fried rice, vegetables, and either chicken or tofu.

The monotony of working from home can sometimes get overwhelming. Therefore, I often choose to work from a cozy cafe that allows me to change my environment and also gives me the opportunity to interact with the pets there. After completing my work, I relish lunch at the cafe while diving into a good book, either fiction or non-fiction, with a particular fondness for Nassim Nicholas Taleb's work.

As the day progresses, I ensure that I make time for my loved ones, either through phone calls or meetings in person. In the evening, I hit the gym to push my limits and improve my physical well-being. But my thirst for knowledge doesn't stop there. Every night, I dedicate an hour to studying various topics that interest me, from philosophy to economics, technology, and psychology.

The highlight of my day, however, is dinner. Though I have traveled to various places and tried different cuisines, I always find myself coming back to the spicy food cooked by my mother. Be it mutton curry or Rajma, I relish every bite of it. Though I try to read before sleeping, I often find myself dozing off after a few pages.

While there are instances when I feel lonely, I believe that nothing is more real than the routine we carry out every day. Therefore, I am constantly optimizing my routine to make the most of my day. I would love to hear about your daily routine too. What are the rituals that bring joy to your day and how do you make time for the things you love amidst a busy schedule?

Write me back here.

I’ll write again, my friend.

Yours,

Bohemian Dialogue