Today was a pleasant day; it started colorful, with a light rainbow visible on the way to the office, and then it turned hot in between. When I was in the office, it rained heavily for some time, and then the day returned to its usual heat.
I went biking early in the morning, so the first two pictures are from that short bike session. Then I took a walk after my meeting in the office. The next three pictures are from there, and afterward I went to a nearby Thai restaurant. The first two pictures are from the interior, and I noticed a grasshopper on the car hood, so the next two pictures are from there.
What a day!
Which photo from this day would you hang on your wall — and why?
No matter how hard I try to keep myself away from my phone, I am always with it. I want to use it as little as possible, but can’t deny that it’s hard to live without it. I am not an addict and have good self-control, but to be connected with my family and the world, this is the only way, unfortunately.
At least I can see my parents via video calls from a different country and time zone, which was not possible earlier. Now, connecting with people is just one click away; isn’t it amazing? But it has also impacted our health, our ability to admire our surroundings, and our ability to have a true connection with the world.
No complaints, though; everything comes with pros and cons. It’s up to us to find a balance, and I am trying to do so.
Coming to today’s question, my favorite apps keep changing based on my goals and focus area. Right now, below are the apps where I am spending most of my time:-
Jetpack: This app is in use as I write this. I use this to maintain this blog: writing, editing, checking stats, and whatnot.
WhatsApp: This should be the most-used app on my phone. I open it countless times to read and send messages to friends and family. WhatsApp stories are my new craze, where I share pictures I take in my daily life and motivational quotes.
YouTube: It’s a good time-pass app; whether I feel bored or want to listen to a podcast, I tune in to it. I listen to motivational podcasts and some shows, and watch reels here and there.
Strava: Another great app for me where I keep track of my gym workouts, hikes, biking trips, and Pickleball games. I have a premium membership, so it’s very satisfying to see the breakdown of calories burned, workout intensity, 3D maps, relative effort, and so many other cool features.
Gmail: Lastly, everyone’s favorite Gmail, a single and most reliable place to manage emails. I have three different accounts, and I manage them through this app. I use this app multiple times a day to stay on top of things.
What apps do you use frequently? Is there any app from my list that you are a fan of?
What’s the best thing you’ve ever found randomly on the street?
Daily prompts are interesting; they push my thinking to its limits. Each day I get a unique and unexpected question; that’s good for my writing.
I used to collect a few things from the street as a kid. At that time, lotteries were legal in Delhi, and discarded lottery tickets were everywhere on the streets. They used to fascinate me as currency, and I became a trash collector at an early age. For me, it was a great wealth.
Another thing was the empty packets of Britannia products, like bread and biscuits, because there was a promotion going on for the Cricket World Cup. The goal was to collect 100 points, get a scratch book, and win the prizes. I never won anything, but I became the waste collector.
These were the things I collected myself, but as far as I remember, I didn’t find anything particularly interesting on the street. I wish I would find one day, though.
How about you? Have you found anything interesting? Were you a collector like me? I would love to hear some interesting insights.
What’s the kindest thing someone has ever done for you?
Kindness is everywhere around us; we need to have an eye for it. Even small gestures, like someone opening a door for you or holding the gate for you, are worth admiring.
On my recent trip to India, I had to commute one day from Goverdhan, a small town, to Mathura city by auto. As usual, the auto was full, and the driver kept adding people near his seat, in the back of the auto, and wherever he could find space. That’s normal in India; auto drivers don’t move an inch till they fill every possible space.
Inside the auto, all of the passengers were ladies except for one older man. Our etiquette calls for giving seats to elders and women. I was sitting near the driver, almost hanging out of the side, sweating like an animal in June’s unbearable heat.
I am not so used to such journeys, but I enjoy them anyway. Everything in life should be celebrated. Seeing my condition, a lady in the auto, nearly my mother’s age, asked the other ladies to make room for me and asked me to come inside to avoid the heat. I was hesitant, but after her insistence, I sat beside the older man.
I felt really good about this gesture of kindness, and the next hour was spent listening to their talks and giving my input. They were talking about the condition of the poor and underprivileged, politics, family issues, pension challenges, and whatnot. I really enjoy sharing those conversations and listening to their sweet talks.
Kindness can take many forms; we should not restrict it to ourselves. It should flow to others like a stream.
