Sattva (सत्त्व) is a beautiful Sanskrit word that has many meanings—spirit, true essence, good sense, wisdom, quality of purity, energy, consciousness and mind, among other things.
Through this fortnightly newsletter, I want to bring to you all things good, which will make your life better. My focus will be on topics such as mindfulness, productivity, slow living and sustainability, accompanied by genuinely useful recommendations of products, books, music, links to read, and of course food and recipes. Through these, I hope to instil some Sattva in your life.
Socialising and unmasking
I thought I would overcome my anxiety of stepping out, meeting people or attending events after getting fully vaccinated. That there have been no vaccines for kids yet in India and that the newer variants continue to afflict vaccinated people with equal enthusiasm have put a dampener on my plans.
We managed to attend a couple of Diwali parties in our community, where we were eating, drinking and dancing together. It is not possible to do all these social things while being masked at all times. I’m increasingly realising that you can either be masked or social. I won’t lie. I was relieved when the two weeks after the Diwali parties passed off uneventfully.
A couple of weeks ago, I attended a family function along with my mom who had travelled from Mumbai to be a part of it. Mom and I and a doctor’s family were the only ones steadfastly wearing masks among the attendees. I did take off my mask while eating and singing, but that was about it. Initially, it felt awkward to be in the minority, but later I even forgot that I was wearing a mask. Only when my cousins asked me to remove the mask momentarily for a photo is when I went “oh!”.
I turned down an event last week, a dear friend’s birthday, as my son’s school had just announced a number of positive cases, followed by a physical school shut down. I wasn’t feeling confident to attend this event with the backdrop of this mini-outbreak and before getting my son and myself tested.
There is peer pressure to say yes to events. There is the constant “how long am I going to be held hostage by Covid?” question looming over our heads. You feel left out if you are the only one RSVPing ‘no’ to events. You feel like a lone weirdo if you are the only one in a mask at an event.
If you perceive the slightest risk in attending an event, then by all means RSVP ‘No’. If you are the host sending out invites, do be kind to people who are not yet feeling confident to be out and about. Even if others in the event or function are mask-free, don’t feel pressured to remove your mask. Whether others around you are wearing a mask or not has no bearing on your decision. In all probability, some others may also mask up, after seeing you wear a mask.
For me, it was easier to practise masking and social distancing than the process of getting back to pre-covid practises like socialising without care and feeling confident to remove the mask amidst a group of people. I just want to tell you that a lot of us are feeling that way, so you are not alone. Staying masked is the only proven thing that will keep us somewhat safe as variant after variant of Covid 19 is being unleashed upon us. Let’s take our time getting adjusted to the ‘new normal’ as they call it. And when in doubt, mask up.
My valve is closing up - Reading Reccos
“My valve did close quite violently this afternoon when Mr Gonzalez asked me to add a column of figures for him.”
A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole
A book that was posthumously published after the death of the author at 32 years of age, it went on to win the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 1981. Why am I telling you about a book that is nearly as old as I am? Because you must read this evergreen book if you haven’t.
In this tragicomedy, the main character Ignatius Reily is an educated 30-year-old living with his mother. He is a slothful, self-centred fellow whose ‘valve’ (pyloric valve that controls the contents of the stomach entering the duodenum) problems are just one of the many things he keeps grumbling about. He loathes almost everything around him, especially the fact the world around him has lost its ‘values of geometry and theology’. You will spend hours giggling to yourself over the dialogues and descriptions of the utterly crazy situations Ignatius gets himself into. I am so loving this book that I am currently reading that I listen to the full audio version on Youtube narrated superbly when I am outdoors or doing chores like washing dishes and I get back to the paper book whenever I can, to savour the written word.
Cancer, You Picked The Wrong Girl: A True Story - Shormistha Mukherjee
I’ve known Shormistha for nearly a decade. She is the founder of a digital media agency called Flying Cursor and I have had the privilege of working with her and her team a few times. The news of her cancer diagnosis a few years ago hit hard. I would follow her blog about her treatment journey avidly, cheering on every little good news that she would share and praying that things get better for S. When her book got published last month and she sent it across to me, I read it cover to cover in one day. It was riveting, touching, honest to the bone, humorous and inspiring. Her book teaches you not to give up in the worst of life situations and how they can be overcome if you put your mind to it.
Bombay Balchao - Jane Borges
Despite being born and living in Mumbai for 35 years, I have never been to these parts of Bombay in and around Caval, which is the setting stage for this book. These areas are steeped in history with quaint and beautiful homes and rich Anglo Indian culture. I love how the book is written as a series of short stories seemingly independent of each other set in different time periods, but ultimately connected beautifully like branches of a tree. The stories have a soul and they keep you engaged until the last line. They leave you a bit sad. I kept wishing they would end happier, but it is what it is. The Kindle edition of the book is free if you have Amazon Prime.
When did you last get a health check-up?
If there is one thing I dread, it is going for a health check-up. Like someone on Twitter mentioned, health check-up reports are the school exam report cards of adulthood. We are all petrified of what lies in store. I try and get a comprehensive health check done once a year. Due to the pandemic, the one in 2020 was missed and 2021 passed us by in jet speed. The fact that I had not gotten a health check done since March 2019 was stressing me out. I was also having some niggling health complaints. Whether the complaints were a result of anxiety or vice versa, I was unable to figure out. I immediately scheduled a full check-up at my neighbourhood centre which is a cosy and non-intimidating set-up. It so happened that my neighbour/friend was also getting the same check-up done along with her husband, so it was nice to have her positive and cheerful company.
The start of December is a good time to go for your annual health check-up. It is a timely post-Diwali assessment of how your health parameters are after all that binge eating. It also serves as a pre-new year assessment, if you are one to make resolutions. The results of your health check help set reasonable goals for better health, figuring out any supplements that need to be included in your daily routine etc.
If you are past 35 years of age, get your health check-up scheduled while the Covid situation is still under control and hospitals and clinics are not overloaded with work. You can also do this with a friend, sibling or parents so you get a whole morning worth of catch up too.
I worried like crazy but my reports turned out fine, except for the usual culprits -vitamin B12, D and ferritin. I have been started on all three supplements, which I plan to take diligently.
Winter cosiness
My favourite time of the year is here. We have not planned any travel for the year-end or early next year. Staying home means I want to add some extra cosiness around me. The word ‘hygge’ is definitely top of mind and here’s what you can do too.
Make yourself a reading nook at home. A comfortable chair with a soft throw, a footstool, a tall lamp, your favourite plant, a small side table to hold your hot beverage and a delicious smelling candle and you are all set.
Not much of a reader? How about taking up a soothing and mindful activity like crochet? I have been learning to crochet from scratch from Youtube (playlist link in the resources at the end) and I can’t tell you how much it calms my mind. Start with something simple like scrunchies or coasters and then you can move on to making a muffler, a neck warmer, a hairband etc.
My winter cosiness checklist includes throws, candles (spices, Oudh, eucalyptus), a kettle to brew teas, hot chocolate, books, fairy lights and crochet stuff. Tell me what’s in your winter cosiness list :)
Find some of my selections in my Amazon idealist.
Resources
Art: An Illustration from the Harivamsa: Krishna surrounded by groups of male and female Gopis in the waters of the Yamuna | Sotheby’s
The Confederacy of Dunces - JK Toole
The Confederacy of Dunces/audio on Youtube -
Cancer, you picked the wrong girl - Shormistha Mukherjee
Bombay Balchao - Jane Borges
Health check - Photo by Derek Finch on Unsplash
Reading nook - Photo by Jingxi Lau on Unsplash
Idealist: Winter cosiness on Amazon https://amzn.to/3D7ehRX
Crochet lessons playlist
I would love your feedback on the newsletter. If you like what you read, please share it with your family and friends. I am grateful for your help in reaching my newsletter to a wider audience.
Books: Everyday Superfoods | The Everyday Healthy Vegetarian
Blog | Amazon store | Twitter | Instagram
This newsletter may contain affiliate links for some products. As an Amazon affiliate, I may earn a small commission if you purchase something by clicking on my link, at no extra cost to you. It helps support the newsletter.
None of the product mentions are sponsored unless explicitly mentioned.
See you in the next issue.
Mam amazing issue as always, ans you are not alone, I am not comfortable unmasking either and I was a sole weirdo masked up at a wedding event of our hospital Collegue, actually I feel alone and lost , but I continue ti mask up, and regarding health check up it's a must and glad ur throwing light about the same ❤️❤️ have a great time