Blog

I was watching a TED talk this afternoon and the speaker’s vivid description of his life in prison really struck me. A former prisoner talked about how, in prison, you don’t have much control about what you do and how you live your life. You are told when to wake up, when to eat, when to exercise, and when to go to bed. Every minute is decided for you and you don’t have anything in your control.

And all of this suddenly hit me — And isn’t that eerily similar to how we live?

We follow the exact same routines every day — we wake up at the same time, go to work, meet deadlines, scroll through our phones, chase the same goals, and repeat. And, continue to repeat until we are exhausted and stuck. As stuck as the Hem who took an eternity to move out of the maze and finally choose a life of his dreams. We continue to lie ourselves that we have control because we’re the ones choosing this, but are we really? Or have we just accepted the rules that were set for us long before we even questioned them?

Aren’t we all the prisoners of our schedules and checklists and goals? Of our responsibilities and our expectations? And not just that — we are prisoners of our own minds. We believe we have to do things a certain way because that’s how it’s always been done and superimposed on us. We believe we have to run after success, stability, approval. But when do we stop and ask ourselves: What if I want something different? What if I want more than just a routine? What if I create my own path to get out of this never-ending maze?

The truth is, we won’t be set free until we decide to be. Until we give ourselves the gift to break the pattern. Maybe it’s waking up tomorrow and choosing to do one thing differently — taking a different route to work, starting a new hobby, saying no to something that drains us or simply adding a few minutes to reflect what we truly want. Maybe it’s questioning the beliefs we’ve been conditioned into for years. Maybe it’s understanding that freedom isn’t just about time; it’s about choices we make and paths we follow.

So, are we really free? Or have we just convinced ourselves that we are?

And more importantly — when will we finally set ourselves free?

Today started as one of those days I was sure would be productive.

FYI, it’s a Sunday, and I am silly to call it productive and I know it! Nonetheless, I had planned so much, and for a planner like me, that’s what keeps me going. But, as life always screams (which I always fail to listen), “No plan is also a good plan.”

It wasn’t anything big — just small cancellations and I ended up staying home all day – which I rarely enjoy.. I love having a plan, and if Plan A fails, I need Plan B. Sitting at home, doing nothing, is not my thing!

By the time I finally managed to get out of the bed and decided to book a spa appointment for myself, it was already seven. If nothing happens, spa always happens!

But as I was getting ready, my phone rang — it was my mom.

At first, I thought, I’ll call her back once I’m on my way. But something stopped me, and I picked up the call.

And thank God I did.

What started as a casual conversation turned into a 99-minute heart-to-heart (yes, she texted me the exact duration after the call). It’s funny how life works sometimes. I thought I needed the spa to feel better, but what I really needed was to talk to her.

During the call, she told me about how excited she’d been about a cosmic event the day before. I had mentioned it to her in passing, and she’d shared it with her friends, my brother, and my sister-in-law and everyone she possibly met.

Then she said something that stopped me in my tracks:

“I made a wish for you. I wished for you to have the best life partner.”

That made my heart melt. :))

But what she said next made me skip my heartbeat. She told me she had also wished happiness for someone I’d been struggling to forgive ( I is me here). She said it so simply, so easily, “I just want all the happiness for her as well.”

It hit me like a wave. Here I was, holding on to resentment, replaying old emotions in my head, while she had already moved forward with such grace and forgiveness. Like it was that easy? Or maybe it was.

As easy as letting go of the balloon – that I was still holding so tight, and so tight that I was hurting myself without any realization.

It also made me realize how much unnecessary weight I’d been carrying —emotions, grudges, and moments that no longer existed. Moving on is not always easy because we cling to emotions longer than we should. Or at least I did.

But maybe sometimes, it’s easier than we think, I’m glad I picked up the call – and I’ll practice forgiveness more often. Not just for others, but versions of me that I didn’t accept before.

I feel so light.. suddenly.

Sometimes, the best plans aren’t the ones we make for ourselves.

They’re the ones that happen when we simply pick up the phone.

Isn’t it strange how your definition of some of the most basic things you’ve learned over the years shifts as you grow up? I was – and still am – often told that you’re only successful if you’re financially independent enough to buy crazy things and live other people’s dreams.

For a long time, I thought that too.

I imagined success was about ticking those boxes, chasing a life filled with everything they said I should want. But as I came further, I began to realize that there’s beauty and freedom in simply owning your time, doing things you genuinely enjoy, working on something that brings you joy, and—perhaps most importantly—letting go of what others think about how you choose to spend your time, money, or energy.

A lot of you have already asked and might know this too – but since I have been quite disciplined with the luxuries in my life, I decided to jot everything down first thing this morning. These days, my mornings have become something sacred, something intentionally mine. I don’t like the feeling of being in a rush, so I make sure to be ahead of time. I also love the quietness of the morning, along with the birds chirping, with soft waterfall music playing and candles lit in my room. Sometimes I am lucky to spot my favorite Magpies from my window. There’s a sense of calm in that moment, a grounding peace that sets the tone for everything that follows in my day.

Of course, I never start my day without praying, it helps me stay grounded before anything else begins. I also almost never skip my meditation, affirmations, and innercises in the morning too. It’s the best time to reconnect with myself, and to ask myself what I want, who I am in this moment, and what I hope to become.

Then comes my gratitude journal – which I have been writing religiously since the summer of 2019. Every morning (sometimes later during the day), I make a list of ten things I’m grateful for. Some days, that list overflows to a hundred or two hundred; and trust me, there are days when I struggle to write even one or two. But no matter how I feel or where I am in my life, I don’t skip it. This practice has helped me program my mind, body, and soul to find beauty in even the simplest moments.

And yes, I do make an effort to keep away from my phone in the morning – so if you’re waiting on a morning message or expecting an immediate reply, know that I didn’t see it. Please give me a heads-up at least twelve hours in advance if we’re meeting in the morning; otherwise, I’d be at the destination looking at my phone IN TOTAL SURPRISE (but no disappointment) – yes, I rarely check messages between 9 p.m. and 9 a.m. I love taking intentional breaks from screens to simply be in my zone, undistracted – it’s a real luxury.

Evenings, too, I love having beautiful, calming endings to each day. After work and early dinner, I try to do my RESET meditation—letting go of anything I don’t need to carry forward. (Here’s the link if you wanna give a try anytime.)

And as the night settles, I let small, pretty rituals take over: a face massage, a dark room with a few candles lit to soften the space, and a good book that holds me until my eyes grow heavy. I don’t rush here to finish the pages, no urgency to learn something new,  just gentle unwinding. I love practicing being in the moment in these hours.

I do leave social media out of my evenings intentionally, just as I do in my mornings. So, yes, that’s it.

I love the quiet hours, love being in bed by 10, and nothing else is more tempting than following my own evening routine every day.

Do you follow a routine every day? If yes, I’m curious, let me know!

P.S. There are other boring things (not mentioned above) that I don’t skip in the morning, like my coffee (hazelnut these days), making my task list for the day (Yes, I never skip this, not even on a Sunday or Christmas), and doing my skincare.