Void Thoughts

I can’t believe I haven’t written a monthly gratitude or review post this year. The urge was there, but the days were taken over by countless tasks. Making a list of things that happened in the month gone by felt like a humongous task.

Now, with the 10th month of 2024 almost ready to bid us goodbye, I suddenly felt the need to write a review post.

Like the previous months, October, too, was a busy one for me. It started on a relaxed note as my kids had their fall break in the first two weeks of October. My younger one turned 8 in the first week, and we had a small celebration with a couple of our neighbors. Akku wanted a party with his school friends like last time, but we kept it simple with just a little gathering.

He was understanding when I explained that we wouldn’t have a full party, and I’m thankful my kids are sensible enough to consider our needs.

We got him a toy and a fiction book as his birthday gifts, though he quickly pointed out that he doesn’t like fiction. I made it up to him by taking him to the library, where he eagerly explored nonfiction books and brought home quite a few. He’s also started reading the Magic Tree House series, which he initially claimed he wouldn’t enjoy but is now on the fifth book. I think he’s drawn to the factual elements in the stories, which keep him hooked. He’s become a book aficionado, just like his big brother and mom. Watching him get lost in a book brings me immense joy—not just because it gives me a break from his chatter, but also because it’s a pleasure to see your child immersed in reading.

Contrary to our usual fall breaks, I went alone to meet a friend at a mall this time. It was a joyful experience, a reminder that I often forget to spend time on myself. I need to make time for these little excursions, at least once a month. Living for myself has taken a backseat, and I never thought I would change like this.

But here I am—changed, aware of that change, and ready to reclaim my space in my own life. There’s so much I want to do, explore, and learn. The onus of it lies on me, and I shan’t forget that.
October was packed with friend visits, birthday parties my kids attended, mall outings with friends, homecoming events, my husband’s trip to Boston (followed by a bout of cold and flu), annual doctor appointments for Akku and me, and more.

Halloween decorations were everywhere, and on weekend nights, we drove around to see neighborhood displays. We even put up decorations in our front yard, which I enjoy doing as a family activity. The kids are always excited to help. 😀

This month, I read quite a few books, although I didn’t finish them all. I completed The Mystery of the 99 Steps, the 43rd book in the Nancy Drew series, before the first week of October ended, and last weekend, I finished A Matrimonial Murder by Meeti Shroff. I’m also currently reading The Bullet Journal Method by Ryder Carroll, The Best American Short Stories 2020, Men Explain Things to Me by Rebecca Solnit, We All Want Impossible Things by Catherine Newman, A Thousand Times Before by Asha Thanki, and One Zentangle A Day by Beckah Krahula.

The Bullet Journal Method has been my go-to for a while; I keep coming back to it. I plan to finish a few others on the list soon, though a couple might end up back on the shelf.

Today marks 358 days of learning on Duolingo. I’ve been learning Spanish with my younger one. It’s a side project we started 358 days ago, though we won’t be speaking Spanish to anyone anytime soon.

I’m also learning French and Music on Duolingo, while Akku enjoys doing Math. Starting French has been enlightening, as it quickly made me realize how easy Spanish is in comparison. Perspective is everything, isn’t it?

My experience with Duolingo prompted me to seek out an app for coding practice, which led me to Sololearn. I completed SQL in the Sololearn free plan. In the past, I’ve used Codecademy and Datacamp, which are both excellent for learning and practicing coding.

I also watched a few courses on Skillshare, an online learning platform offering a range of video courses, primarily in creative fields, but also covering business, technology, and lifestyle topics. The courses I finished in October included Mindful Social Media Practice, Visualize Data with Google Sheets, Digital Painting in Procreate, and Creative Writing, to name a few. I’m planning to delve more into Creative Nonfiction Writing in the coming days.

Learning is part of my everyday routine. It gives me a sense of purpose, even if it’s on a topic I already know something about.

It’s been a full October in our household, with all the little (and big) things keeping us busy. This post was born out of my weekly writing session with my blogging friends, which I started joining in the second week of October. Although the session starts at 9:30 pm my time, I look forward to it as it gives me a distraction-free space to work on something meaningful.

As I type this, I feel nothing but gratitude for everything that makes my life feel blessed.

Now tell me, how was your October?