Checking In

Checking in. 

It's been a while. So here's a quick roundup of things that have kept me happily engaged. 

My efforts at starting a book club in my area of residence bore no fruit. Interestingly, there are quite a few local WatsApp groups for home chefs, home bakers and home beauticians. But, tragically, there seems to be none for readers and whatever efforts I put in, clearly failed. Should I be surprised though? I wonder. It's so hard to come across readers nowadays. Even bookstores seem to have more floorspace for toys and stationery than books. 

Anyway, the need to connect with others of my tribe led to the creation of a dedicated Insta page for books. TheBookSocial has become an obsession now and I don't think I've enjoyed anything else as much for a really long time. 

Amateur pretty pictures of books (fairly standard but consistent) and a few lines to go with it is all that I need to make my day. And when members from my tribe like and comment, there is that eager rush I have come to love so much. Yes, I am an addict but I don't mind it. 

I haven't begun posting complete in-depth reviews or thoughts on the books I read. Is that something I should direct towards this blog space or the Insta page? I am leaning towards the former. What do you think? 

The obsession around followers can be quite time-consuming. I really don't know how some people manage to do it. I don't know what I'm missing really. Seems like the number of likes on the page went up steadily since the two weeks that I haven't had time to post than the four weeks of relentless daily uploads. 

I have therefore come to the conclusion that what I lack in social media insight and luck, I will easily make up for in joy of sharing. 

Speaking of joy, are you pro or against the Konmari method? 

I have dedicated this year to decluttering and re-organising my space and the deeper I get into it, the more I believe in the power of minimalism- a bloody hard thing to live by in our times. 

It isn't just about folding, boxing up, sorting and organising. It's all about surrounding yourself with the things that 'spark joy' and the few months that I've been trying to put it to practice, there is a sense of purpose, calm and orderliness that I find flowing into my life with more ease. 

Of course there are plenty of book lovers out there who have trolled the queen of organisation about her views on books (no more than 30 at home). But I'm not one to judge fast and loose. If a book sparks joy, by all means hold on it but don't we all have titles that we've laboured to finish, left unfinished or that have left us feeling a little empty inside? Well, these are the ones I wouldn't mind passing along to someone who might have greater appreciation or need for it. I'll always have more than 30. But these will be ones that have sparked some serious joy!

A clutter-free space is a clutter-free mind and consequently, life. While I'm not obsessing over label makers and branding-free dispensers, the impact of Kondo's approach cannot be dismissed so easily either. 

The process is far from over. In fact even a year feels too little. But try it. You might be surprised. 

That's enough of TOL (thinking out loud) from my side this week. Shall check in soon.