Spidey’s Serene Sundays | But I Smile Anyway...

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 269 – Middle Aged

26 Apr 2020 57 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Middle age, Spiderman, Spidey, Spidey's Serene Sunday

“You know you’ve reached middle age when you’re cautioned to slow down by your doctor, instead of by the police.”
Joan Rivers

Yeah, thanks for rubbing it in, Spidey.

He’s been laughing at me for the last 48 hours, you know.

Why?

Because I am sitting here all stiff and achey.

Because I am definitely not as young as I used to be…

Because I took a spectacular fall on Friday morning, while climbing up. on Lil Man’s bed to sort his curtains out.

One minute I was upright, the next, flat on my back, on his floor, narrowly missing his newly fixed laptop and pair of glasses, which were on the floor, but I did manage to land kinda on to corner of one of his dumbell weights.

Yup, guess who’s feeling like a dumb belle right now?

All jokes aside, I am definitely feeling the pull of middle age now. If I do anything fitness based, that is not just a good walk, regardless of warm ups and cool downs, I feel it for a good couple of days after.

I walk around like a zombie.

And the knee is playing up. My heel is too, I think the Planters thing is making a reappearance. My shoulders ache…

I need a full body MOT right now.

And, if I could get to a doctor, for a bog standard appointment, I am pretty sure he’d be telling me to take it easy. To slow down.

Am I going to listen?

Well, right now, there isn’t much choice, but to slow down in normal life, but it doesn’t stop the world turning, does it, this COVID-19?

We still need clean clothes, beds, towels, the house needs to be kept clean too. Food needs to be made, shopping needs to be done, and making sure the the kids wake up to do their online learning, and hubby is well watered as he settles at his new office space that used to be known as our dining room, as well as either going into work, or working from home…

Nope. Still can’t slow down…

So… tell me, how are you feeling, right now?

Have a peaceful Sunday, Peeps. And enjoy your week! ❤

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 268 – Laughter

19 Apr 2020 31 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Laughter, smiles, Spiderman, Spidey, Spidey's Serene Sunday

“I love people who make me laugh. I honestly think it’s the thing I like most, to laugh. It cures a multitude of ills. It’s probably the most important thing in a person.”
― Audrey Hepburn

Thank you, Spidey. I’m definitely an advocate for smiles!

You know, I’m aware that laughter, smiles and giggles aren’t going to cure this pandemic, but I tell you what, during this time of self-isolation, social distancing and quarantine, a good old belly laugh sure helps get through.

I’ve been trying to read books that are light-hearted. If they are an arc I requested, that are a bit heavy, I’ve found them hard to get into. But a good old Rom Com or a bit of humour has been very well received.

I’ve definitely been clicking on and reading more posts via the blog and other social media platforms that are more likely to make me smile.

I’ve watched films that are high in comedic factor, or old, nostalgic films have been getting a revisit. Things I know will leave me with a smile on my face.

And… I discovered TikTok.

A very dangerous app in my hands!

I’ve been aware of it for a long while, impossible to avoid, when you have teens, especially in the shape of Lil Princess, who is always doing funny little snippets of dances. It took a while, but I realised she and her friends all learn the moves to these snippets of songs, and the choreography originates from these mini clips.

Now TikTok isn’t just all dance. People use the medium and it’s various effects to create little video clips that can be really funny.

So… after a long time, I decided I would download it to see what the fuss was about. I haven’t created a public profile, as I don’t think I could cope with ANOTHER platform to manage, but we’ve been recording really silly videos.

Of course, you know, I don’t post my children at all, but I did manage to make some silly skit style videos, that feature just me… and posted them on my Instagram.

So… did you want a giggle?

Oh, okay then (yes, I know you didn’t need to twist too hard!), here’s one…

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ritu Bhathal ✍🏽📚💜 (@ritubhathalwrites)

Funny enough? Okay, another…

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ritu Bhathal ✍🏽📚💜 (@ritubhathalwrites)

So… tell me, what have you found, to make you laugh or smile during the pandemic?

Have a peaceful Sunday, Peeps. And enjoy your week! ❤

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 267 – Gratitude

12 Apr 2020 44 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Spiderman, Spidey, Spidey's Serene Sunday

“Some painful endings bring the best new beginnings.”
Shae Ross

Well, that is a kinda apt quote for today, and the today the world is living in, Spidey. You’ve obviously got a lot more time on your hands… because, as we all know, the real superheroes of now, are the frontline carers, not you colourfully costumed figures!

I know, we’ll always need, you, but alas, your facemask is not actually medical grade, and therefore not really going to help you stay healthy… and as for Batman, just an eye mask? Really? Did no one tell him he needs to rethink his facial wear for a little while?

Sorry, I digress. Firstly, may I wish all those that celebrate, a very Happy Easter Sunday!

I know it’s a quieter one than usual. There won’t be gatherings of family over an Easter meal, exchanging eggs as per the traditions, after attending a service at church.

But, essentially, Easter is a time for rebirth. Think of new beginnings. And in order for there to be a new beginning, we need to finish the previous chapter.

Now, I know that we are far from finished with the current chapter of this world’s life, but have you noticed the shoots of new beginnings, already trying to burst through into our bubble of lockdown?

Skies are beginning to clear of the clouds of pollution that hung heavy for many years. Animals that feared the open, are beginning to venture out into the world that was once theirs, before humankind began to destroy their natural habitat to build upon it. Gardens are beginning to bloom with the signs of spring. Each morning, and throughout the day, due to less traffic on roads, the chorus of birdsong is audible to all.

And that’s just nature.

Within our humankind, people are reaching out to others, in various ways, be it shopping for vulnerable family members, or neighbours, or making a phone or video call, to catch up with someone you haven’t spoken to in forever. We are appreciating, more than ever, those folk who do the jobs that keep the world as we know it, spinning smoothly, while we go about our very important lives.

Who knew, Mr Dustbin Man is far more important to me than an overpaid lawyer. A supermarket worker holds higher regard than Mr Business Man who travels to the office daily to spin money from deals. Thank you Delivery Drivers, for making sure we have all we need. Mrs Teacher, after spending so many months with my own children, I think you must be a saint to want to do that for a living! (Sorry, had to nod at my own profession!)

And those health workers. I doff my cap to you all, I clap every Thursday at 8pm with the rest of the nation, but inside, I’m clapping 24/7. From the nurses and doctors, to the orderlies and hospital cleaners, the paramedics and the pharmasists, to the carers visiting vulderable folk at home. Thank you.

I truly hope that after this awful time is over, the new beginnings that emerge include much, much, much more appreciation for all you do.

So… tell me, what will you appreciate more, when this pandemic is done with us?

Have a peaceful Sunday, Peeps And enjoy your week! ❤

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 266 – Live In The Moment

05 Apr 2020 31 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Mindfullness, Serene, Spiderman, Spidey, Spidey's Serene Sunday

“Wherever you are, be there totally.”
Eckhart Tolle

Well, Spidey, you’ve gone all deep on me this week!

The world has chosen to give a huge amount of the population time at home, with this awful pandemic that is raging through so many countries at the moment.

Many of us have been tearing our hair out, worrying about our old normal, our jobs, our families, kids education, getting basic shopping in… nothing has been straightforward.

But sometimes we need some time to sit back and reflect, while we have this new normal – and let’s be honest, it could be our only normal for a while.

Sure, this extended home time was not your choice, but now it’s been foisted upon you, use it for your own wellbeing.

We have been granted time to enjoy life at a slower pace, because if you carry on as you used to, in the old normal, you’d have nothing to do, come lunchtime.

Time to spend with your loved ones. Time to recreate bonds. Time to take up hobbies that you never had time for. Time to appreciate what you do have.

Instead of always being busy on work calls and emails, or social media, use some time to really be there with your kids, or family.

Get the boardgames out.

Talk to each other.

Share a film you really love.

Cook together, eat together.

If you can, go out for a walk together.

If you’re going to call, make it a video call, so you can see the family and friend you are contacting, or use ZOOM!

Live in the moment.

Don’t spend all the time taking pictures of what you are doing, because, you will probably be doing the same for a long while, so your camera roll will start looking pretty repetitive after a week or so!

(Though I have to confess, we have discovered TikTok! That’s a fun family activity! I don’t have a public account as we don’t put the kids out there – though they are getting to the age they’ll be out there themselves soon – but it has been fun making silly videos together!)

Embrace the new normal while you have it. I have a feeling there are certain aspects you are going to miss, when things all calm down…

Or better still, try your hardest to keep them in your life, no matter what normal you are living in.

So… tell me, what aspect of this new normal would you like to keep, when things calm down?

Have a peaceful Sunday Peeps. And enjoy your week! ❤

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 265 – Social Distancing Thoughts

29 Mar 2020 40 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Quote, Spiderman, Spidey, Spidey's Serene Sunday, Thoughts

“Never put off til tomorrow, what you can do today.”
Thomas Jefferson

Hmmmm… thank you, Spidey, for another thought provoking quote.

You see, the thing is, there are so many things I’d love to do, but at the moment, I have no choice but to put off ’til goodness knows when, because of this cursed coronavirus.

Things that I think I’d like to do, then I realise I can’t actually do yet.

It got me thinking a little more…

Bucket lists.

Lots of people make them. But how many people actually action their dreams?

I haven’t really got one, as such, but I have dreams. Things I’d like to achieve, places I’d like to visit, things I’d like to learn.

As I sit inside, coccooned from the outside world, I have signed up to a few online courses to keep me sane. They’ll tick off a few of my hopes. I’ll get a certificate for writing. I’ll try and master calligraphy.

But what of the other things?

Before, they were thoughts, what-ifs and maybes.

Who envisioned that this craziness was around the corner? So many key days in peoples lives have been affected by the global pandemic. People’s weddings postponed, birthday gatherings cancelled, among other events.

But something I have learned already in this first week of lockdown, is that once we are able, we really shouldn’t put off things we really want to do.

If you really want to go somewhere, take the bull by the horns and book your trip (finances pending, of course!) Sign up for that course, learn a new sport.

Seriously, go, ride that dream to fruition!

So… tell me, what do you plan to do, once this is all over?