Spidey’s Serene Sunday #421 – R & R

02 Apr 2023 23 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays Tags: , , , , , , ,

“If you get tired, learn to rest, not quit.”

Irish Proverb

Perfect, Spidey!

Today I am heading off with Lil Princess to Birmingham to spend a couple of nights with Pops and Mum.

The school Easter break is upon us, so we have two weeks off.

However, it is never a pure two weeks switch-off.

On Wednesday, I have a Society Of Authors meet then Easter weekend comes in. I need to pop into school one day, and Lil Princess has a sleepover at a friend’s one day, too

Coupled with the fact that she has exams, as soon as she goes back, and that Lil Man’s A-levels are a mere few weeks away, I think I will be trying really hard not to nag but encourage the revision to take place.

Hubby Dearest has a couple of days off, too, the second week, so we might try and do a quick getaway, but when we are all at home, it is rarely a rest for me, so, let’s see!

So the next couple of days, after the three-hour drive, I look forward to getting some rest, at least!

So, Peeps, enjoy your Sunday!😊

Spidey’s Serene Sunday #420 – Indulgence

26 Mar 2023 25 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays Tags: , , , , , , ,

“Self-care is not indulgence. It’s self-preservation.”

Audre Lourde

Thank you, Spidey, for another thought-provoking one.

There’s a difference between Self-indulgence and Over-indulgence, let’s get that straight, first off!

I have definitely been known to over-indulge… my belly is proof of that…

But self-indulgence is different. That is excessive or unrestrained gratification of one’s own appetites, desires, or whims. (Oops, might be a bit of over-indulgence there, too…)

Self-care is a different kettle of fish. There is an element of self-indulgence involved, but it is measured. Because you take the time to do something for you, rather than for the pleasure of others.

You get to a point in your life where, if you are a parent, especially, your responsibilities begin to lessen, a tad.

(The worry? That doesn’t go anywhere, but you lose a certain amount of control, so you have to accept it!)

Or, just generally, that point in life arrives, where you realise you don’t need to be living your every minute dancing to someone else’s tune.

It’s fine to abide by the rules.

No one is disputing, that, but there are times when you know it is time to switch off from the world and do what you want.

It could be the obvious self-care regimes, taking time out for a bath, visiting the salon or going for a walk, going window-shopping or reading a book until late in the morning with your cup of tea cooling by your bedside, or whatever you wouldn’t usually make the time to do.

Not selfish, or over-indulgent. Just time for you.

I’ve definitely reached that time, in that I know what I have to do, as well as what I can leave, in order to give me enough time for my family and their needs, as well as time for me.

It’s a wonderful age!

So, Peeps, do you indulge yourself once in a while? 😊

Spidey’s Serene Sunday #419 – Mother’s Day

19 Mar 2023 31 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays Tags: , , , , , , ,

“If I could be even half the mother you are, Mum, I’d be among the best.”

Ritu Bhathal

It’s Mothering Sunday, Peeps, and I write this as I wait for my family to rise from their slumbers.

While I wait, I want to pay a huge tribute to my mum, a woman who has been through so much in her life, yet ensured she has been there for my brother and I, our whole lives.

She’s nurtured us but not mollycoddled us, kept us from straying off the straight and narrow, but never clipped our wings, taught us to be the adults we are now, she has supported us, and loved us in that unconditional way only a mother can ever do.

Not only that, she is the most amazing grandma (Naani) to Lil Man and Lil Princess, and Daadi to my Finndian nephews.

Love you mum, with all my heart 💖

I can’t forget the other mother figures in my life who have played important roles in my life, too.

My aunts who always looked at me as another daughter, my Ammi, my bestie’s mum, who, when we were at uni, was closer, distance-wise, than my own mum, so would be constantly sending food, and distributing motherly hugs when needed, and my mother-in-law, who gave me the gift of my Hubby Dearest, and who is a wonderful grandma to our children, too.

I hope you’ll take a minute to see the little montage of photos I have put together for my mum. It’s soundtrack is a song called Maavan te Dhiyaan, translating as Mothers and Daughters.

@ritubhathalauthor

Happy #mothersday to my gorgeous mum. A bit of a song for you, too 💛

♬ Maawan Te Dheeyan – Shaukat Ali

I’d also like to take a moment to remember those for whom Mother’s Day can be tough. Those without a mum, those in the difficult process of trying to become a mum, those grieving a lost angel. There’s a mother inside each of us. Love, strength and prayers to you all. 🙏🏽💛

Happy Mother’s Day to all the Mothers out there 😊

Spidey’s Serene Sunday #418 – Destiny or Fate

12 Mar 2023 28 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays Tags: , , , , , , ,

“There’s nowhere you can be that isn’t where you’re meant to be.”

John Lennon

What a thought to ponder upon, Spidey.

I’ve been going through a lot of ups and downs in my life.

Not necessarily directly about me, but 100% affecting my life.

I keep going, as I do, but it doesn’t mean that I am not finding things tough.

Still, certain events happen which make you realise that sometimes, it doesn’t matter what you try to do to change the course of your destiny, somehow you will always end up where you were meant to be.

It feels a bit like this, right now, for me. Things are falling into place in certain areas. Some places are still a bit wobbly, in life, but what feels like an eternity, has passed and there looks to be a bit of stability where there was none.

And I believe it was meant to be.

So, Peeps, do you believe in destiny or fate? 😊

Spidey’s Serene Sunday #417 – Picking & Choosing

05 Mar 2023 35 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays Tags: , , , , , , ,

“You can do anything, but not everything.”

David Allen

Great reminder, Spidey!

Now, I don’t know if it is a perimenopause thing or just extreme tiredness, but right now, I really cannot do everything that I want to be able to do.

I go to work, and I keep the house clean, feed my family, and ensure their well-being is as good as it can be.

I keep in touch with my parents daily and my brother a little less, but still regularly.

What I also want to do is try and exercise, daily.

And write, daily.

And read, daily.

And I want to meet up with friends and have a bit of social life.

But I am finding that I am so tired that I can very often only do a bit of exercise two or three times a week, and it’s not anything strenuous, I admit.

Writing seems to be a thing I am struggling with, because my brain is so filled with other, more pressing issues, plus I am waiting on publisher feedback, and I think it is halting my progress on the third book, in case there are any big changes they want me to make…

The thought of meeting up with loved ones for an evening is wonderful, but again, it’s the energy thing.

So I make sure that if nothing else, I read. And even my reading has slowed down. You guys know me, the fifteen books-a-month type of reader, at my best, alongside writing and everything else.

Right now it can take me 4-5 days to finish a book, but that is because I am falling asleep after a few minutes, or at the maximum, half an hour of reading. I know that still sounds fast to some, but that is not me.

Still, at least I am reading something.

At least I have hit that level of maturity where I know I cannot do everything. Each thing I want to do has its time and place, and it will happen, I am sure. Just not all at once.

(I dunno, maybe I need a change-up in my HRT dosages…)

So, Peeps, are you good at realising when you need to take your foot off the pedal a bit? 😊

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