For the last two months, I haven’t been taking care of myself. Sure, I have been eating, sleeping,doing chores and going to work but in this hamster-on-wheels-kind-of-life, I left myself, my well-being and things I love doing, behind. What was worse is that I wasn’t even aware of it until now.
•
I haven’t posted a blog post for ages and that isn’t because of lack of ideas; I had stopped doing OOTD on my IG stories which was how I was building my wardrobe; I stopped yoga and meditation which was my way to manage my daily stress.My skin and hair care routine took a back seat and I even stopped taking prescribed medication and ointments for my hair-fall. I was exhausted all the time and felt empty, but I shelved it as work and “newcomer” exhaustion and soldiered on.
•
It wasn’t until I bought a new phone and didn’t feel a grain of excitement, that I realized something feels wrong. It wasn’t until a chat with a close friend who pointed out, how important it is to take care of our own well-being, that I became aware of it. It wasn’t until my first Francais Lecon(French lesson) of the season that I realized how much I missed doing things I love.
•
Yesterday I went out, for myself. I went for an appointment that I have been pushing for months. I plucked my eyebrows and upper lips perfectly(yes after ages 🤫) and put on make-up 💄. I met with a friend and went on a dessert 🍨 date. I went shopping and got a few items I desperately needed. I even met two Bangladeshi UofT students and chatted with them randomly (the Bengali tug is strong 💪 !).
•
My dear friends whom I haven’t spoken in a while, my new calligraphy brush pens still waiting to be used, my blog that has almost become a distant memory and that borrowed book from library I am yet to start- give me a little while; I have just started to catch up on my own life ❤️.
Photo Credit: @tunazeenakhan =•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=
#themakingofaminimalist #minimalistblogger #canadianblogger #simpleliving #mindfulliving #consciousliving #bengaliblogger #browngirlbloggers #torontoblogger #immigrantlife #wanderwomanbd #thoughtoftheday #catchinguponmylife #consciousness #awareness
When I moved to Toronto,I deactivated my Facebook account.I had done it for a couple of reasons:
•
1. I wanted to decrease my social media presence,walk away from the pressure I felt to display my imperfect life perfectly for others’ viewing pleasures.
•
2. I wanted to stop playing the ‘Let’s Compare Our Lives” game.I will admit shamelessly that they use to get to me and I wasn’t strong enough to stand up to those feelings.
•
3. I wanted to limit my circle to meaningful interactions. I didn’t find value in having over 500 virtual friends. I didn’t find value in being bombarded with details about people I hardly knew anymore.
•
My social absence was interpreted in interesting ways. 1.I was depressed to the point of no return for moving away from BD(sad and longing yes, depressed,no) 2.We were leading a crappy life and was ashamed to put it on display online (um nope; we are Alhamdulliah happy and in a constant motion of learning and growth).People’s misinterpretation about my life just validated my decision all over again.I didn’t have anything to prove to anyone.I certainly didn’t need those pokes from others like “what are you doing ?”,”did you find a job?” or loads of advices on what I should do,when I was in the process of figuring it out myself.I also realized later down the line that it was important for me to turn off the noise from that life to feel grounded and settled in my new one.I couldn’t keep looking back when I had to move forward.
•
It has been a year and I don’t feel like I am missing out on anything (apart from the obvious).My family and friends who matter are still a part of my life.Those who I thought mattered but didn’t,fell behind organically and I am sure I am not missed in their lives just as they are not missed in mine. (Continued in comments).
Photo Credit : @tunazeenakhan
A Stuffed French Toast Celebration
=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=
Yesterday was a big day for Hubster! With passing a certificate exam, he ticked all his summer goals for the year! Its been months of hard work on his end and worry and prayers on mine but in the end we made it, Alhamdulliah! We were all set to celebrate by eating out but due to a miscommunication, we ended up staying in.
•
We spent time with a Friend who came over, went out on a walk by ourselves , finally sharing all our fears, doubts and insecurities out loud.
•
We ordered in Thai food and it’s not a celebration with something sweet right ?! I had my heart set on French Toast and when I realised none of the food delivery apps delivered decent ones, I decided to put together these two beauties : French Toast with Mixed Berries Compote and French Toast with Stuffed Nutella and Banana with chocolate bits!
•
We didn’t end up having a big celebration with fancy food and night out but honestly, snuggled in our tiny apartment with (if I may say) fancy dessert and each other , it didn’t seem any less ❤️.
=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=
#themakingofaminimalist #minimalistblogger #canadianblogger #simpleliving #mindfulliving #consciousliving #bengaliblogger #browngirlbloggers #torontoblogger #immigrantlife #gratitude #countingblessings
চা আর টোস্ট বিস্কুট
=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•= A morning ritual at Rahman household which I am dearly fond of, is starting the day with চা আর টোস্ট বিস্কুট (tea and rusk). Although I am not dependent on a beverage YET to start my day, I always enjoyed joining my parents for a cuppa, especially during the weekend. I call it a ritual because everyone else in the family followed it diligently and made sure that we never ran out of Olympia Bakery’s Butter টোস্ট ! It was also a time to catch up with each other between reading the morning newspaper and রবীন্দ্র সংগীত playing in the background in that Kolkata channel that I can never remember the name of. The warmth of the cup in my hands, the crunch of the টোস্ট বিস্কুট while literally sitting between Abbu and Ammu is all too dear but distant to me now.
•
When I went for groceries the other day, I came across a pack of টোস্ট বিস্কুট calling me out. The longing to enjoy a cup with my parents came flooding back and so I ended up buying a pack. I have been enjoying my weekend tea with the rusks. This is one of my many make-shift ways of being connected to practices back home and it gives me a quiet comfort in knowing that I am still tied to them with our morning চা আর টোস্ট বিস্কুট ritual ❤!
=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=
#themakingofaminimalist #minimalistblogger #canadianblogger #simpleliving #mindfulliving #consciousliving #bengaliblogger #browngirlbloggers #torontoblogger #immigrantlife #family #familyfirst #weekending
Happy long Weekend folks ! To those, who are on a weekend getaway, to those who are catching up with family and friends and to also those who foresees being in-house all-through: may you enjoy this last bits of the summer holidays before falling for fall!🍁
•
The last two weeks have been very busy with moving offices at work and arranging for an event. I am glad that it ended with the long weekend for much needed rest and recuperation. I am (was?) looking forward to waking up late, enjoying elaborate brunches, maybe write or read a little and lazying around. Hubster has an exam right after the weekend, and so we made no plans ourselves. Little did I know, in an immigrant’s life, plans tend to make themselves in weekends🙄.
•
I found myself awake at 7, despite desperately trying to go back to sleep. Then my mind started racing through all the household chores that has to be done- grocery, meal prep, vacuuming, laundry, cleaning the toilet and sorting my clothes ( as unlike as it is for me, I have been literally dumping clothes all over our bedroom the past two weeks 🤭). Hubster has washed his hands from “adulting” because of the upcoming exam and now I am stuck to do all these by myself 😔!
•
Anyway, that’s the point that hit me this morning. Back home, when it was weekend, it was a full-stop to work. Over here, while it might be a break from your job, it isn’t a break from chores and that sucks sometimes. But hey, that’s the life we chose 🤷🏻♀️ and we are learning to navigate around it.
=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=
#themakingofaminimalist #minimalistblogger #canadianblogger #simpleliving #mindfulliving #consciousliving #bengaliblogger #browngirlbloggers #torontoblogger #immigrantlife #family #familyfirst #wanderwomanbd #weekending
At one point, all immigrants have made the list-the list of pros and cons of moving abroad. If we are just talking about the cons, there are the simple ones like not having a house-help or chauffeur but if we are being honest, there is only one “contra” that carries the weight of all the pros: living away from family, especially at times of need, illness or worse.
•
In the last two months, we got news of a friend whose father passed away; there was another friend whose mother was diagnosed with a difficult illness and it hit home, when my husband’s Uncle passed away a couple of weeks ago-someone he didn’t get to see in his recent trip in Bangladesh.
•
I come from a close-knit family and can’t help but worry. As much as I pray that I am never in such a position, at some point of time, I might have to be in those difficult shoes and walk that unimaginable mile...
•
I worry when my mum’s blood sugar shoots up; worry when my father takes too much pressure at work or when my brother takes “Pathao”- bike transport services to cut his commute time. I worry about my little nieces when I read about the dengue outbreak and about my grandparents who are riddled with old age complications. I worry and pray because that’s all I can do. I know I have no control of the outcome. I have to live with the consequence of my decision of moving abroad.
•
So as my head is full of insecurities this evening, I will make a quiet prayer for all of you reading this- may we never have to be in those shoes, may we be close to our family at times of need. Ameen.
=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=
#themakingofaminimalist #minimalistblogger #canadianblogger #simpleliving #mindfulliving #consciousliving #bengaliblogger #browngirlbloggers #torontoblogger #immigrantlife #family #familyfirst #wanderwomanbd
This picture is from a very special evening spent with my two school friends,I have known for decades . @ashasinha was visiting Toronto and staying with another friend @tralaaalaaa whom I have been meaning to meet ever since I moved here but it somehow never happened.
•
So one fateful morning at work, I saw their IG posts and reached out to meet. They replied within minutes to meet up that very day!The rest of my work day is now a blur because I was so excited about our meet-up! I hopped on TTC after work and soon enough was standing in front of the ladies , literally after decades!
•
We were never the bestest of friends back at school or a part of the same circle but it was so easy to reconnect with them as if decades hadn’t passed in between.In many ways we are still the same, in many ways we are so different now. I am so proud of the women they have become, one pursuing her phD and the other a working super mom of a beautiful young boy.
•
We went from place to place, licking ice-creams and catching up on each others’ lives. I can easily say that this is one of those evenings I will remember for a very long time. It was something about meeting childhood friends, that too in a different country, something about watching the sunset on a pier and comfortable silences in between (or the fact the we got to see the making of a music 🎶 video ! Swipe left to see a teaser !)
•
That evening was mine. I didn’t hear the expectations of society, friends and family ringing in my ears. I wasn’t thinking, planning or stressing.I was in bliss, taking in the beauty of the sunset, the city skyline and the comfort in my company. I think this will be a memory of “my happy place” ❤️for times to come.
=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=
#themakingofaminimalist #minimalistblogger #canadianblogger #simpleliving #mindfulliving #consciousliving #bengaliblogger #browngirlbloggers #torontoblogger #myhappyplace
I have always liked the idea of giving useful gifts to my loved ones. As a practicing minimalist, my desire for that has only gotten stronger. Nowadays it’s easier to give meaningful gifts to others, may it be a consumable one or a gift of experience. However when it comes to children, you have to be tad bit more mindful.
•
With two nieces and a nephew Alhamdulliah, I have become very conscious about the kind of gifts I get for children. Of course, candies 🍭 and chocolates 🍫 are easy and bound to make you popular with children. Even clothes too, right ? They are useful . But if you really want to make a meaningful contribution to their growth and development, skill developing toys, books and even experiences like taking them to parks and picnic can go a long way.
•
So when I was invited to a friend’s son’s birthday last week, after spending a significant amount of time at @chaptersindigo , I ended up buying books🤭. Take a look at my calligraphy game going strong !💪
•
I suppose the reader in me has a weakness for books but I also feel it’s so important to develop the love for books early in a child’s life. My nieces just started school and can’t read well yet but they love seeing the pictures in books and listening to stories! It helps develop their imagination so much!
•
Needles to say, I also got a set of little feminist board book set from @mudpuppykids for my nieces. I don’t live near them unfortunately but I can’t wait to give it to them! Also, I will make sure my nephew gives a go at them too!😊
=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=
#themakingofaminimalist #minimalistblogger #canadianblogger #meaningfulgifts #booksforkids #simpleliving #mindfulliving #consciousliving #meaningfulgiftsforchildren #bengaliblogger #browngirlbloggers #torontoblogger
I thought living alone would be tricky- lonely, sad and depressing. I haven’t lived by myself ever, so I really didn’t know what to expect. Maybe craving for company, sulking and streaming Netflix. While there is some truth in that ( yeah Netflix, you got that right !😋), the rest of it has been quite a pleasant surprise.😊
•
To begin with, having a full time job and adulting has kept me busy half the time ; for the other half, I made sure to engage in activities that I enjoy.
•
Going on walks turned out to be one of them. The picture is from one of those days when a friend and I explored a nearby trail. Walking helps to de-stress and talking to a dear friend about life in general put things in perspective.
•
I have been alone but I didn’t feel lonely and that’s saying a lot for a person like me who has a dependent personality. It’s being a pleasant surprise in learning things about myself I didn’t know and I am thoroughly enjoying this process of rediscovering myself.❤️
=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=
#themakingofaminimalist #canada #toronto #immigrantlife #immigration #everydayepiphanies #epiphany #realization #alonenotlonely #lovingmyself #torontosummer #mindfulliving #mindfulness #simpleliving #wonderwomanbd
