starting 2026 grounded

Hiiii everyone, I'm back. This year's blog is gonna look a little different i think, still figuring that part out. but happy new year to everyone reading this!! i really really hope 2026 is better than 2025, like genuinely, because 2025 taught me SO much but this year i actually want to use it, not just survive it lol. and we're like a few days in and it's already giving me things to think about so here we go.

so the first thing, the didi who comes to clean our house. every single day she shows up with a smile, like actually smiling, never once complains, and she WALKS more than 3km just to get here. we went to her house recently and it was smaller than like, a bathroom honestly, and she lives there with her whole family (five people) plus some baby dogs she takes care of too. and she has zero complaints. none. just shows up and does what needs to be done.

and i won't lie that hit me kind of hard. like how often do we complain about stuff that genuinely doesn't matter while someone like her has so much less and still seems more grateful, more content, more everything than we are. it made me realize i'm probably guilty of this too, not being happy with what i have, and kind of taking for granted the privileges i didn't even do anything to earn.

also i started the year by going to a gaushala and having prasad there, which sounds small but honestly starting the year grounded like that just hits different. it kind of cuts through all the noise before the year even gets loud.

ok next thing, i'm learning that being kind does NOT mean bending over backwards for everyone. like yes be sensitive, be respectful, but no one is gonna handle you with kid gloves just because you're sensitive, that's not how life works unfortunately. that doesn't mean turn cold or rude though. it just means actually holding your boundaries instead of hoping people magically get it without you saying anything. being "too nice" or expecting people to read your mind just ends in you being disappointed, every time.

and the last thing, the one i'm actually proud of, i'm coming out of my shy phase!! like i haven't fully become a different person but i've gotten SO much better and that counts for something. i've been putting myself out there more even when i have no idea what's going on. i went to this exhibition recently where i knew basically nothing about the industry, and instead of just standing there quiet like old me would've, i actually asked questions. and just from talking to people i learned more than i would've just standing around being awkward.

Learning at an Exhibition

Prasad at the gaushala

There has been a lot of learning, and reconnecting with my roots is bringing me back. It honestly feels like 2016 again.