Looking Back at 2016

2026 has started on a nostalgic note, thanks to the latest social media trend. Everyone is looking back at their 2016 pictures; there seems to be a collective sense of loss of simpler times. 

As I begin to think about 2016, I see myself as someone who, for the most part, is still sleepwalking through life. My flatmates and I often go to shopping malls. We roam around, and as the day ends, I come up with an excuse not to eat out. Was broke AF. My siblings visit me frequently, and for a few days, my life revolves around them. This is a picture we took after getting discounted haircuts at a local salon. My haircut isn't that visible here, but I guess this is the only picture I have from that day.

2016 was when Goa happened. Leaving that heaven of a place-after weeks of waking up to the sound of waves, running on sand, eating noodles almost every day, and watching the sun go down every evening-I felt homesick for the first time in my life. Here is a picture of me sitting at a sweet little spot, without a care in the world. 

When I look at this picture, I realise this kid (I didn't know her) must be a young adult now. 

And while we are at it, how can I not share a picture of me in ripped jeans to commemorate the fashion of 2016?

Grateful for

 This view.

I  tend to plan a few things around the lunar calendar. Just to make everything look grander, dunk those views in some heavenly concoction of dreaminess and sublimity. And when you step out on these nights, or look out of your balcony, everything appears the same, yet different. It is one of those rare occasions when you want the electricity gone, just for a while. And in those moments, cities like Prague shine the brightest.

Being alive

Come what may, I continue to drag myself out of bed, work a bit, and enjoy a good walk. I am grateful for my health this year. Better than 2024. Took this photo at an Airbnb in Regensburg right after a night of intense pain. Walked for three hours, sat on a bench, read a new book and had an overpriced coffee that day. 

This human.

This sea of calm right here is the reason this year was kind of nice, at least in parts. So grateful.

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That Green Dress

I have a green linen dress for days when I don't want to spend hours deciding what to wear. I love the length - not too short, long but with a slit. When the air is a little crisp, a trench coat complements it beautifully. And on warmer days, it looks good just on its own. In fact, it looks even better. Will upload pictures of the dress without a coat/jacket in later posts.

Hope you all are having a great November.

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Postcards from Munich

Being in Munich, one cannot help wondering how the old and the new exist together, sometimes in harmony, sometimes not. The noisy centre, the non-stop trams, the trees that line the streets, the stunning statues, the parks, the newly built offices, people from all over the world, posters of plays. I am uploading a few semi-decent pictures that I have taken here. 

Hope you are having a great day.

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Zoom Out

I asked ChatGPT if I had depression. Before you decide to call me out on this irresponsible behaviour, hear me out. I have no money to pay for a therapist. I have no close friends. I detest the free counselling sessions where everyone looks like they don't want to be there. But what I do have is this objectivity, an ability to zoom out and see myself be me. 

And so I took the help of an AI platform to tell me if I was okay. The questions were simple: Do you have difficulty falling asleep? Do you feel you have disappointed your family members? Do you have very little interest in doing things? Do you feel tired? Are you under-or overeating? Do you have trouble concentrating on things?

After reviewing my answers, ChatGPT told me I was just feeling a bit emotionally flat but was otherwise fine. It also asked me to keep a consistent routine, exercise regularly, practise meditation and talk to people. 

But most importantly, it asked me to write down my thoughts. So I thought, "Why don't I create a blog post out of this journaling exercise?" 

I was feeling really meh while getting these pictures clicked as well—overall sad phase or whatever. But I smiled nonetheless, because, pictures.

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Best Days

Ever asked someone what makes them happy? If you have, you must have noticed how they pause before giving an answer. How their eyes, with glint and sadness, sometimes in equal measure, look within for an answer. And as they start talking, you get a tiny peek into their soul.  

In this blogpost, I am remembering a day when I was happy. The book I read. The selfie I took. The view I had.

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A Quick Hello

Going through one of those days when one doesn't have a lot to say. But one does want to upload something on their blog. I love the outfit in the first picture for its simplicity. The second shot is from a café that serves excellent vegetarian food. For some reason, whenever I am there, I keep staring at this corner. The third picture brings back a moment of chasing the perfect sunset.

That's all for this month.

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