June - the start of summer, a time for fun and adventure...
Weeks 24 to 27: June 9th - July 6th
Highlight of the Weeks 🎉
Week 24: A dance party at a friend’s 40th Birthday………yes I am at that stage in life where we have 40th birthday parties 🤷🏽♀️ (I am trying not to think too much about it….what can I say, denial works!). Well, this dance party was a blast! I love dancing and when there is music playing, there is no way I am just sitting. I am glad I found my friend S who is just like me and we had a blast dancing for over 3 hours. I was so sore the next day, but boy it felt great just dancing and having fun!
Week 25: It was International Yoga Day (June 21st) this week. I teach yoga for kids and adults over the weekend along with a friend. On the occasion of International Yoga Day, we conducted two 90-minute workshops - one for adults and one for kids. Both these workshops went well and it was very satisfying to have completed them successfully.
Week 26: Went on a road trip with friends to Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, it was super hot but we made the most of it. The highlight of the trip was the sunset private tour of the backcountry on the Navajo Tribal Park and the time spent having fun with friends.
Week 27: July 4th Fireworks, I love fireworks and never miss a chance to check them out! P and I went to the city park along with my friend S and her family. We made a picnic out of it. I took my camera and was able to capture some cool pics after a long time!
Month Recap 🗓️
The month of June was pretty busy and eventful. we had some fun dance performances, yoga workshops, and a road trip in addition to regular work and house chores. It was also the month when I was part of a memoir writing workshop, which pushed me to be vulnerable and open to strangers in ways that I did not expect. It has been an interesting experience, one that I loved and I am looking forward to joining their writing circle starting in August.
Health & Fitness 🚴🏽♀️
Last month has been pretty good fitness-wise. I am active pretty much every day, with a break here or there. Honestly, I am listening to my body and taking cues from it. I love going for a bike ride whenever possible as well as dancing to my heart’s content. I went to three belly dance classes last month. I am enjoying learning belly dance and how it makes me feel.
Tween Talk 👧🏽
We are having a good summer so far! P is busy with her XCEL Platinum level Gymnastics training, her Bharatanatyam classes, and volunteering at the City Library. She is sleeping in and just lounging around the house to her heart’s content. We watched Inside Out 2 along with her school friends and I loved this movie! I would highly recommend watching this movie with your tween and/or teen kid and also for the kid in you! The movie’s portrayal of anxiety and how it affects a person is oh-so relatable and bang on!
Life Hacks 🖇️
Here are a few hacks that have worked wonders for me! Give them a try and let me know what you think.
Walking outside in the morning sun for 10 mins every morning does wonders to the brain. Exposure to natural sunlight helps regulate your circadian rhythm, which can improve sleep quality and boost your mood. It also increases the production of vitamin D, which is essential for bone health and immune function. Additionally, morning light exposure can enhance cognitive function and reduce the risk of depression.
Practice deep breathing: When you feel overwhelmed, take a few minutes to practice deep breathing. Inhale slowly through your nose for a count of four, hold for four, and exhale through your mouth for a count of four. This can help calm your mind and reduce stress.
This Week:
Currently Reading 📚:
This is a piece of personal essay written by one of the amazing writers I came across in my cohort of memoir writing. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one and I found it to be very relatable.
Obsession in Death by J.D Robb
I am indulging a part of me that loves a good thriller!
Listening 🎧:
I finished listening to “The Light We Carry” ( you can read my review here.) and started listening to The 5 am Club.
Leta Jaijo Re from Coke Studio Bharat
A few weeks ago I was complaining about the Indian music scene and was pleasantly surprised by the above number from Coke Studio Bharat! I love Sunidhi Chauhan’s singing and her voice texture and I am in love with this latest number!
Watching 🎞️:
Season 2 is out and I am loving watching it. Yes, it’s pretty gruesome and there is too much nudity. The show has its issues but it’s still a great watch so far!
I absolutely loved this sequel and cannot recommend it enough! I was a fan of the first movie and I loved the sequel as well. As I mentioned above the writers and the animators did a great job with their depiction of Anxiety and I think this movie will help many tweens/teens understand it in a better way.
awesome, Harry! So good to hear about how you danced..🪩