5 everyday things that bring me happiness

Daily writing prompt
What are 5 everyday things that bring you happiness?

Amidst the chaos and rush of our everyday lives,
It’s easy to forget what makes our souls thrive,
But in the little things lies true happiness,
Here are five everyday things that can bring us bliss.

First on the list is a simple cup of tea,
Steaming hot and fragrant, a moment just for me,
As I take a sip, I breathe in the aroma deep,
My senses awaken, and I forget to even think.

Next up, a walk in nature’s loving embrace,
With each step, my worries seem to fade,
The gentle rustle of leaves, the chirping of birds,
All around, nature’s orchestra plays her tunes.

Then, a phone call or text from a loved one,
A message of care, a reminder that I’m not alone,
As I read their words, a smile creeps up my face,
Their love, a warm blanket, in life’s cold embrace.

Fourth on the list is music, a gift to our soul,
With each note, it transports us to a place whole,
Whether it’s upbeat or mellow, it sets our hearts free,
And for a moment, we can be whoever we want to be.

Last but not least, a good book to read,
A portal to another world, where our imaginations can feed,
As we flip through the pages, we become the characters,
And for a moment, we forget our own life’s theaters.

In these five simple things, lies happiness in disguise,
It’s up to us to recognize and cherish them, as life flies,
For when we take a moment to indulge in life’s small joys,
Our souls light up, and our hearts dance with joy.

Reply 1988

What movies or TV series have you watched more than 5 times?

“Reply 1988”

The drama Reply 1988 focuses on the themes of family, friendship, love, and growing up.

One of the strengths of “Reply 1988” is its well-written characters. Each character is fleshed out and given their own unique backstory, making them relatable and easy to empathize with. The main characters are all high school students who are facing the challenges of growing up in a changing society, and the drama does an excellent job of capturing the nostalgia and bittersweet emotions of youth.

The central character is Deok-sun, a bright and spunky girl who dreams of becoming a writer. Her family is struggling financially, and she often takes on odd jobs to help make ends meet. She is surrounded by a close-knit group of friends, including the lovable and dependable Sun-woo, the nerdy but kind-hearted Dong-ryong, and the quiet and mysterious Jung-hwan. The one sided love of Jung-hwan for Doek Sun is the highlight of this show. Can I give a spoiler here — the heartbreak will make you shed a tear or two.

One of the most appealing aspects of “Reply 1988” is its attention to detail in recreating the period setting. From the fashion and hairstyles to the music and cultural references, the drama does an excellent job of capturing the feel of the late 1980s in South Korea. This adds to the overall charm of the drama and makes it a delight to watch for anyone interested in Korean culture and history.

The drama also explores deeper themes of family and the meaning of home. Each family on the street has their own struggles and conflicts, but they all come together to support one another in times of need. The parents are shown to be just as complex and multifaceted as the children, and their stories are given equal weight and importance.

Another standout aspect of “Reply 1988” is the chemistry between the cast members. The actors all give excellent performances, and their interactions feel natural and authentic. The love triangles and romantic subplots are handled with sensitivity and maturity, and the drama does an excellent job of showing the complexity of teenage relationships.

Overall, “Reply 1988” is an excellent drama that manages to capture the nostalgia and emotional intensity of youth while also exploring deeper themes of family and community. The well-written characters, period setting, and talented cast all combine to create a truly memorable viewing experience. If you are a fan of Korean dramas or just looking for a heartfelt and engaging series to watch, “Reply 1988” is definitely worth checking out.

Pseudonyms

Did you know there is no Agatha Christie? Mary Westmacott is the real person.

Since ancient times, authors have concealed their true identities behind fictitious bylines by utilising pseudonyms. When their personal name would not have been regarded seriously at the time, some people want their work to be. For them, it is a matter of stigma. Others picked a nom de plume because they yearned to break out of the mould and adopt a new character because their writings were categorised or assigned to a particular genre.

Every tale relating to the decision and utilisation of a pen name is fascinating, even if there are numerous reasons why an author could adopt a name that is different from their own. Although the majority of these aliases are already well-known, there are still plenty that will surprise or interest you to learn.

Agatha Christie is well-known and adored for her unmistakable ability to craft intriguing mystery tales with a twist and a cast of well-known characters, including Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple.

But Agatha Christie chose to work under a pen name while she was a well-known mystery writer for a very straightforward reason. She intended to produce books about other topics, but she was aware that her admirers would always want her to write mysteries. Since Christie only published six books under the name Mary Westmacott, she had the opportunity to delve deeply into the field of human psychology, which is something that conventional Christie fans might not have anticipated from her own-name stories.

The pseudonym itself was picked with care. Agatha’s middle name was Mary, and the Westmacott surname was a common one. Surprisingly, it took close to 20 years for admirers to realise that Mary Westmacott and Agatha Christie were related. We have a lot more regard for what a skilled writer she was now that we know that these vivid and intuitive novels were written by the same person who wrote the Poirot volumes.

Here’s a list of authors who wrote under alias. Let’s talk about the stories behind their pseudonyms. Feel free to add to the list –

  1. Robert Galbraith – J.K. Rowling
  2. Mrs. Silence Dogood – Benjamin Franklin
  3. James Tiptree, Jr. – Alice Bradley Sheldon
  4. Flora Fairfield – Louisa May Alcott

The greatest writing pseudonym of all time is William Shakespeare. Although it would take an entire blog to write just a intro about him.

Whirlpool of Binge Watching

I am sure you have heard this classic Eagles song “Hotel California

Last thing I remember, I was
Running for the door,
I had to find the passage back to the place I was before,
‘Relax,’ said the night man,
‘We are programmed to receive.
You can check out any time you like,
But you can never leave!’

It’s often more challenging to get back into your regular routine after a nice vacation or a prolonged stay in bed due to illness. The same is true for binge watching also. You are trapped.

A lesser-known fact – You may come across Internet posts challenging you to binge-watch your favorite TV show or channel. Best of all, if you are chosen and complete the challenge, you will be paid. In 2019, Internet Service Partners ran a competition in which one person could win $1,000 for watching 24 Hallmark Christmas movies in 12 days. The winner was required to submit a personal critique on each film and keep her social media followers updated throughout the experience.

Even though these contests are brilliant marketing strategies used by the businesses, the question now is “Should we support encouraging people to spend even more time in front of their television sets?” According to Healthline, watching more than three hours of television per day may eventually cause memory loss and language damage. OTT platforms have really changed the way people watch TV.

Gone are the days of satellite TV channels. At least they were time bound. The majority of homes have multiple televisions for viewing purposes. Everyone in the house may watch different shows without interfering with each other thanks to the numerous gadgets and shared streaming accounts. Being addicted to your devices in a crowded house makes it simple to isolate yourself. Good for introverts like me, but not good generally.

The K-Dramas are definitely most addictive. I think they are produced with a mere intent of tricking people into binge watching them. Put on a Korean light comedy with a dash of romance on Netflix and there goes your weekend in a blink.

It’s a never-ending circle. You begin with an episode. You are halfway through a series after five hours have passed without your realizing it. You never thought you’d find yourself this deep in the whirlpool called Netflix, but here you are.

Share your binge-watching tales in the comments section. What is your take on it? Which net series are you hooked on? For me it’s a K-Drama these days “Extraordinary Attorney Woo”

To read

To read in bed is to draw around us invisible, noiseless curtains. Then at least we in a room of our own and are ready to burrow back ; back to that private life of the imagination we all led as a child and to those satisfactions so many of us have mislaid the key – Clifton Fladiman

While talking to my kids about how we used to read comic books all summer, so many memories popped into my mind and I couldn’t help from chuckling out loud remembering those fun days of innocence. In those times, a comic book for a day was a favorite pass time. Me & my brother would get two books per day, read one by one and bond talking over their interesting stories. Chacha Chaudhary, Pinki, Billu, Shikari Shambhu, Motu Patlu, Adventures of Tintin and various other super hero comic books were somehow building up our vocabulary as well as smartness. We also used to enact some of the scenes. Young minds and nothing else to do, what else can you expect.

Cartoons on TV have totally taken over the habit of reading in young kids. Though I do encourage my kids to read but with easy visual medium and easy availability, they are more attracted towards TV than books. What I want to say through my opening lines is that in my opinion, reading any kind of books not only is good for entertainment, they introduce you to new words, it makes your brain imagine the character yourself. In those moments of reading, you enjoy your solitude. You learn to be alone and be happy within yourself.

I had read somewhere that books let you fight dragons, meet the love of your life, travel to faraway lands and laugh alongside friends, all within their pages. They are an escape that brings you home. Books take you to the places no passport can take you and the areas no one knows about. Reading takes us to places when we have to stay where we are. And these places are all unique to each reader. That’s why they say that start reading and be forever free.

The more you read, the more things you will know. The more you learn, the more places you will go – Dr Seuss