Winters and the smartphone detox

As I dropped D to his school bus in the morning, I couldn't resist taking a walk in the beautiful cool winter morning. I don't enjoy extreme cold climates so I love Mumbai Winters
That nip in the air,

The lovely soothing smell of the exhausted fires, that the watchmen light every night to keep warm, wafting through the air,

The bright colourful pink Bougainvillea and red Hibiscus flowers in full bloom offering a contrast to the cool weather.

The leaves on the tree have a distinct quality of being fresh although not wet, much like the sweaters people are sporting. Not washed fresh, yet fresh!
The soothing temple bells as people fight the morning urge to sleep in some more and ensure they make it for their morning date with God..
That lovely feeling as a cuppa hot ginger tea makes its way down your throat and touches your heart

The sweet taste of fruits and veggies

That little bit of cold in the air is so energising.....like you want to run and do a full weeks work in a day.

Sunshine is really warm and soothes the soul. It’s one of those rare times in the year that you actually bless the sun in Mumbai and not run away or hide from it.
Winters and monsoon are my most favourite seasons.

Enjoying nature is a very normal feeling, but it is not so normal for most of us these days in the fast paced lives we live.

Last few weeks have seemed very dull for me somehow...
Hubby and me have been wanting to go away on a small break but due to my pronounced last trimester-linked discomfort, we've not been able to move out.
But I did get my break - I have to thank nature though.
As Paulo Coelho says in Alchemist - if you really want something, the whole universe conspires to make it happen (he did say it before Shah Rukh Khan in Paheli ;)).

My smartphone conked off a week ago. In hindsight I think it was the best thing that happened in this New Year :). Am temporarily using a really basic version of the Nokia phone (No camera either), and I do feel quite liberated honestly. I have actually gotten around to doing things that I have been procrastinating for so long, and just about begun enjoying life and nature once again.

So I did get my break- the same relaxation and state of mind was achieved just by being away from a smartphone. Didn't need to go to another place. LOL

Realize how attached we are to our smart phones and how much control they have over our lives. We are compulsively checking for latest updates on the market, news, friends and family!

 

I have been feeling this phone fatigue since a while now. Especially because of these various group which are created to keep in touch but end up being a forum to send mostly jokes and forwards. I think these forwards are more an escape for us to substitute for quality time that we are not able to spend with friends and family. I had anyway stopped reading most forwards and jokes for the past one month.

 

It’s true that there will also be some important messages and work related stuff you miss out and since you have progressed in technology so much you don’t have old fashioned back-up processes in place. But it was a small price to pay. The smartphone detox was good and badly needed!!!!

I've decided to hang on a while till I buy the new smartphone in my life....till I get used to living without its control...let’s see how long it lasts.

Cheers

Alpa