happiness is life of repetition

please be bored

Aug 31, 2023

I booked a flight which had a seven hour layover at Jaipur. I preponed my trip because my cousin was getting married. I text my friend who lives in Jaipur about meeting me at the airport. I was unsure that he would make it as it was late in the night. But he did. He showed up with his calming smile and gave me hug which felt like homecoming even though I hadn’t actually landed in Mumbai. I was struggling with life but not at that moment. After some self-deprecating humour, he asked me about my idea of ‘taking space’. I gulped some cold air. I thought to myself, ‘where can I start with?’ ‘Probably it’s everything and nothing at the same time’. But I did share some gyaan which I no longer remember. All I recall is, my idea isn’t my idea anymore. I often talk to my friends now and when they use the word ‘space’ and I chuckle a bit. I think to myself that is such good branding. Should trademark it soon. Eventually, I’ve decided to collect resources like articles, YouTube videos, tweets or music which resonate with my idea of ‘taking space’ and for believing in the permanence of this newsletter and not any social media, I want to document the same in this post for future references.

This song is a warm hug in a cold cold cold night. This song expanded my soul and provided a space to exist in this world, literally.
When I read these lines I instantly reminded myself, ‘hey, that’s why taking space is important.’
This tweet by Visakan also throws a different perspective to how to ‘take space’ in your life: TWEET

If the gen z had a tagline, it would be - ‘always seeking for something new’.

We are a generation who is masking our fear of monotony of life unlike the generation ahead of us by calling it growth, seeking discomfort and being adventurous. I’m not saying those things are not necessary. They are. But the constant noise of them makes us believe that the other side of the life should make us feel frustrated, unhappy or feel unaccomplished. How can you be bored? For better or worse, I read in a book that, ‘Happiness is in the life of repetition’. That line was the moment where I paused, closed my book and started writing. Oh, I haven’t written anything for myself for the longest time and this felt like a breakthrough. After seeking discomfort in doing what is now the cliche of taking solo trips, going on meeting random strangers over the internet whom I now call as friends and trying to do content where I absolutely lacked the confidence of someone like me could read and practise law again. When I decided that I’m going to give my law career a chance, the heart has to agree that I will have to give up the freedom of moving from one place to another. The prodigal daughter had to return to Mumbai, learn to take the same local train everyday, and sit in the office from 9:30 am to 7pm which extended to come what may. I had to accept that monotony will take over and the lives of my peers here and abroad would feel that maybe I’m doing less with my life. After nine months of that monotonous life, I feel, relieved. I feel grounded and I have started to appreciate the little moments. Even if everyday seemed like the previous on a macro level, when you zoom in, it always felt different. I saw the same people in the train, but now I know that they dress differently and their dresses personify their mood. I may go to the same office but learn something new. [I do sometimes dissociate and take a wrong train to figure out a faster route to my office]. I also had a favourite train and used to wait for it despite being early. Eventually, the metro started and saved an hour of commute. Guess what? I was stupid. I did not gave my life enough space and filled it with work. Don’t do that kids. If your friends call you to hangout with them, please do. If they call you, please talk to them. Don’t let that gym membership go to waste. Take a weekend off in the truest sense. And your love life should compliment your work life, not get sacrificed in the way.

Life of repetition leads to happiness because of tiny moments lived and looking in hindsight you feel as if you have an ocean of it. Life of repetition is working out and doing one more rep and to make it count. Life of repetition is not to be mistaken as comfort, it is difficult to play a long game in the world of instant gratification. Happiness lies here. In everyday life and in everyday things. It lies in the luxury to be bored and unbothered. It’s being peace in the nothingness of everyday life.

Books I’ve read so far in 2023 (also recommended) :