Summer has slowly faded, and the rains finally arrived. Then, for some abrupt reason, they abandoned their natural course and have scarcely been seen since.
This is supposed to be the rainy season, a time when life slows down a little, but that has not been the case.
This month was disappointing. My routine was disrupted, and work became the defining theme of the month. My anxiety crept back in, and depression reared its head from time to time. The trick, however, is not to dwell on it too much. Routine work is, at least partially, an antidote to anxiety. I hope to write a separate post about this someday.
This month’s report is going to be short. I am exhausted and looking forward to unwinding, but I wanted to finish this report before calling it a day.
Fitness
I missed eight days of walking and running.
Last month, I had finally gotten back into running and was consistently completing 4 km. This month, however, everything fell apart. Work, rain, and illness kept me from accomplishing much.
Next month, I am determined to get back into the groove and run 5 km every day. I miss the audiobooks, the adrenaline, and the satisfying exhaustion that come with running.
Reading
I struggled with reading this month. Too many large books and too little time. Next month, I’ll try to balance things better by including a few shorter reads.
The standout book of the month was Four Thousand Weeks. The WellRead Indian Book club pick for nonfiction as wel. Click to join our group. It was a demanding read, but one that deserved more time and attention. It isn’t the kind of book you simply read and move on from—it is a book worth revisiting and taking notes on.
I also thoroughly enjoyed George’s Marvellous Medicine, another delightful classic by Roald Dahl.
As my monthly motivational read, I picked up The Inner Game of Tennis. It was an excellent book. Despite its title, it has very little to do with tennis and far more to do with mindset and performance.
My fourth and fifth books this month were Sugar Falls and The Outside Circle, both graphic novels. I enjoyed The Outside Circle more, and it offered an insightful perspective on Indigenous life.
I am halfway through Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. At over 800 pages, I suppose I can forgive myself for taking my time.
I also spent time beta-reading my friend Lubna’s debut novel. I tried my best to finish it but couldn’t manage to complete it this month.But I am excited to share it with you all.
Hopefully, July will be a better month for reading.
At present, I have read 37 out of my goal of 75 books. To stay on track, I need to finish seven books next month.
Spiritual Growth
I wrote a Bible study every day and spent time reading sermons. I would love to set aside a few days to fast and pray somewhere quiet in the mountains…a chance to be spiritually refreshed. Lately, work has drained much of my inner peace. If you are interested to Join my daily devotional. Join here.
Writing
I’ve been procrastinating far too much.
There has been no progress on the AI book I’m writing with my friend.
My children’s novel still sits in the chaos of its first draft.
I hope to make meaningful progress next month. Hopefully, I’ll have positive updates to share.
Work Updates
I completed CTET coaching for English Pedagogy through Adda 24/7. First time I was coaching for their students.
I also had the privilege of moderating and participating in the launch of the Amal Fabian’s Q in the Garden of Grammar. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
Closing Thoughts
It was a difficult month because my grandmother passed away. Even so, the month ended on a happier note as my friend, Nivedtha, earned her doctorate, and my junior Amalan too. It is always wonderful to see people achieve their goals.
I’m curious to know—how was your month?
Here’s hoping next month is a better one.