Books, Music, TV and Bird watching - Gratitude List

Time is just going by in 2026 with my India Trip, MA Kuchipudi classes, AI at work, kids' pickups and drops, dance classes, etc. Interestingly, the first quarter of the year is already over, and I am still reminiscing about our winter vacation days :-) Anyways, time flowing by isn't a concern for me; I enjoy this fast-paced life to some extent. 

I just wanted to pop out here on my blog and share my current hobbies and happenings. Usually, I share my gratitude lists in a few categories like books, dance, work, and travel. This time, it is different, though I couldn't skip books altogether. So, let me start with that!

Books

Usually, I set a goal of around 20 books per year, and I can read that many. But for the last 5 years, I chose to slow down in reading to give importance to quality sleep. Thus, I have set a rule not to read before bed.

 Does that rule sound weird to you? I have been reading books before bed for many years in my life. It is a wonderful experience reading before we sleep and drift into our dreams, right? However, I realized it might not be good for my sleep. Now, I am treating my sleep like the most treasured part of my life. I blissfully sleep 7 to 8 hrs. That helps me to stay active the whole day. 

https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-cup-of-coffee-and-a-book-on-a-bed-15187362/

So, with these strict rules and a busy life, reading 10 books a year has also been tough for me. However, this quarter, I have already completed 10 books. 

The Tenant by Katrine Engberg is a 5/5 read, whereas Little Renee of Sunshine is a great book for kids to teach kindness.  The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis and Don't Let Him In by Lisa Jewel are ok. 

Music

I haven't been listening to any music lately, but I attended an event where teachers introduced the Band instruments to kids entering middle school. These kinds of events make me emotional. I really appreciate how much time music teachers spend helping kids learn about each instrument and making them try before they join the band next year. 

My younger one is also preparing for a competition in music memory, where he has to identify the names of the songs and composers to win the competition. We are both blissfully enjoying listening to the classical music while driving :-) While he prepares, I get to learn about Western music for the first time.

TV

I am a Netflix fan. I love the quality of Netflix series so much that I stopped watching TV altogether when we stopped the subscription. I cannot enjoy any other shows with lower quality. Amazon Prime pales for me and is not even a comparison. We subscribed again this time, and I'm exploring new shows and movies. I am a fan of easy-going comedy series or on-the-edge thrillers/ horror. Yes, both extremes. Cannot handle the middle ground and the average. 

https://www.pexels.com/photo/popular-generation-phrase-on-board-6633003/

I started Bridgeton again, and in the last season. Oh, I love historical fiction as well. Young Sheldon is a light-hearted family show we all love to watch as a family in the evenings. We haven't explored documentaries yet, but Brain Games was our favorite earlier. 

Bird-Watching

I never thought I would be interested in just sitting and watching nature! I love Sunrises and the hues of sunsets, though. Thanks to the hubby, many birds regularly visit our backyard. It is very interesting to watch these beautiful, colorful birds. 2 small chirping yellow birds, 1 blue bright one, pigeons, cardinals, and humming birds come regularly. Today we saw a Cooper Hawk for the first time! What a variety!

This is supposed to be a gratitude list. Did you see all the little things in my life that I am grateful for?

What are you grateful for? Please do share in the comments.

Until next time,