There is something special about the mornings in my home town. I can actually enjoy the sunrise simply by sitting in the porch of my house. The afternoons are a bliss when I can hear the rustling of leaves and occasional noise of a moving vehicle. The evenings are glossy with the sky reflecting shades of red and orange and you can see the birds returning to their home in groups and solo. The night comprises of pin drop silence and the only sounds one can hear is the barking of dogs.

I had spent more than a decade living in metros. They were good, comfortable and chic but not memorable, simple and pleasant. I think the first word which comes in mind is struggle. The same routine everyday work, household chores, running errands. Weekends are usually spend partying with friends or if you love melancholy you can end the week in your apartment with a bottle of wine, junk food and binge watch or sometimes sleeping as you might be extremely tired with the week's workload. For families 👨👦👧👩👴👵 watching movies in PVR, outings, nice dinner might be fulfilling.
The life in a metro is exciting and adventurous in its own way, however, that is not the reason why life in a small town should be seen with pity and boredom.
When I shifted with my parents I thought my life is over. I thought the fun is gone and I am caged. In due course of time I realised I was wrong. My life is not over, it is on the verge of transformation. I have all the facilities here like online delivery, fancy restaurants, malls and parks and so on like metros but apart from the above it has simplicity.
I think I was so use to a complex life that now when my life has become simple I am not taking it seriously. I might not earn like I use to but I have chosen this way of life and I had realised that money cannot buy me everything. I do not go to gym but do yoga at home and help my parents with household work.( PS- there are awesome gyms here but honestly I have dropped the idea). My parents are my biggest inspiration. They are in their sixties with no lifestyle diseases. I guess they follow the concepts of 'ikigai' without being aware of the concept of that philosophy. I had actually learnt a lot from them that the quality of life originates in mind and grows there, so cultivate the mind and the surroundings will automatically become beautiful.

So, my point - there is a special way of life in small towns of India. I know there are challenges and everyone have their preferences, the question is many times we become judgemental of the life here.

Now, I have discovered that I prefer peace and more time with my family and friends than a juicy paycheck. I love to do most of my work myself, spending at a bar drinking and dancing have been replaced by dinner with friends and family where I can prove my culinary skills, crossing the checklist I had made long time back of the things I want to do which I am accomplishing now.

Life is short and I want to justify my life by not creating a mess out of it and living it fully by making lots of mistakes, learn new things and enjoying every day.

What's your way of life? Let me know😍🥰😇

Smile always and Be ur self Shweta Mukherjee
© Smile Alys