Summary

Gurpreet Dhariwal shares a personal list of ten essential elements in her life, including writing, reading, painting, pets, web-series, food, fitness, cleanliness, music, and DIY activities.

Abstract

In a reflective article, Gurpreet Dhariwal responds to a tag from "The Garrulous Glaswegian" by delineating ten things she finds indispensable. Writing stands as her primary necessity, causing her 'writer's guilt' if neglected. Reading is equally vital, with a goal of finishing 49 books this year. Despite a recent lull, she cherishes painting and has plans to create new artwork. The companionship of dogs and cats is non-negotiable for her mental well-being. She has a penchant for web-series, which she prefers over contemporary movies for their quality content. As a food lover, she enjoys cooking, especially pasta and baking cakes. Dhariwal maintains her fitness through biking, having covered over 600 kilometers, though her routine has been disrupted by the COVID-19 situation. She has an obsession with cleanliness, taking pride in performing household chores. Her musical taste leans towards the 50s and 60s, reflecting her appreciation for the patience and life of that era. Lastly, she values DIY projects, encouraging self-reliance during the pandemic.

Opinions

Dhariwal experiences guilt when not writing, indicating a deep-seated passion for the craft.
She expresses a strong preference for reading over other activities, suggesting it as a source of personal growth and enjoyment.
Her love for painting and sketching is evident, though she admits to needing motivation to return to it.
Pets, especially dogs, are deemed crucial to her emotional stability.
She has a clear distaste for Bollywood movies, opting instead for the more authentic storytelling found in web-series.
Dhariwal's enthusiasm for food is palpable, as is her enjoyment of cooking for her family.
She values fitness and has adapted her routine to the circumstances, showing adaptability and commitment to health.
Her commitment to cleanliness is linked to personal empowerment and a sense of independence.
She has a nostalgic reverence for music from the 1950s and 1960s, implying a belief that modern music lacks depth and substance.
Dhariwal's advocacy for DIY activities reflects a philosophy of self-sufficiency and resilience, particularly relevant during the pandemic.

Ten things I Can’t Live Without

“I would rather die of passion than of boredom.” ― Émile Zola

I was tagged by The Garrulous Glaswegian to share about ten things that I simply cannot think my life without.

And here I am.

#One

I cannot live without writing. I usually experience writer’s guilt when I stay away from writing even for two days. If I am not writing on the medium or anywhere else, I am writing in my head. All my blunt and fearless thoughts. With no pretentious attitude.

#Two

I cannot live without reading. I curse days when I don’t read at all. You could say I love to inflict pain on myself. This year I am done with 48 books. And the 49th book is still stuck with me at 10% on Kindle. It’s crying lungs out for me to pick my baby again. I am trying and I am almost there but for ten days I have been so unproductive. Maybe, not anymore.

#Three

I love to paint. I love to sketch. I love to play with colors. Having said that, I have not been painting or sketching a lot lately. I have gifted myself wooden paint boxes and I am planning to come up with new designs but the thing is I have been super lazy and need beatings to get back to a productive zone.

#Four

I cannot think of my life without dogs and cats. Okay! I will be biased here. I love dogs more than cats. But still, I can’t picture myself living in the world with humans alone. I will go crazy like those crazy morons of 60+ who walk on the street to bite others. I will turn into that maniac zombie if you dare to take pets away from the Earth.

#Five

I am addicted to watching Web-Series. I didn’t know that web series could influence me more than stupid movies I ended up watching all my life. I have given up on Bollywood movies because the majority of them come from a highly corrupted and fake background. I am sticking with quality content and even if it means watching movies and web series of people who are highly underrated in this world.

#Six

I am a food lover. I have gained two kgs again. I am dancing while writing that lol. My mother is a great cook but there are times when I cook for myself. I love cooking pasta for my parents. They are super fond of it. I love baking cakes too. I am going to try Chocolate Cake Recipe this time. Earlier, I didn’t add the chocolate compound but this time I will play with it too.

#Seven

I am a fitness freak even though at times I lose my routine. I was running last year and before that, I was into the gym. This year, I have gifted myself a bike and since then I have completed 603.7 Kms on it. I haven’t been going on bike rides since 25th July 2021 due to the rise in COVID cases all over India. I trust no vaccination, doctor, and politician for my own reasons. I trust in God. And I hear his blessings.

#Eight

I have an OCD of cleanliness. I love to clean my entire floor and restrict the maid to my parent’s floor. I have been like this since 2017 when my estranged husband left our rented apartment and I got hold of myself by doing all my household chores. I love it as I take it as another form of workout. Also, I realized I was just relying on the maid because of him as he never contributed to the household chores.

#Nine

I love listening to music. Lately, I have switched to 1960’s and 1950’s songs because I believe people had more patience, life, kindness, and compassion during that era, unlike today. I am bored with stupid music that they come up with these days which has no head and tail to it. I wonder how this turns out to be once we complete 2050.

#Ten

I cannot think of my life without DIY things. Be it about making my facemask, a new recipe, fixing something at home, I love to try DIY techniques. I am glad there are many things that each one of us can do at home without relying on anyone else but for that, you just need a little bit of motivation to keep yourself going especially during pandemic times.

I am requesting Michael Ritoch, Terry Mansfield, Annelise Lords, Martine Weber and Orla Kenny to keep this boat afloat.

In response to

10 Things I Absolutely Can Live Without

Here I Go Again

medium.com

Gurpreet Dhariwal is the author of Two Poetry Books. Her poetry books are available on Amazon, Flipkart, and BlueRose. Connect with Gurpreet at www.gurpreetdhariwal.com