Writing 101, Day Nine: Writing and not writing
Today’s assignment: What do you do when you’re not writing?
When I’m not writing, it depends on the time of day,if I’m finished writing, early morning, I pick up either the Bhagwad Gita or Thich Nhat Hanh,’The Miracle of mindfulness.’ It depends on my mood as well. If I’m happy, I listen to songs on YouTube, mostly Hindi or Urdu or my favorite Bengali songs.
Besides writing I am also registered for an online course, where there are lessons given to us, one every week. I study them, pick a question and answer it.
We the participants are expected to read each other’s comment and give our replies. When I first joined the course, I was bothered by someone, who did not want me to be in the course, because I am a Bengali. I did not say or do anything to make her feel that way. My being a Bengali was the only reason.
At first I toyed with the idea of leaving the course and joining the Memorial University, which is across the street from my house.Then the thought, I have as much right to be in the course as her, made me change my mind.
I’m continuing the course and still enjoying it, the day I feel it’s a burden, I’d leave and concentrate on writing,reading and cooking too.
At the moment, I’m pleased to stay in the course. Our facilitator is a fine gentleman, I’m actually indebted to him for allowing me to register in the course. It’s a course on Allama Iqbal, the poet and philosopher.I did not have any previous knowledge of him, I have learned everything I know by doing this course.
I also spend time cooking, which I love to do. One time I baked a lot, I do not do it anymore, it keeps me from eating cookies and cakes, which really is not good for me, considering the fact,there is too much sugar in them. I have learned sugar is not the best thing to consume if I want to stay healthy.
These are some ways I spend my time. I love writing, when I have nothing to write I translate songs into English.
……………………….. 🙂
Sabethville 
Wonderful ways to keep busy Ranu. I am so impressed!
Dear Sonya ,
Thank you. 🙂
Well done for sticking with the course, you should never take notice of ignorant bullys!
Dear Kaye,
Thank you so much for your comment. Yes I’m sticking with the course. 🙂
Good girl! It sounds really interesting.
Thank you dear Kaye. 🙂
I am thankful for your translations. I admire the rest of what you do. I don’t know what’s wrong with being Bengali. You are interesting and artful (as in skillful), so I would presume Bengalis are good folk to get to know. As with the others, I’m glad you’ve stayed the course with the course. Though if it becomes un-enjoyable for reasons that make sense to you, I trust you’ll go another way.
When I’m not writing, the first thing I do is stretch my back the other way, because it’s been hunched over toward the computer. Lately, it also means trying to stretch out the long scar on my chest from open-heart surgery earlier this year. Because of my heart, my energy is often limited, but I’ll try to read or wash the dishes or maybe get some food. I talk with my sister on the phone and keep in touch with other family members on line. Same thing with friends, though I enjoy getting together with the friends I have where I live now. That circle is small, too small. But the friends I see I cherish, for they are generous and open-hearted.
Overall, I’m trying to adapt to life, as is. I’ve been wondering if trying to live as a hobbit might be a good and workable metaphor or inspiration.
Thanks!
Thank you so much for your lengthy comment. What’s wrong with a Bengali, it’s a long story, but in short, once we were part of Pakistan, now we are not. Our religion is the same and our language is not. This is one reason, there are other reasons, but who is counting.
Unfortunately I chose to be in a course where most of the participants are Punjabis from Pakistan. 🙂
Dear Ranu,
Thank you for sharing this post. I must share that I am immensely happy that you are in the course on Iqbal. I would miss you if you weren’t there. And your presence brings so much to the course :).
All good wishes,
robert
Dear Robert,
Thank you for your encouraging comment.I appreciate your support. 🙂
One of the things I really appreciated about teaching at the Asian University for Women was watching the Pakistani, Indian and Bengali students sort each other out and learn to love and respect each other. I’m sorry you had to experience the prejudice, but hopefully the woman in question will someday learn better.
Thank you, I also hope that day will come. 🙂
My dearest sister,
Thank you very much for the nice words about me as the facilitator of the course. You are one of the most valued participants, as Robert has also pointed out and as I mentioned recently in the course too, the grasp which you have developed on the subject is amazing and so rewarding for me to see. The quality of research which you put into the assignments is an inspiration for many, I can assure you :).
Thank you for being in the course.
Dearest brother,
I willingly registered in your courses, therefore I wanted to do my best.
I did not want to give an impression it was unimportant.Thank you for your comment. 🙂
Very impressive way of keeping busy.
Dear Indira,
Thank you I always like to do something in my waking hours.:)