Happy Ram Naumi folks (this post was written yesterday, in case you’re wondering)! I’m not a Hindu and have never celebrated the Navratras, but I’m grabbing for any and all celebrations while stuck at home.
My next-door neighbours haven’t let the curfew spoil their religious fervour. They have done the ‘aarti’, quite loudly I might add, every single day through the nine-day festival. In another era, this noise pollution might have irked me, but during lockdown it has become a strangely soothing sound that I subconsciously look forward to. So, I feel that we should collectively pray to the almighty to quell this virus that has brought humankind to its knees.
I’m aware that many of us don’t believe in the same god, and some don’t believe in god at all- but, if the virus is the face of a common apocalypse, then perhaps our communal meditation and prayer to a universal energy might be the answer? Worth trying at least, no?
Hence, my tip to beat the lockdown blues today is to:
Pray. Or meditate if that sounds less preachy to you. Thank creation for giving life to you and your close ones. For the food in your belly, the breath in your lungs, the wind in your step, and the warmth in your heart.
Just close your eyes, breathe and feel thankful for everything. Perhaps this universal energy will hear our pleas and quell this insane virus that has taken over our lives!
One thing among the many others that I’m thankful for, especially while stuck at home, is makeup. Laugh if you’d like, but makeup is therapeutic for me. The simple act of dressing up makes me happy. Over the years, I have honed my makeup skills by watching countless Youtube videos, and practicing on myself.
A couple of months ago, I did a “Countdown to Oscars” series on my IGTV (the video arm of Instagram, for the uninitiated), where I watched and reviewed 15 different Oscar nominated films, in the weeks before the actual ceremony. Apart from appreciating the reviews, many people asked me for makeup related tips.
The lockdown was the perfect time to break my self-inflicted barriers and shoot a makeup tutorial. Today, I posted my third successive video tutorial, where I shared my tips for achieving a flawless face with a glowy foundation. While doing this, I discussed the new TV show “Freud” that was released on Netflix last week. I’d love it if you watched my video and gave me your feedback. Here’s the link:
Flawless Foundation Get Ready With Me + Review of “Freud” on Netflix
This is the look I created in my makeup tutorial on Instagram IGTV today
Talking of TV shows, here’s my daily recommendation with the alphabet C:
“Californication”, another old-school favourite of mine, can be streamed on Amazon Prime Video. This show set in California is about a writer (David Duchovny) that moves there from New York, when one of his books is picked to be made into a film. His troubled personality and stark self-obsession make him an amazing writer but a difficult husband, father and human being. You can expect lots of gritty drama, oodles of sex as suggested by the name, and some astute observations on the personality of writers.
As for books, a personal favourite beginning with the letter C is:
“City of Djinns” by William Dalrymple, which is a collection of anecdotes about the author’s time spent in New Delhi. He fell in love with the city, and eventually made it his permanent home. This book is different from most of his other works, for its personal touch. He is a gifted writer, masterful at the art of storytelling and judicious use of words. If you’re from Delhi, this book is a must-read and even if you’re not, it’s a wonderful introduction to this vibrant city- djinns included!
Speaking of stellar writers, the blog recommendation I have today is the first blog I ever read thirteen years ago, when I was gifted my first laptop- a hand-me-down of my father’s.
That’s all for today folks.
Do check out my daily update videos on Instagram Stories for #LockdownWithTheLadyLawyer and follow me there to stay better connected. Also tell me your favourite TV Shows/ movies/ books/ bloggers with the letter C?
Ciao till tomorrow!
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This post has been written for the #AtoZChallenge 2020. My theme this year is #LockdownWithTheLadyLawyer, where I’m journaling my thoughts during the coronavirus lockdown, and sharing numerous recommendations that will help you keep your spirits up.
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