Happy midmonth everyone! Time does fly fast and we are nearly midway through October. On another note, I just got nominated for the Aesthete blogger award by Sarah @ Sarah Collings Bookworm. Thank you for the nomination! It is greatly appreciated. If you haven’t checked out Sarah’s blog, do check it out now for amazing bookish contents. Again, thanks Sarah for the nomination.

What is The Aesthete Blogger Award? “This award is to honor every creative person, irrespective of their number of followers and views. Because, as long as you create, that is all that matters. This award is for those bloggers who put an insane amount of thought in each of their posts and for those who spread creativity like wildfire! Just wow!” This was taken from the original post.

Rules
  • Use the official logo/graphic of the award and display it on your blog.
  • List the rules.
  • Show some love to the one who nominated you!
  • Mention the creator (Asmita@ the Fictional Journal) and link it back to the original post.
  • Answer the questions below.
    • Tell me something about this world that you admire.
    • What is your favourite form of creativity?
  • Nominate 7 lovely people and notify them by commenting on their posts; spread some love!
  • Ask your nominees 4 questions.
  • Share something you created. (It can be anything!)

My answers to the questions above

Tell me something about this world that you admire.

This one is a rather tricky question that I am having a difficult time figuring out the right answer. But if there is something that I really admire about this world, it would be the spirit of resiliency that many possess. There is something admirable in being able to pull one’s self up after a challenging period. I don’t want to idealize or romanticize it for I recognize that in order to arrive to that destination, they must overcome some challenges as well. It takes a lot of courage and, most of the time, we don’t even get to witness their displays of courage for the battle is within, and not without.

It is a quality I wish I also have.

What is your favourite form of creativity?

Yet another tricky question (AHAHA). With a bigger left brain, I really don’t consider myself a creative person and it shows. I dislike performing although I can always join the discussion. Thankfully, I have managed to avoid performing in company events. Almost.

In terms of creativity, I love music. It is just unfortunate that the feeling is not reciprocated. Anyway, my favorite form of creativity is writing. Apparently it is the only way I can express myself. You see, I am not good at expressing my emotions and it is only through writing that I can show the other parts of me. Just like in the case of Sarah, writing provides me freedom, freedom in all aspects. It is also a form of escape and writing has become my comfort zone. In a world of uncertainties, it is one of the few certainties I know I can always rely on.

Sarah’s Questions and my Answers

Why did you start blogging and what do enjoy about it?

It was in 2015 that I found myself at an impasse. I wasn’t sure what to do with my life. It was also then that I started a correspondence with a Facebook friend, a friend I have started noticing because of her blog. I have always wanted to start writing but something always held me back. It was our conversations that finally pushed me to take that leap of faith. At first, I was not sure what to do with my blog or what direction to take. But as I started writing and getting into my groove, the idea of inspiring others to write started forming in my mind. It motivated me to become an active member of the blogging community.

The thing I enjoyed about blogging the most was sharing my thoughts and experiences, whether it is about books or my travel experiences. As I have mentioned above, it is also a form of escape for me. However, I have been too preoccupied with sharing my thoughts on books and travels that I started forgetting about one part of this blog – musings and thoughts on life in general.

What is your favourite book and why?

Can I just skip this question? HAHA. I have so many books that I love and have been inspired by. It also depends on my mood by the first titles that came to my mind are:

1. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s The Little Prince – It is for obvious reasons why this book is one of my all-time favorites. Its messages were simple but resonate on a universal scale. It’s been over a decade since I read it but it still feels like it was yesterday. It left such a deep impression on me.
2. Fredrik Backman’s Anxious People – Just like A Man Called Ove, I was a little hesitant to read Anxious People when it was released last year. I am glad I overcame that reluctance for it instantly became one of my favorite reads. Backman’s trademark humor belie the deeper messages woven into the narrative.
3. Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner – Khaled Hosseini was a seminal force in my appreciation of Afghan literature. He also made me fall in love with his country, despite its tumultuous history. The Kite Runner simply took my breath away. Amir’s desire to win his father’s affection reminded me of my younger self.
4. Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀’s Stay With Me – I have found a new comfort zone in Nigerian literature and Adébáyọ̀’s Stay With Me was one of the reasons why I have been turned into a fan. The story of a young couple yearning for a child, Stay With Me was both evocative and raw, a triumph of storytelling.
5. Han Kang’s Human Acts – For the most part, I have avoided Korean writer Han Kan’s Human Acts for I was confused by The Vegetarian (I would later on appreciate its meanings). Had a friend not recommended this book to me, I would have missed on a heartbreaking tale about the dark shades of humanity and the will of the human spirit.  

What’s the one thing you couldn’t live without?

I know it is cliché but right now, the only that I cannot live without is internet connection. With the lockdowns and the work-from-home arrangements, internet connection is really important. I need it for my job. I need it to keep up with my family. I need it to order goods since I am reluctant to go out. I need it to keep abreast of the latest development. Indeed, we have grown internet dependent.

What is your idea of a perfect day?

I am quite the simple guy. My vision of a perfect day is comprised of relaxation in a far off place, detached from my responsibilities, disconnected from the ugly realities of my world. I can go simpler than that. A perfect day is a day well-spent with the people I love – my friends and my family. It is more than enough for me.

Sharing something I created!

I have mentioned missing writing about my personal musings so I am sharing one of them: The Autumn I Learned To Ride the Bike

My Nominees

I want to reiterate that none of you is under any obligation to do this tag unless you truly want to. I totally understand if this is not your cup of tea. Happy blogging!

My Questions
  1. What is something you look forward to in 2022?
  2. What is your favorite childhood memory?
  3. What or who is the inspiration behind your blog?
  4. What role does writing and/or blogging play in your life? How did it help mold you?

Again, I am grateful to Sarah for the nomination. I hope you enjoyed reading my answers. Thanks for reading.