WHEN THE WEATHER IS SULTRY.. BE DESULTORY!

Mumbai is having a real humdinger of a summer this year.. the way it usually does.. I.. for one.. am exasperated with everyone perpetually mouthing the same three little (and highly unromantic) words “It’s so hot”! You know what? We are in the month of May.. and it is SUPPOSED to be hot.. sweaty and sultry.. So now what?! DEAL with it!

Energy levels are low.. enthusiasm levels are even lower.. and you’re borderline exhausted all the time! What is the best thing to do? When the weather is sultry.. BE desultory! I rarely preach what I haven’t practised and this blog is no exception to the rule..

After a fairly hectic and tiring week of socializing.. running innumerable errands and a bit of travel thrown in.. last night I decided that THIS Sunday I would be desultory! People who know me well accuse me (with a fair amount of truth) of being “hyper and on the go all the time” and I accept that to be the truth.. and decided to take a break!

I texted my one and only “last minute plan making” friend last night and said I just wanted to be with myself today.. instructed my staff NOT to disturb or wake me up this morning and went to sleep around midnight.. An unwelcome thirst urge woke me up at 5:30 and I promptly retreated under the covers only to surface at a joyous 9:40 am.. which is an inexpressible joy for someone who surfaces between 5 and 6 am on a daily basis otherwise!

There was no pressing “to do” list today.. but after a healthy breakfast I showered.. washed my hair.. and decided to lounge around the house in a nightie all day! Man Friday had been casting reproachful looks at me all week conveying his wordless disapproval of the chaotic state of my handbag and sundries cupboard.. I decided to pay heed and ease his misery so asked him to empty half of it and place the contents on my bed.. and almost had a minor heart attack when I saw HOW MUCH STUFF needed to be sifted through.. sorted and put away! Calmed myself down and got started and it was all done in a little over an hour.. and the feeling of ACHIEVEMENT when I finished was reward enough!

After a simple lunch I ambled around the house tidying up a few things here and there and then promptly went to sleep! To wake up knowing that you don’t HAVE to do anything or meet anyone is such a lovely feeling.. and this is what sultry (rainy muggy and cool) Sundays are made for! The whole sense of not making a plan.. not having a plan.. and doing the things that you like is so enjoyable!

A number of us are compulsively hell bent upon packing our week with work.. socializing.. running errands.. and “catching up” with things and people.. but I strongly urge you to try the method of “When the weather is sultry.. be desultory” at least one Sunday in the month.. it is an amazingly relaxing restorative and rejuvenating experience!

Having done something somewhat constructive and meaningful (by writing this blog) I will now make my way to the refrigerator for a glass of refreshing and rehydrating chilled coconut water.. and await your responses and comments on the blog (with your names at the end please)!

Have a wonderfully plan-free Sunday evening and as always.. thank you for your patience in reading!