Aswath Krishnan

I recently had to face some unexpected illnesses and deaths in my family.  Sickness and death are powerful reminders of the impermanence, fragility, and mystery of life - about how little time we all have, how little control we have, how we are a small transient part of a grand timeless machinery, and how little we know.  They are also powerful reminders of the colorfulness and meaning in every individual life, regardless of how transient or small it is in the grand scheme.  We fondly remember the departed's endearing and unique traits. We recall and cherish their remarkable or amusing stories. We feel grateful for their kindness, love, and joy. We celebrate their path and accomplishments. We learn from their wisdom and missteps. We mourn missed interactions, their unfulfilled dreams, the void of their absence, and for those who are close to them.  Death teaches us what we value, gives us the urgency to prioritize meaningful pursuits and interactions, and to live fre...

I'm currently on a staycation at home, with no plans. I used to take vacations only for certain specific or special purposes like traveling to new places or social events, and there was a certain pressure to make the most of them, so this is a change.  Thanks to COVID travel restrictions, aging into my 30s, my philosophy on LYWE and  peace & joy , I have revisited and expanded my definition of vacations to the following:  Spending time on self-care and peace-promoting activities.  Spending time on any joyful activity or hobby. This expanded definition lets me plan and take time off for a lot more things than to just travel - to write on my blog, think, read, just relax and do nothing, sleep in, catch up on chores, enjoy leisurely coffee, walks, hikes, and hangouts, etc. When I travel, my agenda is more relaxed rather than packed and I even take a day off after travel to do the above.  Taking time for yourself and doing less or nothing are vastly underrated....