100 Days of Happiness – Day 26

It’s easy to find sadness each day, but to find a moment of happiness is difficult. Last year, I couldn’t bring myself to finish the 100 Days of Happiness challenge. This year, I am more determined to finish it — Counting down to 2016 with Happiness!

The Happiness of Reading Book Inscriptions

100 Days of Happiness – Day 26

I don’t quite remember when it was that I started exchanging books with friends. Maybe two years back. Few of us bibliophile friends got together and started a book exchange with each other in Secret Santa style. One friend who stays abroad took up the task of deciding who is Santa for whom. And it was really fun. Over time, we had four or five book exchanges. We even got together to send that lovely friend abroad some nice books too.

One thing I loved about the book exchange was that I started to inscribe the books I sent. Each of them had a note in it, one that I loved writing. And those who sent to me, most of them inscribed the book as well. I think that matters a lot. It’s a memory that stays through the read and after the read as well. The first book I received (which, shockingly, I still haven’t read) is Five Quarters of the Orange by Joanne Harris. And the first book I sent was the book Monsoon Diary by Shobha Narayan.

Happiness is … reading some of the notes inside the books I’ve received from friends over the years. It reminds me of the exchange, and that personal touch makes it worthwhile.

(© 18^th October 2015)

Vinay Leo R.

Poetry & writing to me are to me, a breath of fresh air in a life that is sometimes covered by the smoke of sorrow or self doubt. They also become the sweets I share to celebrate when life offers me a reason to. But most of all, they are to me, my life. For each word I write is a piece of my heart, a thought that just had to find its way into the world.