Lessons Learnt

24 things I learnt in 2024. (Beware of the frozen shoulder)

Jan 25, 2025

The post is a tad late, but what the heck, we are still in January. So the first post of the year is dedicated to 24 life lessons learnt last year.

24. Plans go awry. I had plans to do one new thing every month. January I started substack. February it was Kalaripayattu. March it was a children’s literature project. April, a Kerala trip. May-Dec it was frozen shoulder.

23. I should learn Malayalam because honestly the subtitles DO NOT automatically float in front of my eyes.

22. I can illustrate. Or doodle. Or sketch.

Artist: Yours Truly. Genre: Inspirational Copying.

21. Travelling is bliss — especially with friends, work, or other people’s children. With Udit, only if I have the appetite for research. But I love him A LOT! (P.S. An all girls trip can be fun too! (pallo, I owe you one))

20. I can float. With some help, of course.

19. I am a good planner. The CLASS REUNION was a success, alle? (you will hear all about it, soon).

18. We can babysit and feed a 12 yo child and make sure he makes it to his online classes on time. And Pikimoley loved it! It is another matter that ‘We’ soon became ‘Udit, only’.

17. It is absolutely fantastic to watch Mallu cinema in the hall. I go for first day, first shows now. I have found my Film Family — the Subhash’s—

Roshni

, uncle, aunty, and sometimes Preeti.

16. I definitely cannot exercise if I have paid for it. You get it? I did yoga for free, but stopped the moment I paid for it. I took a gym subscription. I went for a day. I thought I should learn swimming. Well, in that case the frozen shoulder got to me before the payments.

15. Frozen shoulder comes and goes on its own. Mine moved from right shoulder to the left and then to Udit’s right. I was told there is some chance of it moving from one shoulder to another but it being contagious from one human being to another is quite something. If this isn’t ‘lou’!

14. I absolutely loved the part when Physiotherapy becomes Exorcism.

13. I became obsessed with people’s arm movements. (I told you the frozen shoulder will taketh over!) For instance, I spent hours upon hours in complete awe of Tamannaah Bhatia swaying her inordinately long white Baahein in different directions, at different angles in “Aaj ki raat”.

12. Bras can be worn differently. And by the way, sports bra cures frozen shoulder!

11. Only in my head was I a kalaripayattu expert (for a brief one month). In reality, the knees trumped the will power.

10. I am a happy person because in my head I am still in class 7 C.

9. I am a lousy caregiver. I am too scared of what can/will/might happen. I even turn hostile. And I am ashamed of it. I can cook but…

8. “Fountain Pen Porn” is a thing. And my dear, darling husband is an addict.

7. I am one for traditions. Like every year, this year too I got my cycle repaired for that one elusive day when I would take it out.

6. At 45, I am still incapable of buying my own undies. Udit does the family shopping!

5. I can travel with a kid and keep him safe. That is what I think. Actually, the kids we know, are extremely protective when it comes to me. Pikimoley took excellent care of me in Trivandrum!

With Pikimoley (and his invisible mum). The school. Reunion planning calls.

4. I loved my school. And school friends are still the best set of friends you can have. My two cents: keep a few close, and better still, travel with them. (In my one year of substack, they were here and here)

3. I can go batshit crazy if left behind. Don’t get me wrong, I DO want Udit out of the house once in a while but me no likey when he travels for work.

2. Choosing to stick with the tried and tested Boss was/is one of the best decisions of my life.

1. Friendships are of different kinds. That our

Ochre Sky Stories

writing circle celebrated its first birthday and went for a retreat by the end of the year is SUPER COMMENDABLE! (Read

Anusha Khan

Karthik

to know more.)