It’s a rainy Sunday, and the weather outside is glorious. And then, there is work. Piles of it. Files from office, work on the homefront. Unfinished, calling out to you to fall into its deathly embrace. For once, ignore it. Part the curtains and look out into the world outside. Catch the sight of trees sporting a fresh sheen thanks to the big fat raindrops cascading down from the skies. The steady pitter patter of rain is almost meditative.

This monsoon has been bounteous. There are water puddles everywhere and, sometimes, the rain water gushes down the streets in all its chocolate brown glory. This, then, is the time to revisit your childhood. Sit beside your children, switch off the smart phones and tabs and switch on life. Grab a piece of paper and relearn how to make paper boats. If you’ve forgotten, take help from the Internet.
There’s nothing like the sight of a paper boat bobbing by unsteadily on the water to calm you down. In a way, it reflects life — ups or downs, you plod on, in the hope of a better tomorrow. Track the boat with your eyes, as far as you can, before you set down to make the next boat. An hour of paper boating is all you need to recharge yourself, ready to face the long week ahead.

In the chill evening, sit down with a cup of tea and pull out the board games from the loft — thanks to the advent of gaming devices, that’s where many of our beloved Ludo and Monopoly sets lie! Spread out a carpet or dhurrie on the floor, and plonk yourselves around the game. For a change, you’ll actually get to see each other’s faces, instead of mere smart phone screens. Try it right now, and see what a world of difference it makes to your life!