Butterflies. All Shapes. Sizes. Colors.
Hazelnut Cappuccino.
A Pink Hibiscus Flower.
Having the freedom to express.
Dancing — right when your body flows and sways to the music.
Wine. Cheese. Jazz.
Bird Watching.
A conversation where I feel seen.
Living sincerity by a few core principles.
Pressed flowers in notebooks.
Ironed clothes.
Giving someone undivided attention when I can’t provide them with anything else.
Pretty Earrings.
Vegetable Cheese Maggi.
Stories that explore complex/grey storylines.
Meditation.
Staying up until 5 am to talk about the most bizarre things under the sun.
Sunset on beaches and sunrise on mountains.
When a stranger smiles at me.
Returning books with handwritten “thank you” notes.
A good night's sleep.
Books on Kindle. Physical Books. Just Books. Books.
Coffee table books with lots of illustrations.
When the elevator doors open just as you arrive as if it had been waiting for you.
Giving someone a thoughtful compliment and making their day.
Nude lipstick shades.
Getting a new insight about myself.
A neatly made bed with a pleated bed sheet.
Butter chicken cooked by mom.
Silence.
People who forgive each other.
Graphic Novels.
Banter with cousins.
Sunny side up. Fresh orange juice. Actually, any and every kind of breakfast.
Looking someone in the eye and saying something like I mean it.
Pride Month.
My healthy body.
Finding a solution to a problem I’ve been wrestling with.
A hilarious standup comedy set.
Black Cars.
Making conversation with only eyes.
Guitars.
Having a roof over my head, no matter what shit happens in life.
Receiving recognition or a moment of appreciation for your work.
Tender coconut ice cream.
Having friends across generations.
Beautiful journals and color pencils.
Seeing people working on a craft they passionately devour.
Gulmoher trees.
A new cuisine that turns out to be delicious.
Scented Candles.
A walk in the park, barefoot on grass.
Karaoke sessions.
Working through a hard conversation with a close friend.
Light croissants that just melt in your mouth.
Rainbows and Unicorns.
New Year’s Eve.
When your family gets along with your boyfriend.
Being brave because I was vulnerable.
Sunflower Fields. or Tulip Fields.
Face masks.
All types of subtle fragrances and perfumes.
Intimate music concerts.
Making a list of dreams.
Sparrows.
Long drives, especially at night when the world is sleeping.
Warm showers at the end of an exhausting day.
Old pictures.
Being drunk and feeling on top of the world.
Seeing your scores in report cards.
Podcasts.
His text notification.
Donating money to charities I care about.
Making myself my favorite granola dish. Yum!
Dates- where you dress up and go somewhere special.
Stay-at-home dates.
When rays of light break through the clouds.
My gut feeling that shows the way. Always, without fail.
Warm blankets.
Getting paid after a month of hard work.
Warm lighting in a room. Lamps, Ferry lights, for instance.
Morning routine.
Seeing people in love.
Trying something new and it exceeding expectations.
Long A-line dresses paired with eyeliner and heels.
Meeting people with similar world views.
Defeating my nephew in every game of Ludo.
Acceptance.
Baby’s breath or white tulips, in a beautiful vase.
My capacity to love and be loved.
Sipping on rose tea sitting in my balcony and watching the rain pour.
Calvin and Hobbes.
Showing up again, and again, and again for my people.
Living in a fast-growing economy, which is a democracy.
Traditional Indian wear that just fits.
Nature and Open Spaces.
Being a couch potato.
Skincare routines.
Handpans and a tabla played together.
Accepting help.
The concept of thanksgiving.
Finding a spot in my city that’s aloof and special.
Watching an in-depth interview of someone I adore.
Rest time between blocks of intense work.
Tiramisu.
When you find someone in a crowded space and converse as if you’re the only two people in the world.
Mindless YouTube reels.
Good art. Good movies. Good TV shows. Good paintings.
Serene and cute coffee shops.
A bowl of red watermelon.
When your dog rushes to you the instant it hears the door creak.
The sheer joy of creation.
When someone changes your opinion in an intellectual debate.
Peaceful piano playlist on Spotify.
Colorful, designer socks.
Cozy cuddles accompanied by heartfelt conversations.
A good long laugh that makes you tear up.
The current vitamin levels in my body.
Bonfire on a cold day.
Writing letters to myself.
Wherever you are in the world, the moon seems to follow you.
Giving gifts to parents they never expected.
Attending your best friend’s beautiful wedding ceremony.
Trying something out of comfort with friends.
Sound of a waterfall nearby.
Internet, and my phone — a powerful portal to whole different world.
A full productive day, where you finish all your to-dos — type A style.
Working out and caring about fitness.
Mutton Biryani with Coke.
Seeing your siblings do so well for themselves.
Overcoming fear and anxiety and developing new ones. Shows growth!
Surviving yet another bad day.
Living to see another day and making kickass memories.
When you meet a mutual connection and realize it’s a small world.
Waking up next to the love of your life.
Learning about a new culture and realizing there’s so many different ways to live a fulfiled life.
Chilling with grandparents.
Standing up for myself in any situation.
Making scrapbooks.
Playing Mafia or Pictionary.
Mentors who understand what it is like to be you.
Floating in water.
Bursting balloons.
Collecting physical things you’re passionate about.
A cocktail that gets you tipsy while tasting great.
Absurd selfies.
Setting healthy boundaries with people.
Inner jokes that only a ground of people will ever understand.
Unwillingness to settle down in life.
My phone to jot down an idea anytime, anywhere.
Co-incidences.
The night sky is full of twinkling stars, making you feel a speck in the universe.
Building something from scratch.
Experiencing moments of unconditional love and support from parents.
Spirituality.
Newborn babies and their tiny toes and fingers.
My home. My balcony. My kitchen.
Red wine sangria.
Ask Polly Newsletter.
A great rock song to headbang to.
Being financially independent.
Pushing every limit to make something happen, because the thought of a world where it doesn't exist is unimaginable.
Plants.
The astonishing fact that we exist on a rock suspended in space and there’s oxygen here.
Cigarettes after sex (I meant the band, what did you think?)
Solitude, because no company compares to my own.
House help that makes life so much easier.
Autumn Leaves.
Sitting by a lake and contemplating the meaning of life.
The mind-boggling machinery that the human body is.
Art museums.
Habit tracking apps.
When my art makes people feel something, however tiny!
Staring at the moon at 3 a.m., hoping someone else is gazing at it too, in that very moment.
The sound of a tabla and a handpan together.
Contemplating the vastness of space and the marvel of starships.
Swiggy and Uber because they have changed our lives.
A community rallying behind the right causes on social media.
My growth mindset is in almost all areas of life.
A cascade of kisses on your face.
Access to clean water and clean toilets.
Living in the tech capital of the country.
Not taking myself too seriously all the time.
The excitement of trying out a new restaurant, or a pub.
The user experience of using Apple products.
Foot massages.
Finding just the perfect songs for the occasion as the self-proclaimed DJ.
Cat ears.
A monumental structure, or a piece of architecture.
Saying “thank you” to all drivers, delivery partners, helpers, shop vendors.
Curiosity.
A perfect brushstroke on canvas, within the outline of your painting.
Those cute, little romantic gestures your partner does for you.
Conserved cultural heritage sites.
Decorating my room to reflect my personality.
Group video calls with friends.
When my friends decode my typos without any explanation.
24/7 stores where there’s always a place to go and someone to greet you.
The warmth of the sun on your skin on a winter day.
Discovering a song, an online post, or a photograph that conveys something you need to hear at that moment.
Just the word, “miracles”.
When I surrender because there’s nothing more I could have done.
First bite of a hot pakoda.
Making smiley faces on car windows on a rainy day.
Realizing that everyone is struggling and no one has all the answers.
Dropping love notes for your beloved bakery.
The relief after a long cry.
The YouTube video “Make Good Art”.
Playing “Guess the Shape” with clouds.
Understanding a meme because it’s an achievement.
Finally, you. If you are reading this, you make me happy.