small accomplishments

18.07.2026

At about the stroke of midnight, I suddenly had this irresistible urge to write to A. Whatever A. was doing, perhaps sleeping, I always thought A. was free for me. Accessible and open, welcoming even. I wanted to tell A. about my idea of small accomplishments.

In my life, every day, I tried to achieve something. Small things that built up to a general sense of achievement. They did not have to be earth shattering. They were ways of self improvement. Ways of challenging and stretching myself. Ways of stimulation.

So, I wrote to A. I told of my day. It was one of the humble practices of writing. The list. And in order.

1. Meditation and chi building.
2. Light weights, stomach crunches and push ups.
3. Language learning in Spanish, French, German, Hindi, Punjabi, and Urdu through reading short stories, newspapers and novels.
4. Reading The New Scientist and great stories from British history.
5. Messaging friends and writing to my pen pal.
6. Juggling.
7. Playing at Scrabble, a jigsaw puzzle and a quick crossword.
8. Researching volunteering places in science for my nephew and sending him over a list so he can choose what he applies to over the summer holidays.
9. Listening to Hindi film songs on my headphones on my train.
10. Shopping for lunch and eating while I was exploring the area in London.
11. Going to various art exhibitions with my girlfriend. I also read poetry today while at the art exhibitions.
12. Photographing my girlfriend.
13. Shopping with my girlfriend.
14. Looking at a cultural destination with my girlfriend.
15. Editing photographs of my girlfriend with me on my phone.
16. Eating a dinner of fish and chips with my parents.
17. Watching ‘The Seven Year Itch’ to watch Marilyn Monroe after going with friends to see her exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery yesterday.
18. Looking at artwork and photographs on Instagram.
19. Doing a quick digital art doodle and posting it on Instagram.
20. Phoning my girlfriend good night.
21. Writing.