Srishti Kumari

Tag: Book

  • Tenacity

    An Old Reminder

    Image by Abhinav Anand

    Tenacity – A new word, an old reminder.

    “Tenacity is a quality that we could all do with; that is, the ability to continue to do something for longer than might be expected. In other words, don’t give up easily. Finish that project. Complete that task. Finish that race even if you are coming in last. Stick with your ambitions; work towards them. Hold on to life, to that steep mountain slope. There’s always something you can do.”

    The above paragraph is from the book “How to Live Your Life” by Ruskin Bond.

    A few days back, I picked up this beautiful, cute little book to re-read. The first time I read it was a few years back. I picked it up and started reading this beautiful piece by one of India’s most-loved authors, which opens with a letter from the author himself.

    The colourful pages, beautiful fonts, amazing illustrations, and creative designs make the reading far more joyful and immersive.

    Ruskin Bond has shared nuggets of wisdom in this book. It truly feels like a letter from your grandpa on how to live your life. It has the warmth, love, practical advice, and inspiration to dream big and live your life fully as long as you are alive here.

    Among all those beautiful pages filled with tips, lessons, and advice, this one particularly resonated with me the most this time. It happens. As they say, we read a book for the first time every time we read it again. This time, it felt like I was reading this particular page for the first time. I read it slowly. I paused. I re-read it multiple times. I thought about it. And then I knew it was meant to come across. I needed this. I needed this reminder.

    Tenacity. Just a little more push. A little more showing up. A little more faith in your journey to keep going towards your dreams, your truth, every day.

    I enjoyed rereading this amazing piece this time, and I know I will reread it again someday for sure. Till then, I am holding onto tenacity. I am holding on to life, beautifully.

    What is that one book you read or reread recently that talked to you like mine did? Share your stories, please.

    Happy reading. Happy living.

    Take care.

  • The Magic of Creative Living

    By Renuka Gavrani

    Picture by Srishti Kumari

    I must say I have read something really fresh, rejuvenating, soft, simple, inspiring, and authentic after a long time in the genre of self-help. And this has been truly a lovely reading.

    “The Magic of Creative Living” touched me in ways not many self-help books could before. The honesty, simplicity, and authenticity of the author make it an absolute gem.

    Thankfully, someone writing a self-help kind of book talked about the myths and shit we feel trapped in so openly and loudly.

    I loved this book. Loved each page, each chapter, and each paragraph a hundred percent.

    Renuka has shared her life experiences, her problems, her struggles to live a life that finally feels a lot softer, meaningful, simple, yet successful, with all the fulfillment our soul craves silently. She nudges readers to sit, to question, to journal, and to basically pause and check if they are living the version of their lives they are really proud of from the bottom of their heart, or is there something missing? And if something is missing, then how to actively start participating in our lives instead of running away from it and scrolling for hours.

    She has nudged throughout the book. It is a non-preachy read. You will feel the honesty. You will surely relate to the reality she is talking about between the pages.

    For me, it has been one of the best, most refreshing, and simplest possible books in the self-help genre. I liked the writing style and the content of the book as well.

    If you are fed up with to-do lists, how-to guides, early morning alarms, scrolling endlessly, mediocre performances, and a sense of fear and loss in life, then go read this book. It can be your saviour. I mean it. If you are ready to change, the author has your back.

    Give it a try. You will get it.

    Happy reading!

    Take care.

  • Four Books So Far

    And it is not that bad, right?

    So it is 21st Feb 2026, and I have just completed my fourth book read of the year. And yes, I could have done more, but that’s not the point here. Right now, I am enjoying this journey and excited to see what all I can, and will read and reread this year.

    Reading has its own joy. And that joy is very different from the one we get through screens. Very different. Screens may enchant you with the beautiful screenplay and mind-blowing visuals, but the intimacy you get as a reader of a book is a thing of a different world. That intimacy, those pauses, those smiles, tears, sadness, restlessness, and relief you feel between the lines is only there. You take your time, you wait before turning those pages, and you literally live in the author’s world for a while. I love this affair between me and my books. Absolutely love it. It’s the best!

    This year, my intention is to explore myself, to explore life, and many things in life I am curious about through books. Still have not set any TBR, and just going with the flow. Picking up the books my heart is saying yes to and just reading, listening, and talking to them.

    This time it’s not for escape. This time it’s not for becoming intelligent. This time, it’s just for the soul. To feed the soul. To nourish the mind and soul. To let curiosity take me wherever it takes me. The intention is exploration. The intention is to discover. What exactly? Maybe myself. Maybe!

    Dil se thanks, to the one who invented books for the first time. Thank you so much. You didn’t know what a priceless possession you were making for us.

    Looking forward and really excited to read more, to learn more, and to live more this year.

    Happy reading.

    Happy living.

    Take care.