Another week has gone by and I’ve been busy. It’s safe to say I’ve found my tribe in Dhaka and we went exploring the older part of the city (which I’ve written about in another post) on Women’s Day. The doors I have in this post are from that day. This is for the Thursday Doors challenge hosted by Dan Antion.

While we were on the trip, we had lunch at a place called ‘Beauty Boarding’ which is historically significant (the first newspaper was published at the site. I’ve written more about it in my earlier post).

The wall adjoining the restaurant looked abandoned and uncared for. But, there was something about that window in that wall that called for attention.

The next day, hubby and I went to a cafe’ after our morning walk. It’s called, ‘Happiness Cafe’. The above picture was taken at the cafe’.

I’m grateful to have found my tribe here and while I’m enjoying it, I’ve been lagging behind on blogging and reading.

Two days ago, we went pearl shopping. Pearling is an important industry in Bangladesh. The country is known for its pink pearls, called, ‘Mukta’ in local parlance. I had seen shops selling pearls on my weekly grocery shopping- it’s in the same market place so it’s hard to believe how authentic it is. I even stepped in to check one store but I didn’t buy anything then as I was unsure. So, this time I went with friends, some of who have lived here for more than a decade and have learnt the language and the ways of this country. We picked up a few strings for a steal. The store that we bought it from didn’t give us a receipt or a certificate but the owner showed us it’s real by scratching against the pearls (no matter how much you scratch it, it leaves no mark).

It’s hard to juggle all of it but I am thankful for it all. Marsha Ingrao’s WQ# 164 challenge is to talk about actions that inspire us. I’m inspired by people who are so focused on achieving their goal that they allow nothing to distract them.

I’m inspired by people who can make time for their passions as well as for others and by those who make the effort of stepping out of their comfort zone to achieve their goals, for instance, introverts networking. It’s something that I find impossible to do.
But ‘Stepping out of my comfort zone,’ was what I was attempting to do when I went pearl shopping, for coffee with friends and a discussion on the Bhagwad Gita (more about this in another post after I complete the sessions) – all over the course of one week. But I realized it was taking a toll on my art and writing. So, I said, ‘No’ to a dinner invite today as much as I was tempted to go. But like they say, ‘You can’t have it all.’ Thankfully, my newfound tribe understood.

It’s important to stay true to yourself and if others like you the way you are and accept you, then you know you’re in good company.

Talking about ‘actions that inspire’, I’m inspired by those who’re brave and are not afraid of speaking up for what they believe in, those who are kind even when they are broken, those who can spread love even when they are hurting themselves, and those who share their knowledge generously with others.

That’s all from my side today. I’d love to hear what inspires you and do you say, ‘No’ easily when you know it’s the best thing to say or do you give in?

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