When I first saw her, I felt that explosion of passion in my chest. The thumping of my heart following that initial chest-eruption made me realise that this time, it was something more than simple attraction – it was something much bigger. I had to get to know her better. 

Now, being an extremely shy person, I disliked it to the point of abhorrence when strangers approached me. Therefore, I was afraid that by walking up to her, I would put her off, but I had to touch her. That moment, when I first held her, I knew that I was in love.

A line from Margaret Atwood’s poem spilled off my lips: “I would like to be the air that inhabits you for a moment only; I would like to be that unnoticed and that necessary”. 

Not many people will have such an extreme reaction to finding a calligraphy pen at a stationary store, but I have always loved pens, especially fountain pens. And since buying this new pen, I have written so much that I have already had to go out to get another bottle of ink.

I even have plans now; when I get a few days off work, I find a quiet nook somewhere and spend some time handwriting something… anything. It could be letters to friends, or it could just be memories, but I have this insane desire to write things in cursive. 

And having this burning desire to get away, I wasn’t surprised when I recently learned about how important it is to take some time off and go on that vacation, and how not taking time off can prove hazardous to one’s back. 

Rene Dubos once suggested that “What happens in the mind of a man is always reflected in the diseases of his body” – and these days, it is so apparent that stress-related illnesses are on the rise.

Stress causes our blood vessels to constrict, resulting in raised blood pressure and an elevated heart rate, and that’s bad news – whichever way you look at it.

However, just like people who know they have to stop smoking because it’s bad for them and couch potatoes who know they have to exercise because it will be good for them, stress junkies know they have to do something about the stress, but they are so addicted to what’s driving them that they just keep on doing what’s damaging them. 

Apparently, the happiness levels of people who take vacations are significantly higher than non-vacationers. But oddly enough, studies have found that the happiness levels of the vacationers were higher before the vacation than afterwards. Apparently being able to say to yourself during a particularly stressful day that “at least, I have my vacation coming up” significantly reduces people’s stress and boost their joy.

It seems that having something to look forward to – a reason to get up in the morning – makes a significant impact on one’s well-being. 

This past week, I learned that even something as simple as having a new pen boosted my joy. I have been waking up, excited about practising handwriting drills or writing in my journal or penning a letter to a friend.

 The anticipation of having something to do – something I enjoy – has made a huge difference to my mornings and subsequently to my days.

Is it also just coincidence that when I am writing, I am happy and I am not holding my cell phone? In the study that I mentioned earlier, researchers found that those who didn’t really benefit from their vacations were those folks who were constantly checking their phones – often work-related issues.

Those who say that they are addicted to their jobs should learn the simple pleasures of just disconnecting from it for a few days. For those who are taking some time away during this Easter holiday season, make the most out of it. For those who are not, let’s start planning for December!