Ranjani Rao's Blog: Book Launch Updates, page 9

The Strange Connection Between Happiness And Gratitude

Let’s start with a question. What comes first? Gratitude or Happiness? Research shows that expressing gratitude for things that you have (or are working in your life) gives you a pleasant feeling, a serotonin boost. And one way of defining happiness includes a general state of positive emotions and life satisfaction. But isn’t it also…

Of Books, Bookstores and Antilibraries

While planning for my trip to the US last month, I assumed I would do a lot of shopping. I have been on enough international trips to know that suitcases seem to mysteriously shrink on your way back just as your possessions seem to expand. Therefore my suitcases contained mostly gifts for friends and family…

Savoring – The Opposite of Efficiency

After a few weeks in the USA where winter weather meant that the sun was not to be seen for several days, I found myself appreciating the sunshine that I take for granted when I’m home.  In sunny Singapore, my day began with warm daylight streaming into my bedroom despite thick curtains. And it filled…

Preparing For A New Year, Again – Welcome 2022

  As a resident of Singapore, I’m typically at the front of the wave of people ushering in the New year thanks to its eastern location. This year on New Year’s eve, I am in the West Coast of California, which has a whopping 16 hour time difference. It feels strange to begin receiving Happy…

Lessons From Surfers in San Diego

  After two years of staying home in Singapore, I was super excited to finally embark on our long-awaited family holiday to the USA in early December. Many things that we were concerned about happened smoothly (Covid-testing for example), and some things we encountered upon arrival in the US were surprising (unexpected cold weather for…

The Most Satisfying Part of Publishing My Memoir Has Nothing To Do With Book Sales

  Most authors write because that is the preferred way of creative expression. Whether they write exciting thrillers, romance novels or young adult adventure series, they feel compelled to express themselves through stories. The sheer variety of books that are published each year prove that audiences have wide range of reading tastes. However, when it…

How I Completed My Seven-Day Gratitude Challenge

  Although it has been several years since I left the US, I always feel the need to express gratitude in the days leading up to the Thanksgiving holiday that falls towards the end of November.  This year it was on 25 Nov. I decided to use my social media platform to start a 7-day…

Singapore At Home – Contributing To An Anthology

  What’s better than having your book published? Having your work appear in another one! When I was informed that a piece I had written about life in Singapore in response to a call for submission for an anthology had been accepted, I had no idea that this book would also appear in the same…

It’s About How They Make You Feel

After weeks of delaying the inevitable, I finally went for my MRI. Although I am OK with blood draws and x-rays, I hate the MRI machine. I don’t like the claustrophobic tunnel, the loud noises (sounds like a construction zone) and the general attitude of the radiography technicians. All of this is based on one…

What I Learned From Ten Conversations About Community

  “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed individuals can change the world. In fact, it’s the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead Action inspires me. The epiphany strikes me as I Iie in bed, nursing a sore back and wobbly legs that have decided that I need to rest, regardless of…