December - is a feeling!
Tags: Simple Life, Dolce Far Niente, Winter, December

Its not really a month.

I don’t know if its winters that make me feel so or if its the run down to Christmas and hence the world wide holiday fever catching up that give these vibes to me, but since a very long time, I have being celebrating December — like an extended festival and it feels really special + cherish-able to me.

Snuggling is very important and December gives me “guilt-free” snuggling opportunity. Whether with a book or just pillows & a fuzzy blanket or mid-night soupy Maggi noodles, I jump at every such opportunity and never, I repeat never feel bad about going to bed without brushing my teeth or washing my face and rubbing oodles of moisturisers all over my face. Night ablutions can go for a toss in December.

Its that time of the year when I happily skip out on all social events that call for a “P.M.” presence without a cent of FOMO hitting me. Despite being a big big fan of winter dressing and layering myself in scarves and berets, I don’t want to wear stilettos and mascara and then come home and treat sore feet. I have better plans in December.

If it would not have been for December, I swear I wouldn’t have ever seen a rising sun and its magnificence. Thank god the Sun understands the plight of late risers and adjusts itself for a short period. I secretly feel the term “Dolce far niente” was coined by someone lounging under the December Sun on an idlic Sunday afternoon, for nothing seems more fitting than this to justify the meaning of that term.

Just how do flowers bloom in all their resplendent colours and glory in December? Isn’t this suppose to be their dormant period like we were taught in school? Countless flowers — petunia, marigold, chrysanthemum, dahlia, calendula (and that can keep on coming) blossom as if they were just waiting for the calendar to show December.

The terrace of every house, which is usually unkept and ignored all round the year gains prime importance in December. As a preferred venue for warm oil massages or to dry pickles, papads & red chillies or simply sip tea and read the newspaper, every member of the family, no matter their age/lifestyle climbs up to the terrace on multiple occasions in December.

Is it just me or everyone’s appetites roar furiously in December? And if that wasn’t enough reason to worry, December gives you the most succulent of fruits and vegetables like pomelos and peas. Fresh tender green peas is like “chat masala”, you can add it to anything and everything, ranging from Pulao to paneer curries and it equally appeals to everyone’s palettes, age no bar. And I haven’t met a soul who doesn’t relish fried poha with green peas. The melange of simple flavours at its best. My mom often calls papaya, the “mangoes of December” before serving it to me. Disclaimer: It does help me patiently wait for mangoes a little longer.

I think my bias towards December somewhere also stems from its placement at the end of the year. In the last days of the year, I give myself permission to take a break from ideal “do’s & dont’s ”. I allow myself to sleep in late and skip cardio sessions, I will resume it next year I promise myself. I gorge on extra helpings of cakes and hot chocolates, my body will absorb it as an extra layer of insulation I say to myself. I let myself be, the “smart” side of my brain is unable to dominate the “carefree” side of it.

To everyone saying all these feelings are valid in November/January too, to them I say, no baby, November is not half as sweet as December and by the time its January, you are so pepped up with your “New year, New me” goals and resolutions, you simply cant afford to care about the simple joys of the world. The idleness and calmness of December is just overtaken by the fast paced goals of January. There can be nothing like December, ever!