My Alexa Rank on the 1st of September 2017
Global : 543,143
Indian : 44,323
My Dear August,
I must start with a confession. You’ve never been one of my favourite months of the year. Why? August meant exams, which I of course despised. August also meant a terribly rainy month in Bombay. Both of which made you a seriously no fun August.
This year though you surprised me, August. By being one of my favourite months of 2017, so far! It all started with a trip back home. Trips to Bombay are always special, this one was even more so. With this trip I took a wee break from blogging. I haven’t been happy with where my blog was heading to, and guilty of choking up my blog with posts that were written half-heartedly. This break, this stepping back, gave me a clearer perspective. It gave me the direction I was looking for and ideas that got me excited about writing and blogging again.
The result was instantaneous, my Ganpati Bappa Morya post won the Top Post on Indiblogger, thrilling me. After which MayTivation, which I restarted after a break, won the Top Post too. Also I am starting this monthly recap post! See, the break was good, right!
On this trip to Bombay, I met my fellow bloggers Dipika and Manisha. And we met on and celebrated Dipika’s birthday! It was the 1st time we were meeting, but hearing us talk you wouldn’t believe that! It is always fun meeting people whom you’ve been interacting with online, and it what a pleasure it was meeting these girls.
I have grown up hearing that one can only visit Vaishno Devi when the Goddess ‘calls you’ or sends a ‘bulawa’ I am a believer of it now as my 1st trip to the shrine materialised just like that. My friend called me up and asked if I would like to accompany her, I said yes, without a thought. A flight to Jammu, a drive to Katra and we were all set for a darshan. A helicopter ride, an almost 20 km walk, that took us 6 hours, down a steep decline, monkeys grabbing at my bag and more craziness all punctuated with fits of laughter. It took a week for both our legs, and us, to recover but every pain and sprain was worth the beautiful darshan and memories we created in these 3 fun days.
We bring Ganpati home for a day and half. This year onwards we decided to go eco-friendly. We decided against buying an idol, and to use a silver idol I was gifted. I used flowers and mango leaves for the decoration which were later used as compost. It felt so good to do the right things the right way, doesn’t it?
The fiction writer in me is delighted that Tina and I have restarted our weekly #FridayFotoFiction. Join us in writing a 150-word fiction based on a photo prompt we share each week.
So you now know why you’ve been my favourite month of the year so far. Thank you for being an Awesome August. Psssssttt, do tell September he needs to be Super.
Thankful. Grateful. Blessed
Mayuri
I am taking my Alexa Rank to the next level with #MyFriendAlexa
Lovely August..I hope I could hv met you too …But there must b special day when we will catch up …
We will catch up the next time I am in Bombay, Ruchi:) Thanks for reading:)
Seems like you had a great August and with Alexa, I’m sure you’ll have a better September.
Thanks Atul. Wishing you a super September, and Alexa as well:)
That sounds like a perfect month. I have to tell you that I am so envious that you can travel so often. 🙂 With the elder son in 10th, our trips have become fewer and shorter. Can’t crib too much when he is slogging so hard. That visit to Vaishno Devi that I followed through your updates was quite something. Another friend of mine went around the same time and was raving about it. Hope September keeps up the tempo. Keep smiling, my friend.
Hahahahah, thanks, Rachna:) Wishing your son all the best for this school year. Thanks for stopping by 🙂
Glad to know August treated you well. Hope you have an even better September!
Thank you, Preethi. Wish you the same:)
You have had a fab August full of travel, family and friends. It was a great month other than the rains in the later half. Your Alexa is already great M. Have fun this Alexa month.
Thanks, Tina. Wishing you a fruitful Alexa month too!:)
Wow <3 That was quite an eventful August and I am glad it brought you so much happiness. You deserve it and much more. Wish to meet you some day in person too and congrats for your posts bagging Top Posts on Indiblogger, sometimes the break does it to us to 🙂
Thank you for your warm wishes, Roma. I look forward to meeting you too, soon. Glad you stopped by 🙂
Beginning of a month could not be better than this, I get to read my name and see our picture together in your blog – post. You have motivated me and inspired me many times with wisdom and vices I am so much thankful to stars that we met.
Thank You so much Mayuri, your August was beautiful & quite happening 🙂
It was so awesome meeting you’ll, Dipika! Thank you for reading, and for everything else!:)
What a full, busy, happy month this has been. Happy for you. Makes me feel stupid for letting it go simply trying to establish peace! Oh well.. we all have our days.
It’s ok, Tulika * hugs * thanks for reading:)
That’s a great idea, rounding up what went by and planning for way onwards. Congratulations and looking forward to your posts
Thank you, Neha 🙂
August isn’t my favourite month either but this year it hasn’t been too bad. Your August seems to be really busy and fruitful. I’m sure your September will be even busier with Alexa and Dussera and the Diwali celebrations coming up in October! Keep busy and keep happy.
Thank you, Sunita ji:) Amen to that!
Wow lots of happy happenings this August! So many things you can be proud of, grateful for and thrilled! Visiting Vaishnodevi is indeed a calling. Glad you could make it. Love your eco friendly Ganesha. I do hope we can meet on your next visit to Mumbai. Psst….passing on the message from Sept, he assures me he’s going to be even better than August 🙂
Wow, lots of happy happenings this August! You’ve done loads of great stuff on your blog this month. Visiting Vaishnodevi is BIG! Love your eco-Ganesha! I wish we could meet next time you’re in Mumbai. Psst, September tells me he has even bigger plans for you…cheers!
Tell September I said thank you for the message!:)) We will surely catch up the next time I am in Bombay, Kala. Thanks for reading 🙂
That’s a super cool, August! Glad you could visit Vaishno Devi and also your lovely blogger friends. Happy Alexa 🙂
Happy Alexa month to you too, Shalini! Thanks for reading:)
Wow! You really had a great month. I am glad it was eventful for you. August is always special for me as its a birthday month for many in my family. Good you got to meet your family and friends in Mumbai. Going home is always special. 🙂
True, Deepa. Home is always special. Thank you for reading 🙂
I am glad the break resolved things for you. Sometimes all we need a step back to take a step forward. Love that you went eco-friendly with Ganesh Chathurthi. And you are right about Vaishno Devi. I need that call too 🙂 Wishing you a great September, Mayuri.
Hope you visit Vaishno Devi real soon, Parul! Thanks for reading:)
Beautiful post, Mayuri 🙂
I could relate to every bit of this bit, August was never a favourite for me neither, slow and boring but this year August was rather surprising for me!
Also, we should have met on your Bombay trip!! Would have loved to catch up with you, nevertheless I’m hoping there’s a next time soon.
And you’re lucky to be visiting Vaishno Devi and having Ganpati over, best time of the year <3
Thank you for your sweet words, Seema. We are definitely meeting up the next time I am in Bombay. Hope the surprises August bought you were all good 🙂
Seems like your August was a fun one 🙂
I hope to meet Manisha Dipika you and so many more of you all
Wishing you a lovely September
August was memorable!:) Let’s hope we can meet up soon, Z. Thank you and wish you a super September too!:)
Wow u had a wonderful month , even I m feeling the same bout my blog nowadays that it’s somewhat choked , may God help me , Jai Mata Di
I did have a wonderful month, Monika. Thanks for reading. I think you’re doing great with your blog, btw 🙂
So happy for you. What a cheerful August indeed! And we missed meeting again. But we will, soon. Congrats on the top post picks. How lovely.
I recall the Ganesha post on Instagram. So proud to see it 🙂
Yes, do let’s meet up soon! Thank you for reading, Shailaja 🙂 Your walking posts on Insta are inspiring me to start walking too!:)
What a lovely post. Enjoyed reading this. All visits to temples and holy places are destined I feel. Wonderful that you visited Vaishno Devi.
Thanks, Amrita. Yes, I was lucky to visit Vaishno Devi 🙂
I totally agree with you on the point of those half hearted written post. I personally believe that if your heart is not into something it will never turn out the way you expect it to be. Better to take some time off, recharge and then come back.
That was a great month 🙂 May Vaishno Devi fulfil all your wishes 🙂
Amen to that! Thank you, Anchal!:)
Waiting for the time my blog gets big enough to have any trace on a national level. Until then I need to learn from your writings. Great post.
Wishing you super success soon, Arjun. Thanks for reading:)
It’s always good to be home. Hope you are all geared up for blogging now
I love Mumbai Rains, and thus love August too. Also its the month of festivals so I enjoy a raining day sipping coffee and reading . Its good to hear you enjoyed this August. And I am sure September is going ot be awesome too because of #MyfriendAlexa.
Thank you, Aesha. Wishing you a great Alexa month too!:)
You had a great August. I believe in Mata calling her bhakts to Vaishno Devi too. I went to her abode when I was 48 years old, after a few failed attempts earlier. We walked up all the way and back down. 6 hours going up 3.5 hours coming down 🙂 I have also met a few online friends in Mumbai. Have met Vinita, Janaki, Corinne, in Mumbai and quite a few in Delhi. Feels good to put a face to the name 🙂 Recently Shilpa Garg was here from Jaipur and I along with a few other Delhi bloggers met her at Nehru Place in July. Hope your September is as great as August.
Looks like we both had an August full of stories to tell. I travelled as well and did meet wonderful people along. Missed Ganpati though. Sigh. And well congratulations on the blog 🙂
More power to you!
Sounds like a lovely month for you :). It’s always fantastic to meet people who one interacts with virtually day in and day out and I can totally vouch for that having met certain people over the years. While I haven’t been to Vaishno Devi myself, I would love to hopefully some time in the future.
It truly was, Aseem. Hope you visit Vaishno Devi soon:)
I am so glad we met. I am already looking for your next trip, hope its soon.
I have been to Vaishno Mata before and believe that Mata calls you happened with me more than twice. The place has changed so much but it very special for me. I did the helicopter ride while coming back it was super fun.
I liked your idea of Silver Moorti for Ganpati.
Congratulations on the top post on Indiblogger…
I am so glad that August got it charm back and the result was so beautiful for you. YAY! for all the appreciation you received and I have a hunch September is going to be doubly awesome for you
🙂
So many things August has store for you and Indeed you are back with the bang
You have been treated happy last August. Meeting bloggers is always fun. Happy that your post topped on IndiBlogger. Happy September !!! It’s going to be Superb September due to #MyFriendAlexa.
Love the idea of writing the gratitude post in the form of a letter.