NaPoWriMo/ GloPoWriMo Day 9: Things that make life meaningful

Here’s the prompt for Day 9:

Our (optional) prompt for the day asks you to engage in another kind of cross-cultural exercise, as it is inspired by the work of Sei Shonagon, a Japanese writer who lived more than 1000 years ago. She wrote a journal that came to be known as The Pillow Book. In it she recorded daily observations, court gossip, poems, aphorisms, and musings, including lists with titles like “Things That Have Lost Their Power,” “Adorable Things,” and “Things That Make Your Heart Beat Faster.” Today, I’d like to challenge you to write your own Sei Shonagon-style list of “things.” What things? Well, that’s for you to decide!

Here’s my list of things that make my life more meaningful and worthwhile to live 🙂

Things that make life meaningful




The innocent face of my boys while asleep

“Good morning” kiss that I plant on their cheeks

“You are my honey bunch” song,

That they melodiously sing for me

Their giggles, their laughter, their secrets and tricks

The games we play as a family




The morning walks that we experience as a couple

“Good day” hug and kiss before he leaves for office

The long hearty chats with my dear friends

A call from my mother

A visit by sister

A chirpy chit chat with my adorable nieces




The joy of quilling verses

The enigma of old melodies

A call from an old friend

Loads of birthday wishes

The family vacation

The sunset at the beach







These sprinkles of joy

Make me who I am

Nourishing my life

With bliss and ecstasy

Offering reasons to believe

Life is a blessing!


                                                                                                                     ©Vandana Bhasin

                                                     09.04.2019