The many joys of being jobless!

In many ways my year in Germany has been a productive one.Initially I was a little skeptical about how I would spend time not having a job to keep me occupied and content.Everyone has a job right?
Not having a work permit, I felt ,was the worst thing that could have happened to me.There were times when I thought I would do any job I could lay my hands on.However slowly I realized that I don't need a job to keep me occupied or happy.Especially not a job that gives me no personal satisfaction.The concept of doing work you love has always appealed to me.

So I set out doing things I have always enjoyed but never had time for.Art has always been a big passion of mine,glass painting in particular.The brilliance of colors and the joy of creating something beautiful is a joy unparalleled.You don't have to be a great artist to experience the bliss of painting.Some find it therapeutic and I must agree with them because I tend to turn to art when I'm filled with extreme emotions ..ranging from melancholy to anger.This time however I seem to be filled with a certain feeling of contentment and peace urging me to create some thing beautiful.Perhaps the numerous trips and visits to museums filled with inspiring paintings has propelled me to start painting on canvass some thing I never dared to try before.

The local state library was another source of hidden treats.I stumbled upon some really great books and well made movies.Finally found time to watch some Hitchcock movies and read classics I always wanted to read.Discovered some really cute Korean movies online and satisfied my quest for the most romantic story lines ever!

I also discovered that I have a natural flare for cooking.I find that it gives me great satisfaction making new dishes and surprising my husband.His enthusiasm is infectious and soon I was making food I never thought I could make.It became obvious to me that creativity can manifest in several mediums and that in being creative you can discover inner joy.From arranging the furniture to making a perfect cup of tea...from cooking a new dish to making a painting.I have come to know the tiniest of things can be the source of great pleasure if only we open our eyes wide enough.Doing routine things in a new way may sound like a cliche but thats the way to go.

Staying at home also helped me to discover myself in more than one way.I had time to reflect upon my past choices and future plans.Time to introspect.The time to catch up on events happening in the world and update myself.
I have to admit that I was one among a few people who could take a lazy bubble bath hearing the birds chirping on a Monday morning or watch a movie as and when I please..chat with friends and gossip with mom daily..shop around without a care the whole day with friends on a weekday.Some people say my new found joy is the bliss of marriage,I agree to an extent, but I think its more about getting the time to do things you love and time to spend with people you love..

I sometimes wonder why I kept searching for that elusive little sprinkling of joy when it was all around me.Why did I feel I needed a job to make me happy?I wonder if I could have done half the things if I were caught up in the rat race!Indeed I'm blessed to have had this year just for myself...