When I decided to start writing on a daily basis, little did I realise I had the grit to continue, no matter what the quality of my write-ups, the topics I would write about, whether or not I would find the time do it daily, the probability of continuing the regimen given my my relationship with commitment… and so on and so forth.

But a little over a month into giving in to this whim, I realise it has more perks than downfalls. The last month or so has rekindled a matrimonial sort of relationship with words. We have our good days and bad days. But we choose to be together in sickness and in health.

Words come to me in myriad moods, just like the better half. Some days we have a candle light dinner, other days we barely get by with porridge and on some other days, we indulge in fine dining. In short, words and me have been making ends meet. Maybe the relationship is still new. The newness attraction is holding us together.

Some days, we make new conversations. Some days, old memories resurface. And on all other days, it is status quo. Very boring, mundane. Just like eat, sleep, pray, repeat. But I need my words to get me past each day. They have become like a dear friend who always has my back.

More than anything else, this discipline of daily writing that isn’t merely journaling keeps me on my toes. I know I have an 11pm daily deadline, no holidays taken. Pretty much like being a mother. Not the deadline part I mean. It is a 24/7 job where the payment is mostly love. The love bit is common to writing too.

This daily habit has also helped me stay very focused. When you know you have only a 30 minute window, tops, to produce a 500-700 word count, the brain knows better than to procrastinate. It knows, die die must write what! (I hope you read that in the Singlish accent).

And finally, I am in love with the feeling of doing something creative every night before I go to bed. The trade off is super high. There is a rush of accomplishment. There is no urge to use any more gadgets. Writing is a definite sleep booster.

So am I going to continue? Absolutely. I am still juggling with different ideas to write about. But I am taking it easy. With time, I am sure I will settle into a space of words I will be able to call my own. Until then, it is experiment time.

P.S. For someone who strongly believed in the idea of living discipline free, I must say, this habit has changed my thinking. And so, I have added one more item to my daily agenda – exercise! More about it tomorrow. For now, it is Saturday night. Time to bend some rules, sit in front of the idiot box and binge watch some new series. Have something to recommend?