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‘Life slowed down’: NRI blogger shares how moving from Canada to India changed her approach to daily life

Zeel Shah said that relocating to India was not really about settling addresses, schools, or routines, but about an internal shift that transformed how she approached everyday life.

3 min readNew DelhiDec 23, 2025 01:45 PM IST

Shah also spoke about learning to let go of control and embracing the trade-offs that come with living close to family

A blogger’s candid reflection on returning to India after living abroad has struck a chord online, with many relating to her emotional journey rather than the physical move itself. She shared that relocating back home was not really about settling addresses, schools, or routines, but about an internal shift that changed how she approaches everyday life.

“I thought moving back to India would be about logistics. Addresses. Schools. Routines. I didn’t realize it would quietly rewire how I live,” wrote Zeel Shah, who describes herself as a “mom blogger” on Instagram.

Opening up about her adjustment after returning from Canada, Shah explained that daily life in India taught her to slow down and feel more present. “Here, days don’t rush me. They arrive with noise, interruptions, conversations, and chai pauses. Life isn’t optimized but it’s felt.”

She added that the move forced her to rethink long-held ideas about success and self-worth. “I had to unlearn measuring my worth by productivity.”

Shah also spoke about learning to let go of control and embracing the trade-offs that come with living close to family and community. “Had to soften my grip on control. Had to accept that privacy shrinks, but support multiplies. Some days I miss structure. Some days I crave silence. But I no longer feel like I’m doing life alone.”

Looking back, she summed up the experience as deeply enriching, even if not always easy. “Moving back didn’t make life easier. It made it fuller, warmer, more human. And maybe that’s the habit I’m most grateful for.”

Watch the video:

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A post shared by Zeel shah | Mom blogger (@reellifeofzeel)

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The reel quickly gained traction, with many users sharing their own reflections in the comments. One person wrote, “This is the beauty of being here in your country. You will always be taken care!” Another added, “Can totally relate feeling the same after returning to India.”

Others offered broader takes on the idea of belonging. “Everyone needs to find there place in the world, and clearly Canada isn’t for everyone,” one comment read. Another summed it up bluntly: “You may take Indian out of India but not India out of Indian.”