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PUCHKAS OF LIFE

Good taste doesn’t exist. It is our taste. We have to be proud of it.

In the hustle and bustle of life, weekends are a blessing. Sunday is a fun day, a day to laze around. However, Sunday mornings are often busier than weekdays, filled with finishing chores left undone earlier in the week. It was a usual day for me, and after working on chit-chat, I felt bored and exhausted. By evening, I decided to stroll to the local market to buy groceries for the week ahead. The market was crowded, likely with people with the same thoughts as me. While walking down, I noticed a new shop packed to its capacity. OMG, it was a chaat shop, and people queued up for their turn to enjoy the mouthwatering puchkas. I also preferred to stand in the queue to give a delightful treat to my taste buds, more than this, observing people eating it was interesting. Most couldn’t fit a whole puchka into their mouths at once. They either broke it or ate it in small bites. An instant connection between puchkas and life clicked in my mind, a deep thought about life.

Sweet and sour—hmm, just like the journey of life and its experiences. Success is sweet, while failure is sour. Unlike different flavours of puchka water, we also come across varied situations in life with distinct flavours, bringing out different emotions & evoking different feelings. The round or oval shape of the gappa is so tempting, akin to the circle of life. The smoothness of the exterior is deceptive of the inside store. But as attractive to hold and savour. I feel the crispness of gappa mirrors the beauty of life that should be tasted and lived with, the facts of life that are tough to accept yet inevitable. Every individual’s taste buds find it distinct. The best part of eating golgappa is that one can always customise them with a varied combination of flavors – spicy, tangy, savoury, and sometimes sweet. — Still, it is unforeseeable how the burst of flavour will hit your buds; similarly, the gappa of life is also filled with uncertain situations accompanied by different shades of emotions. The emotions could be happiness, joy, hope, pride or anger, sadness, guilt, loneliness, regret, jealousy, etc. It is an individual perception of how he/ she absorbs and feels about it. The situations we face in life may seem hard at first sight, yet they’re worth living, rejoicing, along with small nuances that bring richness to it (emotions). As we experience them, we learn and evolve, and so the puchka of life softens and tastes licious for the ones who relish the taste and enjoy it (sharing happiness and joy), spreading the goodness life offers. Though many may end up passing on their bitterness. They remain ill-equipped in the art of “forget and forgive”, becoming critical of everything and everyone around them; missing out on the joy of the present. Puchkas are symbolic of how we can enjoy life and its experiences in small portions or bits, and live every moment of life. If we can adopt the principle of, one day at a time, it can make every situation and day of our life more fruitful and happy, filling the gappa of life with a dash of gratitude. Embracing (acceptance) the hits (up-downs) will make us wiser and thereby create experiences with learnings and memories. Attitude of gratitude and a smile bring ease in life and make us more mindful. On the other hand, nonacceptance and grudges over every little thing can turn life into a battlefield within oneself. Our choices and decisions shape our vision of self. The sensory overload of textures and flavours of our circumstances/incidents is like appetizers that enrich our taste buds towards our perception of life. Every bit of it, when relished, will taste like a yummy puchka. As we can customise our gappas with mixed appetites, we hold the power to shape our lives through our choices and experiences. Some may find it fulfilling, while others may feel broken or empty. Golgappa of life is also a mix of bitter-sweet experiences. Some bites( phases) of life may initially feel challenging/ sour, but could be packed with surprising sweetness and make our taste buds go crazy or open a door to new, more promising things in one’s journey. The diversity of flavors/ experiences underscores the richness of life, reminding us to appreciate the simple joys we encounter along the way. We can always customize our gappa/ life with a perspective of numerous paths, decisions, and opportunities, each shaped by our choices or the approach that we opt for in syncing them with our lives. So, let’s taste the licious golgappas of life with a new twist and flavors………..

“ Life becomes more luscious ; When we add tastes that are delicious. ”

By Chriseeda Shinny

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RELATIONSHIPS: UNFOLDING NEW SHADES

“CHOOSE PEOPLE WHO LIFT YOU UP” – MICHELLE OBAMA

Group Portrait Photography Tips & Tricks | Skylum Blog

Relationships, bonding, attachments, the most vital part in human survival. The associations created with friends, family and people around are like breathers in the day to day transactions and an exchange and vent of emotions and feelings, the core for sustenance of life. The joys double and appear meaningful and blissful when surrounded by beautiful relations with family, friends and others. At the same time, in wavering phases when going is tough few of the attachments become our strength and pillars to anchor till the storm; and rest ornamental relations shed out like dry leaves. There is an old saying that “ the true strength of a relationship is measured in bad times, not good” so meaningful it is.The uncertainties of life bring up the harsh but facts that are difficult to take.They help us to identify the strengths (relationships) that push and bring us back with new energy and happiness, bouncing back as a whole new. At the same time, it is never easy to accept the collapse of those few moving away; ones that were close (as assumed). Life is like a bundle of surprises that may be pleasant or unpleasant (like a pandora box). Never anything comes single, all comes in pairs including emotions.Happiness is accompanied with sorrow; problems are followed with opportunities; positives come along with negatives; rise and fall, and many more. Like a pendulum we swing between these varied extremes or emotions. The attachments in real (tough) times are the important realisations that went unnoticed or were sugar coated. But the troubled times/ situations bring an insight about those around us and a true picture of our blessings (relationships) that we were ignorant about.

These were the thoughts that were lingering in Meera’s mind after she went through a painful incident in her life. A jovial and kind hearted person by nature and compassionate for people around which was evident from her acts of humbleness and help she extended to her friends and others. She had immense gratitude for all that she had in her life and always felt that the people around her also share the similar feelings.But all her beliefs about it, like a pack of cards, came falling down when she met with an accident that was a near death experience. It blew away many things.

During this broken phase of life when all was scattered and her energies were drained, the pain she felt was not only physical but more of emotional that was difficult to cope with. This life threatening situation was an eye opener, about the superficial web of closed one, the herd of people in list but none to stand beside; tough to absorb but was important. A complete new chapter, a new outlook about life opened up that was never noticed or ignored..

Many of us can resonate with Meera, the uncertainties of life bring in those challenges and people that we were never acknowledged. The time of crisis dives you to introspect the real self and the true gems in terms of people around you. A completely new spectrum of shades emerge in terms of relationships.The brighter ones shine and bring the soothing subtle shades bringing your life back to a new form. But real learning comes with those grey shades.They help you to become more mindful and wise, letting you accept and face the odds with a more balanced approach between rational and emotional mind; a factual learning with the feeling of gratefulness and wisdom. The grey shades have their own significance and momentousness.

In today’s fast moving world of virtual relations, we have multitude of people in our list but rarely anyone that we can open our hearts to. The shallowness of it comes with the ‘n’ number of pics uploaded creating a short lived memory of people around. Like a mirage, they appear beautiful and soon fade. Precious gems are indeed difficult to find among the herd of similar looking pebbles (people). Nonetheless one thing is assured, rough terrains of life give you the best and most important learning that one can ever have. These times unmask the true heroes of your life and help you distance yourself from the eye comforting people. On the brighter side, the learning is that the eye comforters (people) help you navigate your life towards the right direction and for the right people ( life comforters) making you insightful and smarter.

Initially, these bitter bites of life come along with feelings of disappointment, shock, disenchantment, aloneness and upsets but on the contrary let’s have a better and positive side of it, more compassion and gratitude for all, as every bit or challenge simplified and sorted out our life with minimals but precious. : making us more mindful of the choices we make in life. Also help us to reframe our own self expectations that are nominal, creating an optimal balance of emotions that helps you in developing and creating a stronger and thoughtful version of your own self. They ground you back to the grass root level to reconnect with those precious gems that you forgo in the mirage of worldly attractions.

Small nuisances of life learnt with hardships. The difficult times of life should be taken as experiences that empower you to emerge as a more humble and a mindful person, celebrating the smallest of joys and feeling happy and content. Just a new outlook or perspective to look upon.

LET US BE GRATEFUL TO THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE US HAPPY; THEY ARE THE CHARMING GARDENERS WHO MAKE OUR SOULS BLOSSOM” – MARCEL PROUST

–Nidhi

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Change the Glasses….

I don’t know why, but rain comes into my head the minute I think of my childhood- Dhanush

It was evening and like any other day, Manish was standing on his balcony after his office work. It has been his daily routine for the last few months. After his office, he sat in open. The pandemic had drained out the jobs of many people in his friend circle, but he was lucky that it did not impact him in any way. Rather he was busier than before. Coordinating clients online was an added work pressure. Manish is employed in a high-profile marketing job and had to travel often. Pre pandemic, his bags were always packed. The outbreak of first wave of pandemics gave him a much-needed break from his fast-paced life. It made him introspect more about himself, a self-care time that he always ignored in chasing his career goals. A sudden lockdown was like a paid vacation that relaxed his adrenalin rush. He felt peaceful and calm in that period. But now the extended second break due to this deadly virus was weighing heavy on him both physically and mentally. Even after working for long hours, he felt anxious. The anxiety, sadness, monotony all was now overpowering him. Nothing could solace him. Ever since it all started, Manish followed the daily ritual of exercise, yoga, and a healthy diet. He was a self-disciplined person. but this time it was different. He was feeling low energy and stressed. The hot summer days seemed too long and tiring. All his gadgets in the evening made him feel sick. Though he knew that they were his only companions in present times.

He aimlessly sat on the balcony chair and had no energy even to prepare a snack for himself. There were innumerable racing thoughts, which he wanted to stop. He closed his eyes tightly to turn them away, but the tussle was making him more uneasy. Suddenly, a thud sound broke the cycle of thoughts and the water glass on the table. He looked around to find the culprit, and there he got it…. a ball. Manish was slightly annoyed as his cleaning work increased, which was tiresome, but the knock at the door abruptly stopped his train of thoughts. Two small kids stood at the door and as soon as they saw him, they pulled their ears to express apology for the mischief and requesting for their ball. Manish found their action so cute that he burst out laughing, a sudden reaction. He invited the little culprits cum guest now inside and spent around half an hour with them. It was a real delightful moment for him after a long time. Their innocent talk and naughty smile floored him. He felt their presence like a breeze of cold air in that hot summer evening. They made him travel back to the time when just like them he also smiled and laughed with an open heart and his dictionary was full of happy words. There were no predefined criteria for happiness as it was spontaneous, any small mischief or thing could amuse and trigger the giggle.

Playful classmates having fun on playground Free Photo — **CONTAGIOUIS SMILES**

Most of us as kids were like those little ones chirpy and bubbly. The real fun is blowing balloon out of a bubble gums, sharing the chits or playing outdoors. The most amazing moments and memories cherished forever. However, as we climb the ladder of age, our chuckles and belly laugh lose their sheen. They become more cultured and machinated. Our priorities change, transforming our natural self into a more polished one, thereby masking the real feelings. The giggles and bursts of laughter are replaced by a formal smile. The focus shifts from pranks and laughter to comparing and looking for the things that we lack. Eventually leading to a feeling of being dissatisfied and unhappy. The joys of small things and happiness become conditional. But the beauty is that children find miracles in mundane; and the grownups look for miss outs in miracles.

There is complete shift in the mindset, the simplicity of life turns into responsibility and expectation oriented, making us feel anxious and sad. The pandemic has bought big lessons for us to learn from. It has given a pause to our fast-paced life and grounded us back to our roots of simplicity. Let us learn the secret of carefree smile from our kids and adopt it to reframe and restructure our thought process and to create a life that is more fulfilling and happier and close to nature. The sparkling smile, energy, mindfulness, and simplicity are the qualities we all need to refresh in our mind map. We all should consciously try to be happy even in the little things like kids. Their incredible clear mind and proactive tenacity make them confident and open to the new experience of life. Manish felt it instantly. We all can experience it. At present we all are sailing in the same boat of uncertainty. The shot of hope is the shift in perspective, living every moment of life with a playful smile and energy, like a child. It is rightly said that “child is the father of man.”

The feeling of joy and cheerfulness all are available in abundance, it is just that we need to have an eye for it. Let us include our smiles and laughter in the daily menu of a healthy diet and take this time as an opportunity to do a workout with our mental and physical health. Our mental health is the asset that will help us to be resilient in rough terrains of life. Let us be more self-compassionate and redefine the meaning of happiness in simple things and be more mindful and grateful and grab every opportunity to smile and laugh, a natural remedy that can unburden the heaviness and give a jab of hope and courage.

“Smile is the electricity and life is a battery. Whenever you smile the battery gets charged and a beautiful day is activated, so keep SMILING.”

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IS IT REALLY TRUE………

“When you judge another, you do not define them, you define yourself“

Rahul was seven-year-old. He was playing with his friends and was carrying a basket that had two apples. His mother lovingly asked him to share one apple with her. To her surprise, Rahul immediately started eating both the apples, biting them simultaneously. The mother was utterly shocked, embarrassed, and disappointed. Within a few moments, she was feeling heaviness and was whining in thoughts that were making her feel sadder. Rahul was a well-mannered and empathetic child, but this behavior was very surprising and indifferent. Instantly the behavior of the child made her introspect her parenting values. She always believed and practiced teaching him values of sharing, caring, love, and respect. Today Rahul’s behavior, especially in front of his friends, forced her to think about what went a miss in her parenting. Her eyes were wet with tears. After a few minutes, suddenly, Rahul offered her one apple. The mother was lost in her thoughts and could not understand what was happening. She refused to take the apple and was a little annoyed too. Rahul in his innocence said, “I wanted to give you the best apple, this one is sweet and juicy.” Tears rolled down her eyes and gave a realization, how she could not understand the simplicity of thought behind the child’s action. She was irked by her own thoughts, immediately she hugged him and felt sorry.

A very short story but with a deep connection in our life. Just like Rahul’s mother most of us are also conditioned to do think similarly in such conditions. The human mind processes the information faster than any supercomputer, and for them, the output is in form of judgment or opinions for someone or something. Our judgment or impressions are the by-products of thoughts that run in our minds. In day-to-day life, we quickly infer about people, situations by looking at their looks, behavior, mannerisms, etc. On the other hand, apart from this, our very own factors like the context of a situation, personal traits, past experiences, and characteristics of the person are equally involved in inferring an opinion/ judgment. For example, if we see an aged person, by default, our mind guides us to be sympathetic and respectful towards him/her, but, if that person talks rudely to us, the opinion changes. This is one instance, but we make many such judgments/ conclusions about another person without even knowing much about them. They are snap judgments that may be misguiding and can result in complex emotional states, the way Rahul’s mother had questions in mind for him and, also introspected her parenting in the blink of a few seconds. They are like mental shortcuts that we make without really giving space and time to another person for putting his perspective. These snap judgments or mental shortcuts are the projection of our perception of the outer world, which is the direct derivative of what is stored in our own inner one. Like for example if one is insecure, he may feel edgy with the people around him and may feel doubtful and tense. This behavior towards other people is a direct reflection of our own state of mind. Thoughts are literally, the king of our state of mind and they govern our actions or reactions that we give for situations or people.

our opinions are correct — **REALLY ARE THEY TRUE?**

The other perspective for the same situation is that when we jump to conclusions too fast, it could be the result of our own set of expectations that we have from others. A slight deviation from expectation and we immediately reach a conclusion about the intentions of another person. On the lighter side, I think this could be said as the fuel for the grapevines or gossip circle that people love to move in., We all tend to see and perceive from the glasses of what we think and like to have, ignoring the other attributes of the situations and this is one of the basic reasons for people feeling distressed. The vicious cycle of expectations literally moves a person into believing his own assumptions and not waiting enough to find the facts.

The most important thing to understand in this nutshell is that the opinions and judgments that we form are not always true. The opinions change as spontaneously as they are formed. Like in the above story when the child explained his point, immediately the mother was overwhelmed with guilt for thinking in the way she thought. The impressions that are formed in a wink should not be considered sufficient to judge someone/something. But surely one fact is that these assumptions create a barrier around and we process things or people from those narrow gateways that lead to complex interpersonal relationships and situations. This may make us feel lonely and unfulfilled at times.

Our judgment/ opinion to an extent guides our behavior and actions. The way we choose to respond or react to the situation is the result of the perceived impression that we have made in our minds. Taking time to understand others’ side, before jumping to any conclusion/ opinion is one of the secrets to enjoying a happy and healthy life and relationships. Let patience be the benchmark in dealing with the situations/people effectively. It not only will bring peace in our lives but will also create positive vibes for people around too.

“ If we choose to stop judging others and start judging ourselves, and a whole new life begins”

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TO STOP THE MENACE OF BULLYING: LET’S UNDERSTAND IT

“People say sticks and stones may break your bones, but names can never hurt you, but that’s not true. Words can hurt. They hurt me. Things were said to me that I still haven’t forgotten.” –Demi Lovato

Amrita, 36yrs was quiet upset. From last few weeks whenever she came back home after a long day at office, she felt very tired and low in energy. While sipping a cuppa coffee at home in evening she use to review her day, and realised that since her new manager has joined things have become pretty difficult at her workplace. Manager had been very critical about her work and talks rudely, it happened often.

Raghu, 12yrs, looked depressed and sad after coming from school. On lot of prompting the mother realised that he was teased by his classmates for his short height. He gradually became anxious in moving out of home and was very reluctant in going to school.

Rama, 30yrs., was a home maker and was well settled in a joint family. She was feeling low and irritated from last few days and her husband was quite worried about it. He observed it and realised that his grandmother was not appreciative of any of her work rather pointed out some or other flaw in work. This was making her sad and declining self-confidence.

In all the above cases, Amrita, Rama and Raghu have been a target of someone’s hurting and controlling behaviour. It could be at home, office or school. We all in some time of our life have a brush with such type of behaviour. This is Bullying. One can be bullied at any stage of life irrespective of place and time.

It is a form of aggression that is repetitive and is deliberately performed to hurt and control another person. The hurt can be physical, emotional, mental or verbal. It is not necessarily to be loud or overt. Silent bullying effectively ridicules and shames. Bullies can be parents, siblings, classmates, teachers, teammates, coaches, colleagues and bosses. Children can also bully parents.

“I found one day in school a boy of medium size ill-treating a smaller boy. I expostulated, but he replied: ‘The bigs hit me, so I hit the babies; that’s fair.’ In these words, he epitomized the history of the human race.”

Bullies are made and not born. Research has shown that if aggression in young children is not handled consistently during developing years, they are more likely to develop bullying behaviour in later life. It also states that those who bullies are at greater risk of substance abuse, have poor performance in school/ college and perceive things more in pessimistic way and prone to psychiatric illness and at times may also engage in criminal activities.

Bullying behaviour can be very damaging for the victim, at times can leave a lifelong damage in their life.

Why People Bully?

It is very important to understand the reason behind Bullying behaviour. Generally, the people that bully are the ones that are bullied by their own emotions. They pick the target for some specific reasons may be in race, sexuality, disability or anything else and try to create an image of ultra-confidence in front of the victim. They perform a shopping process to identify a weak and subdued character as their victim. For e.g. generally in families we see there are few people who are always finding faults in other’s action or behaviour or like many a times we come across people that are short tempered and gets aggressive even at a slightest disagreement. These behaviours can be categorised as bullying behaviour. Why few people are always fault finders or rude to others?

Let’s understand the psyche of a person behind the bullying behaviour, it will help to handle them in a better way. They are the people that,

lack prosocial behavioural skills.
lack in empathy skills.
have their own deep insecurities.
have inferiority complex about something
have a feeling of jealousy
have been victim of bully themselves
have suppressed anger/ frustration
have fragile self- esteem
Vulnerable to slight criticism, and
feels weak and powerless in expressing in managing their emotions

They feel better or rewarded when they make the other person feel hurt or victimised. They show their dominance or power on those that appear to be weak or timid. They feel gratified when they see their victim depressed or anxious. Bullies exist when they have victims. Let’s not victimize ourselves. It is important to handle bullying behaviour by focussing on the effective ways to handle them,

Act quickly, stop the behaviour the very first time it occurs, don’t ignore
Stay confident and calm when a bully ridicule you.
Be assertive and talk in simple words without engaging any of your emotions (anger, crying, shouting etc.) in it.
Never exchange hostilities with the bully instead it is better to talk when iron is cold.
In case of a child, stay connected with him and talk without judgements.
Be consistent and firm in talking to bully
Talk it out to a friend or near dear one or may take a professional help.

Bullying is a serious problem and should be dealt intelligently else it can pose serious threat to one’s self- esteem, and confidence. If you are struggling with a bully reach out for a help don’t hesitate.

“People who repeatedly attack your confidence and self-esteem are quite aware of your potential, even if you are not.”

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My First Blog Post

Be yourself; Everyone else is already taken.
— Oscar Wilde.

This is the first post on my new blog. I’m just getting this new blog going, so stay tuned for more. Subscribe below to get notified when I post new updates.

Rise or Fall……True friendships

“Where flowers bloom, so does hope.”

-Lady Bird Johnson

Few days back while travelling I stayed in a hotel that was surrounded by lush greenery. In the tropical climate, big trees like neem, peepal, banyan etc. stood tall and beautiful flower beds of seasonal flowers looked picture perfect. They were treat to eyes and had a soothing and calming effect not only on eyes but in mind too. Everything looked magnificent and lively. In the midst of that blooming miniature forestry, I noticed a bare tree, a sky high woody tree without leaves. All its leaves were shed out and without them it appeared bony and drained out among the cluster of greens. Its withered look made it appear even more carcase. But there was one unique thing about that tree. Though it had dried out branches that gave a weary look, the two big red flowers on those barren branches bloomed as deeply marooned as beetroot. They were like companions of that tall structure holding its head high in its lean time. Like true friends the blossoming flowers looked ornamental decorated. Though they were real but like soul mates they were giving a stunning look metaphorically like giving it a confidence that it was not alone. This phenomenon looked so unusual, our mother nature has its own way of expressing its hand holding and being with its being .

There is so much similarity between nature and human behaviour. Like those flowers, in the curves of life one can see a few standing by its side. In the above example in our life leaves are symbolic of a crowd of friends that are present in the virtual world or in the contact list of our mobile, on the contrary only few of them are marked in emergency contacts or true mates. The friends list and followers may appear significant on screen but in reality are absolutely non- significant. They are superficial and cosmetic and conditional, lacking depth and true intent. The long list of friends and followers in the virtual world( social sites) miss out on real connections. They lack the companion or confidante with whom one can pour out heart. Like a pressure cooker, the steam of stress and ruminating thoughts keep on building a whirlwind resulting in the form of any psychosomatic illness (e.g., depression, anxiety, indigestion, ulcers, insomnia etc.). The shed out leaves on the tree are symbolic of all the virtual friends that make you appear desirable and shed out with changing times. But mother nature has its own way of expressing its support and giving strength and hope sustaining life when it is feeling lifeless. The blushing red flower on the tree is symbolic of those comrades that choose to blossom in the rugged terrain of life. The pattern of this relationship is so relatable in our lives also. The countable true buddies saviour and shield you in the descending phases. Their presence and confidence gives hope and strength to emerge as a warrior and not a worrier in the situations that appear persistently threatening and tough. They ground and guide, towards the path of growth and resilience without judging protecting your self- integrity in the dark storms. These friends may not be visible in the times when one is surrounded by all leisure’s of life and in happy zones, but pop up when there are crossroads; the critical times and situations.

Nature explains these peculiar phases/incidents in such an amazing manner, the ebb and flow of life, and the importance of cherishing those precious relationships that endure through adversity. The green leaves have their ornamental beauty; the bosoming maroon flowers have the role of the most precious friend forever that emerge in blooms in the lean times. In today’s digital age, it’s easy to have many superficial connections, but the depth and authenticity of true friendships are what truly sustain us through life’s challenges.

Something to learn and treasure those precious jewels that enhance your beauty and confidence in carrying and exploring oneself towards those new looks and dimensions when you are stuck. Their comforting presence affirms the belief in the phrase “this too shall pass”, the non permanence of everything in life.

“Some people are going to leave, but that’s not the end of your story. That’s the end of their part in your story.”

– Anonymous

EXPLORE THE INNER BEAUTY……

“The face is a picture of the mind with the eyes as its interpreter.” ― Marcus Tullius Cicero

Recently, Ameesha went to her son Kian’s school to attend a cultural event. It was his first performance, and she was more excited than he was. The little ones had been rehearsing for almost a month, and their moves were becoming apparent. The efforts of their mentors, the concern in their eyes, and the confidence with which children looked towards them were praiseworthy. The whole program was well-organised, and the tiny tots were in no hurry for time or stage. They were natural, and their instincts and innocence were breathtakingly show stealers. Every child looked amazingly magnificent. The bright-coloured costumes were add-ons to their lovely moves. Their sparklingly beautiful eyes beamed like twinkling stars. The teachers were constantly keeping tabs on the kids, and their engagement was commendable. The perseverance and smiles made the whole event more lively and successful.

On the way back home, Ameesha kept on thinking about the event and never before had she observed the unspoken yet expressive language of this sense organ. Throughout the evening, her mind wandered around the different gestures that were articulated through eyes. It was her first deep observation of human emotions. She thought someone has rightly said that “The eyes are the windows to the soul”. The smiling eyes were complementing every single move the children made in the event. So expressive and symbolic of energy, joy, moodiness – the unique non-verbal cues, the unspoken words, the abundance of emotions they convey. Eyes not only bridge the language of words with diverse shades of emotions but also like an aperture connecting us with divine beauty. “The eyes see more than the mind can comprehend,” she mused. The magical wonders, the vibrant shades, blooming flora and fauna, moon glades, the evergreens all can be observed with rolling eyes. As deep as the ocean, they are treasures of stories that may not come out with words but can be visible in it.

“Eyes speak the language of beings that cannot speak, all can be said and done with their eyes,” she contemplated. Only humans have been gifted with speech and rational and logical thinking. But the mute angelic souls sketch their feelings through their innocent eyes. Their magnetism is purely charismatic, like a mirror their eyes reflect, the virtuous and selfless love. Amazingly they also are messengers like when two people fall in love, their eyes exchange messages that only the lovers can understand. They are like archers of love, and speak the language of love: attraction, mutual recognition of each other’s words and emotions that are more powerful and impressive than verbal cues. Eyes do not lie, they also screen the varied turmoil’s and experiences of life, and wells sown like a fountain when overwhelmed. Anger, rage, discomfort, boredom, pain, annoyance, etc., all can be read in them. The exuberance they emote, the connection they form is described by many poets as mesmerising as the sun, as innocent as a child’s laughter, petals of lotus, the jewels on the face that also act like scouts in testing times. Words fall short in describing them.

“Eyes convey deep meanings, the translucent vitrages paint the canvas of life like a story narrating tales of one’s feelings, experiences of a lifetime (bitter/sweet)”. The vision they hold of the future, hopes, dreams, desires, ambitions, goals, thoughts, secrets that one wants to be a part of forever. “Eyes reveal the soul’s deepest secrets”. Let’s be more mindful in observing the seashores of thin lines meeting together and the pupils like an island reflecting the sea of emotions passing by. Be an observer and dive dig in the sea of understanding and bonding with the beauty of eyes.

“The eyes are the doors towards one’s inner self and they are also the windows towards the outer world.” — Soheila Shahshahani

SAVE A LIFE………….

Challenges make you discover things about yourself that you never really knew. They’re what makes the instrument stretch – what makes you go beyond the norm. – Cicely Tyson

Standing in the drizzling rain was one of the favorite pastimes of Aditi in the monsoon season. A season when everything around looked clean, especially her green friends, they looked so refreshed and shone like they have got a spa for them. For the whole year, they struggle with extreme weather conditions and pollution making them dusty and tired but the rainy season is like a vacation for them. The cool drops of water soak them in their freshness and restore their energies for the year ahead. Aditi loved plants and was passionate about all types, especially the ones that were treated insensitively by humans and plucked or dugout as they were the spoilers in the decor with our plants, the weeds. The unwanted greens were always left to manage themselves and treated rudely. But the amazing quality of them was that they always stood strong even after all the odds they received from others around them; Their belief of believing in themselves and a vision of growth never conflicts. The instinct to survive is strong enough to reinstall them in the worst of circumstances. They are nurtured by themselves, and Mother Nature. Aditi always wondered how come we (humans), wiser and more resourceful than these mute living beings succumb to difficult times and lose faith in our own abilities to fight and stand tall in such situations. The strength and resilience of these creations of God is commendable. Recently, one of Aditi’s dear friends gave her life. She could not sustain the struggles of her life. It made her extremely sad and disappointed. It was shockingly painful and to date, she could not recover the thought of WHY and HOW it happened. there were many questions that were whirling in her mind about it. Why did her friend overlook the support system around her? How she felt lonely? How could they have helped? Why she took this extreme step; How come none of the people around could gather insight into her state of mind with the expressions about what was going on in her mind? Innumerable thoughts were fogging her mind and today her green friends gave some relief to unresolved queries. She saw a sapling that was insensitively thrown off yet it grew back with beautiful flowers smiling as if it was an answer to the ones that were unhappy with them; in life also many people may treat us unwanted or may uproot / expatriate then just like green friends one should become tougher in the tough situations. Sadly, many of us accept it as our fate and push ourselves into making it a reality by losing faith in ourselves and feeling feeble with negative thoughts that may include self-harm or suicidal tendencies in extreme cases. Life is a mix of bitter and sweet experiences, right from the moment sperm enter a mother’s womb, it struggles to stay alive, the instinct to fight is innate within us and when it comes to worldly happenings one tends to lose the hope and give up the life that he/ she struggled to get in the womb of the mother. Every being has a journey, which is as beautiful as a flower rose and as painful as the thorns of it. there are critical times when we have to take some decisions that may be turning points but the vision of our life helps us to decide the choice that we opt for. The adversities in life are heartbreaking and disappointing. They could be in any field of life( personal/ professional/financial/ social); still can be managed if one is ready to deal with it. Impulsively taking a decision to end one’s life or hurting oneself can never be the solution to any problem. Instead, any such attempt is the beginning of a bigger challenge. One can either be a victim of its circumstances or a warrior to face it. There is always a way out; It all depends on how one frames a situation/ event in one’s mind. Suppressing or sleeping over it will only lead to mental and physical health challenges. Instead, reframing a situation with a mindset of facing it with help or support can make one stand in a better position to deal with it. There is always a hidden opportunity in adversity (a perception).

Before taking this extreme life-threatening step, there is a cry for help. the person may talk about life after death or hopelessness in life, increased use of drugs or alcohol, highly anxious, feeling helpless, withdrawn or isolated, extreme mood swings, etc. All these could be the signs to look out for. Let us all take a pledge of becoming more aware of the people around us and be a support in their low phases. There is an alarmingly high mortality rate due to this reason in recent times. As family, friends, and elders, let’s encourage and give confidence to them to talk out their bottled emotions before it turns disastrous. It is ok to feel what one is feeling, let’s be more empathetic, receptive, and non-critical about it. A small help and awareness can make us a savior in one’s life.

“Don’t be upset when life becomes too difficult. Be thankful that you get the opportunity to learn to become stronger”. – Roger Lee

It is Never Enough…….

” We may have our difference, but nothing is more important than family”. – Coco

It was 3 am in the morning, and Drishti was still awake. It has become a regular cycle for the last few months. She had disturbed sleep and had heaviness in her head probably due to inadequate sleep. Her mind was constantly working, and she had racing thoughts that were disturbing.“It is never enough” was the nutshell of her thoughts. Drishti was married for 26 years and was in a joint family from the start of her married life. All has been good in the family, socially, and financially. Drishti was also working part-time. Her family was always her priority, and she tried her best to manage and maintain the family ties. Though all appeared good at home she could sense the gaps that were widening with time. The coldness was coming from family ties between elders and her. She always thought that life and relations become smooth and better with close ones because with time we can understand and process the habits and personalities of family members and accept and adjust accordingly. Also, the family can perceive the righteousness of the new member with time. But it was only her belief, she did not realize that it is never one way but rather a two-way approach. The complexities were increasing with every passing day. They failed to understand the challenges that she was facing as an individual and her foresight for the future. Every passing day was making her realize that ‘what you hear; what you see; what you believe are three different perspectives and that is somewhere one must accept; denial or non-acceptance of it only create conflicts of thoughts and perspectives. It was like walking on the ropeway every time and maintaining a balance is a challenge. She felt that life is like a sea and like a shark she must constantly move for survival similarly she was struggling with herself and the situations to put her point of view and to take a stand for it. Though it was stealing away her peace of mind.

We all have heard that life is never smooth, it is like a complex web where emotions and relationships are entangled, and one is constantly spinning around and in it. It is all about managing and sorting the relationships. A skill that one keeps on learning with different life situations and evolves constantly with one’s own experiences, thoughts, values, and core beliefs, watching different shades of life and enriching themselves in their unique ways. The foundation of any association/ relationship is based on the pillars of expectations, understanding, empathy, love, trust, and care. One must contribute equally to all, to create healthy and fulfilling bonding’s. But unfortunately, we tend to rely more on one pillar i.e., expectations (that are unexpressed and may be misunderstood), and based on it we create benchmarks to judge our dear ones. Expectations fulfillment becomes the criteria to decide the strength and bonding that may also be bounded situational, else there are high chances that relations may eventually lose the sheen of it. The imbalance in the pillars of life over a period of time starts suffocating it with frustration, anger, sadness, disappointments, fear, insecurity, and negativity to name a few emotions. Also, ignorance of other pillars of relationships may also reflect (lack of empathy and understanding) bitterness and coldness in relations. Drishti was facing a similar situation, the unexpressed desires of others and voicing her thoughts were creating ripples in the family.

Unlike Drishti, many of us can put ourselves in similar shoes where one feels that even after the best of efforts there is dispassion in relationships and feelings are vague. The only sentence that speaks it all is “it is never enough”. But the question is why even after taking care of all responsibilities in best possible way and with due respect still these feelings develop; why the boundaries are so rigid; the new perspectives not accepted; creates self-doubt in the other person making him/ her insecure and diluting all the expressions of sincerity and bonding. It is difficult to answer this question but probably our own self centred approach is one of the biggest blocks. The inhibitions are obvious on both sides but with time one should grow out of it and mature in their actions and words. A reciprocation of thankfulness and compassion should gradually be adopted and be a part of life. Looking beyond one’s own doubts and fears is the key to healthy and happy associations. Our perceptions should not be the reflection of our ego’s, relationships should be over and above them. Assuming things to happen can create grudges and steal away our peace of mind and maybe the essence of our precious relationships. Empathy, open communication with discussions, mutual respect, and space for each other can strengthen bonding and stability. They are priceless possessions and to be nurtured with selfless devotion, trust, honesty, and compassion.

If you want a healthy relationship you need to have uncomfortable conversations. – Karen Salmansohn

FRIENDS FOREVER

There is no fundamental difference between man and animals in their ability to feel pleasure and pain, happiness and misery.

Charles Darwin

It was 5am in the morning, the time of the most beautiful sleep, Aditi woke up by the cuddle from small little paws, and it was time to take Bruno for his nature call. Waking up with the rising sun and enjoying the freshness and the breeze of candid sunlight in the wee hours was the most comforting and serene time for Aditi in the whole day. All credits to little Bruno. It was a routine now, after this new addition in family. Initially, Aditi was against the decision of her husband and son to bring it. There were heated arguments, but the team of boys won the battle and Bruno was ‘in’. He came in a little basket and the moment the lid was opened its sparkling little eyes had a magnetic charisma. The soulful eyes were captivating, wandering around. A squeaky sound, from that miniature was trying to find comfort in a new place. The two-month little pup golden brown in colour, skin as soft as a baby, long ears touching the floor as he walked looked like a battery toy. Though Aditi was reluctant but its beauty was mesmerizing. She could not resist the positive vibes that he brought along in the family. Within few days, Bruno made its space and was the candy of everyone at home. Its affection and love for all bonded the family in a new way. In the times of Covid when everyone got caged in their rooms, Bruno bought them together in the common area. The conversations that were minimal and formal now turned into laughter and discussions. The aura of that little soul was so pure and comforting, Aditi realised an immense change in her family dynamics, the giggles and chuckles were bringing happiness all around. Never she thought that it will become so close to her heart, and the bond getting stronger with every passing day.

Someone has rightly said that animals are the angels of God and they share and spread love which is unconditional, they only look for warmth and tenderness. For them every gesture that is filled with kindness and empathy, they embrace it wholeheartedly. They sense the feelings with their heart and do not try to interpret the imperfections, or have any inhibitions. Even when we (humans) are lost in our own world of insecurities and bogged down with the pressures of proving our mantle, they support and stand by our side in the most reassuring way, reinforcing a ray of hope and happiness in the difficult times.

Their soulful presence has the ability to exhume subdued positive energies in the individual. In their own ways they inspire us to learn the small intricacies of life in a very sorted way. Simple beings, believing only in LOVE: as the fuel, in the engine of life. Their quality of limbering themselves with the turns and twists of life is amazing. Their requirements of life is minimal- love, safety and nourishment. Adapting itself, to any situation with no fear or reluctance is unique in these beings. They believe in being mindful and not fearful.

We can learn so many life skills like love, empathy, dedication, passion, positivity from these divine angels. Their perseverance and commitment to their loved ones in an unbiased manner is the trait that humans need to learn and cultivate in today’s stressful life. They are the biggest cheerleaders of their partners (humans) in all the phases of life, their tenacity is admirable. The transmuting positive energies they radiate is therapeutic. The innocence of their eyes, wagging tails and flopping ears literally can floor anyone to love them. Pets have a strong intuition and can sense the emotions of their human friends easily. Research has also shown that pet parents and pet friendly people are less prone to anxiety and depression. Their loyalty and companionship anchor the serenity and happiness in dull moments and moods. There playfulness steals away the sadness and emit a positive vibe in the surroundings. In today’s time when people thrive on social media and virtual world the four legged miniatures connect us to the physical world, pulling us back to the splendour and dazzle of the real world. This beautiful creation of divine believe in flowing with the stream of life and putting their best of efforts with loyalty and commitment. The energy exchange with them is affirming and strengthening.

‘Love breeds love’ is what they preach and practice. Spiritually, they enlighten us with quality of contentment. The childlike innocence in their eyes teaches us humility and affection in a flawless manner; living every bit of life with zeal and liveliness. Their cuddles and tickles are symbolic of pure affection. Let us all try to transform and enrich ourselves with the qualities these furries, expressing without any words…….

Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.

Anatole France

RELATIONSHIP: PARENT- TEENAGER

Behind every young child who believes in himself is a parent who believed first.

– Matthew Jacobson

For quite a few months I have been following a serial called Ahilaya Bai Holkar on a popular TV channel. The show is based on Ahilaya Bai (as the title name), an amazing woman, her power, strength, and intelligence made her ahead in the male dominant society in that era. Our Indian history has inscribed her contribution as one of the most progressive leaders of those times. She had a vision for women’s empowerment and helped women to work in front as lead; also, she worked towards eradicating some conservative practices in Indian society. A queen with liberal thinking, grace, and integrity. The list of her qualities is endless. Apart from this, her managerial skills and administrative skills were also exceptionally praiseworthy. An empathetic leader and a very calm and poised person, a keen listener, and an observer. Her personality and aura are beyond words. She excelled in all areas but, unfortunately, lagged in one very major part of life. As a parent, she missed out on emotional bonding with her son. She could not manage the transition into the adolescent phase of her son, and he became a rebellious child. Ahiliaya bai may be due to her nature of work and the aspirations for the child made her a parent that was extremely structured and had strict boundaries that appeared like an over-controlling parent. Somewhere she missed appreciating her son and most of the time it was a negative reinforcement. The tone and body language never appeared to be subdued. The son always felt that his mother was not supportive and dominating his actions and decisions.

Adolescence is a very critical time hence it is the age of stress and storm. An adolescent at this stage is neither a child nor an adult. They are growing towards adulthood and their focus is more on “themselves”. There are many changes during this period: both physical, and social. cognitive, and emotional. All these transitions may result in mood swings, anxiety, anger issues etc. A child is in the process of learning, exploring, and discovering their identity. They start forming opinions and have their suggestions and points as they have developed with their knowledge and experience (though it is still not concrete). They are anxious and sensitive due to these changes and are more inclined towards their peers and friends. They may question and not easily accept adults’ points of view. The role of parents is very important at this stage in reinforcing a positive self-identity in a child. A child wants to be “HEARD” and look for validation from parents. They are in the stage of building self-confidence. For them parents are the world and home is the place where they can open their hearts and mind, a place where they can be their natural selves. Non-judgemental behaviour and unconditional love are the keys to building a bond of trust and confidence in a child. Parents’ support and encouragement and giving them room to make mistakes for better learning and wisdom make them feel respected and accepted. It is important that he feels that only his behaviour is condemned and not him. His mistakes should never shake the bond of love and trust.

Parents should be like a “lighthouse” in the life of the child, guiding and showing them the path when they feel lost. Their unconditional love and understanding can help them to manage their emotions and anchor back their self-esteem. There may be disagreements and arguments, but patience is the only key to handling the challenges of growing old. Like in the above case, Ahilaya bai appeared to have a controlling nature and had an expectation and a vision of making her son the future king. This aspiration not only reflected in her day-to-day behaviour towards him but also restrained her son to have free play in growing years. He felt that his mother was cold towards him and he was always judged ( that made him lonely). The mother missed out on preparing the child mentally for the situation and eventually the confidence. His young shoulders always felt the burden of expectations for which he was not prepared. Empathy and rapport were amiss due to which the child felt confused and frustrated. The perfectionist approach, controlling, commanding, demanding and judgemental behaviour created communication gaps. The strictness did not allow the child to nurture his personality, and the rules and regulations restricted his curiosity.

Every child is unique and should be treasured for his individuality. He is like a seed and his parents are the gardeners in his life. The gardener takes care of its plants according to the type and the seasons; Similarly, every child is also different and should be reared accordingly. Never should they be dubbed with things prior to their age and understanding else they feel confused and frustrated.

The right proportion of discipline and freedom, careful nurturing and natural growth create a Balance in Parenting. The child should feel safe and free in the shadow of his parents, a place where he can comfortably unburden his feelings. Parents’ words, views and opinions create and colour the child’s world and their appreciation is like a magic wand that can do wonders on the canvas of his life. When the child feels “LISTENED” with no apprehensions it makes them feel “RESPECTED” and vice versa. They can sense body language and tone and feel disturbed when not heard. It had a great impact on their developing minds and relationship with their parents/ caretakers. They need authority but only when they are able to understand the rationale behind it. A parent should firmly and patiently explain and set boundaries for the child. Lack of it may make them insecure and there is a high probability of getting influenced by outsiders. Assurance and validation from parents in the growing years along with love, warmth, and encouragement can navigate an adolescent to the desired track. The democratic style of parenting is a helpful and better approach to raising a teenager. Ahilaya bai was a great leader but it is important to understand that we do not use the same approach in our workplace at our home and with kids. Children need a friendly parent who can comfort them with love and give acknowledgement for their efforts and not reprimand them for their mistakes but guided for them to improve. It can help an adolescent to grow into a happy and confident adult and an empathetic person that can positively contribute to the community and society.

You will teach them to fly, but they will not fly your flight. You will teach them to dream, but they will not dream your dream. You will teach them to live, but they will not live your life. Nevertheless, in every flight, in every life, in every dream, the print of the way you taught them will remain.

– MOTHER TERESA

Overthinking………

“We Cannot Solve Our Problem With The Same Thinking We Used When We Created Them.”

-Albert Einstein

Arun was 16year old and studying in class 12. He was an intelligent boy and was quite clear about his career and aspirations in life. He judiciously used his time in academics and preparation for competitive exams were his top priority. From the last few months Arun was not feeling OK, fear of failure was gripping his mind, which was not letting him focus on his studies. There was a constant tussle of thoughts that were draining his energies. The direction of thoughts was only progressing in a downward spiral. He was experiencing mood swings, disturbed sleep, and poor appetite. His racing mind was never at peace, and it was now troubling his day-to-day life activities, the academic scores were falling, and the self-confidence was also sliding down. All this was disturbing. Too much thinking was generating negativity that was now gradually penetrating deep in his mind creating question marks and ‘What- if’ statements, like “If I do not score enough,” “if I fail?”. Before that never such thought came to him but now clouds of self- doubts mystified his mind. He was facing an elevated level of anxiety due to overthinking.

Overthinking is like planting a banyan tree in a flowerpot. A leading mental health challenge in today’s time. A pattern of recurrent thoughts to the point that it makes one fearful. All this happens only in mind and no decision or action is taken. The proverb “making a mountain out of a molehill” is synonymous to overthinking; dwelling on a thought to the extent that it plagues one’s mind and making them appear dreadful. It is an uncontrollable form of worry or rumination on the cues and points that hardly are significant or exist.

An overthinker tends to have a perfectionist personality and strives on unrealistic expectations critically analyse oneself with self- doubts. It is just like thought- fixing, weaving a story around and catastrophizing it. The spinning of these thoughts in this manner gives a feeling of losing control of a situation/event and is agonising.

Our thoughts are the food for our mind. Just like a nutritious and balanced diet is required for good physical health, similarly, healthy, or positive thoughts are necessary for sound mental health. Thoughts are are enormously powerful. They play a key role in shaping our personality and helps to develop our perspectives and evolve us into better beings. They have the potential to ruin happiness and small moments of joy from our present. According to one research we have around 50,000 thoughts in a day and proportionately they are positive and negative. Repeated thinking about an event or a situation tends to create a negative mindset which may eventually develop into fear, anxiety, sadness, or any other physical illness (e.g., muscular pains, stomach-ache, headache etc.); behaviourally it can result in troubled sleeping, restlessness, irritation etc.; cognitively the thoughts may be racing, overactivity, struggle with sharp inner critic, consistent negative thoughts about not being good enough, feeling of failure etc. A vicious cycle of questions, What-if’s, creates uncertainties and a self- critic that is hard to defy. It is thinking, thinking and thinking with no decision or action. Like in the case of Arun, one time exam score below his expectations caged a fear and an insecurity for future competitive exams after which all his energies moulded into a negative direction. Fears and worries took away his peace of mind and his efficiency. Overthinking has a significant impact on the quality of life in terms of work- life balance and relationships as well. At times one may tend to adopt unhealthy habits like substance abuse, gambling etc. to escape it and relax the overworking mind. It may also gradually develop into neurotic problems like OCD, panic attack etc.

Overthinking can be controlled if conscious and consistent efforts are made. This habit literally paralyses the mind (with fear and doubts) so to outdo it we need to be mindful. Staying in the present and with awareness choosing the thoughts that are helpful and productive. The second way to help oneself is by fixing a time slot in a day for all unproductive thoughts, instead of having them for the whole day one can choose a dedicated time for it. Journaling the thoughts also helps us to declutter the non-useful gloomy thoughts. It helps to give clarity and redirect the restless mind to the right direction. Lastly, spending time in nature and maintaining a distance from technology for some time in a day soothes the overdriving mind, releasing happy hormones and is calming.

“Put Your Thoughts To Sleep. Do Not Let Them Cast A Shadow On The Moon Of Your Heart. Let Go Of Thinking.” -Rumi

HAPPINESS……Where…?

“There is no path to Happiness; happiness is the path”. – Buddha

A beautiful day and a cup of coffee in hand, the best time for Ashna to spend with herself. She was a professional working in a big multinational company with a five-figure salary, a luxurious lifestyle and all that she could think about. She always made sure to spend at least 10 minutes of the day with herself “me time”. A scant thing to find in the busy modern life.

Ashna always made herself grounded and consciously made efforts to do it. She remained cheerful and humble to whoever she met. She had struggled hard to reach the position where she stood today. The wavering graph of her life taught many lessons which no one could have ever imparted. There were times of self doubts in decisions of personal and professional life, but her intuitive guts always stood by her side. A rising middle class family and struggles of growing in it, she learnt to never succumb to those circumstances. She knew that determination and hard work can only pave the way to rise and shine. The hardships of life are always tough to handle but always smile was her the companion. The determination to succeed was her mantra of self-motivation. Happiness was always the core strength of it. “Happiness lies within”, a belief that she believed in. A short statement with depth.

We all want happiness in our life, and like a treasure hunt chase for it. Looking for the cues in the form of materialistic things, situations, or people. A rat race of a search for big things that may give us joy. The more conditional we make it, the more difficult it is to trace and that too for a very short duration. The real joys of laughter, togetherness, and peace within it have become endangered. The levels of anxiety, isolation, sadness, and mood swings are elevated, and a tendency of fixating oneself with the bitter experiences of past and caging in the fears of future is at rise.

Ashna also faced challenges, the journey was no different, ups and downs were partners in the voyage of her being. But she never left the string of hope. The ship of life is always accompanied with adventures, feats, and flukes. Nothing remains forever neither the problems nor the situations but our memories and experiences stay. They are for a lifetime, the learnings from our downfall and little success at different steps remain eternal. Happiness is a feeling of contentment and awareness. Awareness, a conscious state of mind for remaining calm and peaceful in rough patches; an effort to find the small cues in the bits of everyday life.

A conscious thought of energising everyday as blissful to gain some experiences and memories, manifesting positivity in day-to-day transactions. Spending some time with one self and introspecting one’s own thoughts stabilises the emotions and anchors one back in the present. “A present is a present”, is rightly said by someone. Everyday is a day to move ahead with more confidence and energy. Tracing the joys is completely our possession and is more gratifying.

‘Gratitude” is another way to feel the joys in small things. A gesture of thankfulness has a magnetic charisma. It always attracts positive vibes and blessings from high power. One can stay happy or find it with little things, it is just about the mindset that we have. Real happiness is about contentment, fulfilment, peace with self and optimism. Happiness is not a euphoric state but a sense of compassion and a purpose in life. A feeling of satisfaction and positivity from within.

Life is always a curved path. There will be times of distress, painful relationships, and many unexpected situations, that disillusions everything in life. But if we realise that it is just a mirage and not reality, we can soon find the key to the treasure of happiness. Problems are like companions in the ship of life and keep popping up like water bubbles. When we bring acceptance of something or someone that is bothering us, we feel positive.

A state of unhappiness, is keeping ourselves deprived of love and self care. Happiness is in abundance within , it is just that we overlook it and try to find it outside. The way we respond to life situations is decisive for our happiness. Just like a tree that keeps on shedding the old leaves and blooms with full beauty from time to time, is an example for all of us to learn. So let us Live our life in the present moment and shed out the traces of the past (cluttered within) to create a beautiful present and future.

“Happiness is not something readymade. it comes from your own actions”. – Dalai Lama