Let there be no injustice to women anymore

 

We speak of women empowerment. But how far is it true in this current scenario? Let me take the case of sexual assault. It is happening for several years and when we think that nothing of this sort will ever emerge, unfortunately, some such horrendous incidents crop up. We ask for justice and pray for the best too. But do our sincere wishes of rape completely being wiped away fructify?

Not just another life lost

Though researching on the motive of the stone-hearted people who sexually assault children/girls/woman is another topic by itself, it should be etched deeply in the minds of every human that rape is the most barbaric act.

It is not just another life that has succumbed to this brutal act. Instead of blaming the .victim for her lack of presence of mind and other reasons in stopping the tragedy, let us develop compassion. Strict laws and safer public avenues for women while going out should be given priority.

The need of the hour

The urgent necessity is prevention and self-defense. The women of India should be strong enough in standing for the cause. Her mind, her physique, and her voice should be alert enough to understand the looming danger of rape.

Support the cause of survivors

The barbaric rapes of minor girls and young women are definitely not a norm just because they are committed on a regular basis, say for example, in Hathras village. Several cases go unnoticed; some cases come to our attention only when they have reached a stage where it needs to come to limelight. Let us support the cause of those who have survived rapes.

Universal empathy-the essential mantra

We write great things about women in stories and carve beautiful sculptures of her, but when it comes to reality we fail to safeguard her. Universal empathy is the new mantra now and everyone should follow it. Let us treat every girl as the incarnation of goddesses who have grace in her, not born to just succumb to the heinous act of rape by a person who has that arrogance to think that mankind, and especially himself, is God’s best gift to humanity.

My zest for life

 Life has been quite unfair with me, but I still love it.

I don't get what what I want sometimes, but still  I cope with it.

What has made me more resilient which is better than the hard times?

What has made me search for beauty in spite of the hard-hitting reality?

To be harsh with myself is something that is not the typical me

When the situation is so distressing, why to blame myself?

I care for my healing more than the pathos in a situation.

I understand that it is okay to be not okay sometimes.

I know the view is beautiful when reached the top

Then why to worry when the goal is to be focused?

When I tend to justify the actions of the Almighty

I just turn to myself and try to be the change I want to see.

I remember that though sometimes I am a fragile mess I rise as phoenix from the ashes,

To lead my life such that my passion for life surpasses my worries

My thoughts on mental health

 

I care for my mental health. It all starts with self-love. I spend time to take care of myself such that I get immense mental satisfaction. I am not stuck at a particular stage of life; I am not apprehensive of moving on. I have the fortitude to laugh at my own fallacies, at the same time not demeaning myself. I see to it that when I talk about my negative and frightened feelings, my thoughts don’t overwhelm me. I always talk out my problems, which are empathized with, but to get over it is entirely upon me. I am the best healer of myself. I have my own shortcomings; I have my bad times; I feel anguished; I feel frustrated; there is no meaning in denying them. When I accept these situations as they are, then I am accepting myself. The journey from the darkest hours in my life to the most fulfilling one can be definitely rewarding once I realize that it is my willpower and grit that count at the end of the day. For all the negativity I see, it is the need of the hour to realize that there is so much to optimism; and the drive to keep moving wont let me give up.

Am I working from home efficiently?

You would surely second me when I say that the prevailing pandemic has indeed changed the way we work. At this point, this question will flash in your mind now and then. Am I working from home efficiently? How can I be productive?

 Remember that there is no extreme change in your regular routine. It has been made mandate because of your health and safety concern. Otherwise, you can continue with your usual routine.

Well, whether you are accustomed to or new to the work from home lifestyle, here are some tips:

1.       By now, I am sure you would have found a dedicated location (and not to forget comfortable) for work at home. If not, do it immediately.

2.       Catch up with your long-lost friends. How you would have wished to talk to some of your friends but you were not able to do so as you were busy with work!  Grab this time.

3.       I am the power. Well, philosophy apart, remember that you have the power within you and take time to evaluate yourself.

4.       Involve in yoga and meditation. If you have tried that and that doesn’t work for you (I mean I too have tried yoga but it didn’t work for me) go for simple work-outs. The key is in physical exercise too.

5.       Some of us have the habit of listening to music while travelling to office. We can do this at home too.

6.       You can also involve in your hobby. This is the best time to give wings to your creative dreams.

7.       Of course, we are not interacting with our colleagues and managers just like the way we did in our office. We used to ask our managers out doubts directly or had face-to-face talks. To cope with this, you can effectively communicate with the help of technology.

8.       Spend your valuable time with your children after work hours. Inculcate in them the thought of giving consideration to your work space too.

9.       Just half an hour of news update after your work would be adequate. Too much of the pandemic update too might lead to anxiety.

10.   Now you would have already turned out culinary experts. You would have learned a great lesson too, cook a good meal with what you have. Show to your kids that you can be a better cook and that they can rely on your food too!

11.   Sometimes, it’s always good to give a deep breath and remember that this too shall pass.

Don’t be alarmed by the probability of this WFH being a double-edged sword. Just play your role efficiently; don’t be overwhelmed by work from both sides. And finally, you can demonstrate that remote work, after all, can pave the way to stronger productivity. Embracing this lifestyle change surely has its own share of benefits including not able to travel, good opportunity to spend more time with family, etc. Just make sure that you don’t let distractions at home and lack of motivation hinder your progress. Remembering that this is a great challenge for work-life balance, embrace the challenge gracefully.

Beating the summer headache

During summer, you will be having your share of discomfort, especially in the form of headache (this can be sometimes gruesome too). Hence, I have listed below some of the safe points below to follow during this summer so that you can beat this irritating headache.

1.      Avoiding hot and spicy food can help you bring down the pain in your head.

2.      Drink a tall glass of water as soon as your head starts to hurt.

3.      Maintain moderate AC temperature. 25-27 degrees celsius room temperature is ideal for the human body.

4.      You should have sufficient amount of fluid intake which may include fresh juices, water, and coconut water. At the same time, overhydration can also throw off the balance of electrolytes. So drink water with balance.

5.      Avoid over consumption of caffeinated beverages like tea and coffee as these drinks contribute to dehydration.

6.      One should also have food at the right time as delay in any meal could make your health suffer.

7.      Sleep for 7 to 8 hours every night. You may feel stressed out due to interrupted sleep which may become the reason for your bad headache.

8.      When you feel stressed or out of energy, relax and close your eyes.

9.      If you experience any stressful situation, then focus on a soothing one.

The key to this article is that don’t panic when you have a headache, especially during this pandemic time. It can be due to your already existing health condition. It can also be due to the fact that you are always sitting before the computer (work from home). It can also be due to the other points mentioned above. Just take steps to remedy the headache and ensure that it doesn’t persist (if it persists for a really long time, then it is something to worry).

Regular exercise will also solve this problem. You know your body well and you can avoid this hurt in the head with care from your side. 

Though I am not a doctor, I have written this article keeping in mind the panic that goes through everyone’s mind. The above-mentioned points are time-tested remedies only and hence there is no harm following them. I just took the initiative to write this.

The beauty of being myself

Many times I hear people say, “be yourself.”  I used to wonder, “what is actually being myself?”

I have thought about the profoundness of its beauty several times. And now, I have understood it.

According to me, being myself is being loyal to my identity. Then what is my identity? This identity is what I have carried for so long and I don’t want to give up on it at any cost. I don’t want to wear a mask and say to the world, “Hey! I am perfect! You cannot beat me!” Instead, I want to show that that in spite of my earnest endeavors, I have failed a lot of times only to get up as phoenix from the ashes.  Remember, I am rising now and have not given up. I am proud of my scars which have molded me into the strong person I am, a person who is forgiving of her flaws

If people are attracted towards me because of my fake identity, then I don’t want that identity. I want genuineness in my identity which will go a long way in achieving the purpose of my life.  

The best way to be yourself is to strive to be the best version of yourself. Assess yourself in a constant basis (I do that) and make sure you are doing your best. I have some values that I am following till now and I want to stick to them, irrespective of the situation.

Well, now lets see a scenario. This happens mostly with me. When I am in the company of my friends, I am so self-conscious and tend to think too much about what I say. Then I think, “did what I say hurt others”, “are they getting bored with me?” “am I overdoing it” etc. Here then, I can ease my temperament by also showing my sportive nature. After all, if you truly understand the meaning of being yourself, you won’t overthink; instead, you will prefer peaceful humor and fix your attention on the present moment which is a gift to be unwrapped every time.

I cannot be myself if I don’t empathize with myself. Well, remember that empathy and self-pity are closely related terms. Some of us may not like self-pity. They may feel that a strong person should not pity themselves. That’s okay.  I will cover that in a different post. But you can definitely empathize with yourself and be appreciative of your achievements (even though small).

You would have imagined a life for yourself. For example, during my childhood, I used to play with my brother a “garden” game. We just used to place the pillows in the bed in a squared manner and imagine that they give safety to us. This house (we named it as garden) which is made of pillows showed a vision of giving safety to us in the long run. So what I am trying to drive in is that I want a safe and happy life for myself. I am also taking steps to lay a strong foundation for this house, which figuratively means happiness.

The real issue with being ourselves is that we have certain preconceived notions regarding it. Don’t let these notions dominate you. Realize that you are unique and even being different is not wrong. 

I always observe the quality of my thoughts and ensure that I am becoming the better version of myself day by day. I never compare myself with others and realize that I have a page in history which I alone can write.

Now you will question the following:.what if someone is really an irritating person and can he/she continue being the same, saying that he/she is being himself/herself? The answer follows in the next post.

Realization happens over time

I have always pondered over the act of helping others with the aim of reward. 

Am I doing work only for the sake of reward?

Am I helping others only for the sake of popularity?

Have I walked an extra mile to help those who are in dire need? But even for that did I seek recognition?

Here, seeking recognition is natural in this modern world.

 Are you one among those people who still believe that the world is a good place to live in?
Carry on with your good work . Those who do their good deeds tirelessly, they expect something in return, but still they continue doing their good work. After all, we are humans who need appreciation for the work we do. The profoundness of helping others without expecting any reward will firmly sit in your mind only over time.

So don’t worry if your heart wants recognition for the good work you do. That is another part of the philosophy, Keep doing  your good work, and over time,  it will become a habit; it will come natural to you and you will stop expecting rewards.