Flaring passions

If you’re wondering whether there is a typo in the title, there most certainly isn’t one. Amidst all the hustle and bustle of the world, no one really teaches us to take a step back and evaluate all the things that no longer work in our favour. The art of unlearning is just as if not more important than the act of learning something. Giving up on something even if it is putting you into an emotionally and mentally toxic place is seen as a sign of weakness and even looked down upon in many cultures and traditions. But what happens when holding on takes more from you than letting go of a trait that no longer serves its purpose. Taking a break to evaluate something is thought of as taboo in a world that wants you to work 24 x 7 either on yourself if not in your job. Why does every skill or talent have to be converted into a financially viable business and why shouldn't I question the rules of the world? Shouldn’t we all get a chance to evaluate what works best for us without harming t...

Rahul got up at 11:30 and the curtains were wide shut which created a very dark surrounding. There was little to no sunlight penetrating the room and covered in a double blanket, leaving the bed seemed like a monumental task in itself. Rahul had seemed so assured about his life just a year ago and on that cold winter morning in December, he seemed as lost as ever, struggling to maintain basic hygiene and good health. He also struggled to get through normal chores. He had just started a new course and taken a sabbatical from his workplace. The year had been tough with heartbreak and funerals at distinct intervals reminding him about the reality that life would end one day. He managed to get up as he boiled a cup of black tea for himself with bloodshot eyes that made him look like a stoner. His mother silently watched as she rolled chapatis to near perfection. She had gotten so good at doing this that she could do it with her eyes closed at the moment. She looked at him and tried to must...

            ‘Don’t ever let anyone tell you that you’re not good at something, not even me’. So, let’s start the post with this quote, and hopefully, by the end of the article, you will understand why. Most days seem like a battle to you and that is alright. Hey, yes you, I’ve got your back. Yes, I’ve got your back even if you can’t do simple chores today. I’ve got your back even if you can’t muster the courage to groom yourself or be presentable today. Yes, I love you more than ever even if you make so many mistakes and fail that test which can apparently put your crumbling life in order.  Take a deep breath and sit with your thoughts for a while. You’ve been through a lot and let’s acknowledge that rather than pushing the stuff of toxic positivity down your throat. Learn to say ‘No’ every once in a while. You’ve turned into an opinionated person, not only do I like that but also wholeheartedly respect that.  The world will constantly try to chan...

So, I’ve heard that you’ve been to hell and back. I see that you passed through the eye of the needle and waded the storm you thought would be the end of you. I’m not here to glorify your struggles, at the same time I won’t invalidate them. If you’ve come out onto the other side, you wouldn’t believe how proud I am and if you feel like you’re still stuck in that patch, better things are on their way. Count your blessings is an easy quote that gets mumbled all the time. It may sound aesthetic and a good fit for a blog post but it can be the toughest thing to do when your mind is fuzzy and distracted by unwanted emotions. Getting through the day can be a tumultuous task and masking it all with a smile is even tougher. Well doesn’t time heal all wounds? I like to think it does not and the actions you take to get over it are much more important than the amount of time that you spend pondering about the incident. ‘Give it some time’ isn’t always the best advice when someone is hanging b...

“Why do we deny ourselves the love that we so freely give to others?” Every time I see this quote it makes me question why am I so harsh on myself. What kind of materialistic prize do I have to achieve so that my inner critic and perfectionist will finally be satisfied. I realised that the world taught us to love other people with an open heart and unjudgmental eyes so why can’t we do the same thing when it comes to our personal life. As we grew up throughout school and life our close ones taught us that we should hold ourselves to a high moral ground. That we should work hard to achieve everything that we want in life but nobody ever taught us the importance of being kind to ourselves. The greatest tragedy of our times isn’t that we can’t shower affection on others but the fact that we can’t show that same level of kindness towards ourself. Creating a safe space within The world can be a cruel place at times but the best thing about fighting a tough battle is that it builds character....

Is kindness a thing or an emotion that shapes our outlook of things? Staring at the laptop as it's just past midnight my mind wanders into what is the true meaning of kindness. Only a few years ago I felt like I knew what it meant to be kind to each other but recently I have been revisiting my decisions and definitions of life. My teacher told me to be kind to everyone around me. Should I thus reserve such chivalry for Lucifer himself? Would it not be wrong if I showed some form of grace towards him. My parents told me to be gentle to everyone that I met. Should I also reserve such candour for the people who were not to be seen when I needed them the most or should I just snub these thoughts in the name of forgiveness and never think about it again. Does ‘Kindness’ have a concrete definition? Can I learn a formula that proves that I can be kind and gentle in every situation without having to tear my heart open? Is there some solution where I do not have to think twice before doing ...

Good and bad are such subjective terms, cultivating healthy self-esteem can be a different process for different people. Faith is a journey that takes people on different paths. There is no right or wrong as they can be blurred between the lines. Forgiveness can be really hard at times but this one statement is something that brings clarity into my life.  Never do something that you wouldn’t want others to do to you This is a simple statement that doesn’t really need more explanation. It can be explained to a 6-year-old student and that provides a great little buffer for things. It teaches you what you should expect from others but more importantly what you should uphold yourself. Doing something without any expectation may sound very idealistic but the thing is that there will come a time when it will take a toll on you. Putting yourself first is also important and some people learn this truth the hard way. Actions will always have consequences and what you do for others will ulti...