Congratulations!! You have made it alive through 2020. This is hands-down the biggest accomplishment of our lives. This gloomy year was like nothing we’ve ever experienced in our lifetimes - uncertain, heart-breaking, exhausting with a total loss of freedom. It was like our whole world had been turned upside down. But tough times do not hold the pen to our story. We do. Personally for me, the whole experience of lockdown has been quite transforming. It has challenged my perceptions and …
Living with Anxiety
I’m truly blessed.I‘ve family & friends who really care,Meaningful work that fills my day,A lovely home to rest and play,Then, why am I so emotionally insane? Numerous voices inside my head,Some are logical, some nightmares,A wave of emotions has cracked my brain,I’m fighting & thrashing against the current.It's a dark, gloomy and terrifying night,Drowning in emotionsI’m waiting for the sunrise. Don’t cry, you will get migraineIs it the past that is keeping you awake?Stop fighting …
When Breath Becomes Air
I had read this book a few months back and I read the last 2 chapters again this morning. The news of close friends and family members falling sick was making me anxious and yet ironically I felt that reading the autobiography of a talented neurosurgeon - Paul Kalanithi who died at a very young age from cancer will give me peace. And it sure did. It’s quite emotional, heart-breaking but also a profound and inspiring story of a remarkable man. It’s a book about embracing the reality of …
Honest Talk
I’m not a writer. I can’t write and so I didn’t until I was 33. Even though I know, writing like any other skill-set can be learned. And yes, I’ve written countless posts that never saw the light of the day. The reasons varied every time but I knew this was a fear I had to overcome. And I was in luck. My friends made a pact of writing one blog every Sunday and I joined them on a whim. I knew it would be easy to write about work (given the long list of drafts and notes, I’ve gathered.) Thus, I …
Lessons Learnt Outside Classroom
I found this note tucked safely in my college notebook - my 'Idea Journal'. It took me back in memory lane. This is a receipt from a local market of the gift items I’ve purchased. Before I proceed any further, here’s a little background info. During my undergrad, I was the studious kid(aka. Teacher’s favorite). I loved computer science and was always trying to be two steps ahead of my college curriculum. However, for my post-grad, extra-curricular activities were my focal point. …
The Comparison Trap
The reason why we struggle with insecurity is because we compare our behind-the-scenes with everyone else’s highlight reel.Steven Furtick We all know the gut-wrenching feelings that arise when we compare our worst moments with some else’s highlight reel. It could be about anything - financial, social status, physical appearances, etc. It makes us feel underappreciated, not good enough, and horrible. Even though we are well aware that there will always be someone who is better than us but we …