Choosing our diet

 From ancient times, human species are flexiterian omnivores. Their menu depended on climate, geography and cultural era.

So, people can be vegan, vegetarian, and non-vegetarian under the ambit of our evolution. Even now, what we eat or how we eat is influenced by availability, interests, culture, and environmental conditions. Like people in temperate climate or colder regions are high-meat diet while people living in tropical or equatorial locations have high-plant diet.

Personally, I have a plant centric diet, with occasional inclusions of meat, predominantly eggs, and fish. It is primarily influenced by upbringing, as part of vegetarian household and a general aversion for animal-based diet.

I, like many in global communities, consider egg as vegetarian and as per traditions, consider milk product as best nutrition. 

But I completely understand the allure of protein heavy and highly pleasing taste of meats of higher animals be it chicken, mutton, pork, or others. 

The use of livestock as food resources can't be ignored when we see how much entrenched they are in people lifestyles. Still, I also understand the viewpoint of animal lovers to reduce sufferings of these sentient creatures. That is the very reason I have limited my intake, in special days or celebrations. Does it make me a hypocrite?

Looking back, I always had soft spot for animals. I stopping fishing in childhood, because I couldn't see them struggling once captured and taken out. Avoided the visits to meat stall or butchery. Even recently when visited chilika lake, I avoided crab curry because he asked me to choose the crab to kill and make it fresh. 

They say, people will stop eating non-vegetarian in commercial setups when they see how animals are treated in slaughterhouse. Sometimes I wonder how people can regularly visit or work in such places without impacting their mental health. Have they become numb, or lost their abilities for empathy or compassion. Then again, they have to feed their families, and someone had to do these works. Hunting is separate thing, when done for pleasure, thrill and display of power. 

So, I don't think we could reach any consesus on choosing our diets.

I like the world today

 I like the world today,

this era of globalization, 

having access to knowledge, 

which expands our perceptions. 

Having secured their basic survival, 

people have become more conscious, 

valuing aesthetics and individuality, 

with care for environmental concerns. 

For, we now have the conveniences,

allowing moments for inquisitiveness, 

reading, writing, indulging in plays,

creating personal space in digital age.

Our diets have become diverse, 

learning to optimize our nutrition, 

we kept moving towards efficiency, 

both in quantities and flavors. 

There's a drive for sustainable practices, 

we have been learning from mistakes, 

using technologies and innovations, 

to diversify the source of essentials. 

Yet, things haven't changed much,

with acceleration of modernization,

population still puts massive pressure,

through our consumption of resources. 

I like the world today,

as civilizations have matured enough, 

still greed for power & possessions, 

fuels the engine of global systems.

Hopefully, with newer technologies, 

we arrive at universal consensus, 

to protect, to cherish, to revive, 

what we have damaged...

Daily chores

I got bored,

doing routine chores,

these daily grinds,

of attending works.

I was supposed to have fun,

being passionate for my job,

feeling of joy and excitements, 

occupying my thoughts.

Yet, days were ordinary & predictable, 

there's no enthusiasm in my heart,

performing duties, engage in hobbies,

splitting time between office & home.

Sometimes having existential crisis,

re-evaluate my current directions, 

of desires and wishes fulfilled, 

beyond the graveyards of aspirations. 

Daily chores...

When I navigate real world,

I become weary of repetitions, 

in the monotony of living, 

for paychecks or elusive goals.

But then, I heard a voice,

speaking of my contributions, 

bringing smile in the faces,

facing hardships, & sufferings.

And I kept going...

Burn the bridge

I tried to evade,

look past the traits,

which seem intimidating, 

disappointing at best.

Burn the bridge...

An intuitive nudge,

I tried to ignore,

optimistic in outlook,

I opened the doors.

And it flooded,

bringing the elements,

of something raw,

of something important. 

Never have I felt,

feelings so intimate,

ignoring warning signs,

occasionally surfaced,

driven by hormones,

and naive imaginations,

I indulge on the treats.

Burn the bridge...

From fairy tales,

I was thrown into real world,

asking difficult questions, 

which were much needed.

Each time I gave a chance,

endured conflicting viewpoints, 

it furthered the distance, 

till nothing remained.

Bring back sweetness

Bring back sweetness, 

sprinkled into our hearts, 

this world has become toxic,

poisoning people's thoughts,

making them weigh actions,

building walls for precautions,

seeking benefits from interactions, 

than genuinely enjoy talks.

It was much easier in childhood, 

or villages, untouched by modernity, 

when interactions were sincere,

now becoming memories of past,

For, we have been conditioned, 

limiting perceptions for our growth,

putting burdens of expectations, 

misplaced priorities, for fleeting successes. 

Bring back sweetness,

enshrined in gentle hearts,

which softens the atmosphere, 

filling it with tenderness & comfort,

when it doesn't remain situational,

shared unfiltered in conversations, 

irrespective of age, and relations, 

creating warm and happy world.

Change of plans

Sometimes we face situations, 

where we run into hurdles,

as we embarked on the journey,

towards specific goals in mind.

From mild annoyance, to distress,

we might react to the predicament, 

caught off guard, being at a loss,

we may experience thought paralysis.

Then there are optimistic fellows,

using the setbacks as opportunities, 

to explore new, uncharted paths,

to clear objectives, salvage goals.

For, it's not end of the world,

sometimes things goes wary, 

even with the precautions taken,

we have to be prepared, for eventuality. 

Change of plans...

Not something we want,

but remain open to possibilities, 

without taking it to hearts, 

then maybe, we were blessed...

With something pleasant!

Too passionate a performance

Too passionate a performance, 

seeking hearts for resonance,

stirring emotions of the audiences,

for leaving a lasting impact.

One, two, there are many,

from pioneers to newer talents,

each bringing something different, 

to capture the attentions. 

When atmosphere is charged,

they consume energy so vast,

engaging senses of spectators,

till their interests were lost.

For, there's a limit to our concentration,

there's evaluations and distractions, 

if things happens as continuous sets,

some participants have advantages. 

Too passionate a performance, 

with similar skills and competence, 

creates a vicious cycle of fortunes, 

demanding ingenuity and artfulness.

May be, many develop the tools,

to gently hold, shifting the moods,

touching baselines, increasing thresholds, 

providing a fighting chance...

For performance!

Geomythology

When many have rejected, 

the beliefs of native people,

some researchers have understood, 

importance of this information. 

Geomythology...

It's the study of myths & folklore,

passed down through generations, 

which were not mere oral traditions, 

but record of real-world geological event.

For centuries, we have dismissed,

labeling then as primitive superstitions, 

but now, we have made discoveries, 

making it archives of eyewitness observations. 

When ancient people observe events,

which were catastrophic or spectacular, 

they translate into divine or heroic tales,

narrating floods, earthquakes & eruptions.

There were doubts and criticisms, 

of how memories not contaminated, 

when we couldn't remember for long,

false ideas are easier to manufacture. 

Yet, human brain works miraculously, 

when existence is under severe threats, 

imprinting precise wordings & information, 

to be spread without deviations.

Geomythology...

There's so much to be unearthed,

if we are attentive to these descriptions,

finding geological contexts in stories,

to reach the true history of humanity. 

Aroused

I see you in crowd, 

really standing out,

being so gorgeous, 

my heart skips a beat.

And I was drawn,

your mysterious charm,

as emotions swarm,

making my body hot,

I was aroused...

You came closer,

noticing my gaze,

wearing a smile,

eyes full of mischiefs.

I felt nervous,

so hard to converse,

while mind is racing,

whiffing temping scent,

trying to savor...

And we part,

couldn't give compliments, 

these overflowing desires, 

spilled into fantasy world.

I imagined our dance,

in the heights of romance,

where passion takes over,

exploring corners of body,

I wanted to devour...

Aroused...

Forgive me for indulging, 

envisioning your silhouette,

projecting my cravings,

for fleeting pleasures. 

Infiltration or migrations

The world had seen conditions, 

where people leave native region,

travelling to newer locations,

for alleviating hardships,

or following their ambitions. 

For, people want experiences, 

opportunities to attain higher positions, 

fulfillment of dreams and aspirations, 

meeting commitments towards obligations, 

providing for necessities & protection. 

Most of us love our homeland,

very few abandons without plans,

when it becomes uninhabitable, 

adversely impacting lives from reasons,

situations of economics, political & environmental. 

So, we see constant movements, 

towards the places with abundance,

trying to find a place for themselves, 

by taking strenuous, menial jobs,

needed by developed societies.

But it comes with disadvantages, 

with competitions for the resources, 

changes in demography & cultures,

which influences political discourse,

challenging nation's sovereignty. 

Infiltration or migrations...

We may never find the balance,

to protect the rights of citizens,

while negotiating their intrusions, 

by creating legal boundaries,

for having regulated interactions. 

Mamihlapinatapa

From yaghan people of southern America,

comes one of the most succinct word,

capturing complex social dynamics,

which doesn't rely on sounds.

Mamihlapinatapa...

A look shared, by two people,

each wishing, other to initiate,

something, that they both desire,

but neither is willing to begin.

We have encountered, unspoken silence, 

either have witnessed, or experienced,

in professions, gatherings, & romances, 

where situations push us into stalemate.

In meetings, volunteers were expected,

we look at others, for speak up first,

being with crush, stealing glances, 

fearing rejections & awkwardness.

In the fights, conflicts & disagreements, 

when we feel sorry, wanting forgiveness, 

making eye contact, still being hesitant, 

pride takes over, making us reluctant.

Mamihlapinatapa...

A deeper connect, for mutual understandings, 

shared acknowledgement, accepting vulnerabilities, 

sometimes, we need a profound reminder,

that communication happens, in quiet space.

Look in the mirror

Look in the mirror, 

before you judge,

life's not some questions, 

that you can dodge.

We have tendencies, 

to look at what benefits, 

ignoring concerns of others, 

before we start to preach.

Each one have their flaws,

very few willing to show,

hiding behind pretence, 

to protect fragile ego.

Those who acknowledge, 

willing to rectify mistakes, 

open the possibilities,

to evolve, to be awakened.

Still, we are too fixated,

to our wishes & expectations,

getting hurt from disappointments, 

when things didn't work out.

So, look in the mirror,

before you judge,

when you are no better,

in actions and thoughts. 

 

"Things will work out"

I have heard her say,

as if comforting worrying brain,

faced with setbacks and failures, 

she was overcome with dread.

It's therapeutic to ears,

reducing anxieties and fears,

when such affirmative sentences, 

dispel the gloom, evoke optimism,

providing space, for fostering resilience. 

"Things will work out"

I admired her convictions, 

still felt a sense of disillusionment, 

watching her wait for divine interventions, 

having no urgency to take actions, 

hoping the problem solves by itself.

Becoming passive is not the answer,

or dismissing yearnings & emotions, 

it takes years to build safety nets,

which could protect us from situations, 

where it didn't pan out as intended.

"Things will work out"

I let out a sigh,

when she uses it as charm,

admiring her positive outlook,

still feel for her wishful thinking, 

when realities can be hard.