Are hope lost,
when dream dies,
like life's investments
lost in few tries,
pushed into despair,
how one rises,
facing the setbacks,
choking back cries.
We have seen many,
withdrawing from the society,
being deaf to loved one's voices,
and drowning in self-pity,
when they face failures,
as they compare with others,
bearing burden of ambitions,
prone to negative impulses.
Yet, there are also individuals,
who have strong foundations,
keep rising again and again,
overcoming every challenge,
being focused on their goals,
still flexible to changing times,
adapting, evolving, reinventing,
never falter from growth mindset.
So, are hope lost,
when dream dies?
Or it's our perception,
that conjured lies,
and we need patience,
nurturing perseverance,
to tide over difficult circumstances,
and reach their destination.
The center of the earth,
still seldom given importance,
in our popular narratives,
we never discuss in details.
Antarctica . . .
This cold, frigid place,
an isolated landmass,
seen on the maps,
but plays a big role,
in maintaining climate system.
For, they directly connect,
regulate every ocean basin,
as Antarctic circumpolar current,
linking Indian, pacific & Atlantic,
act as engine for deep waters,
manufacturing dense, coldest water,
to be spread northwards across the plains.
Antarctica . . .
The planetary heat sink,
reflecting 80% of solar radiations,
from vast white surface (albedo effect),
maintain earth's thermal equilibrium,
while absorbing 40% of carbon emissions,
the ocean conveyor belt transports heat,
by driving global thermohaline circulation.
So, let us be grateful,
for the researchers who discovered,
bringing governments on same table,
sign Antarctic treaty to prevent colonization,
and Madrid protocol, banning exploitation,
working tirelessly to protect . . .
The heart of our planet!
P.S. It played a big role in discovery and repair of hole in ozone layer.
There are times we look back,
only to realize years have passed,
but for us, it's only yesterday,
as if we are stranded on path,
and others keep overtaking us.
Time compression...
A phenomenon we experience,
when we remember days past,
events seemed to have rushed,
like acceleration of clock hands,
leaving nothing for us to reflect.
For, we have lived similar routine,
not many surprises, challenging stimuli,
to be registered into our mind,
while past, present and future,
synchronized, like parallel lines.
And brain, being an efficient machine,
creates limited template, discarding details,
where weeks and months of data,
being compressed in single generic file,
showing glimpses of how things were.
Time compression...
We feel uneasy, might regret,
of not doing enough to reminisce,
for, period of few novel events,
were needed for increasing density,
of memories in our storage.
Like, learning new skills,
traveling somewhere unfamiliar,
meeting different people,
acting as cognitive milestones,
and anchors, in mental timelines.
Be discerning, when having relations,
With ones thriving in chaotic environment,
By indulging in negativity,
Or craving for entitlement.
They have good values,
But also have bad qualities,
Which influences the character,
From their daily habits,
Of how they invest time,
In contents or expressions.
It's natural to have disagreements,
having different perspective & preferences,
still, there are certain statements made,
evokes frustrations, being an irritant.
So, what makes us to react,
when we are minding our business,
is it some expectations we have,
or couldn't ignore the dangers inherent.
The world is complex, depends on contexts,
still people generalize, issue absolute verdicts,
it might bother us, how convinced they are,
being intellectually lazy, to prove their point.
Such declarations lack reflections,
their position final, demands submission,
making us evaluate, the said premises,
which stands on weak foundations.
We differentiate, performances from sincerity
if words not backed by actions with clarity,
being cautious of volatility & inconsistencies,
making it harder to commit for long-term.
Such rhetorics irk, even if we understand,
from disputed choices, to unsolicited advices,
still, every observation, have two sides,
as long as they are grounded . . .
Leaves room for reality to breathe!
A book with illustrations,
with colorful images & designs,
accompanied by few words,
which sets the rhythms.
The characters catch attentions,
and story is easy to understand,
for the naive, innocent hearts,
it becomes a gentle introduction.
The texts are short yet profound,
hold lessons, messages are found,
with humor, morality, social themes,
to teach children intended wisdom.
They build the foundations,
when adult involved in narrations,
being read aloud, adding expressions,
strengthens bonds with each session.
Picture books...
They help in expanding imagination,
with vocabulary enriching comprehension,
when exposed to various perspectives,
they develop thoughts, process emotions.
So, do bring these books,
from fables to modern outlooks,
let children listen, read and share,
these stories as part of upbringings.
You have worked hard,
focusing on the tasks,
devoting to your profession,
seldom taking breaks,
making them accustomed,
to your very presence,
that they started to rely on,
demanding your free time,
questioning requests,
for leaves or vacations,
making you feel guilty,
of using the provisions,
in the days of sicknesses,
in the months of festivals,
in your personal emergencies,
they dismiss as something trivial,
for, they are getting troubled,
of finding your alternatives,
so they give many excuses,
to prevent you from going,
and keep you occupied,
in the expected position,
acting as cog in the machine,
to play your part in this system,
that never pauses, never stops,
silencing protests & grievances,
with fear, guilt, shame, pride,
so, stand firm on your ground,
don't be too available . . .
It's subjective,
What we want to see,
With different aspirations,
Expectations we carry.
The definition of good life,
Changes from person to person,
What look like achievements,
Might be just another option.
We will have differences,
But few have the understanding,
As we ruminate, being self-absorbed,
We become blind to the surroundings.
Then again, that is our truth,
The path we chose to take,
For, no one decides for us,
It's our choices and intent.
So, it's subjective,
This awareness is liberating,
No one to blame for decisions,
That we have willingly taken.
Let those who are aligned,
Meet us in our path,
And one with different destination,
Find joy & satisfaction as they walk.
I went for a quiet walk,
passing by sweet shops,
crossing the crowded streets,
but the shop seems empty.
I remembered last time,
when I brought few sweets,
which taste stale, a bit sour,
lost my appetite for them.
So, I wondered what changed,
local halwai getting banned,
from our tea-time rituals,
limiting them to festivals.
Was it growing awareness,
how sweets or oily snacks,
damages health, summon diseases,
thus were increasingly avoided.
But there are other factors,
changing habits of people,
transitioning to nuclear family,
made them lose generations.
With fewer mouth to feed,
there's rise of spoilage risk,
modern homes prefer alternatives,
having higher shelf life.
Sweets & snacks, in changing times,
they need to reinvent their styles,
protect products from adulteration,
investing in marketing & portion size.
As I walked, my thoughts were lost,
feeling sad for traditional shops,
understanding the present realities,
making it difficlt to support.
We have known things,
which were supported by data,
as discoveries were made,
bringing it to the strata.
Still, people hold to beliefs,
deliberately promoting biases,
to further their cause,
by cementing their lies.
So, why disinformation succeeds,
audiences don't lack intelligence,
still falling for the narratives,
when repeated or emphasized.
For, brain mistakes familiarity for truth,
when claims are from multiple outlets,
information being simple, & frictionless,
making it easier to digest falsehoods.
They seek the vulnerable groups,
easier to manipulate, arouse emotions,
by accentuating insecurities & anxiety,
dividing groups for "us vs them" mentality.
Science is ever evolving branch,
as it relies on finding evidences,
but if it threatens present worldview,
mind reflexively deploys skepticism.
Disinformations act like glue,
consumers feels like enlightened ones,
having access to hidden knowledge,
inflating their ego, resisting corrections.
At the end of the day,
we want to hold on,
To things close to our heart,
Be it affection, be it resentments,
Be it ego, be it entitlement,
Everything else comes with conditions,
To be met before giving permissions,
We will surrender to deepest desires,
For the things we truly care,
Others were treated with lie & excuses,
Using sweet talks, to avoid commitments,
So, follow your heart, where it pleases,
That doesn't forces you to keep pretence,
For, in our relations, we could see,
The path taken, ones we wished to be,
Where we don't put prices for involvement,
The ones, that doesn't feel like compromise.
Be free, be devoted, where you are happy,
Where you are valued, and prioritized,
Having common goals and visions,
Every emotions finds convergence.
This journey of life,
has its high and low,
being lively most days,
sometimes feeling blue.
Getting tired is natural,
diseases being a blow,
crashing plans for weeks,
with a lackluster show.
In these times we could see,
consistency of friends & colleagues,
or being amazed by some leaders,
who don't seem to slow down.
Their responsibilities were bigger,
time packed with prior commitments,
still sparing moments for personal care,
living as an accomplished individual.
So, what makes them special,
sustaining high demand performance,
from daily habits to their routines,
they have optimized management.
It could be positive outlook,
with higher distress tolerance,
limiting moments of vulnerability,
cultivating patience & resilience.
Sustainable achievers . . .
There are many factors at play,
genetics and restorative practices,
help build a strong foundation,
for higher energy & fewer burnouts.
