Society and Lifestyle

 "I've had choices, since the day I was born. There were voices that told me right from wrong."  Before buying any book, I always check the reviews online or select the book which is highly recommended by others. Based on these recommendations and reviews, I started reading Yuval Noah Harari’s “Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind”. Following are the remarks by some famous personalities. “Interesting and provocative… It gives you a sense of how briefly we’ve been on this Earth” ―  Barack Obama “Jaw-dropping from the first word to the last… It may be the best book I’ve ever read” ―  Chris Evans And hence began the quest to complete the text. I must say it was a roller coaster ride. It started with an amazing perspective of evolution and agriculture revolution and then it took a turn towards coins (How interesting!!). I jumped ‘the scent of money’ to land on ‘the law of religion’ which was quite interesting, not the jump, the topic. I was trying hard to like t...

These days are difficult, let's be easy on ourselves. These days are truly horrid. The newspaper is overcrowded with the death rates and active cases of the Coronavirus. The first news we get through media channels is ‘this many cases reported and this many deaths in last the 24 hours. Moreover, whenever the phone rings we pray it is not what we think it is. It is hard to keep up in such an environment, hard to be positive amidst such negativity. I have chosen not to read or watch what I cannot handle. I am a little extra sensitive when it comes to such information. A day before yesterday, I cried over Kobe Bryant’s and his daughter’s pictures, I don't even know why. Adding on, I visualise images in my head quite comfortably. It is hard for me to read about the floating bodies in Ganga and not imagine the scene. Hence, I have decided not to look up to the news, creating a panic situation within me. Yes, we have only one life and we have to make a difference. But it is not n...

"I might have misunderstood the signs and it is completely my fault." Did you ever just assume and picked up the wrong signs? How many times have you predicted someone else’s thoughts? Recently, I happen to come across a little funny and stupid habit. I tend to assume a lot. I assume that I will get that job by just praying. I assume that the other person likes me even when he did not say so. I can assume anything. It hit me yesterday, how easily we can assume other’s thoughts and move on. I made a friend who was nice to me but I assumed and I moved on. Do we ever think about how the other person might feel? It was not at all difficult to think whatever was convenient to me. But what about the empathy that we used to speak of? "I understand" but do I? Everybody is saying do not think about others, do whatever you want to. But just like every fundamental right, some requirements should be fulfilled. Yes, we have the freedom of speech until or unless the words are...

  We all had that one conversation that was the need of the hour. Do you remember why exactly you chose that one individual? Is it for a piece of good advice, good words, or you just needed a good listener? I had that talk with my cousin a lot of times, mostly when my head is in a bad place. She never made it seem difficult for others to talk. After few talks, I realized it was never about the advice, it is always about listening. She had the patience to listen to the rant and never made me look foolish about it.                                               Few problems might seem futile to you but that one person who confides in you may take them very seriously. Once, a younger sister came to that cousin to talk about her recent heartbreak. There could have been two reactions, either she would have chuckled, and said, “You cannot be serious about this, you are too sm...

  “There are few books which I want to read again, just to regain the experience.” I am always looking forward to talking about books and take other's perspectives on them. One of my friends and I were discussing our new reads and he came up with this comment. This made me think that you can never have the first experience ever again, no matter how hard you try. The first time you went to a beach or hiking, cannot be repeated. The first experience might have left an impact that is bliss for that moment but the next time will be a whole different trip.  I have been in many situations where I wanted to have the same experience as the first one but was never able to relive it. And to relive the same moment we almost lose other opportunities. For instance, whenever I visit Wenger's I was always looking forward to hotdogs but I recently got to know that their patties are extremely tasty and I have not tried them yet. Sometimes, we are stuck in a time where we cannot move on fro...