My Musings on Life

 Bye-bye 2024 and welcome 2025 ... almost everyone is in this mode. As we bid farewell to 2024 and embrace the new year, it is a natural moment to pause, take a step back, and reflect on the past twelve months. This period of reflection allows us to appreciate the blessings that helped us survive through hardships and become more grateful. It opens a bag full of emotions—nostalgia for the memories we've made, gratitude for the lessons learned, and anticipation for the possibilities that lie ahead. While reflecting, we often begin to form resolutions and promises to be better and do better. Everyone reflects in their own way. For me, reflection is like a good old friend who shows me my flaws, even if I don’t love to face them. It always gives the best advice. This year, a mix of nostalgia took me down memory lane. Most memories were happy, but the loss of my father early in the year was particularly tough to cope with. We all know that death is the ultimate truth, but losing l...

 After a long, exhausting day, there’s nothing quite as comforting as returning home to the welcoming smiles of your loved ones. It is a profound relief—a sense of belonging, of being seen and embraced without the need to justify or apologize for simply being yourself. During my travels, I am frequently asked, “Where do you belong?” This question underscores the universal human need for belonging. Brené Brown captures this sentiment perfectly: “Belonging is a deep emotional need, and when it is met, we feel seen and valued.” It is the warmth that makes us feel wanted, part of something larger than ourselves, and cherished for who we truly are. To me, belonging is freedom—free from judgment or pretence, a safe space where masks are unnecessary. It is the simple comfort of being surrounded by people who genuinely understand and accept you, and vice versa. This profound sense of belonging offers a liberating sense of ease and peace. Reflecting on my upbringing, being a gi...

We've all heard the timeless tale of the six blind men and the elephant. Each of them, encountering a different part of the animal, formed a unique and wildly varying perspective. To one, the elephant's sturdy side resembled a wall; to another, its tusk felt like a spear. One mistook its ear for a hand fan, another its tail for a rope, and its sturdy leg for a tree trunk. This classic tale artfully reminds us how subjective experiences shape our perceptions—and often, our deeply held opinions. Humans, complex and inherently social beings, thrive on connection. We bond over shared laughter, quiet moments with a warm drink in hand, and the inevitable exchange of ideas. But have you ever paused to wonder why we become so fiercely opinionated about, well, everything? Our opinions, much like the blind men’s interpretations, are often formed by fragments of past experiences. They intertwine with our thoughts, reinforcing themselves until they define how we approach various topics. Ye...

O ver a quiet cup of coffee, my son’s simple yet profound words, “Be thankful... it happened,” ignited a renewed sense of gratitude within me. As I looked at him, pride and awe welled up inside me. This young man, standing at the threshold of life, had unknowingly reminded me of something fundamental yet often overlooked—the transformative power of gratitude. These four words made me pause and reflect on the blessings that weave through life’s journey. They reminded me that, no matter what life throws our way, we always have a choice: to dwell on what went wrong or to embrace what went right. Reflecting on my own path, I see how challenges have shaped the person I am today. The struggles, setbacks, and even heartbreaks have been catalysts for growth. This realization drives home an essential truth: gratitude isn’t just for the easy moments—it’s for all moments. Being thankful for the difficult times is about finding the silver lining in life’s storms. Setbacks are universa...

 As I began the monumental task of switching out summer clothes for winter ones, I knew it would inevitably spark a clash of perspectives between my spouse and me. This seemingly routine activity became the perfect backdrop for illustrating the age-old debate: Why do men and women think so differently? Who needs a system when you can simply hope for the best? My approach versus his is a classic example of the contrasting ways men and women tackle the same challenge. It's a mystery that has baffled humanity for centuries—a puzzle wrapped in an enigma and sprinkled with a dose of humour and confusion. Men often perceive women as complicated, while women may view men as overly simplistic—at times even oblivious. Yet the truth lies somewhere in between. Men and women are like ice cream: they come in many flavours but melt in uniquely different ways. In most households, discussions often reveal these differences. My husband and I frequently find ourselves on opposite sides ...

Recently, a celebrity couple made headlines for a sad reason—they announced their amicable separation after over 25 years of marriage. This prompted me to reflect on how yet another institution of marriage had succumbed to the challenges of time and emotion. While growing up, like many girls, I envisioned marriage as a gateway to freedom. No strict rules, no obligations to study—just a partner who would love me for who I am, listen patiently, and make me feel cherished. To a large extent, this has been true in my own life. My husband loves me for who I am and continues to amaze me with his kind and loving nature. A Chinese proverb says, "Marriage is like a pair of scissors: two imperfect pieces joined together to create something beautiful." Marriage is a beautiful mess, a delicate dance between two imperfect people navigating life together. It’s a roller coaster ride, where the highs lift you to exhilarating heights, and the lows bring you back to earth, grounding y...

It was a couple of days ago that I flipped through my mobile's gallery, and smiling faces of friends popped up. The pictures made me pause and reflect upon the steadfast friendships that have been a cornerstone in my life. Each picture transported me to times gone by, reminding me of an incredibly unique bunch of friends who have made this journey of mine so special. There's this saying: "Friends are the siblings God never gave us." They are the family we choose, and they shape our personalities in an amount no one can ever think of. Friendship, the purest form of love, knows no caste, no culture, and no appearance. And quite rightly so, when our bad habits tally, our good friends are born. Common quirks often form the base of strong bonds, and that's when the magic of friendship unfolds. Some friends came with my life partner, and others came with my children. Sometimes, I even think that my children's friends are mine, since these friends have played an ...