Here’s to some of the strongest people in the world..

I’ve been wanting to write something for a while now, and this seemed like a perfect opportunity. Today, on International Women’s Day, I would like to honour and appreciate all the amazing women around the world who have been a source of joy and inspiration to so many.

Women manage to juggle many roles at once, those of working women and executives, mothers, wives, sisters, daughters.. And all this while having a smile on their face, even when faced with difficulties, opposition or even abuse. I don’t mean to undermine the roles that men play, but because the world takes them more seriously than it does women, they have it slightly easier.

To the mothers and wives, you have been the glue holding families together, raising generations to be good people, have a better and easier life than you had, with no thought of any return or reward.. You have not had an easy life, but you’ve done the world a great service. And you achieve all this, while struggling to hold on to your own identity.

To the working women, you have made it just that much easier for another generation of girls to strive and gain their independence, and to dream higher than they ever dared to before. You have grown to be amazing, inspirational leaders and managers, in the face of sexism, harassment, family and workplace opposition, taunts, and so much more. Whatever profession you are in, whether it be a leader of a country, teacher, doctor, soldier, pilot, engineer, a CEO or pretty much anything else, you have been shining examples of intelligence, competence, courage, hard work and unflagging patience.

We have all, at some point or another, have had to fight hard battles, either for us, or those we love. It has not been easy, but it does bring us closer to the ultimate dream: a world where everyone lives as equals, where beauty, bravery and courage are shown their due, no matter where they come from.

So, thank you. Thank you for all you have done, and continue to do. Here’s to you.

What Does The Light Look Like?

What does light look like?
What does real happiness feel like?
That picture, that feeling belonged to a version of her
Who she can't quite remember.

That version of her who was not afraid,
Who dared to dream and had a path ahead,
Who saw visions of a happy life,
A life lived on her terms, with no strife.
She was not afraid to be alone, because she knew alone did not mean lonely,
Where everyone just let her be!
She welcomed the light like an old friend,
And even if the darkness came, she knew light would always come back in the end.

And now, life seems like an endless night,
With no prospect of a silver lining in sight.
Every day seems like a painful chore,
The days going by like waves on a shore.
She's forgotten how to hope,
All she can dream of is escape!

Escape from the nightmare that is her mind,
She's forgotten what it is to be kind.
Kindness seems like an alien concept,
Especially when it applies to herself.

What does the light look like, she asks.
Life seems like an endless night, without the comfort of stars.
Maybe, someday, she'll learn to know the light again,
And accept both, light and dark, as lifelong friends.

A Big Thank You!

2017 has definitely been an eventful year; what with exploring new jobs, trying to figure out my next steps in life (FYI, not much progress with that one), going on a girls trip (finally!!!) and so much more, I can't believe this year is almost done! It has had its ups and downs, weird times, the "what am I doing with my life" times, those "feeling completely out of control" times....

I don't really believe in New Year's resolutions (mostly because I just can't stick to them), but I think that I want to achieve two important things in 2018: one, to just be able to take and handle things as they come, and two, to never take the people in my life for granted, because I'm so incredibly lucky to have them.

To that end, I want to say a big thank you to everyone who's been there as a part of my journey so far.
First, my family. I don't think you can ever appreciate your family enough. I think we only learn their value when the going gets rough, and they're standing there, right beside you. I don't believe anyone else could have had the patience to deal with me and my moods like you did, so thank you, with all my heart.

Secondly, my friends. It has never been easy for me to open up, to trust people, to be vulnerable in front of them. But this year, I learned that it's okay to show your flaws, to lean on someone, to put yourself raw on a platter, to trust them to love you despite everything. I may not have made all that much progress, but what I did make was due to these people ( You know who you are). Thank you so much for listening, for being there, for being mine. You've given me so very much.

Last, but not the least, I would like to thank the others I've met so far: at work, at school, and everywhere else. Each of you has taught me valuable lessons, and I've enjoyed getting to know everyone.

I think, for me, 2018 is going to be a year of gratitude, of positivity, and most importantly, of letting things go, and letting them be. I trust, whatever happens, will truly be for the best.

To All Those People With Anxiety

While depression makes you feel numb, anxiety makes you feel way too much, more than your mind can comprehend.

Anxiety's the reason you lay awake at 3 am, worrying about some thing you may have done two years ago. Anxiety is why you have to prepare yourself two hours in advance before you go out to meet people, even sometimes friends. It is why you ignore calls, and prefer to answer texts, so that you have a few minutes to think before answering. It is the reason that you wait beside your phone, waiting for that one text you need to know that everything is okay. Anxiety makes you believe you're alone in the world, and you don't really deserve love. As a consequence, you desperately want to please people and are terrified of confrontations. It makes you believe that people are temporary, and nothing you do can make them stay, because you're simply not worth it.

To these people, I just want to say: Don't give up hope. You are beautiful and brave and needed. You are some of the best people, as you would never let people suffer what you do. You take their pain, never worrying about your own.

You will have a better life, maybe not tomorrow, not in a week, but eventually. No one has the power to take anything from you that you don't give them. So, keep the power, and believe in the light. For now, just concentrate on taking it one day at a time, waking up in the morning, and going through the day. Then, a day will come when it will be easier to look forward to tomorrow, when there will be no dread, just anticipation. It will come. It has to.

#MeToo- Why It Isn't Enough

The most viral hashtag at present- #MeToo. It was started by Alyssa Milano to spark conversations on the subject of sexual harassment and assault, and to encourage people who have suffered, to come forward, and give people a sense of the magnitude of the problem. While it is an admirable effort and initiative, this should not have been needed to start conversations on this topic.

Women (and to a lesser extent, men) have been victims of sexual harassment for decades, at home, workplace, or even on the public street, and have been trying to speak up against it, whether to friends, family, law enforcement, or the media. And things are starting to change; stringent sexual harassment laws have been made and implemented, and there are organisations and initiatives which are supporting victims and giving them a voice. This should mean that sexual harassment should have been curbed, at least to an extent, right?

Wrong. The number of people posting #MeToo statuses is sadly not surprising. Most of us have been victims of sexual harassment at some point or the other, whether in the workplace, or (even more horrifyingly) by a family member, or on the street. The perpetrators are normally those with more power (generally imagined), and are bully or insecure enough to want to flex it to hurt seemingly weaker victims. And we have learnt to normalise it, to ignore and pass it off. This creates a vicious cycle where the perpetrators continue to terrorise their victims until they have no voice left, and somehow manage to persuade them that it was somehow "their fault".

#MeToo is a good start, but is nowhere close to enough. For a real change to happen, patriarchy needs to come down. That means:

1. The bosses who hit on their female subordinates, and blackmail them with a promotion hanging over their heads need to stop.
2. The guys forwarding "sexy" photos on WhatsApp to their "guys-only" groups or sharing them on Facebook need to learn that being "manly men" does not give them the right to objectify women.
3. Husbands (and sadly, in some cases, wives) sharing the so-called "wife jokes" so freely on WhatsApp, have to realise that demeaning jokes are really not funny.
4. Male colleagues at work taunting their female counterparts about the "reason" they got the promotion- Guys, eat the sour grapes.
5. "Slut", "Skank" "She was asking for it", and Rape jokes - These have to go!
6. Women are not property, in any sense of the word. Rape is rape, whether you're married or not. Period.

I have never been harassed. But I do know people who have, and situations where nothing has been done. I wish, with all my heart, that I had been able to do something more then. Silence or passivity isn't acceptable, under any circumstances. The world has to listen, and do something concrete now. It isn't too late.

Second Home

It has been a year since I came back from Glasgow, after completing my Masters Degree, and I still haven't been able to get over missing the place. I think that one year, for so many reasons, was one of the happiest of my life. So, in an attempt to get it out of my system ( though I really don't think it is going to happen :D), here are the reasons Glasgow really did become my second home:

Firstly, the people I met. This was the first time I'd lived away from home for any length of time, and that encouraged me to get out of my shell, and meet other people, not just from my country, but from many others as well. I ended up very lucky in the friends I made, from wonderful flatmates who became my best friends, classmates with whom I could have many interesting conversations, and other friends I made along the way, from many nationalities and disciplines. There was truly, something to learn from everyone.

Then, there were the Scottish people themselves. Unlike in India, where one does not strike up conversations with strangers very often, the locals were extremely friendly to friends and strangers alike, and I ended up having conversations quite naturally, with people in supermarkets, and with those who would come and sit down next to me in the park.

Secondly, the place. Glasgow is one of the greenest and most beautiful places I've ever seen. One does not really feel like travelling in cars or buses. Most places are near enough to walk to, and because of the clean pollution-free air, walks are more a delight than anything else. Each part of Glasgow has its own charm, the bustling city centre, the old-world elegance and snobbishness of the West End, the docks, and so many others. Getting lost in Glasgow, or walking around the city at night was never a worry somehow.It just felt safe.

My favourite place was a public park which was my sanctuary, where I would run off to if I was restless, or simply wanted to be alone. From there, I had views of the most magnificent sunsets over the river Clyde, which would be uniquely beautiful each day. The fall was my favourite season, with trees all around a riot of colour, with reds, oranges, and yellows, and a kick to the air. Whether it was walking around the busy streets, or in a park, there was always something to watch: parents wheeling kids in a pram, old men feeding pigeons, a busker performing on the street, fascinating shop windows... The list goes on.

And finally and most importantly, I discovered myself ( though this may sound like a cliche). I think I found the best version of myself, one where I'm at peace, where I don't worry about other people's judgement, where I make myself happy.

Twenty years of Magic

I've had writer's block for months now, but today, as Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone turns 20, the need to acknowledge with so much love and gratitude, the book series which has been such a big part of my growing up has compelled me to write again.

I remember the first time I picked up the first book, when I was nine as just a way of passing time at my grandmother's place during the summer holidays. I was charmed from the first page, and could not put the book down till I'd finished it. The next day, I insisted my mother take me to buy the other three books which had released till then. My enduring love affair with Harry Potter had begun in earnest, and has continued till date. Going to the bookstore early in the morning on the first day to get a copy was pure delight. My closest childhood friend and I had bonded over our mutual love for the series, and some of the best memories I have, is of calling her after every book and obsessing over it in great detail.

I do not exaggerate when I say that Harry Potter has truly changed my life, and has had a part in shaping the kind of person I am today. Strangely enough, it is not Harry himself who has been my source of inspiration, but the other, equally important characters in the book.

Firstly, the ones who started it all; James and Lily Potter, who sacrificed their lives, so that their son and others like him may have a future. Then Ron Weasley, who time and again stood by Harry when he most needed him, who was strong enough to be vulnerable, and to acknowledge his shortcomings when necessary. Ginny Weasley, who, despite having a crush on Harry for years, never lost herself, and was strong and powerful in her own right. Luna Lovegood, who was unashamedly, unabashedly different, and followed her own rules. The whole Weasley family, who welcomed Harry into their home, and courageously risked their lives to keep him safe. Sirius and Remus, for being the parents Harry needed. There are many other characters such as Hagrid, Professors Dumbledore, McGonagall and Snape, and Dobby who have also been great inspirations throughout.

Lastly, and I believe, most importantly, Hermione Granger. She was the brains and the voice of reason of the trio. Without her, Harry and Ron may well have been dead in their first year. She was strong, intelligent, fiercely loyal and passionate about justice. Despite resistance and mockery, she fought against the enslavement of house-elves, campaigning for fair pay and good working conditions. She's who every girl wants to be when they grow up. Hermione Granger has shown that, despite being a woman in a predominantly man's world, she has more than held her own. She truly is " the brightest witch of our age".

This book series has given me strength, inspiration, imagination, and I am a better person after reading it. So, thank you so much, JKR.