Web of Life

“The earth does not belong to man, man belongs to the earth. All things are connected, like the blood, which unites one family. Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons of the earth. Man did not weave the web of life; he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself.” ~ Chief Seattle, Duwamish tribe

#earth #earthquotes #duwamish #duwamishtribe #weboflife #lifequote #humanrace

Life of an Ambitious Woman

I will make sure I say that "I am Ambitious!" I told one of my hostel friend. I was working in Chennai then, loving each day for the extra zing it added to the independence I loved. I had decided for an traditional Indian arranged marriage after constant impeccable episodes from my parents and relatives. It was just a very normal day in January 2009, we met under the supervision of a dozen relatives under one roof but, did overtake them to end up in the terrace for to catch a few spoken words and fresh glances. We did share our numbers and I think I knew he will call me. And yes he did just the next day and asked me for a date. before I knew we were at his pace for dinner too and the third day we had my dad come to his place to talk more, fourth day was a bit of "silence before the storm" and the fifth day was all filled with a big "Yes"! It did feel too soon and indeed it was. But, I had already discussed with him my three points and yes, I had told him "I am Ambitious!". A few days later it was all sealed formally with a private ceremony and the dates were out for the engagement two months later. My dad was more concerned about the marriage so even those dates got fixed earlier and before I knew or was even engaged the wedding cards were out. It was either my dad's desperation or just a dice of destiny. The rings were exchanged in March 2009 with loads of happiness and beautiful hopes. It began the very next day, the issues, but the symptoms were out earlier. Well the women of his house, the mother-in-law and sister-in-law were all against our dream which had just begun and they made no all attempts to stop us weaving it. It was like this B-grade typical TV serial episode . I didn't want any negatives vibes with new relationships so for me it was very clear. It's yes or no and it was just an arranged marriage after all. But, I suppose my husband had already decided his call and so it did came as surprise when he told his family, that either we do this together or we proceed. Well, it did happen, June 2009.

I had to quit my job, to move in with my husband who was on a project in Andhra Pradesh. We knew Mumbai was on the cards in just a few months. So were calm about the future. It began the very next day of marriage, coming out to begin my new day, I asked her if there is any work in the kitchen ? The answer came calm and straight. That's what we got you for. I ignored it. But, did blast my husband later. I shouldn't have. I should have done it to her. My mother-in-law who wanted to stay with her son moved with us to Andhra. The nights were spend in union with the mother who would come knocking at our doors at even 12 midnight. Mornings were spoilt with again door bangs on making her so wake up and go to office. Well I am missing out on a lot more which came in-between, but, maybe that is because I choose to ignore it to the extent of not remembering much. But, I suppose every episode got thrown out of the window under the pretext of something or the other. In all that mess, I also got pregnant and my mom got me home early for delivery to help me get away with the viscous pangs of my mother-in-law. Time was good again.

The delivery time came near and my mother-in-law stepped back into my life. I couldn't get my labour pains and had to go for induced labour. There was a bit of a tension and suddenly my very normal delivery took a turn to become a C-section. It was a sudden decision with the fetus going into distress and the heartbeats started falling faster than time. My husband and my mother had gone down for coffee break and the nurse could reach through their mobile. My mother-in-law was called and told about the situation. And her reaction stirred a revolution in the OT ward. She was again calm and straight. She wanted the baby to not come on Tuesday but, the next day or any other. The doctor who was the HOD of gynecology bashed her with all her might saying the mother and baby are in danger and you thinking about a day. Any Day is good because everyday is a good day. This I came to know only later when the doctor told me. Inside the room I could hear a lot of commotion but, I was going through an unknown path myself that was filled with so much of fear that I have not known or understood before. All I wanted is a hand of courage and a heart of compassion. And what I got was what was going to define my thoughts for my mother-in-law for an eternity and more. She came into the room and I extended my hands. All she did was say "All the best" from a distance and leave me there all alone to go through what I going through. Neither have I met a woman like her before and not till now. She still stays and will stay as someone who never understood the true meaning of life and relationships in it. After having a healthy baby I was strolled back into ICU and all she could again say was "You have a cute one there". That's all she is, I thought to myself and told about it to my husband later.

The years to follow were never good and very bad at times, filled with verbal and mental abuses from her. Her venom was crushing our marriage still things were all the same. My constant appeal to my husband to do something about it was reacted with some strong joint conversations with his mother. Nothing helped. I realized that this woman was doing everything deliberately. She has decided she will hate me and won't make me stay happy. Her only need was her desire to be with her son. She doesn't have much to do with me or my son.

I started working on projects and then full time jobs and work from homes. She was never happy. Always cribbing about how I keep working on my laptop. She didn't touch the food I made for the first three years. Never will speak a word of praise or even feedback. It was my husband all along who tried getting both the roles into play. I was treated more like an untouchable and I was made to feel it. They say words can be forgotten but, not how one was made to feel. It stands so true in my case.

Things did change and I was the one who got them to change especially when the hell of her touched my parents too. I knew I wanted this marriage, and she is the one who is crumbling it, thrashing it and playing with it. I asked her to get out of our house. Go out for all you have done, I told her. Her ego is bigger than her womanhood so she did move out after giving me a shunted warning that she will tell the world that I threw her out. My answer was crystal, I said "Say it".

It's been a year now and we have maybe just had one or two fights which has nothing to do with her. We have loved and respected each other all along.

But, she can't see our happiness even from far and started some new gimmicks this year.

I suppose we are going to handle it as it comes....

So here was the other side of the life of an ambitious woman.

This is just the shortest version of what I wanted to express.

True in each aspect and a lot more not mentioned to spare you readers of the unnecessary ways of a vicious mind to control your life.

Ignorance can be bliss is very temporary.

We have to respect ourselves first and foremost.

If anything costs your peace it is not worth it…

And the last but not the least. Be clear and say "I am Ambitious!"

My husband married me for who I am and wanted to become.

And I have his support on it forever.

A Child's Prayer Resonates with the Universe

We often used to hear our grandparents say that when children pray, the prayers are answered sooner and make way for miracles too.

Have you ever wondered why?

We have always given a very spiritual reasoning to prayers. But, Prayers are a blend of this very strong cultural continuity brimming with core positive energy created and flowing from inside us to the one we pray for and then simultaneously to everyone making the world around us.

A Prayer can be visualized as a natural thriving tree with branches of science, psychology, metaphysics, spirituality and an unknown powerful intervention.

There is sufficient evidence that collective prayers from random locations have brought in the required miracle. This is mostly been given the reasoning of being brought about due to the common state of consciousness in people even if they are far apart.

In our superfast life, we rarely find time to complete our basic routines. And so Prayer seems a distant goal set for sometime later when we can go to our respective spiritual destinations on a weekend.

Prayer especially for us working families has become another 'things to do' entry in our organizer or calendar. And it stays almost last on our priority until its time to ring the bell with our need for instant gratification. We become children in front of our supreme divine, the moment we have some impending need for growth or some risk which needs immediate removal. Imagine, if we as adults can behave with such childish squirms during times of qualms; what about children who are just learning to understand their role in the cycle of life?

But, the truth is also that many of us have not built the habit of praying into our daily life, tagging it as traditional, old school or not our cup of tea.

This is also because with time, "raising children" has been replaced by the term "Parenting" which is the modernistic take on what has been experienced in a loop for ever.

With time indeed there are some very high red flag areas of concern because of the competition, online exposure, lack of time in family life and increasing crime against children because of psychological stress factors. But, these issues need planned interventions from several sections of the society. No point taking everything extremely seriously and losing touch with our cultural roots which are still being researched even with so much modernity.

The power of prayers have not been decoded yet, but, they have proved their efficacy with pure manifestation.

There are seven steps to attain the efficacy of prayer from a metaphysics and spiritual angle starting with:

1. Humbleness to the greater powers of the universe

2. Alignment of the mind-body-soul trinity and bringing in channelized attitude

3. Direction towards the sole purpose with encompassing conscious state

4. Exchange of qualities as an offering or giving up something in return to the fulfillment of our intentions.

5. Gratitude is the highest form of thankfulness even before the favour is done

6. Resonance creates the time and space which helps us visually the energy in its bounty

7. Acceptance and contentedness comes in and we should keep all our energy channels open to be the receiver.

From a scientific and psychological framework, prayers could be defined as an intervention between your internal and external self in synergy with the universal elements.

It gets more simple, logical and practical to attain the efficacy of the prayers here as compared to the metaphysics and spiritual route, but, surprisingly they come with the same results.

Just follow these deliberations over a long regular period of time for maximum results.

1. Cultivate the habit of Self-talk in children. When we tell them our soul needs a listener at times. It does the trick of also loving oneself deeply.

2. When they arrive at Self-realization, tell them that they can express it through creative mediums of drawing, writing, singing, dancing or acting out as a skit.

3. Building Compassion. You have to show them this with little acts of kindness.

4. Empathy steps in here with higher state of consciousness on what others are feeling too.

5. Mindfulness comes through with knowing of self and others.

6. The child comes to be socially acceptable of all humanity and emotionally intelligent to open synapses in the brain and connect it to chords of the heart.

Since a child’s mind and heart is much lighter with lesser complicated thoughts and feelings, a child's prayer finds its universal commonality at all the above six levels much quickly and echoes back with an healing interconnectedness.  

To break the complication of the subject of praying, you can explain Prayer to your children as "a two-way wireless communication medium between them and the best of what the world needs".

Create the space and daily five minute time shift and start by saying..

"I say a little prayer for you!"

Show them and they will follow.

Copyrights: [The content here is copyrighted with Chirp, Chatter, Cheer, a creative platform which envisions to unlock your imagination power, build on your reflection and lead you on a path of self-discovery!!] ~ FB/Chirpchattercheer

Childhood doesn't care for the handy

My Morning Glory ~ Childhood doesn't care if what is given to them handy is broken or complete. They are happy with what they have because they don't see life as if it's a pyramid they have to climb. Their hearts are filled with content running across rugged lanes, chasing dragon flies, looking at the other side of the story. It is us parents who tell them about heights and the conquering part. There is no competition. There is only life to experience bit by bit taking strides as one grows up....
#parentinglessons
#parentingtips
#Emotionalintelligence #emotionalcoaching #parentingstyle #childpsychology
#childdevelopment #talktochildren #letchildrenbechildren #growingup
#parenting #lifeatschool #homewithchildren #homewithkids #childpersonality
#socioemotionallearning #emotionalquotient #eqmentor #eqcoach #eqtalk

Abundance

Sometimes you find another world.
A self-sufficient and thriving habitat, bringing about new life.
The interconnectedness is maintained due to its attitude.
It doesn't let judgement or influence touch it.
It's happy and content with its own essentials and little risks.
That way when we grow up we know what are the prickly thorns and we choose them to throw them away to create happiness.
And then maturity steps in and we do bring back a few thorns for us to grow around it and learn to balance life.
Anything which overflows can also cause harm.
Abundance is also a phase we live through!
#lifelessons #lifestyleblogger #morningwalks

Remedies for Motion Sickness during road trips for both adults and kids

Travel & Adventure, has come to become the most influential experiences of the community in the past few years. Who does not want to go on a vacation or get into a well planned holiday with family and friends?

Taking advantage of the same, our markets are cluttered with too many start-ups & fully grown ventures offering all kinds of customized and tailored holiday packages. The Experiential industry has come to rule our minds and hearts by taking the combination of tourism and hospitality industry to great heights.

However, one constant complain I do hear about from many such experiences of people is how sometimes a few red flags get ignored when promoting some destinations and unexplored zones. Some pros and cons which goes missing or gets subdued, while showcasing the glamour of these places or packages score as red flags. A few of these red flags are -

1. Climate changes or temperature patterns
2. Altitude and oxygen levels
3. Sudden path trajectories/ changes in routes
4. Survival instincts to behold
5. Clothing and Footwear
6. Limit on Luggage & Trek backpacks
7. Flexible to food localization

All we need is a beautiful experience, a great time with our family and enjoy the ME time.

And for this to happen we need to do two things -

One, get everything crystal clear with Travel planners.

Two, Be a Scout! Research well! Be strong-willed! You are then ready for anything which comes your way!

Infact I would say it's always cool to have surprises comes your way. And that's how you have fun exploring new things and places with your loved ones.

Just that let's be as ready as possible for any undeserving surprises!

I thought today, writing about "Road Travel Remedies for Kids and Adults with Motion Sickness".

This comes from my own experience with myself and my son over the past few years.

I am going to divide these into three parts, starting with preventive, On-the-Spot and lastly the post travel cures and remedies.

Please note that I am not going to tell you to take some medicine or swallow a pill, but, just use some healthy, logical, ethnic or localized ways to get your children and you to get over motion sickness.

1. Preventive Steps

The most common saying is and will always be "Prevention is better than cure".

1a. A good night sleep always gives the essential stamina, energy boost and relaxation to start a great journey.

1b. A glass of Ginger Lemongrass Fizz an hour before leaving on your trip. Both the ingredients are antioxidants and anti irritants and will take care of digestion and protect you from throat or lung infection. For recipe refer: https://casaveneracion.com/ginger-lemongrass-fizz/

1c. A set of breathing exercises, yoga or stretching will aid in bringing in the required relaxation to the body to travel sitting for the road trip.

2. On-the-Spot Survival Kit

2a. Salt is your friend when you are passing through several terrains. It helps you balance out the changes in air pressure and hormonal changes due to high excitement levels.

A bit of chips is fine during travel and if you just want to avoid it, Baked cheeselings or crackers  are also great. Avoid peanuts because it sometimes affects digestion.

2b. Some knacks for managing your body temperature and keeping your stomach PH levels at comfort are taking the Lemon along for rescue and keep smelling it on your way. Also, Chew and Lick away Peppermint, Tamarind candy or some Vitamin C gummies.

2c.The secret of a great road trip lies in unwinding, rewinding and throwing all your worries out of the window and get into that envious power nap you were dreaming of one regular working day. Give yourself the respect you deserve.

3. Post - Travel Essentials

3a. The first thing to do after you have winded your trip is go for a relaxing bath. Do drop a few Dettol to get away with all the dust and bad bacteria. Do carry any anti-fungal ointment and dusting powder for getting you all pepped up for further exploration.

3b. The Classic Vanilla ice cream is a blessing after you have ended your road trip. Have a good big scoop after your lunch or dinner. Vanilla has anesthetic properties and helps to solve any body pain or nauseating tendency you may be having. Also, the aroma of Vanilla gives a sense of pleasure and happy thoughts.

3c. Keep sensory engagement to the minimum after the trip because your body is just coping with the travel it had taken. So take a leisure walk after your food and then have a good nap to complete the loop.

Have an enthralling road trip !!!

Handling a Grudge through Emotional Intelligence

When life will pierce me with knives of grudge,
and poke me with rods of hatred,
I will only smile back with courage!

When doors will slam on my face,
and words will poke with all its might,
I will swarm with peace and calm!

Tell them that what they have built is their own to strive,
their own to try, grown upside-down to destroy their own hive!

#toxicrelationships #grudge #backbiting
#negativeemotions #Emotionalintelligence #copewithtoxicfeelings #toxicpeople
#emotionalcoaching #relationshipgoals #relationshipwoes #stopjudging #stophating #livelovelaugh #happylife

Gratitude

Gratitude is something we need to teach as parents to our children. Being grateful for even the tiniest moment of affection someone showered on us at some point of time makes us who we are as adults. It makes us understand the potential of creating a world filled with kindness, mutual-respect, empathy, compassion and thankfulness leading to strong human connections.

#Gratitude #affection #Kindness #mutualrespect #empathy #compassion #thankfulness #humanconnections #benevolence #love

Broken Trust

It's not about falling down, its never about moving back; it's not even about brooding a hundred times; it's about what's called Trust. If Broken, pulled together to be put back still means that a million shattered pieces have stuck back. Imagine a work of Modern Art or broken mirror.

But, then is when a new life begins with it. When the gaps are filled with wisdom, realization and courage. Everything becomes more meaningful and fulfilling.

This is just like "Kintsugi" which is the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with lacquer dusted or mixed with powdered gold, silver, or platinum. As a philosophy it treats breakage and repair as part of the history of an object, rather than something to disguise.

History is beautiful and tells an unheard story for accepting it in the present.

#brokenlove #trust #wisdom #realization #courage #life #lifequotes #kintsugi #kintsukuroi #lovequotes #love #relationshipquotes #relationship

Five Instant Ways To Build Stronger Immunity In Children

The constant churning of weather in the city has been leading to an unrest in the immunity balance of our children. The fluctuating humidity levels are throwing an havoc on the body temperatures, not letting them stabilize or tune in on time. Moreover, it is holiday time and no point holding on to kids indoors, but, the constant sweat and insulated AC environments are not doing any good. Barging in and out of the extreme surroundings gets the children prone to irresistible seasonal infections like common cold, ear infection, cough & flu, dust allergy and many more. But, then because prevention is better than cure, there are some quick & easy home remedies which will act upon as instant immunity fighters. Not just that, they will help you curb on your monthly budget & put a zing on your pockets for healthier stuff.

The deal here is more of a replacement therapy with some plug-ins to a happy and stronger family.

1. Stop using SUGAR and start using HONEY or PALM SUGAR

Though all three of them contain different types of sugars, they differ in their glycemic index levels. The Glycemic Index, (GI) ranks carbohydrates according to their impact on the blood glucose levels. Glycemic Index measures the speed at which the food raises the blood glucose level of a person. Foods that are processed by the body more quickly are ranked high in the GI.

Sugar stand at GI 60, Honey at 58 and Palm sugar the least at GI 41. The lower the GI, better the body absorbs the carbohydrates and pushes for a healthy functioning.

Honey or palm sugar in cornflakes, Parantha rolls or sandwiches add to the taste buds.

2. Stop using Horlicks/Bournvita/ Boost & start giving "Dates n Clove" or "Banana or Apple " Milkshake in the morning.

The free from cholesterol 'Dates' and the anti-bacterial flower buds 'cloves' make for the most energy boosting and nutrient packed start for the day. Just in case, you kid is a bit on the overweight side or has issues with heavy drinks, you can make a light shake with more milk and less of banana or apple. Banana and apple will add on to the much needed fibers for digestion.

3. Stop using cream/lotions & apply a layer of coconut oil

The brands are making the most out of our emotional touch points and the worse we are letting them. The over priced creams/lotions/essential oils and all those baby products extract their source from simple and easily available ingredients. Just because they have increase the shelf life of the products, they have to add on harsh preservatives. Why not just reply on our grandma tricks. The most common tip could be use the benefits of our old good coconut oil. Apply a layer of coconut oil when the kids come fresh and semi moist out of their bath. This will keep their skin not just supple and soft but, also keep it free from bug bites. Just add some cinnamon sticks to hot coconut oil and leave it to soak up. This aroma based oil can be your savior for the season.

4. Stop processed food and supplement them with healthy alternatives.

A. Paneer instead of Cheese - Paneer parathas instead of cheese roti rolls.

B. Home-made banana chips instead of Lays, Kurkure, Balaji, Chedda's.

C. Dry fruits instead of toffees, lolly pops.

D. A bit of dark chocolate with the morning breakfast will always do good by adding antioxidants. Also, it's good kids know the taste of bitterness before you can move them onto  

     vegetables like 'Bitter Gourd'.

5. The nights are warm with stories and some relaxing oil therapy too.

   

A. Massage in some caster oil/ Franch oil into the abdominal area and around in circular motion unto the belly button. This gives some good strokes to the intestines and prevents or stops

    constipation, dysentery, inflammation or indigestion.

B. On the onset of some slight cold, use Eucalyptus oil/ or make a warm mix of mustard oil and camphor and massage it unto the feet and make them wear socks. Give the kids a bath the

    next day morning. Repeat 2-3 times continuously.

However, for both the oil therapy's follow and "watch and do" routine as an overdose of it may have it's side effects like high body heat or skin rashes.

Happy Immunity!

"Sensual Mindfulness" And "Sexual Vigilance" Are Both Imperative 21st Century Lifestyle Skills.

Every time, the news channels breakout to incidences of child sexual harassment, molestation or rape, our human conscience goes through this harrowing inescapable black hole. Our mind wanders relentlessly trying to escape the empathy we feel for the victim or the family.  We never want to hear or see reports of such incidents again, but, then we are again knocked down to such sensational horrific reporting.

As parents and educators, we face complex turbulences of unceasing insecurity right from the time our children get dropped at school or picked up by the school bus in the morning, until, their cheerful voices echo back home. The daylight seems more prone to night-mares that the darkness of the sunset. In fact the eloquent nights give us a breeze of comfort, when our young ones are safely asleep within the confines of our home.

We do ask ourselves constantly and at times discuss within our inner circle, if this is the world we are bringing up our children in? If the present is such, what is the prediction of the future?

Going for a quick-fix solution, our parental instincts make us vulnerable to opt for a helicopter or narcissistic parenting style leading to a child who is bundled with overdependence, unwariness, anxiousness, low on self-esteem, insecurity-complex and depression. These are the kind of children who fail in their adulthood, ruining not just their happiness but, also of others. Because they were always being hovered upon, these children do not know how to react to situations - harsh or even simple.

As for educators, we are split between the fringes of school administration, management expectations and parental pressure on security & safety measures.

With the recent incidences of danger lurking not just around the school gates, but, inside the school premises, the need for upgrades on technology & human resources has become the most pressing concern.

Over the couple of years we have seen an upsurge in the number of videos coming up on good touch and bad touch. Our children are exposed to this very basic chapter on sex education as early as play group & nursery. Some of these naïve little ones do later discuss it out within their peers and also have a few questions for us. And that's exactly where our skepticism erupts on what to say and what information to withhold? How do we parents or educators take the lead from here? Haven't we always been the most mindful and alert when it comes to the safety of the kids? I am sure, we all are and have always been, but, the right terminology and essence here is that have been "Sensually" mindful and "Sexually" vigilant? The counter question is how do we practice and apply "Sensual mindfulness" and "Sexual Vigilance" as parents, educators and also practice it along with our young ones?

There are several tools & coaching methodologies to learn the skills of "Sensual mindfulness" and "Sexual Vigilance". But, even before learning or knowing them, we need to burst a few myths and join a few facts here as our first guide towards understanding how to start sex education for our kids:

1. Myth - Sex education is a one-time lesson plan!

Fact -  No, it is a continuous process during the child's growing years!   

     2. Myth - Sex education can make children unhappy and lead to unwanted complex kinky

                    behaviour.

     

         Fact - We as parents & educators, need to have an open-minded approach in dealing with

       these hard pressing issues, leaving behind any pre-assumptions about "Sex

                  education" defying any moral or cultural grounds.

   3. Myth - Sex education is a lecture/a serious talk/ an argument.

   

       Fact - Sex education works best when practiced as part of our routine lifestyle, just making

                   it a bit mundane, plug-in some new-age media, emotional literacy tools &

                   knowledge resources like books, articles etc.

   4. Myth - Sex education will create fear in young minds.

        Fact - In Fact, it's just the opposite. It will clear many real life doubts and make the children

                  more confident and courageous. Do remember that safety is better than fear.

                  Fear is dissolvable.

   5. Myth - Sex education is setting boundaries with opposite gender.

       Fact - The need to make sex education part of our system is to respect diversity and adopt

                  inclusion of all genders equally.

   6. Myth - Sex education teaches the mechanics of sexual intercourse.

       Fact - It is much more than that. Sex education cover a range of adolescent and growth

                 pattern topics on the human body and mind.

   7. Myth - Sex education is embarrassing and unwanted.

       Fact - No, it need not be at all that. Until, you as a parent or educator are not comfortable

                 with it yourself. There is nothing wrong or harmful in sharing the real life ways of  

                 life with our young ones.

   8. Myth - Sex education can best be learnt by reading books/watching videos.

      

     Fact - The best way to have sex education plugged-into your life is through regular everyday  

               conversations with your children. The other tools like books, videos, movies are an

               added resource. A personal touch can have the best impact!

9. Myth - Sex education is something they have to discuss with their friends/ cousins. Not with

              us parents.

  Fact - This may lead to either disbelieve, scary thoughts or a feeling of disgust. Remember

             that friends and cousins are still almost their age group and may have just half-

             baked knowledge on the subject.  

10. Myth - Sex education is self- learnt. Eventually as children grown-up, they will know.

     

     Fact - The 21st century has seen the highest circulation of knowledge. But, also insecure

     environments, both online or offline. Because of so much exposure, children start   

    experimenting with their own bodies & start relationships very soon. We need to walk the talk

    with them now.

Our collective responsibility as a 21st century citizen is to break our own myths and join the facts, leading to a happy & safe family. Let us start NOW.