Category: Reflections

  • The Truth About Self-Care: Stubbornness or Serenity?

    The Truth About Self-Care: Stubbornness or Serenity?

    Daily writing prompt
    How do you practice self-care?

    Hey…

    I hope all of you are doing well…

    Returning to your work is bothersome,
    more for those who are already tired,
    a few hours deep into this days work,
    All the best for what’s left,
    much less what’s more to come…

    About the prompt of this day;
    its a good one,
    but,
    yet here I am exposing myself yet again…

    There’s no such thing as self-care,
    It just plain hard stubbornness,
    (In my language its called ZIDD),
    its the only thing that has kept me going,
    A stubbornness to become someone,
    someone better,
    better than who I was day before,
    and to a new tomorrow,
    that will come the next…

    There is no such thing as self-care because,
    it’s a known fact that I have to get things to work the next day,
    even if I feel like not to,
    there’s a mindset that this works on,
    maybe on or after achieving a spot or a pedestal,
    where one belongs,
    one can take rest and give self the much needed,
    “Self-care”…

    But,
    If that thing or an idea that is much bigger,
    and is replaced by another one the next moment,
    there’s no time to rest,
    or sit,
    or contemplate the things that one has achieved,
    that’s why,
    and that’s how things have been with me,
    leaving me with enough time to rest,
    and wake up with a positive mindset,
    ready to conquer another day…

    On the days off,
    the actual self-care version of myself kicks in,
    I usually wake up late,
    late enough for people in my house to question my existence,
    And when I do wake up,
    I wake up hungry like its been weeks,
    And eat and spend day leisurely,
    By going out with family or friends,
    and by the time evening hits,
    all of us are at home,
    at ease,
    and as we talk and have dinner,
    enjoy and talk about things that happened over the week,
    and discuss and plan the week ahead…

    By the time it ends its time to sleep,
    and prepare the challenge that is the next day…

    That’s how it all goes,
    that’s how my self care goes,
    What about you…?

    Cheers πŸ₯‚

    Love Waakiye 🀍

  • Overcoming Doomscrolling: Finding Purpose in Your Day

    Overcoming Doomscrolling: Finding Purpose in Your Day

    Daily writing prompt
    How do you waste the most time every day?

    Hey…

    I hope all of you are doing well…

    I hope this is a safe place,
    but most of my time is wasted doomscrolling,
    without even a single thought,
    it just feels like there isn’t a purpose,
    there is not a single purpose behind life itself…

    It just feels like that I try to snatch time,
    within all of the limited time that I have left,
    within these 24 hours in this day…

    Just this day,
    I woke up at 4 a bad dream perhaps,
    and mindlessly scrolled for around an hour,
    scrolling reels,
    some of those give me some happiness,
    some of them make me sad,
    but,
    they bring me up,
    and throw me down,
    to keep me in this vicious cycle,
    Of being constantly hooked,
    looking at them,
    one after another,
    until my phone runs out of battery,
    Or I drain myself enough…!

    The constant need,
    of having something playing,
    in this ear,
    or,
    having something to see,
    that bombards with some valuable information,
    or useless,
    that won’t help me ever,
    but,
    the need,
    the unreal need of having something playing,
    maybe a comedy skit,
    maybe some informative video,
    to pass the time,
    or just something that fills the emptiness in the room,
    making it some noise,
    or some tunes playing in the background,
    that deter me from thinking anything/everything,
    at a certain point of time…

    A never-ending rant,
    that exists within this mind,
    to leave it and pick it up,
    making me forget crucial memories,
    because I can’t seem to remember them anymore,
    like moments in my childhood,
    some of them are non-existent,
    some of them are blemishing,
    some of them are still there but fading,
    and some of them come back
    after remembering hard enough,
    but,
    none that is remembered off the top my head…

    You’re grateful if you do,
    and if you don’t,
    in the same boat we all are…

    Cheers πŸ₯‚

    Love Waakiye 🀍

    Another scroll,
    another relatable thing,
    Even though none of them are,
    it just passes my time…

    As I stared at the clock,
    it stuck 5:30,
    it had already been too much,
    an hour and thirty minutes,
    scrolling…

    But,
    it’s because there’s a need to replace,
    replace all things,
    Everything that surrounds,
    and this one is the cheapest,
    because the price is paid,
    not in the form that is visible at present…

    A price that is paid,
    paid with those forgotten memories,
    by replacing those happy and sad times,
    with what brings these short bursts of happiness,
    becoming an addict to them,
    waiting for free time,
    or snatching it from regular schedule,
    a moment here,
    sitting on the can,
    or going out for a smoke break,
    or going out to eat because you forgot to pack yours,
    because of waking up late…

    Maybe,
    maybe it isn’t so bad after all,
    but,
    the memories that I forget,
    or I’m trying to,
    maybe,
    just maybe,
    it will help,
    in eroding the bad ones,
    Unaware,
    the good ones entangled together are going away with them…

    An Echo Without a Voice
  • Favorite School Lunches: A Taste of Our Past

    Favorite School Lunches: A Taste of Our Past

    Daily writing prompt
    Which food, when you eat it, instantly transports you to childhood?

    Hey…

    I hope all of you are doing well…

    Being a typical Indian kid,
    we all carried lunches as soon as we started school,
    and that is where we were exposed to experiences,
    new things that we didn’t see before,
    flavors that were new to the palate,
    never ever tried before,
    in this life…

    So,
    what we used to do as kids,
    when the recess hit,
    we used to gather at a selected seat,
    and open our lunches at the same time and whatever each one of us felt appealing we took a bite out of,
    and after that,
    it was like clockwork,
    we used to try a bite or a nibble of food and then took more bites out of the things that we liked…

    One of the things that I remember,
    that’s very dear to my heart has been Pulao…

    It’s a steaming mixture of rice with vegetables of choice in it,
    which was my all-time favorite,
    all of my friends loved it too,
    So,
    I barely got a bite,
    it was rarely that it was made,
    and that too when That lunch box opened,
    and I took out a bite,
    it was then snatched out of my hand,
    like it wasn’t even in my hand to start with,
    there were some fights,
    some persuasion,
    sometimes it was admitting defeat,
    sometimes it was a win because they brought something good,
    and then someone else used to make them run for their food…

    Simple and happy times…

    Another one was chickpea stir fry,
    My mom used to prepare this in two boxes,
    because whenever I used to take this one,
    I BARELY got a bite,
    I mean BARELY even a single bite got into my mouth..

    It was so mouth watering that one of the lunch box used to just disappear,
    as soon I told them,
    what I brought today,
    so,
    I used to hide one of the boxes well under my books and told them I only brought one lunch today and they used to feel bad,
    telling me that,
    I can have their lunch,
    but,
    it was worth seeing their expression,
    as I pulled out another one of them,
    from my bag,
    hidden from everyone..

    Whenever the taste of the Pulao or chickpea stir fry comes to the mind,
    all of a sudden,
    the memories hit back like a wave hitting the seashore,
    again and again,
    reliving the days of my childhood,
    in an instant,
    as a flashback of all the fun we used to have…

    To all of the good times spent together,
    I hope all of them are doing well and are living a blessed life…

    Happy weekend to all those celebrating..

    Cheers πŸ₯‚

    Love Waakiye 🀍

  • Influential Leaders: Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s Legacy

    Influential Leaders: Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s Legacy

    Daily writing prompt
    Who is your favorite historical figure?

    Hey…

    I hope all of you are doing well…

    Well,
    another day another great prompt it is,
    my favorite historical figure…

    Have you ever heard of Maharaja Ranjit Singh…?

    One of the most admired figures even this day in Panjab,
    with such a leadership that extended from near borders of Afghanistan,
    Khyber Pass in current Pakistan,
    to Panjab’s Satluj river in current day Panjab…

    The sole leader who had the power to unify Sikh factions,
    making the land of Panjab a secular empire where the rules of each religions were followed and respected,
    being a Sikh he was inclusive of all people,
    including keeping people from different faith in administrative and military positions,
    which were very important to give to anybody…

    The religious sites and their protection belonging to different faiths,
    to the point he ordered repair of Mosques and temples,
    Also,
    The credits of modernization the forces belong to him,
    hiring European mercenaries and military experts to train the army,
    Having a special branch called Fauj-e-khas,
    specializing in close order formation and bayonet tactics…

    Having invested in artillery,
    cannon foundries were built,
    and field guns were standardized,
    and that induced fear in the British Raj’s mind,
    which were also because of traditional Sikh fighters,
    called Nihangs ;
    known for their ferocious nature and tactics that brought enemies to their knees…

    Training men and equipping them with better arms than the rest of the states,
    while keeping British rule at bay,
    And his work and life were mentioned in British curriculum later…

    Respecting Hindu sentiments,
    cow slaughter was banned,
    and having a corruption free court even though diverse,
    that had wide focuses,
    and,
    living a modest life,
    He never took the title of Maharaja,
    But,
    he accepted himself as the Servant of Khalsa…

    Having a court in Lahore that became a center of culture and arts,
    Also,
    architectural marvel,
    Known as,
    “SHER-E-PANJAB”
    “LION OF PANJAB”,

    remembered till this day,
    with deep respect by Panjabi speakers and Sikhs worldwide…

    Imagine being alive at that point of time,
    to witness all of this…!

    Cheers πŸ₯‚

    Love Waakiye 🀍

  • Exploring India ‘s Rich Heritage and Beyond

    Exploring India ‘s Rich Heritage and Beyond

    Daily writing prompt
    What countries do you want to visit?

    Hey…

    I hope all of you are doing well…

    It’s another one of those great prompts kinda day,
    what countries I’d love to visit,
    such an open ended and a great question…

    To be honest,
    the country that I belong to,
    India,
    has such a rich heritage,
    that as each and every state boundary changes,
    the culture,
    along with their language,
    a different dialect from the last one,
    also,
    the food with their differing preparing techniques…

    Within this country,
    there are oh so many things to explore,
    but,
    the responsibility of work has landed on my shoulders,
    which forces me to be there,
    at the place of my work,
    and due to that I am barely able to explore,
    explore this country of mine…

    The last trip I took,
    it was to Himachal back in ’22
    and nothing can beat it ever,
    That is where I first saw snow,
    and it stays in my memories,
    forever…

    I imagine for some of you it might be a common occurrence,
    but,
    imagine being a person who saw snow for the first time ever,
    it was such a heavenly experience,
    that the flashbacks still stay till this day,
    and the trip was executed in the last week of December,
    for this reason,
    so,
    me and my sister,
    along with a cousin of mine,
    and my best friend and his friend,
    we all went and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves…

    Well,
    there are so many things left to explore,
    Karnataka’s coffee,
    to Assam’s tea plantation
    Mumbai’s sea,
    to luscious apple plantations in Kashmir…

    There’s a lot to see,
    in this country of ours,
    until,
    I can be free or,
    make time from the responsibilities that bound me,
    one day or another…

    Cheers πŸ₯‚

    Love Waakiye 🀍

    As far as eyes go,
    a wonder,
    the wonders of the world,
    within this country of mine comes to mind…

    As the clicking and clacking comes to rest,
    and the low humming of the devices come to a halt,
    An eerie silence surrounds me,
    without a clue,
    what’s causing this,
    and what’s the cure…?

    This life still continues,
    so does the work,
    but the life,
    that doesn’t…

    In a limited time frame,
    we have to find our happiness,
    something that makes us happy,
    something that brings us joy,
    something that we love from the deepest of our hearts,
    something that we can’t live or survive without…!

    But,
    this day still continues,
    as commute takes away another 45 minutes,
    and for those 45 minutes,
    I stare past these buildings,
    These high rises,
    a place…

    A place,
    a place without,
    the constant need to be available,
    available round the clock,
    at the disposal of the bosses,
    at a single phone call,
    but,
    a few moments away,
    Away from all this…

    “MONOTONOUS CHAOS”
  • Embracing Self-Discovery: My Favorite Qualities

    Embracing Self-Discovery: My Favorite Qualities

    Daily writing prompt
    What’s your favorite thing about yourself?

    Hey…

    I hope all of you are doing well…

    Well,
    on looking at it,
    the things that make me,
    who I am,
    None,
    not even a single one of them are my favorite…

    I do,
    whatever I have to,
    they’re guided by some motive,
    an ulterior one,
    through which,
    ultimately I will stand to gain something from,
    maybe an interaction,
    a call asking for help,
    A lonely person as I pass them on the road,
    I ask them if they’re okay?,
    if they need some help,
    they need me to take them somewhere,
    or they’re running late to something…

    Only because they might open up to me,
    find me to be their comfort zone,
    find themselves to be open enough to tell me,
    talk to me about their vulnerabilities,
    or how,
    who they are the way they are,
    and when they do that,
    give me a piece of themselves to keep,
    as a namesake or ,
    something that they shaved off themselves,
    when things were going out of their hands,
    maybe,
    and just maybe,
    I swooped in at the right time,
    at the right place and carried them to safety…

    Maybe my interaction sounded forced,
    it sounded like I wanted you to expose yourself,
    expose yourself to a total stranger,
    without worrying about how this could be used against you,
    but,
    if you did,
    you reached your destination,
    a tad bit early,
    because I drove fast,
    and as I asked you,
    what was bugging you…?

    And,
    many chose not to answer,
    and the few those who answered,
    we talked and those few minutes of conversation felt like an hour…

    As I was told,
    Oppressed you were,
    misunderstood too,
    and how the world only saw what was there to see,
    from their own perspective,
    But,
    none from what the sufferer going through,
    and maybe if someone didn’t come in early,
    maybe it would have been the end of them…!?

    As the road came to a four-way intersection,
    with traffic lights,
    and I everything came to a standstill,
    but,
    the sounds of exhausts blaring,
    the passing of vehicles as their lights turned green,
    and,
    the awkward wait,
    as I asked them,
    “What is you were never born,
    would things be different then…?”

    As soon as those words left this mouth,
    and a sense of panic was in the air,
    coming to the realization that I was a total,
    and an absolute stranger,
    who apparently had nothing to lose,
    and gain G0d knows what…?

    As the lights turned green,
    and took a turn to the route they told me to take,
    as I stared at them,
    through my peripherals,
    on arriving there,
    a few minutes later,
    these were the words they were left with…

    You know how,
    the world feels small,
    when things come crashing in,
    it focuses into a point,
    somewhere in the body,
    and you try to find it,
    incapable each and every time,
    But,
    maybe,
    it’s good that we aren’t capable of,
    maybe,
    the shift in its place each and every time.
    helps us to stay sane,
    because what if we could take it out,
    and never fear anything ever again;
    “What if there was no fear whatsoever…?”

    Would this world be worth living,
    if it had no fear…?

    What if I would have screamed at that very instant you asked me that question?

    What if,
    instead of staying quiet;

    I would have answered,
    and answered something,
    that you didn’t expect,
    Would we ever be the same,
    Either of us…?

    Any of us…?

    Maybe that was fear,
    or the disguise in itself as she walked away,
    as a black cat followed her,
    into a street that had no streetlight,
    as I turned and shined the headlights and finding the street closed shut,
    by a gate that had a lock with a lot of dust on it,
    seeming it wasn’t moved in a long time…

    Maybe,
    and just maybe,
    that question,
    which throws people off,
    threw her off,
    and when I keenly listened like no-one did,
    she did find someone’s life worth to be spared,
    one of the most favorite things about myself…

    “I tried to figure something,
    well,
    something about her,
    something about myself too,
    until,
    I found out what,
    Or,
    where those answers came from…”

    A lifetime,
    wasn’t enough for those,
    I thought,
    As I drove back home,
    in a calm and easy manner,
    like his was the usual,
    an unusually usual routine…

    Cheers πŸ₯‚

    Love Waakiye 🀍

  • The True Value of Retirement: Family and Fulfillment

    The True Value of Retirement: Family and Fulfillment

    Daily writing prompt
    How do you want to retire?

    Hey…

    I hope all of you are doing well…

    I hope this new week,
    that all of you started is blessed with positivism,
    and a learning experience that helps you develop,
    (In a positive direction…)

    Also,
    today’s prompt,
    comes at a time when all,
    literally all of us think about it almost all of the time,
    also, for those who brought us into the world,
    our parents who also deserve much needed retirement and peace,
    in their ever-running life…

    Well,
    there are many who have a dream of having a buttload of money,
    and with that having all of the riches,
    all of the things needed in this life,
    waiting for your disposal,
    but,
    of what is the worth those things,
    which only come in your life after all you have done is struggle all your life,
    spending time away from your loved ones,
    in order to spend the last few with them…?

    Instead,
    I’d rather have a house that has a family,
    my family in which there are people who I can call mine,
    my children and their children,
    and we live in a big house all together..

    In the evening as I return to the home,
    I am wished by my grandkids,
    and their happy faces which make my day much better,
    as my children and their s/o’s return from their place of work,
    I’m there present at home,
    and wait their return…

    All of us,
    have dinner,
    as we are sitting,
    on a table that is big enough for our family and the Grandkids too,
    as and we are done with the dinner,
    we go out and take a walk in out garden Infront of our house,
    as I am in the arms of my beloved,
    as I stare into her eyes,
    and the moon,
    as we sit on the bench when we feel a bit tired,
    and the walk home as we are surrounded by the kids that call us Daadi and dada( Grandma and grandpa)…

    Isn’t that one of the life’s best treasures…?

    Having a home full of people,
    waiting for your return,
    instead of earning everything fast and crashing hard early,
    but,
    building a life that is enjoyable even till the very end…?

    Cheers πŸ₯‚

    Love Waakiye 🀍

    With a wish,
    that originated from deep within,
    A dream to exist,
    exist to see the faces of those,
    who will call us,
    Call us their grandparents…

    As we progress,
    go beyond ages,
    And from that we learn,
    learn the meaning,
    As we look at happy faces that shine,
    shine when they see their grandkids…

    All of the worries,
    All of the pain,
    Appears to subside,
    vanish into thin air,
    as soon as they are seen,
    or their happy faces are remembered,
    and their sweet laughter comes to these ears…

    A wish,
    a wish it seems to be,
    Making this life,
    this sad miserable life worth surviving…

    “A life worth living…”

  • Cherishing My Oldest Daily Companion

    Cherishing My Oldest Daily Companion

    Daily writing prompt
    What’s the oldest thing you own that you still use daily?

    Hey…

    I hope all of you are doing well…

    I hope the weekend is going well,
    and you wake up well rested,
    this morning and don’t have the buzz from the last night…

    The oldest thing that I own and use…
    It will be one of my oldest devices that i still use to this day,
    the trusty Samsung S7 edge,
    its been used ruggedly ever since it came into my hand,
    in the late 2016…

    It’s been something that I’ve cherished,
    loved and bought with real passion and discussion with those in my surroundings,
    and when I got it in my hand,
    it felt like I held a cherished treasure,
    for which I worked really hard,
    (Well not really…),
    but,
    it was one such passion that I had,
    and it was the one thing that was with me,
    Everywhere I went,
    and whenever I needed it was there for me…

    That was the one device where all of this started,
    like,
    my writing,
    all of my beginnings are a part of that device,
    where I started all of this from scratch,
    and all of it is a journey from nothing to something to whatever I am today…

    With that being said,
    it’s still with me,
    and on it I am playing the tracks that I love through a speaker,
    which brings out fresh feelings as this harsh sunny morning curses us…

    Cheers πŸ₯‚

    Love Waakiye 🀍

    After spending night,
    with adequate and sleepless,
    I found,
    my cherished phone to be my partner…

    Through thick and thin,
    the ups and downs,
    welcoming a new member,
    And a few of them passing away,
    it was always there with me…

    The first crush and its addressing of my feelings
    the cues that I saved on my phone,
    became the helping hand for me,
    as I flipped it,
    to see what I had to say as my words fumbled…

    But,
    that same became a helping hand when I was,
    When I was all alone,
    within this world,
    within this mind I was trapped,
    without a single clue,
    as I prepared a document,
    citing my untimely end,
    and how it was no-one’s blame,
    or everyone’s but mine,
    and now when I look at it,
    a sensible chuckle stays on this face…

    “Crazy times”
  • Seasons of Change: Embracing Life’s Phases

    Seasons of Change: Embracing Life’s Phases

    Daily writing prompt
    What is your favorite season of year? Why?

    Hey…

    I hope all of you are doing well…

    A little late I’m starting to write the prompt of the day,
    because of the fever that I got last evening,
    but,
    everything happens for a reason doesn’t it…?

    Do you remember being a child,
    and having summer vacations,
    there was nothing better than that ever,
    you were free (well technically),
    from studies,
    you used to visit places of relatives,
    have planned outings,
    and very much enjoyed the life,
    but,
    as soon as you got out of school,
    you started to work or went to start jobs,
    they became the polar opposite…?

    Summer season was the favorite when we were a child…

    As we start our college,
    and we find company that is there to stay forever,
    we attend lectures bunk many of them,
    and find love in each other’s company,
    and within all this we find someone who makes us complete,
    for whom we think of spending this life,
    the whole life,
    and when we go out during winter break,
    to blow off steam during the calm winters to the hills,
    we find a different version of self,
    where we act as adults,
    drinking,
    being a version of self-that’s new,
    even to us,
    we find peace and embrace this,
    all of this,
    and when we witness this,
    it makes us feel the snowy winters are the best,
    as those were spent with a company that is never forgotten,
    and those late-night conversations with glass half full,
    with memories in each sip…

    Those cold winter mornings were your favorite,
    when you became a new adult…

    As we age,
    seasons change,
    and we find things that we love and hate,
    but all of this happens,
    only when growth takes place,
    when we grow from a place,
    from here to there to where we belong,
    and to a place that waits for our arrival…

    Cheers πŸ₯‚

    Love Waakiye 🀍

  • Exploring Luxuries: Perspectives and Realities

    Exploring Luxuries: Perspectives and Realities

    Daily writing prompt
    What’s the one luxury you can’t live without?

    Hi…

    I hope all of you are doing well…

    A luxury I can’t live without,
    Hmm,
    it really got me thinking,
    what are the luxuries that I own and use on a daily basis…

    Then the question comes,
    what are the things that you consider luxuries,
    do you consider a car or a bike to be luxury,
    or do you consider a laptop or a phone to be a luxury,
    do you consider the roof over your head to be a luxury or
    you consider all of the above things that are basic of the basic things…?

    Where I’m from,
    having a roof over your head is a luxury,
    but,
    having a car or a bike isn’t;

    having a laptop or a phone isn’t a luxury,
    but,
    having enough money to eat daily is a luxury…

    What do you think the division of power is?
    when one side is dying to barely afford 3 meals,
    and the other generate many times as waste,

    One side doesn’t get even the basic of necessities,
    like water and a place to bath and relieve themselves,
    but,
    The other has all of these things readily available at their disposal,
    whenever they want to;

    This type of thinking that sees a stark difference and is willing to make an observation,
    and an effort to expose those who oppress and keep them in conditions similar,
    even after working many times compared to others,

    This becomes a luxury in my case,
    As I see and try to make an effort to those who suffer unnecessarily,
    by helping them,
    those who want to be helped,
    and show a genuine need and want to be helped,
    to be pulled out of this cycle that their generations were trapped in…

    A luxury that comes when a silent observant being,
    sees and processes things differently,
    when others,
    they just go and lower their head or avert their eyes to not see,
    all the wrong that goes on…

    MAYBE YOUR LUXURY AND MY LUXURY DIFFERS VASTLY,
    AND THAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN US…!?

    Cheers πŸ₯‚

    Love Waakiye 🀍

    A wish,
    in hope a child,
    from a family that isn’t well off,
    imagines…;

    A room,
    an entire room full of toys,
    as he stares into a passerby’s home,
    a family that is loving and caring,
    he imagines,
    Is all of this his fault…?

    Is this his fault,
    being born,
    born in a family that works so hard,
    yet,
    earns so little,
    is this his fault…?

    Is this dream of a room,
    a room as big as his house,
    in which four others live,
    is this his fault…?

    As he sees the crib,
    in which the child probably sleeps,
    as big as the broken and unkempt TV stand that we have,
    which doesn’t even cover a third of the room,
    Is all of this my fault…?

    Being born in a family that’s ridden with debt,
    a child,
    another one,
    that they brought into this world,
    to curse,
    to push into something,
    that isn’t even remotely as close as living good,
    where diseases are widespread and making past 10 is a blessing,
    is,
    is being born,
    being born in these conditions,
    in this situation,
    my fault…?

    “A blame no-one will take…”