Waakiye

Category: Reflections

  • The Lasting Impact of Great Teachers on Students

    The Lasting Impact of Great Teachers on Students

    Daily writing prompt
    What makes a teacher great?

    Hey…

    I hope all of you are doing well…

    Well,
    the new week just started and let’s say,
    it was over before it even began because I wasn’t able to sleep until 2:30 in the morning,
    and I’m already feeling very sleepy,
    while writing this,
    But,
    I gotta do what I gotta do right…?

    I hope each one of you has had a great teacher in their lifetime,
    it doesn’t necessarily have to be someone from school or college,
    but,
    someone who stayed in your life for a little while and taught you something,
    that no-one could within a short span of time…

    For me,
    this life has been one of the biggest teachers,
    trying and testing me all the time,
    by keeping me on the edge,
    and throwing challenges left and right,
    but,
    coming out of them gives me a fresh perspective,
    a new way to look at things and my life,
    by making new amends in the old ways,
    making every challenge worth the effort,
    and the outcomes even better…

    A person who was a great teacher according to me,
    Was my history teacher from high school,
    her classes were awaited by each student of the class,
    as the way she taught,
    breaking each and every point,
    each and every paragraph into easily understandable ones,
    Involving discussions,
    two and fro questionnaires,
    going on trips once every two months exploring the surroundings,
    studying the architecture,
    and talking about which era it belonged to,
    and discussing things about the monuments the time period they survived,
    the types of renovation it underwent,
    and the material that was used and how it deteriorates at the climate affects it…

    Also,
    she was and older teacher,
    meaning all of this was gained over the years,
    all of which was imparted to us within a span of two years,
    a very limited time,
    but,
    the way she condensed all of her life’s learning in these two years for us,
    she made our life,
    Our history lessons,
    each of them one of the best things that we ever learned in our lives…

    A Great teacher is never forgotten,
    no matter how old the student gets,
    the efforts made always live on forever…

    Here’s to all of the teachers,
    Sacrificing themselves for the future of those who come to you,
    to learn,
    and be a better version of themselves,
    by taking an essence of it from you…

    Cheers 🥂

    Love Waakiye 🤍

  • Personal Accounts of Surgery: Lessons from Loved Ones

    Personal Accounts of Surgery: Lessons from Loved Ones

    Daily writing prompt
    Have you ever had surgery? What for?

    Hey…

    I hope all of you are doing well…

    Thankfully,
    I haven’t underwent any surgery up until this point of time in my life,
    but,
    I’m surrounded by people,
    who are close to me,
    very dear to me who underwent surgery,
    To save them,
    or try to save them from a life-threatening disease,
    that was looming over their heads…

    My father had to go through a colectomy,
    to remove a part of infected small intestine,
    which developed had developed into a fast-growing cancer,
    that had already spread through his soft tissue,
    but,
    his conditions deteriorated after the procedure,
    as the medications stopped working and we ultimately lost him in late ’23,
    extremely hard times those were,
    May his soul rest in peace…

    My aunt had to go through multiple of them,
    another person stuck with cancer,
    first,
    the doctors ordered to remove her uterus,
    which was the center,
    where the problems began,
    later it metastasized to her other organs,
    and detection were made,
    where tumors were found in her breasts,
    which had to be removed too,
    which broke her spirit,
    as we eventually lost her after a year of fighting the battle against the fast-spreading disease…

    One of my cousin sisters had surgery too,
    she was developing polyps in her uterus,
    which were making her life miserable,
    and the history of a mother who passed away with cancer,
    she took no risks and went ahead with the surgery before it could develop into cancerous ones,
    which made her life better,
    as she can live carefree,
    but,
    she has to work with caution,
    as they can develop again,
    by managing diet,
    and having routine check-ups…

    Being surrounded by,
    the survivors and the tales left by those who have left us early,
    remembering and keeping all of them in our heart and minds,
    as they taught us to never lose hope,
    until the very last point…

    Cheers 🥂
    (Happy weekend)

    Love Waakiye 🤍

  • Exploring Unique Daily Routines

    Exploring Unique Daily Routines

    Daily writing prompt
    What are your daily habits?

    Hey…

    I hope all of you are doing well…

    One of the habits have been this one,
    to upload here daily,
    not a good example today because of the messed-up schedule,
    I had to leave early for work,
    and see supervise some construction going on at our workplace,
    and make edits in it as needed…

    So,
    this becomes a late night post instead…

    Other than this,
    I have a habit of having or trying new things,
    that includes
    food clothes and anything that is unique…

    And,
    if any of those help me in expanding my horizon,
    by costing little money,
    why not experience it,
    in exchange of a few paper,
    I can attain experience that can be used whenever…

    Another one,
    well these are related to each other,
    I wake up and drink a glass of water,
    (kept in silver or copper glass…)
    alternating them however it seems fit…

    And after that meditating for 10 minutes at least,
    post which I write in my notepad,
    Whatever/however I feel,
    before and after the meditating session,
    what new I learn from it…

    Someday,
    it’s a medley of colors,
    someday it is chasing the memories of the previous day,
    other days,
    it becomes finding the lost sense of self,
    after tiring myself all day…

    BUT,
    The sense of relief comes in,
    when things come through,
    and all things go as planned,
    rare days,
    but they cover the days that,
    hit so hard that it seems there’s no end to them…

    At last,
    the day ends,
    after asking or talking to those who are close to me,
    their well-being,
    calling them and talking to them,
    if they aren’t doing well,
    In a sense to help them pass some of the stress or sadness,
    away from them…

    Other than that,
    there’s a habit of constantly seeking new thoughts and ideas…

    Cheers 🥂
    (happy weekend 😇)

    Love Waakiye 🤍


  • How to Live Sustainably: Tips from Daily Life

    How to Live Sustainably: Tips from Daily Life

    Daily writing prompt
    Are there things you try to practice daily to live a more sustainable lifestyle?

    Hey…

    I hope all of you are doing well…

    The dream of having a sustainable life always stays on this mind,
    maybe there are some things that aren’t possible due to reasons,
    but there are constantly some efforts that I try to make to live this life,
    by saving the environment too,
    also the efforts of those around me…

    Buying good quality clothes that are not cheap,
    but they’re built to last,
    last a time longer than what the cheap ones need buying at least three,
    maybe four times,
    so,
    spending money once and getting more worth out of it is my go-to…

    Also,
    reducing use of single use plastics,
    of course,
    it doesn’t happen all the time,
    but,
    there are times when I take my own bags when out shopping,
    and put things in them,
    instead of getting the plastic polythene,
    that end up in waste later…

    Shifting to a more plant-based diet,
    yes,
    this is one of the biggest changes I’ve taken on,
    changing to a plant-based diet,
    has given me some time to think and worry about my well being too;

    Don’t know if its me,
    but,
    giving up on meat as a source of nutrition,
    has brought clarity and toned down my aggressiveness,
    yes,
    maybe this is something that can be contested,
    but,
    that is how I feel about it,
    there is change in the way I think,
    and work things out too…

    Instead of choosing fruits that come from outside,
    imported into the country,
    the focus shifts to own produced,
    and taking into consideration how those things reach us,
    this also brings us to the point to avoid food wastage,
    anything that isn’t consumed on the same day,
    is used the next,
    and all of the food that is cooked has a shelf life of a day or two,
    so,
    limited quantity is made and most of it is utilized on the same day…

    A good source of sustainable living starts at home,
    so,
    switching to solar power becomes a priority,
    using or buying appliances that have three maybe four-star rating (energy saving ratings),
    also,
    unplugging and switching off unused lights and ports,
    where energy can be saved;

    And in home,
    fixing things like water leaks,
    that cause wastage,
    using aerated taps and showerhead (Filters),
    which help in reducing the amount of water used eventually…

    For traveling,
    using public transit,
    when the place is near,
    or using carpool when the place is far,
    and by investing in EV car or bike by replacing one of the vehicles,
    And opting for trains or buses for longer trips,
    which cause less emissions than flying…

    These are some of the things that my household does,
    how do you,
    or your household work to make this planet more habitable…?

    Cheers 🥂

    Love Waakiye 🤍

  • Spirituality in India: Beliefs and Contradictions

    Spirituality in India: Beliefs and Contradictions

    Daily writing prompt
    How important is spirituality in your life?

    Hey…

    I hope all of you are doing well…

    Well,
    The country that I belong to,
    has very deep-rooted spiritual beliefs,
    which makes it one of the most populous,
    religious based countries in the world…

    A place like India,
    which is the birthplace of many religions,
    including,

    • Hinduism
    • Jainism
    • Buddhism &
    • Sikhism

    There are widespread religious beliefs around the place I exist,
    A big Hindu temple within 500 meters of my residence,
    A mosque within the same distance,
    And within a 10-minute drive,
    a Sikh temple called a Gurudwara,
    and a Jain temple too within that,
    and crossing the gurudwara you’ll find a church too
    (In opposite directions tho)…

    I mean,
    all the hustling bustling goes on during the day,
    and by the night,
    those people who sat Infront of the religious places,
    begging for money,
    become the richest as they buy alcohol and other intoxicants,
    and do it yet again Infront of the said religious place and take rest on the pavement or the sidewalk,
    when nothing else matters,
    because they have already eaten their full,
    during the day…

    This is the enabling that religion has done,
    Of course,
    when asked it’s said,
    “They’re not responsible for what goes outside the premises…”
    like they can’t physically enforce the stoppage of this,
    by appointing people whose sole responsibility is to deter such people…

    But,
    things like this happen,
    Again and again,
    because they just up and move themselves away from the area,
    the area which they have to “keep clean”,
    the entire crowd moves,
    and the same thing happens,
    a few meters away…
    (Us Indians and our way to hack anything’s that’s enforced right…?)

    Coming back to the prompt’s question…

    The things like these,
    the hacks,
    the people who become these addicts by the night,
    the people who among the chaos,
    become the thieves,
    snatchers,
    took a long time ago my faith on religion…

    The way,
    the internal management of a religious place functions,
    is the same as a business,
    they do take up cost cutting,
    the prasad (the food presented to the deities),
    is used and recycled,
    for those who don’t take it home,
    and sold to the same devotees yet again…

    Being one of the most religious countries,
    and praying the G0ds and G0desses,
    and on the other hand,
    we hear news of a girls being brutally Rped,
    people being killed over little things,
    family disputes making people kill their own flesh and blood,
    but,
    on the other hand,
    this becomes a birthplace of religions,
    and a hub of spiritual beliefs…

    The stark contrast,
    in what’s told,
    what’s heard,
    what’s seen,
    and what’s reported…

    A toast to chaos,
    and such a widespread nature of ill management of it…

    Cheers 🥂

    Ashamed Waakiye🤍

    A star here,
    Another there,
    another one,
    where it shouldn’t have been,
    A havan,
    an offering,
    and all of it shall go away…

    The already G0d fearing,
    Thinks,
    “G0d forbid,
    another problem…”
    So,
    they set the appointment,
    and a priest appears,
    at the given time…

    Taking place of a G0d,
    Or his minion,
    he prays and prays,
    and burns incense,
    using wood using camphor,
    creates a place packed with soot,
    and smoke,
    a heavenly fragrance it leaves,
    until its cleared,
    and things become the same,
    same as the day before…

    The same chaos,
    the same panic,
    the same things,
    repeat the next,
    and the same problems,
    become the common,
    like it was the day before…

    “The Star That Shouldn’t Be”
  • 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 🥂

    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 🥂

    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?
    View all responses

    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 🥂

    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?
    View all responses

    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 🥂

    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?
    View all responses

    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 🥂

    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”