Proud to be Left -handed

 

 

On the 13^th of August this year, a friend texted me early in the morning, wishing me a “Happy Left-Hander’s Day.”

“So you’re left-handed” is a remark I’ve heard a million times. It’s been said with disdain, surprise, or mockery. I’m grateful to my parents for not trying to turn me into a right-hander.

Society demands that you give and receive with your right hand. This is one rule that I may break or not adhere to. An autorickshaw driver once refused to receive the fare from me because I was handing the money to him with my left hand. When I sit at the computer, I must transfer the mouse to the left side or learn to work it with my right hand. As a left-hander, I must position my book in a certain way and write. Some left-handers have their hand trailing across the page as they write, and thus, fresh ink may be smudged. Smudge, smear, or not, lefties are there writing their hearts out. The list of challenges is long. From scissors and can openers to musical instruments, left-handers don’t have it easy, but they survive and thrive.

 

International Left-Handers Day:

International Left-Handers Day is celebrated on August 13^th and was founded in 1976 by proud lefty Dean R. Campbell to celebrate the uniqueness of left-handed individuals and to raise awareness about the challenges they encounter in a predominantly right-handed world.

 

Societal Pressure:

Society is curious, apprehensive, and critical of lefties or maybe even amused by them. A “left-handed compliment” or “two left feet” also has negative connotations. The word "left" has been steeped in stigma and misunderstanding in many cultures and may also be considered unlucky or sinister.“Left” comes from the Latin word “sinistra,” meaning “left.” Conservative rural and urban families may force their children to switch hands. Left–handedness is also linked to the performance of unclean tasks.  I’m grateful that my parents did not force me into being right-handed.

 

Southpaw:

"Southpaw" is a nickname for a left-handed person. The term "southpaw" is often used to describe left-handed sportsmen, boxers, athletes, and baseball players, among others. It is said to have originated from baseball, where left-handed pitchers faced west, causing their throwing arm to point south.

 

Fun Facts:

 

Only 10–12% of the world population is left-handed.

 

Left-handers have differently wired brains. They tend to use the right hemisphere of the brain, which is more associated with creativity, intuition, and spatial awareness.

 

Left-handers may excel in math, architecture and music because of their greater ability in spatial reasoning.

 

Research shows that left-handed people are more intellectually gifted and have higher IQs.

 

There exists in Goa, the world’s first museum for left-handers, featuring over 100 statues of famous left-handers.

(https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/a-museum-for-all-lefty-luminaries/articleshow/60039601.cms

The Indian Left-Handers Club celebrates and encourages left-handers. (https://www.indianlefthanderclub.com/)

 

In Morocco, left-handers were once considered cursed or devilish.

 

Some Famous Left-Handers:

Mahatma Gandhi, Jimi Hendrix, Oprah Winfrey, Ratan Tata, Amitabh Bachchan, Saint (Mother) Teresa, Barack Obama, Lady Gaga, Leonardo Da Vinci, Sachin Tendulkar, Steve Jobs, and Mark Zuckerberg.

 

Being left-handed is nothing to be embarrassed about or ashamed of. It’s a trait fashioned by nature. You’re kind of out of the mould but still beautiful.

To every brave southpaw who lives and loves life, continue to live and celebrate your life with flourish—smudges and all.

..org

 

 Image credit: Freepik images.

 

 

 

What can Young People teach us?

 Let’s Learn

 

From the time we are born, we learn how to sit, crawl, stand, walk, and talk. Then we learn from school, from our parents, from tuition, and from friends and peers. It never ends.

As long as you learn the positive, you’re good. You might even learn a few lessons from your mistakes.

On this learning journey, is there anything that we might learn from Gen Z and the millennials that we interact with, or are they just 'young and restless' in need of guidance? 

Well, there might be stuff that we learn from them. The millennial and Gen Z children that I’m a parent to have taught me a few life lessons.

 

Resilience

They are a resilient lot. They suffer from peer pressure, academic stress, and job loss, but more often than not, they find a way out and bounce back, sharper and more determined.

 

Quiet Perseverance

 “You must never disclose your plans,” says my twenty-six-year-old. Let the task be accomplished, and then shout it from the rooftops.

 

Honesty is the best policy.

Honest and forthright, they have no qualms about pointing out what is wrong. Young people value transparency even when it's uncomfortable. They remind us that honesty is the best policy.

 

Questions

Unlike older generations who accepted and obeyed, the present-day youth are full of questions. They question systems, traditions, religious beliefs, and even authority. They want to know the why, what, when, and how of everything. Progress, they believe, is born of curiosity.

Digital Prowess

Today’s youth are equipped with an enviable digital prowess. Navigating technology is a piece of cake for them. Let’s keep learning as they do, be it technology or life lessons.

 

Networking inclusivity

Most young people, including my offspring, have a fairly large network of genuine friends who are a major source of support. On a recent holiday, a friend of my son gladly hosted my husband and me for a couple of days in the apartment that she shared with two other girls. She even cooked for us. Her heartwarming gesture quite touched us. They build communities across borders and cultures, and that is something that we older generations can embrace more fully.

 

Mental Health

Young people are more aware of mental health issues and are quite vocal about burnout, therapy, and self-care. This again is something the older generations can emulate rather than keep up appearances.

 

Young people may not have it altogether, but the best teachers are not always the older ones.

This post is my entry  for the Blogchatter weekly prompt

Image credit: Pixabay and Freepik

Independence Day

 

Independence Day

 

2025 marks India's 79th year of Independence—79 years since she was freed from the shackles of colonial rule. It’s a holiday that everyone looks forward to, especially with a long weekend like this year.

I am proud of all that my country has achieved in these past 79 years. She has come into her own.

As flag-hoisting ceremonies are held and the national anthem, along with patriotic songs, are sung, I pray to God to bless her people with a stronger civic sense.

- I pray that her children maintain her secular fabric and that all live in harmony.

- That women are given the freedom and justice they deserve.

- That education and literacy reach even her most distant corners.

- May all her children learn to speak the language of love.

- That justice prevails and corruption is thwarted.

That the hard-earned freedom be used wisely.

May our beautiful motherland continue to rise from strength to strength, and may God be with her always. Jai Hind!

This post is part of Blogchatter's weekly prompt.

Image credit: Pixabay.

I

Tackling adversity

 

Tackling Adversity

 

“In the middle of every opportunity lies adversity.”

                                                         Albert Einstein

Adversity affects each of us. We may choose to wallow in self-pity, become angry, bitter, and frustrated, or we may decide to find the silver lining. In the challenge, we may see an opportunity to grow and become better versions of ourselves.

Adversity comes to us in various forms, including our relationships, finances, health, and careers, among others. Adversity may bring out the best in us or the worst in us. We would be doing ourselves a favour by choosing to find the opportunities and possibilities for strength and growth rather than lamenting our fate. Difficulties push us out of our comfort zones. They make us think and act differently in ways that we might not have otherwise. Instead of the “why me?” refrain, adversity can be an opportunity to pull up our socks and inch forward.

A close friend has lost her job as an administrator and accountant in a doctor's clinic. and has spent months running from pillar to post searching for another job but remains unsuccessful. She begins to explore fields different from hers and sees an opportunity in pursuing another passion—nursing. She’s working on it... She’s not sure if it will take off but is not averse to exploring the opportunity.

 

When adversity strikes:

 

·       Explore possibilities and opportunities

Cultivating a positive mindset and looking for opportunities to learn and grow from difficult situations is the key to tackling adversity.

 

·       Count Your Blessings

Despite the adverse situation, you are still blessed in so many ways. Recognising and giving thanks for the blessings can help you see opportunities in an otherwise hopeless situation.

 

·       Find and put in place a strong support network.

 

Having a strong and true network of friends, egging you on and helping you stay positive, is essential when you are under stress.

 

·       Adapt and Adjust

    The only constant in life is change, and once we get used to the idea of change while working on being adaptable and adjusting, it helps us deal with adversity.

 

·       Take a trip down memory lane

Reflecting on past experiences and the lessons learnt from them helps tackle present adverse situations.

 

Stay strong, stay resilient, and don’t let that opportunity slip away when it comes knocking on your door.

 

This post is my entry to the weekly Blogchatter Bloghop

prompt. 

When God became my PA for a day.

 

When God became my PA for a day.

 

Life was getting overwhelming. My to-do list was growing by leaps and bounds. I spent sleepless nights wondering where to begin and where to end. I decided to ask for divine intervention. “Could you please help me tackle this humongous list?" I pleaded and began to imagine what a day in my life would look like if the Divine One, or the Big Guy, as he is fondly referred to, were to be my PA for a day.

 

 

Morning Mayhem (divine intervention)

Instead of an alarm clock piercing my ears, I would gently be awakened by an angelic choir singing, “Rise and Shine.” That is certainly music to my ears. Instead of my usual filter coffee, a cup of foamy celestial latte sprinkled with stardust awaits me. There are pancakes, soft and fluffy as the clouds, and wild honey for breakfast. I needn’t worry about what to wear to work. My OOTD is all laid out, not a crease or a wrinkle to be seen. I love what I see. I don’t have to open the closet, stare at my clothes, and spend half an hour wondering what to wear. I usually have to negotiate a beastly traffic jam, but the Divine One is at work again. The roads are clear in peak time traffic, and I zoom through, reaching the office in record time.

 

Workday woes turn to workday wins.

Surprise! My boss decides to give me the coveted corner office because it has the best view, and my otherwise hot-headed boss suddenly thinks I deserve a reward for my hard work. I smile to myself. I log in to my computer and am delighted to find that the most difficult emails have been addressed; my constantly overflowing inbox is now clear. Spammers have been blocked, and business meetings that I wasn’t looking forward to ended on a happy and positive note, while a couple of them have been cancelled too. That’s what you call divine providence! The Wi-Fi works like a dream, and the printer is just so well-behaved. I’m not afraid of deadlines and begin pepping up the spirits of colleagues in TED Talk lingo. Oh! Could it get any better?

 

After Hours

I’m able to beat rush hour traffic, almost flying over honking cars and giant buses. I come home to dimmed lights and a supper straight from the good book—roasted fish, unleavened bread drizzled with olive oil, and an array of herbs.

I’m inclined to watch a movie, and I find Netflix streaming The Ten Commandments. I’m too tired to surf, so I watch a little and then find myself dozing off, so I head to bed. Once again, I hear a chorus of angels lulling me to sleep. I drift off, dreaming of a bearded gentleman in a long white robe who always has my back.

Perhaps having God as our PA isn't about performing earth-shattering miracles; it's about infusing our everyday work, commitments, and relationships with that same sacred energy and divinity, thus channeling that same sacred energy. 

My Tryst with Reels

 My Tr

I love watching reels, and I love commenting on them, but making them—that’s a tale I shy away from telling.

Reels are fun to make, but it takes a certain amount of skill and expertise to put one together. Once the images are chosen, you’ve got to arrange them, choose the music, and decide on how much of the tune or song you would like to use—here I generally mess up. I’m never able to apply the right length of the tune; it's either too long or too short, or the reel is made without any music, and I have to start over. I’m all thumbs as far as filters and transitions go and can barely manage the text, but I persevere, and the result is usually like that of a child learning to write the alphabet.

I watch Instagrammers reveal “secret Instagram hacks’ on how to get the “zoom effect” for a reel or story and umpteen other hacks on making the greatest reels ever. I decide to try a couple of these and end up attempting ‘a hundred’ start-overs.

Nonetheless, I’m participating in the Blogchatters #15DaysReelChallenge and wish me luck. 

Showers of blessing

Blue skies turn to grey,

The heavens open wide,

Streaks of light

Dance in the darkened skies.

 

Blobs of silver begin to fa

Kissing the parched earth,

 Filling every river and bay.

Children frolic in the rain

And watch paper boats sail away.

 

The mighty tree sways in glee

The grass is green

 The thirsty earth

Now begins to breathe.

.

Man rejoices

In the petrichor so sweet,

While bird and beast

Are still and calm.

Savouring nature’s balm.

 

It’s time to don your wellies and open your brollies

And sip on some warm broth, too

Do you love the rain

As much as I do?

Thank you, Lord

For your showers of blessing.

This post is part of the weekly blogchatter prompt challenge.

Image Credit : Freepik

 

The Indian Soldier: Valour, Sacrifice and More

 The Indian Soldier: Valour, Sacrifice and More

 

We learned to sing “Yeh Sone ki Hai Dharti” and a couple of other patriotic songs in school. Every time we sang them, I felt as proud as a peacock to belong to this wondrous land we call Bharat Mata.  

We love our motherland and would not want to endanger her or her sons and daughters in any way. Hence, I am also very proud of our soldiers, our bravehearts, who risk life and limb to protect and preserve our precious Bharat Mata and her children in every way. From the icy Siachen glacier to the scorching deserts of Rajasthan, across skittish border conditions, in the dense jungles of the northeast, our soldiers never fail to prove their mettle and might.

The Indian Army is the second largest military force in the world and is the  world’s largest volunteer army. A volunteer army consists of individuals who volunteer to serve rather than being conscripted or drafted. 

 

Protecting the nation:

The Army, Navy, and Airforce which comprise the Indian Armed Forces, are among the largest and most disciplined armed forces in the world. Their indomitable spirit and unwavering commitment to protecting the nation from the evils of war and terror are truly commendable.

 

Of the soldier’s life:

A soldier leaves the comfort of his home and his precious family to live and work in the harshest of terrains, under extreme weather conditions, and survive on the minimum of resources. He lives his structured and disciplined life without complaint. He is called to make the ultimate sacrifice if needed in times of trouble.

 As they provide yeoman service in disaster relief and civilian rescue, soldiers are not only warriors but also humanitarians.

 

A legacy of valour.

Whether in Kargil, in conflicts with her neighbours, or quelling insurgencies within the country, India’s military history is defined by the courage and heroism of her soldiers.

 

Our soldiers are a unifying factor in the diversity of India. They play a crucial role in the nation's security and stability. We salute them for who they are and what they stand for. Jai Hind! 

This post is part of the weekly blogchatterbloghop prompt.

Summertime

 

Zeal: The fire within

 

Zeal: The fire within

 

 

The dictionary defines zeal as a ‘great energy or enthusiasm for a cause or gain.’

As the Blogchatter A2Z challenge draws to a close, I commend the enthusiasm and effort of my fellow bloggers who pursued the challenge relentlessly, writing, engaging, and completing it.  

Zeal is that inner fire that pushes individuals to pursue a goal or a passion even when the path is fraught with obstacles. It is that secret ingredient that turns ordinary actions into extraordinary achievements.

 

Zeal Matters

Zeal matters because, without zeal, the most ambitious of goals might fall by the wayside. It is only zeal that keeps pushing us forward when things get tough. Zeal fuels commitment, sharpens focus, and turns aspirations into reality.

 

How Zeal Works:

·        Personal growth:

Cultivating zeal encourages learning and self-improvement. It’s about pursuing passion and achieving goals.

 

·        In your profession

Zeal equates to dedication and innovation. Zeal is the difference between doing a job and making an impact.

 

·        Spirituality

Zeal in religion works as a burning desire to build spiritual health and abide by divine principles.

 

·        Parenting

As a parent, your zeal is manifested when you nuture and encourage your children’s passions, instilling in them the values of dedication and enthusiasm.

 

 

Zeal in history:

There are many iconic leaders who, because of their zeal for their causes and commitments, were able to bring about reforms and change the political landscapes of countries.

 

·        Mahatma Gandhi

His unwavering commitment to non-violent resistance led India to independence and influenced the civil rights movement.

 

·        Martin Luther King

He passionately advocated racial equality and nonviolence and made the iconic speech, “I have a dream.

 

·        Nelson Mandela

Mandela zealously fought against apartheid in South Africa and transformed it into a multiracial democracy.

 

·        Mother Teresa

Mother Teresa’s commitment to caring for the underprivileged and sick made her an icon and, posthumously, a saint by the Catholic Church.

 

"Through zeal, knowledge is gotten, through lack of zeal, knowledge is lost; let a man who knows this double path of gain and loss thus place himself that knowledge may grow." ~ Gautama Buddha

Do you hold a strong passion towards a particular cause or commitment?

#I'm participating in the Blogchatter A2Z challenge. 

 

Young at Heart: Living with Intention

 Young at Heart: Living with Intention

 

 

My mother-in-law made a conscious decision to stay young at heart, and until she passed away at 91, she was cooking, attending church services, participating in church activities, and practising yoga. There were a few ailments, but she never let them deter her from living life to the fullest as much as was possible. At 61, I try to use my mother-in-law as a role model and not give in to the limitations that aging brings.

Staying “young at heart” doesn’t mean clinging to youth. It means making a conscious decision to remain joyful, curious, and open. Ageing is inevitable, but how we view the ageing process is a conscious choice we make. Some feel weighed down, while others choose to embrace each year with intention and adventure.

 

What does it mean to be young at heart?

 

·      Choosing to laugh freely and often because laughter is the best medicine.

·      Experimenting without the fear of failure.

·      Hanging in even when life sucks. Life is most unfair, but take time to count your blessings.

·      Choosing relationships that nourish rather than drain. Engage in genuine friendships and deep conversations.

·      Continue to move because movement is medicine, and movement supports agility and longevity.

·      Never stop learning. Stay curious, explore, read, travel, and broaden your horizons.

·      Stay lighthearted. Play, dance, and sing. Singing and dancing badly is permitted, so just do it. Play board games, doodle. Just have fun.

·      Dream on. Goals and dreams don’t come with an expiry date.

In the words of author Ruskin Bond, “Don’t stop dreaming, no matter how old you are and no matter how much you have achieved, because you can always do things better. You can write a better book, find a better piece of music or a better song or a greater painting. You could always do better. Hold on to your dreams.”

Gentle Reminder:

Ageing intentionally is more about living better than living longer. So live, laugh, love, be yourself, choose joy intentionally, and whisper a prayer.

 

What are you going to choose today?

I'm participating in BlogchatterA2Z

 

Xenial Living

 

Xenial Living

 

In today’s world, fraught with negativity, bad blood, and bloodshed and where technology overshadows genuine connections and relationships, we could do well by adopting a Xenial way of life.

The word xenial is derived from the ancient Greek words xenos, meaning stranger or guest, and xenia, meaning hospitality.

Xenial living is therefore a personal philosophy or a culture of openness, friendliness and mutual respect. Besides celebrating the bond between host and guest, xenial living also applies largely to how we interact with our community. 

In a nutshell, Xenial living is about opening up our homes to friends and strangers (a little cautious with strangers) and creating physical and emotional spaces where people are seen, valued, and welcomed.

It’s not about extravagant dinners or picture-perfect homes but about rustling up a meal even from leftovers for unexpected guests, inviting them to stay in our slightly messy home, and just being hospitable.

 

Why Must We Embrace the Xenial Way Of Life?

 

·       Fosters Community:

Being kind and hospitable deepens bonds, promotes trust and strengthens relationships.

 

·       The Ripple effect

Acts of kindness and generosity can create the ripple effect, where your kindness and generosity can inspire the receiver to do the same for another. 

 

·       Makes the world a better place

Kindness, generosity, friendliness, and compassion create a more beautiful world.

 

 

 Practising The Xenial way of life:

 

·       Be warm and friendly:

Make others feel valued with small gestures—remembering names, offering a seat or a ride, pulling out a chair, or simply smiling.

 

·       Create spaces for connection

Organize get–togethers, meals, or virtual meet-ups which bring people together and deepen bonds and connections.

 

·       Be Present

Listen to people. Let them feel heard and understood.

 

·       Offer support

Check in on a friend, a senior citizen, or a sick neighbour.

 

·       Practise inclusivity

Appreciate different cultures, traditions, and perspectives. There is unity and beauty in diversity.

 

What’s one Xenial gesture that you can make to brighten someone’s day? 

I'm participating in Blogchatter A2Z