Life is complicated, we know that’s true
Fast-paced, stressful, anxiety-provoking too
So in the world today, culturally acceptable it has become
To talk about anxiety and various ways it can be overcome
From yoga to mindfulness, and therapy sessions
Expensive ways to combat anxiety are the new obsession
While these things help, I agree they do
I’d like to present a provocative idea too
Talking and thinking about anxiety is counterproductive
The more we acknowledge its presence the more we give
Ourselves the opportunity to get anxious
Instead of going about our merry way we lose moments precious
In thinking about our source of stress and how
To bring it down, as much as yoga or meditation would allow
What I think we should do is to pay no heed
To the feelings of anxiety, so that we don’t feed
That little monster, just starve it to death
This way we might nip our issues in the bud instead
That is what I am trying to do; it’s harder to practice
Than preach, I hope I can master this!
The Hymn of Creation
From Wikipedia: The Nasadiya Sukta (after the incipit ná ásat, or “not the non-existent”), also known as the Hymn of Creation, is the 129th hymn of the 10th Mandala of the Rigveda (10:129). It is concerned with cosmology and the origin of the universe.
“Who really knows?
Who will here proclaim it?
Whence was it produced? Whence is this creation?
The gods came afterwards, with the creation of this universe.
Who then knows whence it has arisen?”
In the course of my reading I stumbled upon
The mystical, awe-inspiring ancient song
Of creation from the Rigveda, five thousand years old
That poses to humanity a question quite bold-
About the origin of the universe, a conundrum
Borne out of a scientifically inclined cerebrum
The greatest paradox that challenged wise men
Was how the universe appeared all of a sudden
From nothingness- where was the cosmos hidden
For neither time, nor life, nor death existed then
There was no truth, there were no lies either
No day, nor night, no winds, nor ocean in the ether
The big bang theory vedic writers did not propound
They linked the beginning to a primal desire profound
That led to life and on earth its appearance
Yet they wondered who first became aware of the existence
Of the universe, for even God had not been there
Before the universe began, was it possible that He was aware
Of the very beginning of time, the creation of everything as is known?
Reading this Rigvedic verse I was deeply impressed
How folks in an era of superstition had expressed
An effort to understand the world in a scientific manner
Instead of placing everything under a “divine intervention” banner
To me, the idea of nothingness is a concept quite romantic
Just trying to describe the indescribable is fantastic
After reading this extraordinary hymn of creation
I had to share with you the evoked sensation!
Wordy dreams
The other day I realized how
It is possible to fulfill childhood fantasies now
With the world wide web being a platform
To display your talents in every form
When I was young I would try to design
A magazine full of stories conjured by my imaginative mind
Complete with illustrations, all drawn by me
That was how I indulged my childhood creativity
In the world of today I have partially satisfied
My youthful craving, in writing this blog I have tried
To create my own “magazine”, illustrated and written by me
It is amazing how the web lets me be free
To write what I want and share it with the world
Without having someone review or edit my words
No longer do I need to keep my ideas hidden
On my desk, anyone can see what I have written
I can leave my work open to criticism and (hopefully) praise
And learn constantly, revise my mistakes
While it is easy to publicize one’s writing today
It is also quite easy to get carried away
By one’s imagination, projecting oneself as a writer
From such a grandiose idea, I’d like to steer clear
I write to quench my restlessness
Tangled thoughts in my brain I like to express
That does not make me a writer, myself I remind
Though it satiates partially a deep-seated longing in my mind
To create something beautiful one day
Through my words, have something original to say
In a world full of myriad voices and words countless
I dream of my voice standing out, I do confess.
Sleuths in skirts
“She’s had a long life of experience in noticing evil, fancying evil, suspecting evil and going forth to do battle with evil.”
― Agatha Christie, on Miss Marple
I was reading a book titled “The Midwife and the Assassin” by Sam Thomas, a mystery set in 17th century London where a midwife and her assistant solve a series of murders and unearth a major plot to blow up the Parliament. This got me thinking about all the female detectives that have featured in detective fiction, hence the poem.
(Source: wikipedia, wonderlist, crimefictionlover)
Women have found an unlikely place
To be featured, a rather unusual space
For them to occupy in works of fiction
Yet they fulfil the role with consummate conviction-
This poem is about the female detective
Who, by virtue of her curiosity, is quite effective
At finding the culprit by her powers of deduction
(Without using any feminine charms or seduction)
She has a keen eye, a perception remarkable
A fascination with minute details that enables
Her to notice things that others have ignored
(Including the pompous police officers on board)
She does not have any academic qualification
But knowledge of human behavior is her specialization
There are no stereotypes, she might be
A teen like Nancy Drew or a middle-aged lady
Like Miss Marple, anywhere in the world she might be
In different settings, different eras you might see
A remarkable woman solving the mystery of a crime-
Give me such a detective novel to read any time!
Empty out to be (mind)full
“Look past your thoughts so you may drink the pure nectar of the moment.” – Rumi
Mindfulness seemed to be the new buzz word
“Be mindful” in numerous ways I had heard
My social media feeds were inundated
With mindfulness practices that were constantly updated
So drifting from one thought to another like I do
All the time, lost in the world wide web (it’s true)
I stumbled upon its concept and definition
It failed to make a mark on me despite repetition
Amid the various images of women and men
Meditating in a yogic posture by the picturesque ocean
The one picture on mindfulness that caught my attention
Was one of Winnie the Pooh and Piglet’s conversation
Where Pooh asked what day it was; Piglet replied
The day was “today”- “My favorite day” is how Pooh described
The day, capturing in one sentence uttered in innocence
Of the practice of mindfulness, the entire essence..
**
So I jumped on the bandwagon with some trepidation
Mindfulness cures illnesses, but I had no expectations
When I tried to focus my mind on the here and now
My cell phone was chirping away, my mind would not allow
Me to get rid of racing thoughts, but I persisted
Gradually I warmed to the concept though my brain resisted
Being rooted in the present was something my hyperactive mind
Had not done before, but my thoughts finally began to unwind
Layer after layer of thoughts was slowly discarded
Finally with intense focus on the present I was rewarded
Once I grasped the concept, there was no turning back
Being mindful while doing everything, this became my life hack
**
Voices are myriad, distractions abound
In this day and age, with technology around
Being fully present in the moment is a lost art
With this small step, I have made a start!
Nomophobia
Nomophobia- the fear of being without a cell-phone
“Cell phones are so convenient that they’re an inconvenience.”
― Haruki Murakami, Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage
The skies crashed down on me that day
The axis of my earth began to sway
The day I committed an error of omission
What an error it was-I had no premonition
Of the anxiety and grief I would go through
Not to mention profound guilt too-
On forgetting to take my mobile phone
To work- I felt stranded, I felt alone
Unable to communicate with anyone
Anxious about missing texts in dozens
Afraid that I was needed urgently somewhere
To attend to a patient, and I was unaware
I remembered I had a pager with me
(With messages forwarded to my phone automatically)
That solved one problem, e-mail was the next issue
I had to see patients, I could not sit glued
To a computer, so I found myself gravitating
Back to a computer innumerable times, hating
Myself for the compulsion to check e-mail
I tried counting, deep breathing, to no avail
I spent the day in a mental fog, I think
Not until I got home I allowed reality to sink
United with my phone, I realized that day
That I was addicted to my phone, to my dismay..
When I went over the events of the day, it was clear
I was inconvenienced, but my irrational fears
Were never realized, it was possible to function
At work without my phone, unlike my first assumption!
Pink or blue? Any color would do
I am in the process of arranging a birthday party for my son to which both boys and girls are invited. We managed to find a gender neutral venue and theme, but it has been difficult to find objects for goodie bags that are not gender-specific (even pencils and erasers have clearly segregated themes-princesses for girls and cars/ superheroes for boys!) I feel like we take this gender divide a bit too far, although in recent years, prominent retailers have stopping labeling toys as belonging to girls or boys.
Looks like we all have culturally divided
Girls and boys in two groups, we’ve somehow decided
Pink is for girls, boys’ color is blue
Everything that they need is color coded too
Not only are there different games and toys
Even pencils, pens and books differ between girls and boys
In these times when in equal education we believe
This difference in upbringing we fail to perceive
Dolls and make-up for girls, cars for boys
Division is created by segregation of toys
Princess books for girls, for boys superheroes
No gender-neutral home decor, to add to my woes
Why such differences when both have to know
The same three “R”s, the same life skills as they grow
The gender divide in the market is so wide
Gender-neutral objects for my child are difficult to provide
If it were up to me I would eradicate
All gender based segregation, let the innate
Understanding of the world for a child be bias-free
Perhaps more well-adjusted adults we would see…
Learning to learn
So my colleagues and I were talking about preparation for an examination. The study material is available in two formats- textbook, and hour long videos of in-depth lectures on different topics . Most of my colleagues found the videos much easier to follow and more engaging, while I could watch them only after reading the text (others went back to the text after watching the video). This brought me to the topic of visual learning It is estimated that 80% of use are visual learners. Here is my take on visual learning-
(sourced from pinterest)
This fact, surprisingly, I recently found
That visual information affects us in a way more profound
Than text- about eighty percent of what people learn
Is actually visual, giving me cause for concern
For I am a person whose nose is always inside
The pages of a book, behind the printed word I hide
Rarely watching videos, documentaries or television
Believe me, it’s not even a conscious decision
My surroundings, too, I sometimes ignore
When the book I am reading interests me more..
So was I missing out on learning new stuff?
Seemed like learning from books might not be enough
Worried, I tried to watch images, moving and still
To see if some enthusiasm I could instil
Within me to become a visual learner, which I was convinced
Would allow me to learn faster, learn more things..
Soon thereafter I realized that the “visual learner” in me
Did not care for images, it was the words that she did see
When I read, words come alive out of paper for me
Arranging themselves into vivid imagery
I do not need visual aids to learn what I need to
Is what I concluded- plain old words would do!
Roaring mom
The term “Tiger Mother” comes from the book “Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother” written by Amy Chua, and refers to a strict disciplinarian mother. The methods of a tiger mother are quite controversial, with many people condemning such a harsh approach to parenting. While the original reference has a cultural aspect to it, in my poem, I do not intend to make any cultural statements. I believe all over the world there are some mothers who push their children to excel, and I think that might not always be a bad thing.
I know the “Tiger Mother” has received
Criticism from everyone for her beliefs
She is a merciless tyrant who does not care
About her child, she is so focused that she is not aware
That her child in trying to excel in every sphere
Is stressed out, stretched thin, living in fear
Of being disciplined by her if he falls short somehow
Of her expectations, no leniency does she allow
The psychological impact of her strict parenting style
She does not realize, is snatching away her child’s innocent smile
Her child is weighed down by expectations unrealistic
He has no opportunity to develop in a manner holistic
This is the critical manner in which we perceive
The mother who pushes her children to achieve
Yet I’d like to say something in her defense
She teaches her children that the essence
Of success lies in hard work and discipline
Such a mother inspires her children to win
Some say this comes at a cost to
The self-esteem of the child, I don’t think that’s true
For when a child sees the fruits of his labor
His confidence soars-that’s a point in her favor
She motivates her children to be diligent, and thus succeed
Isn’t success what we all want for our children indeed?
No I am not saying all mothers should try
To be tiger mothers, the idea would not fly
Some parents bring their children up to do
Whatever interests them, keeps them happy too
That approach works well, I do agree
I just think that’s not the only way to be
It takes all kinds of parents and their techniques
To create diverse adults with qualities unique!
The Magic of Folk Tales
“The Dreamer awakes
The shadow goes by
The tale I have told you,
That tale is a lie.
But listen to me,
Bright maiden, proud youth
The tale is a lie;
What it tells is the truth.”
― Traditional folktale ending
Reading mature novels with complex plots
One after another, satisfied I was not
Though the stories were real, the characters believable
I think I was missing the simplicity of fables-
Except that fables and folk tales of all kinds
Are not written to appeal to an adult mind
So into the children’s section of the library
I went in search of village belles and fairies
A book of Celtic folk tales was my first find
As I read through the pages, it did remind
Me of the myriad folk tales of my childhood
Full of morals that I had only half understood..
I went back to the days when my companions literary
Were counselors of kings full of wisdom extraordinary
Their wit and presence of mind made for excellent
Stories to read, narrate or enact for amusement
Each story had a lesson in living embedded
Reality of life was through a fictitious tale threaded
Many Indian folk tales featured strong women
Standing up for themselves in a society dominated by men
In the era before Christ were some of them penned
In today’s world, their teachings are still relevant
I was not by any means confined, I must tell you
To Indian folktales, I read tales from other lands too
Some of my favorites featured a fool named Ivan
Who slept above the stove, in a Russian tradition
He always had brothers, wiser in people’s eyes
Yet when there was a crisis, Ivan the fool would rise
Since he paid no heed to the norms of society
Without any fear, he would fight the mighty
And emerge with a princess and a kingdom
He was simple with a good heart, so he always won
Trolls, gnomes and spirits from Scandinavia
Warmed my heart, taught me some trivia
About life in the Arctic climates that I
Had no other reference to go by
Tales of the Iroquois and the Tainos
Taught me about people I did not even know
Bamboo trees, dragons and other fire-spewing creatures
Were of folk tales from the Far East, prominent features.
I could go on and on, pouring into this verse
My fascination for folk tales, for good or for worse
Instead my six year old I shall entertain
With folk tales from a lesser known terrain.
Announcement- new blog- The Circle of My Life
My precious readers and dear friends
I have expanded my blogosphere presence
Bored of writing in verse and eager to share
With you my life and things about which I care
I have started a new blog, and would like to invite
You all to stop by, comment or give me insight
circleofmylife.wordpress.com is the address
I shall be grateful if you visit, I confess..
Fragrant memories
I read in medical school that olfaction
Is associated with memory and emotion
More so than the other senses four-
I have understood this fact more and more
Having left my home and moved away
Olfactory memories have been there to stay-
Each time I prepare spiced chai in my kitchen
My nose-brain connection creates the heaven
Of my childhood, sends me back in time instantly
To the place where an integral part of life was tea..
The act of sifting through Indian spices aromatic
Of smelling them on my hands, makes me ecstatic
The fragrance of frying in butter clarified*
Evokes emotions complex that cannot be described
Each time I try in my kitchen a traditional recipe
My limbic system goes into overdrive, you see
And I am suffused with the warmth of longing and love
Who knew the best memories were made around a stove?
Passion...unbridled 