Nomophobia

Nomophobia- the fear of being without a cell-phone

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“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.

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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-

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(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

child-reading-with-mother

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

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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?

 

 

 

 

 

All boxed up and coming to you

400x200-subscriptions-soaps

I had always known the word subscription in

Reference to a newspaper or magazine

Or a library of books and media varied

So I must admit I am surprised indeed

To see online subscriptions available nowadays

For everything you need- I am amazed

At the plethora of services to which you may subscribe-

Customized clothing to fit the lifestyle you describe

Beauty and spa products- monthly delivered

Containing products of which you had not heard

But exotic, wrapped in an alluring package

Customized for you, suitable for your age

Healthy meal deliveries to help you navigate

A busy lifestyle, useful if cooking is something you hate

If you want to cook but difficult are decisions

On what to cook daily, here’s a solution with precision-

Meal planning services are there to cater to you

You get a recipe and wrapped ingredients too

Of course it can be customized to accommodate

Your dietary preferences, your eclectic palate

If going to a gym is not your cup of tea

Fitness subscriptions can solve that problem easily

 

 

The items delivered to you periodically

Are curated and personalized carefully

Opening the box for each shipment

Is like getting each time a new present

Sellers know this, and they are also aware

Once people subscribe, they seem not to care

About the subscription, and quite rarely

Make a move to cancel immediately

Even when the service does not worthwhile appear-

This is just normal human behavior..

 

This subscription commerce is on an upward swing

Meanwhile, I shall continue to buy my own things. 

(Image source: https://www.abcfw.com/subscription-boxes-fulfillment/

 

When Santa found no chimney

dsc04307-copy-2Chimneys are a staple of folklore

Santa descends via one, does not knock on the door

The big bad wolf decided to creep down

The pigs’ chimney, in boiling water he did drown

You would expect chimneys have always been around

When references to chimneys in fables abound- 

There were no chimneys a thousand years ago, in fact

For smoke from a fire to escape a house, there was no tract

Except a hole in the roof that barely prevented folks

From suffocation, the rooms were always filled with smoke

Imagine the smoke getting in your eyes constantly

(Medieval folks must be less prone to allergies, certainly)

 

When houses became two-storeyed, it created a conundrum

For escape of smoke, chimneys developed as a solution

The humble chimney gave people some respite

From the smokiness they constantly had to fight

Fireplace came to occupy its permanent place

Against the wall in a corner, instead of the center of a space

 

 

Fireplaces and chimneys underwent major alterations

In their designs over centuries, in different nations

 

 

Knowing the history of chimneys makes me glad

That I am not in the medieval age, it would be sad

To have my home and clothes in soot soaked

I am glad they invented chimneys to drive out smoke!

 

 

 

Hygge on a snowy day

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“Hard to explain and even harder to pronounce, the Danish word ‘hygge’ (pronounced ‘hooga’) translates roughly to ‘cosiness’. It may be hard to say, but that hasn’t stopped people finding out that hygge might be a recipe for a happier life. Oxford Dictionaries even shortlisted hygge as one of their Words of the Year 2016!

In essence, hygge means creating a warm atmosphere and enjoying the good things in life with good people. The warm glow of candlelight is hygge. Friends and family – that’s hygge too. There’s nothing more hygge than sitting round a table, discussing the big and small things in life. Perhaps hygge explains why the Danes are the happiest people in the world?”

Source: http://www.visitdenmark.com/hygge

I am not Danish; I do not live in a place

Where darkness extends for endless days-

Yet when winter displayed its brutal force

And snowstorms conspired to confine me indoors

Cabin fever threatened to prevail

Daily life appeared oppressive and stale

I stumbled upon this concept new to me

That the Danes practice extensively-

Hygge, a word I can barely pronounce

 

Spelt much differently from the way it sounds

On being introduced to this Danish  quality

Of “coziness and comfortable conviviality”

“Eureka,” I cried, this was the missing piece

To conquer seasonal affective disorder with ease

 

So I warmed to the concept in a way

Quite bourgeois, I am slightly embarrassed to say

Lighting scented candles, spreading around me

Cozy blankets, warm mugs of gourmet coffee

(You get the picture- the trappings typical

Of enjoying cold weather in magazine articles)

But  doing this, though helpful, did not eliminate

My claustrophobic and mildly depressed state

 

On yet another day when we were snowed in

Sitting near the fireplace with a blanket, sipping

Hot, aromatic ginger-cardamom tea

Watching together an uplifting movie

My son huddled close, hugging me with affection

I thought the scenario was close to perfection

And then I realized, this was hygge in its spirit true

My house now had  hyggelig vibes too..

A warm atmosphere, sharing love and laughter

With loved ones and friends, the people who matter

They can fill the longest of cold nights

With cheerfulness, optimism and pure delight

This is hygge that keeps Denmark the winner

As the happiest nation on earth despite the dark winter!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The History of Literacy

” The written word endures, the spoken word disappears.”

Neil Postman

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I cannot think of a scenario somehow-

My imagination simply does not allow

Absence of  unquestionable supremacy

Of the written word, of basic literacy

Yes, I know there are people illiterate

I cannot but consider them unfortunate..

But it was interesting for me to find, 

As I read a book on history to entertain my mind

That less than a  thousand years ago 

Literacy and education were not considered so-

True, there were those learned few

Who the rest of the population looked up to 

For advice on medicine, justice or law

However, there were not many who saw

Value in learning how to write and read

It was expensive, took away precious time indeed

Away from working with their hands, toiling in fields

It was a lot of effort for very little yield

Production was simple, consumption local

Few people went far from their location focal

No records were needed, as most trasactions

Were completed to mutual satisfaction

As the society more complex grew

Keeping written records became a concept new

Promoting, in transactions, accountability

 

The written word proved its indispensability

 

So here we are, many centuries later today

Where reading and writing take up most of my day

 

 

As for many of us, who take a  literate society  for granted

It fascinates me to know this was a skill not much wanted

A thousand years ago-how we have evolved again

From working with our hands to working with our brain!

(What else can you expect from a girl for whom life exists between the pages of a book?)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

https://www.google.com/#q=your name

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Let me tell you something that might sound

Quite narcissistic the first time around

How about searching for your name 

On the world wide web, are you game?

I have searched for my name just for fun

To find if my unique name is more common

Than I thought, but the kind of information

That I found was an eye-opener of sorts

Whatever it was, an ego trip it was not

Besides my professional credentials (not quite accurate)

My professional licensure for my state

Professional and blog articles meant to be shared

I found personal information of which I was unaware

Just the thought of life being displayed online

Scared me, introduced unease into my mind

Some information I changed or anonymized

So it would not be visible (at least) to every eye

Though I know that once information makes its way

To the world wide web, it is there to stay

Most of it I had no hand in placing out there

But it can be tracked by future employers, I’m aware

On a lighter note, I was quite happy to know

That the percentage of exact name matches was quite low

Which means my name is still quite unique

(At least I got one ego booster that I had set out to seek)

 

So I urge you to type in google search your name

Your perception of the web might not stay the same!

(Image source: http://www.personalbrandingblog.com)