Passion…unbridled

A lazy afternoon, sitting in the shade outside

A selection of books incorporating a range of themes wide

Spread before me, I leaf through the pages, trying to make up my mind

Which one to read- which one has words powerful enough to spellbind

My fickle attention, that invariably towards my device drifts

The book that can restore the precious gift

Of my undivided attention, I am trying to select

The book that might my passion for reading resurrect..

*

I absorb the warmth of the sun, the sights and sounds around me

And open one of the books, excited to be free

To read for pleasure on a perfect afternoon

I know I must start now, or this hour would pass soon

Without my attention ever being harnessed

I am a reader with a choice of books, I am truly blessed…

I was told I had to follow a script to succeed

The tried and tested path was the one I needed to take, indeed

Success was formulaic, all the hard work that I was willing to put in

Had to fit in the accepted framework, in order for me to win

*

I used to fancy myself an iconoclast, though in reality

It was the rebellious streak in me

That made me deviate from the path tried and tested

In following a mundane script I was not interested

So I disregarded the advice and decided I would chart

My own course, follow the dictates of my heart

*

I never achieved the instant success that people admire

But I stayed true to my heart’s desires

I put in my best effort, over time I seemed to achieve

Traditional measures of success, I began to receive

Positive feedback on my work- I was on the right track

I felt fulfilled, even if broader recognition I lacked

*

In the years since, success I’ve come to redefine

I am where I was supposed to be, my achievements are aligned

With my perspective on life, my worldview

More than traditional markers of success, my authenticity I value

At least sixteen hours of sensory overload (on a good day)

I wonder how my brain has not exploded away

Processing information constantly, in overdrive

I wonder if it is obstructing my ability to thrive…

*

The 24 hour news cycle drives up my anxiety a notch or two

The social media posts that seem too good to be true

The constant switching between stimuli that reduces my span of attention

I marvel at the extraordinary power of twenty-first century inventions

Over my mind- and the ability of my mental faculties

To adapt to the rapidly changing technologies

*

This sensory overload unfortunately exacts a price

And while behavioral dysregulation could be considered a personal vice

The mind has no time to reset when constantly stimulated

It needs quietude to be recalibrated..

*

The onus lies on me to step away

From the omnipresent phone for at least part of the day

To let my mind be freed from the constant barrage of stimuli

I have no choice but to unplug, I realize with a sigh

If you want my immediate attention

Anything related to travel you may mention

I perk up at the thought of traveling to a place new

To explore a new corner of the planet, or dream about it, is my favorite thing to do..

You can lure me with images of stunning scenery

You can arouse the competitive spirit in me

By giving me a list of places that must in a lifetime be seen

I love to check off all the places to which I have been

And when you talk about travel, be prepared

That some travel story I’m certainly going to share..

*

I do not consider myself particularly well-traveled, but I can say

I am overly enthusiastic when it comes to travel in every way

Most aggravations of my daily life disappear in a new place

With a boost of energy every challenge I am ready to face

*

Is it true wanderlust or is it an escapist tendency

That makes travel so attractive for me-

There is a thrill involved in escaping the grind

In leaving the daily humdrum of life behind

*

Writing down my thoughts on travel has already released

Endorphins in my circulation, my happiness has increased!

I could not be more overjoyed than to find

That those who read books regularly might be destined

To live a little longer than those who do not read

This is the kind of positive reinforcement I need

To continue reading books even when easy it is not

To find time to do so, when my mind is occupied by other thoughts..

*

To lose myself in a book is the stress-buster ultimate

A well-spun yarn a deep longing inside me satiates

It must be the stress-relieving effect of reading that provides

Longevity benefit- now I just have to decide

Whether to lie on the couch with a book or exercise

To increase my lifespan, I could do either, I surmise…

“It is a privilege to be busy”- I read somewhere

This reframing was so powerful that it had to be shared

*

Although about busy days I tend to lament

I have the privilege of a vocation where working hard is the intent

I am busy with household chores because the privilege I possess

Of having a home and family, in that I am blessed

To have a busy social calendar is a privilege, a sign

That meaningful connections with people I can find

I am privileged to have enough resources to be

Busy in pursuit of passions that ignite me

*

I am incredibly privileged to be busy indeed

I am privileged each day to earn the rest my body needs

You offer help with the purest intentions at heart

You assume their burden, their distress is tearing you apart

You solve their problems on your own

You’ve made things right, but you have not shown

Them the path towards solving problems that are theirs

You’ve actually not helped them, though deeply you care..

Next time they are in a similar bind

Ill-equipped to handle the issue themselves they would find

You might end up bailing them out again

Perpetually inadequate at solving their problems they might remain

*

To those dear to you, when an offer of help you extend

Do not solve their problems for them, because in the end

You want to empower them to deal with issues on their own

You do not want to carry them, but you want to make it known

That you are by their side, guiding them on the path to success

You help them more by giving a little less…

Women who can call the shots I’ve always admired

To be that kind of woman is my hidden desire

To stand firm and unwavering when I know I am right

To feel and exude confidence, to not dim my light..

*

Sometimes it appears to be a goal that I can attain

At other times, I fear I would always remain

Confined to my shell, wrapped as I have been

In my insecurities, unheard and unseen..

*

To take command of a situation, I need

To keep my emotions at bay, I must heed

The warning signs that creep up in my field of vision

My strategy should on the spot undergo revision

*

Sometimes, in certain situations, out of the blue

I find myself in charge, without consciously making an effort to

I am focused on problem-solving, with no time to spare

To listen to my inner critic, in that moment I am aware

That I have to take command, that there is no choice

Sotto voce, I hear an encouraging voice

Telling me to just do it, so I go ahead confidently

Such moments are rare, but I cherish them indefinitely

At first I was too skinny, I tried to gain weight

Then I swung on the other side in a cruel twist of fate

I shed some pounds, in order to attain

The ideal weight, but it was difficult to maintain

*

At first I was too talkative, I tried to talk less

But then I became too shy to express

My opinions, unfortunately to my detriment

I could not get it right despite my best intent

*

At first I was too conservative in the manner I dressed

That I needed to expand my sartorial choices was upon me impressed

Now I appear too flamboyant, I am advised to toke it down a notch

Therefore the sartorial styles of successful people I carefully watch

*

At first I was being me, but with the crowd I did not fit in

So I altered my behavior, in order to score a win

But I seemed to overshoot the middle mark somehow

In constantly altering what I did, I was unable to allow

Myself to be who I wanted to be, after years I finally realized

That trying to fit in was futile, I was surprised

To find that I could actually be comfortable in my own skin

I did not have to conform to pressures to fit in

Protein is having a moment right now

You are told more protein in your diet you should allow

Protein shakes have been popular, but these days

Protein is being incorporated into desserts in creative ways

Touted as guilt-free desserts because you can eat

A supersized protein-rich dessert instead of a modest sized treat

*

There are definitely times in life when more protein you need

Protein is good for growing children and post-surgical patients indeed

But the obsession with protein continues to grow

After all, fitness influencers with ripped bodies tell you so..

*

Low fat, low carb, keto, high protein

These diets make us think that wrong our traditional diets have been

Pushing us towards food ultra-processed

Which is ultra-inflammatory in excess

*

Healthy food has become harder to define

Every year a new diet is designed

To help people stay healthy and lose weight

There are many stakeholders deciding what goes on our plates

I am working after hours, trying to be efficient and fast

But the modicum of efficiency does not last

Tomorrow I have a housewarming party to attend

Respecting etiquette I do fully intend

To buy a gift but time is in short supply

To find something acceptable online I must try

So I take a few minutes to order a gift with a guarantee

Of a twenty-four hour delivery

Needless to say I have lost time that could have been spent

On work, but it is reassuring to a certain extent

That one of the many opportunities for a faux pas has been averted

It was a good thing that my attention was diverted..

*

A while later I get a reminder that my child has to perform at an event

His outfit is in the laundry, this reminder is a Godsend

As soon as I get home a priority laundry shall be

When it actually gets done is something I still have to see

*

My stomach grumbles, I am reminded that dinner has not been prepared

Now I am scratching my head to come up with easy-to-cook fare

There is stuff in my refrigerator and pantry

And I am trying to take a mental inventory

*

As I take a break from my desk, I glance at my tired face

I remember that I have to be in more than one place

Where I need to dress the part, some time I need to spend

To spruce myself up, to my vanity tend

*

On a Friday evening in the office I am staying late

To complete pending tasks at work, but everything else on my plate

Distracts me to remind me once more

That household responsibilities are always knocking at the door

I finally cross every t and dot every i and prepare to leave

At least now I can focus on my home, a sigh of relief I heave

I am in the middle of something

When I hear a message ping

On my phone, my ubiquitous accessory

I ignore it, it is probably not necessary

For me to interrupt my thought process

For a message, no one should need constant access

To me, and if it is urgent I should be called

Into the habit of repeatedly checking my phone I don’t want to fall

*

But my attention has already been diverted

My chain of thoughts has been interrupted

I give in to the temptation of checking the message I’ve received

An AI bot has sent the message, I believe

I should have ignored it, I know

But I an on call as a doctor, it cannot be so

That I disregard a secure message on patient care indefinitely

That is why my phone is not on silent mode, you see..

*

I try to deliver compassionate care

To my patients who are obviously unaware

Of the nature of all the messages I receive

As rude and distracted I probably am perceived

This is the constant struggle that I face

Trying to keep my attention in the right place

As I try to give patients attention undivided

I have to live with interruptions, I’ve decided