Antarman By Mhc - January 2023

ANTARमन

BY MOTHERHOOD

CLUB

JOYFUL JANUARY

SERIES 3- VOL 1

Mrs. Ila Pachauri Chief Happiness Officer

Mr. Mukesh Bhatnagar Co - Editor

Mrs. Akta Sehgal Founder , Chief Strategy Officer & Editor in Chief

Mrs. Pooja Dixit Chief Content Officer

Akta Sehgal

Archana Joshi

Ashok Bhatnagar

Babita Singh Pawar

Dr Dipankar Chaudhari

Dr Rajni Chaudhary

Dr Smita Dipankar

Gurrit K Sethi

Ila Pachauri

Lakhsmi Harit

Manjeet Rajbir

Manju Lata

Monica Goel Diwan

Mukesh Bhatnagar

Muktesh Sharma

Neeta Manwani

Poonam Bhatnagar

Ratan Kumar Agarwala

Sangeeta Venkatesh

Sneh Dutt

Stuti Sharma

Sunita Chauhan

Swetha Sundar

An Appeal

Ummido ka indradhanush an anthology of poems initiated by Motherhood club and compiled by Mrs Akta Sehgal Founder Motherhood Club and Manas Wealth, Mrs Ila Pachauri Chief Happiness Officer

Motherhood Club and Founder My little greens, and Dr Indu Bansal Director Radiation Oncology Narayana Hospital.

The book is a poetic expression of hope by 101poets across the globe for Cancer warriors, caretakers and anyone in despair

This anthology is a way to raise funds for Cancer patients from humble background who are not only a victim of the disease but also financial toxicity.

Each book bought gets us closer to bring hope and cheer in the life of one, if not many.

The book can be bought by paying a nominal sum of Rs 250, all the proceeds shall be used to support Cancer warriors from humble background. The amount can be paid via paytm/google pay at 9971477004, along with your address and courier charges on actual

Akta says, its not the money but the intent with which you shall buy this book and that shall make all the difference.

Editorial

Dear Members,

Welcome to the first edition of this calendar year "Joyful January 2023". Indeed, joyful as the year has begun with the preparation of our upcoming 4th Anniversary and MHC Achievers Award - "Illuminating the path" on 25th February 2023. our very first offline event. Yet again January 2023 saw a new beginning where MHC Team for the first time put up a book stall to raise funds through Ummedo Ka IndraDhanush for cancer warrior and sold 10 books.

MHC Team also started a unique campaign #walkformindbodyandsoul to support Kids Education and cancer warrior through Ummedo ki Gullak. We are delighted to share that ummedokigullak campaign begun on 26th January 2023 and we already have raised 8100 through it.

Sanitary Pad drive for this quarter has begun and shall continue till Mid March.In addition to this the first tranche of funding Rs 12,000 has been sent to a cancer warrior undergoing chemotherapy.

With our continued effort on health wealth and happiness, we have collaborated with a mental wellbeing platform Miind My Miind. We also have partnered with Good Works trust, Noida to support them for quality education and help them with CSR Funding. To that effect two meetings have been facilitated and we are hoping for a positive outcome. We shall also be holding sessions for the kids on Motivation, self-development, financial skills and many other non-scholastic activities.

Kiddomentoring our kids' arm, helped Apna Ghar school kids take part in a folkdance competition which shall be held in February on the occasion of Basant.

As they say all work and no play /fun makes jack a dull boy, we too at Motherhood club give equal importance to having fun. We acknowledged our fellow poets by reciting their poems on World Hindi Day and continued the effort for 3 weeks. We also arranged a musical evening to celebrate Republic Day and Basant Panchami . Members from all over the country joined and sang melodious songs and appreciated each other too.

All In all a " Joyful January"

Best Regards

Akta Sehgal Founder & Editor In Chief

Sneak Peek February

MHC Anniversary MHC Achievers Award

Menstrual cup training

Memories of January 2023

Memories of January 2023

The three pillars on which Motherhood Club stands tall. All our conversations and social drives are around these themes

The Biopsychosocial Model Mind,

Body, And Behavior

Being healthy doesn’t only mean the absence of injury/disease but also, fully functioning Psychological, Social and Physical well-being. The Biopsychosocial Model in psychology encompasses the three big pillars that interact and affect our overall health. Physiological, social and psychological health are deeply interconnected.

Life doesn’t come with a map, and its unexpected twists and turns can lead to daily stressors, life-changing events, trauma, distress etc. For example, even a small stressor, like giving an exam, being late for work or missing a deadline can cause a rapid rise in Heart Rate, Blood Pressure, Fatigue and Headaches. Now, imagine the distress is lasting or perpetual, this causes physiological and mental ramifications such as heart problems, digestive and gastrointestinal issues, diabetes, anxiety, depression, rapid shifts in mood, etc in the long run.

Ignorance of mental health can cause various physical problems and social difficulties. Stress is not just a physical battle but also a mental strain that we so often forget to take care of, and these residual or ongoing symptoms contribute to larger health problems. When stressful situations occur, our brain directs the body to produce small amounts of Epinephrine (Adrenaline) and Cortisol, also known as the Fight or Flight reaction, in order to prepare itself to take on the challenge we need the strength of Mind, Body, and Directed Behaviour.

Being caught off guard by unprecedented pressures is something we all have to deal with, however, having no coping mechanisms in place we dive headfirst into difficult or tense situations and don’t know how to find our way out. Whether the stressor is small or big, if we fail to cope, it extends itself into the realm of physical and mental problems explained at the beginning of the article.

We take care of our body and physical health, social status and environment, but oftentimes lurking in the background are emotions, feelings, anxieties or thoughts we have repressed. Contrary to popular belief psychological difficulties cannot just be assessed by physical manifestations of the problem. So how can we function fully without being at peace with our mind, the organ that drives a hundred percent of our bodily and social function or vice versa? The biological effects of our unexplored psyche are evident. The longer we avoid our mental battles, the harsher the repercussions, because if ignorance was bliss, wouldn’t we all be in heaven.

There is a sea of coping techniques which maintain the equilibrium of our biopsychosocial self. The Modern era is full of Positivity, Mindfulness, Yoga, Fostering wellness in personal relationships etc, and it leads to growth in solution-focused behaviour, problem-solving techniques, management of stress, anger and overall growth in the way we cope. However, these are just a few examples of how we can embrace psychological wellness, and learn to take on all kinds of difficulties. We can stop these chain reactions and adjust with a more healthy concept of how we view ourselves and what we are actually capable of. Prevent the rebound of psychological backlash on your physique today and maintain a balance between your body and mind. It’s time to soar the skies with the limitless possibilities of our mind.

While this is a phenomenon that can be thoroughly understood, diagnosed and treated with the help of mental health experts, Miind My Miind brings to you exclusive and easy access to a variety of psychologists and therapists who can aid you in your path to stable mental health. Connect with us to know everything and anything about mental health service.

Gurrit Kaur Sethi Founder Miind My Miind https://www.miindmymiind.com/

Green buildings

For the past few years, we have been hearing and reading about Green buildings. In 1990, the world's first green building standard was released in the UK. In 1992, because the "United Nations Conference on Environment and Development" promoted the idea of sustainable development, green buildings gradually became the direction of development. Whether the project is commercial or residential , Green building concept is being incorporated in major constructions around the world . Green building is the practice of increasing the efficiency with which buildings and their sites use energy, water, and materials, and reducing building impacts on human health and the environment over the life cycle of the building. In short green buildings are environmentally responsible and are resource efficient.

BENEFITS OF GREEN BUILDINGS:

Green buildings definitely have Environmental Benefits ,few are mentioned here:

1.Enhance and protect biodiversity and ecosystems

2 .Improve air and water quality

3 Reduce waste streams

4.Conserve and restore natural resources

Economic Benefits

1. Reduced operating costs

2. Improved occupant productivity.

3. Enhanced asset value and profits.

4. Optimized life-cycle economic performance.

Social Benefits

1. Enhancement of health and comfort of occupants.

2. Better indoor air quality, reduced product emissions.

3. Minimal strain on local utility infrastructure.

Green buildings incorporate sustainable materials in their construction like reused, recycled content, material made from renewable resources. Green buildings create landscaping that reduce water usage by growing native plants that survive without extra watering. These objectives expand and complement the classical building design concerns of economy, utility, durability and overall comfort.

`Green Building’ includes measures to prevent erosion of soil, rainwater harvesting, use of solar energy, preparation of landscapes to reduce heat, reduction in usage of water, recycling of waste-water and use of world-class energy-efficient practices.

Let's make a conscious effort towards promoting more Green buildings for long term sustenance of environmental goals.

Ila Pachauri

Savings can save you in difficult times

Saving money is one of the essential activities for creating wealth and securing the future. Future as we all know is besieged with uncertainties. Uncertainty may come in any form - in the form of an accident, health issues, career upheaval, business breakdown etc. Savings provides a contingency plan to fall back upon in tough times or an unfortunate event. Putting aside a sum of money in a systematic manner can help steer out of many hurdles and obstacles in life. Saving can also work as a fortress wall for the whole family.

Savings can answer a number of your goals, be it short term or long term. One can plan recreational tours, meet higher educational expenses of wards, purchase a vehicle, ensure a happy retired life, re-ignite a forgotten hobby.

The question is how to go about saving and when to start. How much needs to be invested to make saving plans work. It depends on what you dream for yourself and family. Your current income, intended financial needs and important milestones to achieve. Ever noticed an ant, squirrel or honey-bee, they incessantly work but most of the time, indulge in saving for hard times. Look at honey bee, it collects pollen in small quantities but builds a huge honey hive. So it is worth understanding for men to create wealth through small savings. Hence there is no one figure that can suit everyone. But this much is certain, the earlier you start, the more builtin capacity develops in due course. You will remain enthusiastic to save more.

There are a plethora of plans, offered by financial institutions and companies with lucrative interest to retain money value and beat inflation. There are investment schemes, ensuring life cover, tax benefits and emergency withdrawal as well. It is advisable to consult a financial consultant or people having experience in wealth management. Never hesitate to seek proper guidance, before putting your hard earned money. Founder 'Manas Wealth' Ms Akta Sehgal Malhotra, is one such friendly guide in the investment business for more than two decades.

While there are many direct ways of saving money, it should not be forgotten how you can save indirectly and better. Credit Card culture has taken the masses by storm. Credit Cards, no doubt provide a temporary sense of relief but impulsive and staggering usage attracts a high rate of interest and can deplete savings in no time. Wise usage can limit debt and ensure savings remain intact and growing. If you keep a track of expenses, it enables you to have a clear picture about your monetary status. You can identify the things that are not important and accordingly savings can happen automatically!

Mukesh Bhatnagar

(A former bank executive)

Be an investment savvy person.

DETAIL SYNOPSIS ON CAPITAL GAINS ACCOUNT SCHEME 1988

Author: Ca RATAN KUMAR AGARWALA

TYPES OF CAPITAL GAIN A/C

Two types of deposits can be made under Capital Gains Account Scheme which is explained below:

• TYPE A – Savings deposit

• TYPE B – Term deposit

i. Maximum term allowed for a Type B account is 3 years within which the money must be utilised:

a. 2 (Two) years for the purchase of new house property or

b. 3 (Three) years for construction.

ii. Further, auto-renewal of term deposit is not possible in case Type B Term Deposit A/C like a regular fixed deposit.

Form for Opening either Capital Gain Savings A/C or Capital Gains Term Deposit A/C is earmarked as Form A.

PROCEDURE TO OPEN CAPITAL GAINS ACCOUNT AND MANNER OF DEPOSIT:

The procedure to open Capital Gain Account:

• Capital Gains account can be opened by making an application in duplicate in Form A.

• Documents such as PAN, proof of address, a photograph would be required.

• Deposit can be made by any mode such as cash, cheque, demand draft etc.

• The deposit can be made either in lump sum or instalments.

• Separate applications shall be made for availing exemption under different sections and separate capital gains accounts shall be opened.

WITHDRAWAL FROM CAPITAL GAINS ACCOUNT SCHEME

There are no restrictions on withdrawal from Type A – Savings Account. Premature withdrawal from Type B account is allowed, it is allowed only after transferring the amount to Type A account and there may also be consequential penalty.

Any amount withdrawn is required to be utilised for specified investment within 60 days of withdrawal and any unutilised amount may be re-deposited to Type A account immediately.

Form C shall be submitted for withdrawal from an account for the first time and Form D for subsequent withdrawal providing details of the manner of utilisation of money withdrawn earlier. Hence, no chequebook or debit card is issued to the depositor.

• Transfer of account

o While change in nature of deposit is allowed such as savings to term deposit or vice versa, any transfer from Type B account to Type A account before maturity period is considered as a premature withdrawal.

o Further, transfer of account from one branch to another branch is allowed but not between different banks.

o Form B is required to be submitted for conversion of account.

CORPORATE GYAN

Campus to Corporate

All or most of the organizations go for campus hiring, now –a-days as, it is considered to be the most versatile, vast and cost-effective talent pool, offering multitude of immense knowledge and skill sets. After putting the students through a variety of selection procedure, they welcome the chosen ones on-board. And then begins the task corporatization of the students.

What happens when these fresh graduates join the organization? They are suddenly out of the confines of a classroom and thrown into the reality world. What are the changes they experience? What was this world that they imagined before they joined? What are the thoughts / feelings they go through? How do they equip themselves to cope up with the enormous changes which they are expected to understand and imbibe immediately. A student’s world changes 360 degree when he/she moves to corporate straight from the campus world. It may lead to many physical and mental changes. They are now in a world which does not have a safety net comprising their parents, teachers, etc. They are now required to take decisions and act on them, at times with no or minimal guidance. The environment they have been used to so far, suddenly changes and they are expected to get accustomed to this way of living immediately. They are always on alert as being freshers, they are being monitored for potential more closely.

Each person reacts to this situation differently. Some of them adapt to it like a fish to water. Some may, however, get confused, overwhelmed, or dejected as this world appears to be different from their expectations.

Both for the employee and employer this is a very crucial time as during this time only the future working styles and attitudes are germinated which may become tough in future to be altered. Establishment of appropriate values, positive culture, trust, empathy, teamwork etc. get imbibed into their minds at this juncture only. For ensuring that the freshers joining the organization turn out to the future talent pool, it is important for the organization to put in a system which aids in the smooth transition from student life to corporate life. On part of students too, the ask is to approach this new life with open & positive mind and, enthusiasm. With this mindset, they would be willing to take on future challenges in true spirit.

Monica Goel Diwan Chief Cheering Officer Motherhood Club

Your House number and its vibrations. -

Neeta Manwani Numerologist and healer

Just as every person meets a special code, each address carries a special vibration. There are three important items you need to know about your address number,

1) Is it an overall fortunate vibration?

2) Does the vibration resonate with one of your three codes of date of birth numbers?

3) Does it resonate with your partner & kids ?

It is quite important to understand how your address affects you, whether it is a residential address or a business address. This knowledge alone will have a major effect on your day to day life. You will be able to identify which addresses keep you in the flow with minimal challenging interference and distractions, and just as importantly, which do not.

Numerology is all about numbers. What does each number denote? Each number represents a planet. Each planet has energy and vibrations related to that particular planet. When we talk about the address we majorly talk about the number of your house and block. We add the numbers and reduce them to a single digit to check the vibration of that number.

Next we match the house number vibrations with the owner/boss of the house because ultimately all the decisions and influence of the owner of the house will be on every member. Then we match with the Rest of the house number vibration, and how it is going to affect other members of the family.

Let us discuss each number and its overall vibrations in a short manner.

House number 1

Number 1 denotes optimism, achievements, manifesting new ideas and Favourite activation and determination, and not a laid-back lifestyle. This address does not like clusters, but it can also create ego among the family members.

House Number 2

It denotes and favours partnership. Love fosters harmony and balance between the members of the family. You feel more emotional and co-dependent on each other in the house, but it can also create too much thinking or anxiety kind of issues.

House Number 3

This number is perfect for the creative, free-spirited person, it attracts movement, emotional expression and change, but it is less likely to attract financial abundance.

House number 4

This number brings a sense of order, discipline, stability and long-term residents. It fosters slow and steady progress and protection but does not support freedom or a flowing sense of ease. It is more serious than fun.

These are a few general traits we have discussed but more details can be saught after checking the compatibility with your date of birth which requires proper numerology reading so that you can understand whether this house address and house number are suitable for You and your family members or not . If it doesn't suit then there is no need to change the address, we have some easy remedies in numerology that can help to change the vibration of your address and you can prosper peacefully and happily in your house

Science

As a mother of 2 extremely curious children (all children are born curious), I felt the need to answer their questions about the world in a way that they can understand and relate to and that's what made me start Curiosity Kids 6 years ago. We (as parents) end up spending a lot of time on maths, languages right from their childhood but science somehow gets importance only in later years. Research shows that the majority of neuron connections in the brain are made during the first 7 - 8 years of a child's life, whatever they get exposed to in those years has a strong bearing on their personality/interest in future.

Few things you can do as parent to foster their natural curiosity

1. As parents, talk to your children about how science comes into play in their daily life whether it's riding a scooter or playing a musical instrument. Try to answer their questions when they raise them, and help them find the answer. In Curiosity Kids classes we encourage children to find the solution by trying the same experiments using different methods.

2. Explore and understand the world with them. Explain to them how things work, foster their natural curiosity. Whether it's a hike or a visit to a cycling trip.... there are always some concepts of science to explore during those trips. Don't think children will not understand - they will if you explain it in a simple yet interesting manner. Curiosity Kids workshops encourage hands-on experiments which help children explore concepts of science and gives them confidence to share it with their peers.

3. Connect with children on what they like to do - their interests. If they like something, try to explore and understand that with them. For example, one of our topics in our classes is "Science in Sports" - it's a popular topic as children love understanding how science comes into play in various sports they play.

4. I feel as parents (adults) we lack the imagination or creativity that our children have. It's good to sometimes listen to their imaginative stories and be part of them. It's something we can learn from children as they view the world with a fresh perspective. I love spending time in our workshops as I always enjoy seeing the excitement & imagination of children.

5. Make exploring and observing the world around them as a way of life, not essentially a learning assignment.

You can learn more about Curiosity Kids by visiting our India website www.curiositykidshindia.com or Global website : www.curiositykidshk.com or follow us on IF/FB: CuriositykidsHK

Stuti Sharma Co-Founder, Curiosity Kids

is all around us and we need to encourage children to observe and explore it!

Regional Corner

गलमोहर

आभाळाया नया दरीतन

लाल फल ही बरसली

गलमोहराया झाडावरती

खशाल जाऊन पडली

प दखण व राणीच

आल पीगण सार पहाया

मरही साद घालती

मधर घट चारवाया

नव नवलीया लाब वया

दमाखात बघा खाली पहाती

करमजी रगावरी भाळनी

प तयाच याहळती

खळ खळ वाह नझर हा

मजळ याचा नाद पहा

चढया वली झाडावरती

व राणीला बलगाया

- डॉ. सौ. रजनी चौधरी

घर असाव घरासारख

घर असाव घरासारख

नको नसया इमारती

घरातन दसावी नद परी पायावरती सयबब सोनरी

दारापढ असावा रागोळचा थाट

आतरतन पहात असाव कणीतरी वाट घरावरती तोरण असाव मायया शदाच वटवाया घननळया छायच

ाजाचा सडा पडावा दाराशी

सगधाची लयलट हावी मनामनाशी

अधारातही काश हावा आशीवादाचा

पाऊस पडावा शभ शभाचा

न दसावी गलबत अन माडाच बन

सावरणार हात अन कणखर मन नको रावा नको सवा गालीचा नायाचा गफत जावा घरात असावा आनद आनद

मळावा सवाना हानद.

- डॉ. सौ. रजनी चौधरी

मतया

मानस पटल पर

जब कभी

बीत कल क मतय न दतक द.

कभी हसाया, कभी लाया

कभी सहलाया तो कभी गदगदाया, कभी डराया.

कछ मीठ तो कछ कड़वी.

कछ मतय को तो फर स जीन का मन

तो कछ को सदा मटा दन का वफल यास.

य मतया

सच म ह

मर जीवन क लघ कथाए. सब मल कर

रच रही

मरा जीवन उपयास.

य मतया य लघ कथाए. मश शमा

"गार

क गार , रोज ...पर मन स काजल

क पास भर लत ह मझ वो अक म.

बाल का गजरा...हराए मन का कोना कोना, कान क बगल म लगा वो गलाब का फल रझाए मन को खब - खब.

कपड़ का इ बस जाए तन क रोम - रोम म,

मर गल का मगलस....जस ह मरा जीवनोत.

सहाग शय स बना य य, नया क हर रन स कह ह महगा

आा और वास बसा ह इसम

सहागन का य गार

कवल गार नह ....ह पतता क शान, आा का दप जलता ह जहा, दप दप करत सर स दवता भी डरत जहा।। ---मज लता

इतज़ार

अधरा गहरा चला था , सफ़द बफ़ क चादर न सारी वाद को ढक रखा था ।

र तक फला था साटा

जस, दन क शोर को, रात क ख़ामोशी न हो डाटा ।

ठड थी या अकलापन

म अपन आप म ही थोड़ी सी और सकड़ गयी ।

और कतना लबा ह य इतज़ार ,

य सोचकर अदर तक सहर गयी ।

अभी कल ही क बात लगती ह,

जब वो तीन साल पहल, फ़ौज म भत होन गया था ।

मा हर साल मलन आऊगा, य वादा कया था ।

कभी नग, कभी जग

हर बार एक नयी वजह न उस रोका था ।

अब फ़ोन पर दखकर दल नह भरता ह , इन बाह म उस पकड़न का जी करता ह ।

वो दन ह, जब वो आएगा

उन बीत सब दन क सार दद मटाएगा ।

, जगल जगल मदमत मआ क पड़ बौराए ह .

सनो अब आए हो तो क य नही जात सदा सदा क लए ....

कतनी चमकदार ऊजा लात हो , वामता क वीना क तार झकत कर जात हो .. अा अा य कत न ऋत च बनाया ह ,

तहार हस य समय आया

Journey Within

Every time you leave home alone, Another road takes you , Into a world you were never in. On a journey to find a new YOU.

You take with you, your dreams and hopes. And a suitcase full of unopened experiences. Conversations with self, mindful silences and more. You touch a part of you that lies hidden behind pretences.

Meeting new people and sharing a laugh with the old. You keep discovering untold territories of your spirit. Places become teachers and languages bridges that connect. The compass of your soul aligns you inwards where you fit.

Don't miss the invitations that wait along the way to transform you.

Bristling with eagerness to enrich you from inside out. You connect to your inner self, feeling refreshed and rejuvenated .

Awakening your energies, and erasing all feelings of fear and self doubt.

Swetha Sundar

Journey of a flower

I open my petals to the rising Sun, Letting the soft rays caress my soul ....

I see the green grass shimmering like a huge silver Bowl. I sing softly to the tune of humming birds, Aah ! This morning bliss cannot be shared in words. I sway along with the rhythm of gentle wind, My friends join me as I gaily sing.

Everywhere I can see blooming heads shining like beams. Presenting a rainbow , bursting at the seams. Bees prance and dance around me , Gently probing and digging my soul, I feel like a mother while churning out honey. I feel blessed on this beautiful journey.

Heady fragrance in the air, intoxicating so many lovers on the fray,

All the rainbows cover them happily while they enjoy their romantic day.

Suddenly rough hands appear from nowhere , They snatch me from my bed , I am shocked, I am scared. inbows now lie cramped in a basket , way to the elusive flower market . ! ,This is what my Karma sends, his is where my journey ends .

Ila Pachauri

What does Travel mean to me? Sangeeta Venkatesh

Being the daughter of an army officer, it was a childhood that had its share of rough and tumble- but so full of adventure. What surpassed every privilege was the opportunity to call many places my home, something every person with a transferable occupation will identify with. Even today, the ice-breaker with a stranger starts with the conversation about a common destination; and the fact that one could identify with a particular geography or culture.

A classroom without four walls: Childhood is an impressionable age, and what I learned from people and their surroundings, far surpassed what I learned from geography and history text books. These are classrooms not confined to four walls and travel is the best way to immerse yourself in geography, history, culture, languages, gastronomy, and biodiversity. The learning continues even to date.

In today’s tech-obsessed world, travel has equated itself to that perfect Instagram shot, or a tick in the box or something to tell the relatives on the next family event. In my opinion, travel has to be meaningful. In the last five decades plus of my life, there is nothing that excites me more than discovering a new destination. The learnings have always left me awestruck. The concept of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’- the realisation that the world is a family truly comes forth when you travel. The distance does not matter. Whether it is the people you met in the Amazonas forests of Brazil, the mountainous areas of Bhutan, or the streets of Dublin, there is an underlying commonality - that every human carries the desire for a peaceful life after putting in an honest day’s work.

Out of my comfort zone: Travel has inspired me to get out of my comfort zone as I try to imbibe and adjust to another lifestyle, albeit briefly. At the end of a trip, I come back humbled knowing that we are just part and a mere speck in this vast ocean of humanity. Travel need not be an exotic location all the time, but the act of packing a suitcase and setting off on an unknown odyssey has always managed to rejuvenate – as if a reset button was pushed. I have taken my boys on trips since when they were little. That required planning and structure, but these days I find that there is a joy in spontaneity, if we don’t ‘over-plan’ an itinerary. Travel also shows you that we need only a few things for you to subsist, though travelling lighter is something I could perfect a little bit more! Ladies, do you agree?

My Therapy: The pandemic had brought a grinding halt to travel, and with the increase in screentime, my husband and I wanted to discover ways to ‘disconnect to reconnect’. This period turned out to be interesting, as we discovered hidden gems right in the neighbourhood. There was so much to explore and learn about the local history. These were authentic experiences that changed the way I looked at the city I lived in. It was indeed therapeutic when it was doom and gloom the world over. What makes you happy, automatically boosts your health and immune system! What an added bonus.

Travel can sometimes exhaust you – with the airport check-in annoyances- but hey it teaches you to be patient! At the end it is so worth it, when you get the opportunity to witness life elsewhere first hand and make exciting memories. If I were given a choice to travel or buy a diamond necklace- I am sure you would know what my choice would be. More than anything, travelling has kept me feeling young and more curious about the journey called ‘life’. I would be remiss if I don’t give my gratitude to the Almighty for all the travel opportunities that have come my way.

Road side story on - Harmony and Humanity

Mukesh Bhatnagar

On a visit to the holy city Ujjain, we visited various shrines, temples and places of religious & historical importance. One of the twelve Jyotirlinga, popularly called Mahakaleshwar, Harsiddhi temple, Chintamani temple on the banks of river Kshipra, Maharishi Sandeepan Ashram, Gurukul of Lord Krishna, Omkareshwar temple and other temples are in and around Ujjain. Ujjain is said to be the salvation giving city and was once the capital of Vikramaditya. Thousands of devotees visit the places for solace and peace of mind. Legends about their origin and religious sanctity makes the devotees to come here and pay their obeisance. However my focus in this story line are not those sacred places but three very ordinary people who left a mark by their simplicity and human values. They are one by Raees Khan, Tony and Kamla Devi

It so happened that on our third day of stay in Ujjain, we hired two ten seater autos, for going around the local temples and sightseeing. One of the drivers of the vehicle was a Muslim, by name Raees Khan. The driver of the other vehicle was a Hindu named Tony. They were found to be childhood friends and were in their mid 30s, ferrying people around the city for more than two decades. Their understanding for each other and respect for the tourists was remarkable. Raees Khan our driver knew every detail of the Hindu Gods and temples. Looking into the time constraint he also advised the time that needed be spent in each temple, so to cover all the places. His knowledge of Hindu gods and goddesses was remarkable. Another of his qualities came to fore, when the tyre of his vehicle got punctured. The sound of the burst made Tony to stop and he came running to help. Both of them replaced the wheel in no time. At no point did we find them, belonging to different religious beliefs. Their understanding of each other, cooperation and working in tandem was a sight to inspire and to learn from.

Another opportunity to learn a lesson, came from another temple complex, when I decided to stay back in the vehicle, while the group went inside the sanctum. It was a delightful sight to see cleanliness around the big complex. However utilising the time in hand, I went round the complex to buy some water bottles. At about 50 metres away I saw a tea and snack stall, where an old lady was manning the counter. I asked for 10 bottles which she herself picked and handed over but without a carry bag. It appeared she had none yet she looked around and finally picked a bag containing vegetables. She emptied, cleaned and kept the bottles into it. But for whom you need so many bottles - she asked. I jokingly said there are some kids who may need water in the traveling. 'But I haven't seen any kids alighting over here' - she said. My reply brought her a smile. I said my kids are in the age group of 65 to 70. She thanked me for my concern for all but what she told about herself was really inspiring.

Kamla Devi, at 74, comes to her stall daily at 6 am from a nearby village and prepares tea for about 20-25 people. Those people are none but the sweepers and cleaners of the sprawling temple compound. On knowing that, I said'and this you must be doing freely'. Kamla Devi nodded in affirmation and said"बटा दन सवा स श करो तो बत

Raees, Tony and Kamla Devi inadvertently left an inspiring message by their conduct and outlook towards life.

You are enough By Sneh Dutt

Life is a roller coaster ride.

It has no obligation to follow our plans. All of us witness it's constant ups and downs. We go through struggles and face setbacks in the journey of life yet move forward.

Challenges in life are inevitable. I am no exception. I too had my platter full of challenges. I am sharing what I learnt by hit and trial and practiced to navigate through my life. It is not to preach but might help in making choices while coping with challenges of life.

1. In life, we always have a choice —Fight or flight. We can either choose the victim mindset and crib,feel dejected OR we can develop a positive mindset to stand tall in the face of unfavourable circumstances. Choice is yours and so are the consequences.

2. It helps if we acknowledge, accept and address our challenges. Denial won't help .If life puts us through tough situations we have to be tougher. Allow yourself to pickup your pieces and don't let challenges dismantle you.

3.It is very important to maintain personal values and healthy boundaries. Your actions should match your words.

4. Don't forget to be kind to yourself. We are generally harsh upon ourselves when problems weigh us down and throw our life out of gear. Self-criticism does not help. Coping gracefully helps.

5. Remember ,worrying is not an action and we don't know it all so step back and introspect for a while . Let some time flow while you gather yourself .

6. It is OK to make mistakes..Keep your sense of humour alive. It helps in laughing off the seriousness of life and in being optimistic.

7.Keep a journal.Write what you can not or don't want to say to any one.Pour your heart on to the pages .Believe me, it is cathartic.

8.Have a date with your inner child who will hold your hand and whisper a long forgotten secret to you "All storms pass. "

9 Learn and unlearn too .It helps in gaining an insight and modifying our perspectives . We have to be flexible in our approach .

10. Let perseverance and resilience be your mantra.Don’t give up.Come out of your comfort zone of familiarity. Take your life heads on .

11.Read good literature . Follow your passion.Be in the company of persons with positive attitude. Gratitude, compassion and purpose in life are essential to develop positive attitude.

12.Be in touch with your rustic wounds.Spend time with your pain.Learn your lessons. Instead of treasuring how you were hurt begin to honour the way you are healing.

13.I might appear a rebel but sometimes you have to ignore all the 'should haves' to sustain your sanity.You have to break the shackles and be your authentic selves without the anguish of what everybody thinks.

14.Being financially independant empowers you.Don't compromise with self respect and self worth.Nurture your own self .You have to stand in your own wisdom and power. You have the ability to decide on your battles.Your efforts will fine-tune you to perfection.

15.Reclaim and keep reinventing yourself.Try Rewriting your story. Renew your life script.You might be delicate but you are not weak. You will emerge as winner with head held high.

Art By Ashok Bhatnagar

Art By Lakshmi Harit

Art By Archana Joshi

Art By Swetha Sundar

Doodle art by Dr. Dipankar Chaudhari

Photography by Akta Sehgal

Salt lake Sambhar Rajasthan

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