City Scope Edition 15

Taal

Dear Readers,

With technological and scientific advancements this year, our world has become more interconnected than ever, offering abundant opportunities for people to attain new heights and pursue brighter futures in foreign lands. Irrespective of where we choose to carve our lives, we unwaveringly carry our rich culture and heritage with pride. As we venture into new territories, it is our traditions and beliefs that serve as the foundation of our identity.

Hong Kong, a city where countless communities and their vibrant cultures come together, stands as a testament to unity in diversity. As we bring to you our 15th edition, we continue to uphold the commitment of bridging the gap between diverse minorities and the local communities with pride and enthusiasm.

This edition features an exceptional individual, Mr. Gurdev Singh Ghalib, on the cover. He has played a pivotal role in the preservation and renovation of the only Sikh temple in Hong Kong — Khalsa Diwan Gurudwara. His life story gives us a lesson on how our roots, cultural identity, and service to the community, play a vital role in shaping our lives and the betterment of humanity. His will and dedication to preserve and promote his culture serve as an inspiring example to us all. It reminds us of the importance of cherishing our traditions and sharing them with the world.

I also extend my heartfelt gratitude to our contributors as well as our readers for their constant support. Your zeal and support keep us moving forward. I hope you continue to grow and shine, and may happiness be at the centre of everything you do.

Kulddeep Buttar

CONTRIBUTORS

is passionate about travel, animals, and everything sustainable. Carries an experience that is a perfect amalgamation of hospitality and digital marketing.

IUSHEMAGOO

is an avid reader and a photography enthusiast. She is keen on creating content from the heart. You’ll find that her quips and quirks are as unique as the spelling of her name.

SAHILMAGOO

is the Editor of the magazine. He completed his master's in Journalism from the University of Hong Kong and has worked with several media houses.

VIDHIARYA

is a lawyer by profession who is also studying French on the side. She is a dog mom, a travel enthusiast, and inquisitive towards local crafts and handlooms.

is a therapist and the founder of theperspectiveco. Best described as a learner learning to unlearn and relearn. She is on a mission to normalise therapy and create awareness.

MAHAKARORA

is currently pursuing her bachelor's in Commerce while working as a graphic designer. She is always on the look out for new designs and likes to create mandala art.

SUMRITBUTTAR

is an explorer who wants to know more about digital innovation. He completed his graduation in Public Health with minors in Business Administration from SFU.

VINNIGUPTA

is a graphic designer by profession and a dancer by passion. She is a foodie, a die-hard K-drama fan, and a travel enthusiast who wants to learn new art forms.

SAHIBAVAID

is a personality transformation coach and speaker. She helps people in reprogramming their subconscious mind to become a better version of themselves and live a joyful life.

is a certified life coach, cognitive behaviour therapist, neuro-linguistic practitioner, and a motivational speaker. She is also the founder of Aesthetic Horizons by S&S.

is a realist who builds castles in the sky and believes in centaurs and power of the force. She drinks (coffee) and knows things. You are invited to be a part of her stories.

ZIKRIAFAHEEM

is a foodie, movie buff, and a sports fanatic. He wants to be a part of new opportunities and is eager to make a difference. He completed his graduation in Business Administration.

Dr. Kulddeep Buttar

CEO, Buttar Group of Companies

APURVAMENON

ASTHAANAND

DIKSHADOGRA

VANIRAJ

VIDHI ARYA

Senior Copy Editor SAHIL MAGOO Editor-in-Chief (sahil@cityscope.hk)

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Technical Consultant: DINENDER PC

For Advertisements/ Guest Columns/Contributions: info@cityscope.hk editor@cityscope.hk @cityscopehk @CityScopeMagazineHK

DISCLAIMER

The team members of City Scope have tried to make sure that the content is accurate on the date of publication.

The views expressed in the articles reflect the author's opinions and are not necessarily the views of the publisher and the editor. The published material, adverts, editorials and all other content is published in good faith.

City Scope Magazine accepts no liability for any loss or damage of any kind caused by the errors and for the accuracy of claims made by the advertisers.

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ROUND THE GLOBE

Since times immemorial, people have relied on the power of stories and plays than that of the weapons to revolutionise the world. Let's explore five such plays that changed the status quo

Whenever the world has demanded a change, protests, revolutions, and governments have taken over. It is arduous to think of bringing change through a piece of writing or through a performance. But human beings have relied on stories for values since the Iliad and Odyssey.

Robert Leonard and Ann Kilkelly shared in their book, 'Performing Communities', "Sometimes the plays speak what everybody knows; sometimes they speak what nobody says. Sometimes they open paths or unveil truths; sometimes they challenge the way things are done or understood".

It shouldn't come as a surprise that theatre, for social change, can solve multiple problems in society. Playwrights and theatre companies have relied on the power of performance to lead the world of social change. Theatre has rightly worked as an antidote to numerous social prejudices.

Theatre takes place in small rooms and affects limited numbers of people. In an era of movie downloads, stadium gigs, and global coverage, theatre still serves as a medium of change. Here are some plays that paved the way for a dynamic shift in the mindset of people towards life. They not only served as appropriate examples of social change but also attracted an immense amount of audience.

A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen

A revolutionary 1879 play by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen, 'A Doll's House' was phenomenal in its time. The play captures the story of Nora, a housewife living her life perfectly and just about to celebrate Christmas with her family. As events of the play unfold, she comes to realise that life is not as rosy as she imagined it to be. She comes to be of the thought that self-fulfilment opportunities have been lesser in this male-dominated world. Even as Ibsen denies having the intent to

write a feminist play, it is said that when Nora closes the door on her husband at the end of the play, the door bang is heard in all of Europe. It was a great sensation at the time and caused a "storm of outraged controversy" that went beyond the theatre to the world of newspapers and society.

The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams

'The Glass Menagerie' is a memory play by Tennessee Williams that was released in 1944 and brought the rise of Williams to fame. The play has strong autobiographical elements, featuring characters based on its author, his histrionic mother, and his mentally fragile sister. The play is introduced to the stage by Tom, the narrator and protagonist, as a memory play based on his recalling of his mother Amanda and his sister Laura. 'The Glass Menagerie' played a huge role in changing the course of modern American drama as it placed the recollection of memories, an altogether different play genre, in place.

Shivi

Playwrights and theatre companies have relied on the power of performance to bring about a social change. Theatre has rightly worked as an antidote to numerous social prejudices. Here are some plays that paved the way for a dynamic shift in the mindset of people towards life

are semi-autobiographical projections of O'Neill himself, his older brother, as well as their parents. Eugene O'Neill offers the audience his unbeatable surrealist capabilities in this marvel play.

Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller

Who does not wish for the representation of their lives on stage? Though, the theatre was always not so. Since the advent of the art form, the theatre has been about kings and the political motives of people to gain power. The common human being found it extremely difficult to be the subject of the stage. Yet, playwrights such as Arthur Miller made it a point to include the person living their lives 'normally', to be presented on stage. 'Death of a Salesman' presents a world where a man who is a nobody dies from a car accident and that serves as a critique of the capitalist American society. 'Death of a Salesman' is a 1949 play that premiered on Broadway in February 1949, running for more than 742 performances. It won the 1949 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and Tony Award for Best Play. It is considered, by some critics, to be one of the greatest plays of the 20th century.

Happy Days by Samuel Beckett

Long Day's Journey into Night by Eugene O'Neill

'Long Day's Journey into Night' is an absurdist play in four acts written by American playwright Eugene O'Neill, first published in 1956. It is predominantly known as his magnum opus and one of the most effective American plays written in the 20th century. The plot of the play comprises a single day in August 1912. The setting is on the Connecticut seashore home of the Tyrones — Monte Cristo Cottage. The four characters in the play

A recollection of plays is incomplete without a mention of the master of absurdist plays, Samuel Beckett. Along with his magnum opus 'Waiting for Godot', Beckett released several other plays, which commented on the mutual misery shared by humankind post the two world wars. Since the wars, the world has been filled with existentialism and distortion. Beckett's plays pave the way for the presence of such distortion. 'Happy Days' is an absurdist play that talks of a woman burning herself. The play is cynical to the point that the woman preparing her own grave keeps repeating that the days that she is living are in fact, happy. The play is a grave critique of war and the fixation of human beings with capitalism.

Bali's aura Spiritual healing through

Multitudes of temples, beaches, and Instagrammable scenic spots make this paradise any traveller's first choice

Lempuyang Temple

Sahil Magoo

When you are planning a vacation, what are the essentials that you seek?

The trip should be relaxing, the place is known for its scenic beaches and natural settings that leave you in awe, has multiple adventure activities to engage, and a rich cultural heritage. If this checklist is similar to that of yours, then your next destination, without a doubt, should be Bali.

The popular Indonesian island is a treat for travellers as it promises luxury at affordable rates. While it is the most preferred location for couples owing to its Instagrammable natural wonders, bachelors and bachelorettes can find solace and their true selves if nothing more.

Around 87% of the population adheres to Balinese Hinduism, making it the only Hindu-majority province in Indonesia. Owing to its strong ties with Hindu culture and traditions, it didn't come as a surprise when one of the locals referred to our group of five guys as the 'Five Pandavas'. Another noteworthy feature of the place is the warm hospitality of the locals. Since 80% of the economy is dependent on tourists, the locals go over and above to make their guests feel welcomed in every way possible.

Throughout the year, Bali is hustling

and bustling with tourists as it has been voted as the world's top destination twice in TripAdvisor's Traveller's Choice award in 2017 and 2021.

The plan for us was simple — we go, we acclimatise, and we strike off as many points as we can from our to-do lists. However, our execution and timing weren't ideal. As I share how our trip unfolded, those who are keen on visiting can make

notes of what to do and what not.

Since there are no direct flights from Delhi (India) to Bali, we had to do connecting flights at wee hours and almost wait for a day to reach our destination.

If there's a direct flight from your boarding city, you are off to a great start already. However, if there isn't, make sure that you plan your commute properly as the so-called 'economical flights' might save you a few

Bali

bucks but the time lost and the flight delays that one might have to undergo are not a given. After taking a halt in Ho Chi Minh, we landed at Ngurah Rai International Airport in Denpasar. From there, we took a cab and reached our hotel for the next two days — The Kana Kuta

Our plan for the first day was to cover Sacred Monkey Forest Ubud Sanctuary and Bali Safari and Marine Park. On the second day, we were in Ubud again for adventure activities — Bali Swing and ATV quad bikes. On our return, we explored the Kuta night market to do some local shopping and try out the cuisine.

Sacred Monkey Forest Ubud Sanctuary

Natural habitat for the Balinese long-tailed macaque, the Monkey Forest has a wide variety of monkeys. Visitors can witness monkeys roaming freely in the sanctuary, take pictures with them, and feed them. The 12.5 hectares of forest has 186 species of plants and trees and three temples — Dalem Agung Padangtegal, Holy Spring, and Prajapati Temple. The entry to these temples was restricted, however, the 20-minute walking trail in the lush green forest was worthwhile.

Bali Safari and Marine Park

We decided to end the day by visiting the

Bali Safari and Marine Park for a night safari. The package includes dinner and a night safari where the visitors are loaded in a caged bus. During the tour, you can feed herbivore animals and witness a once-in-alifetime event where lions and tigers will be fed on top of the cage by the staff. You'll be able to witness the predator up close and that experience is exhilarating, to say the least. The tour ended with a 'Fire Show' and post that, we headed back to our abode in Kuta.

Bali Swing

If you are on Instagram, you would have surely seen your peers' timelines flooded with pictures of the Bali Swing. Yes, it is one of the many activities that adrenaline junkies look forward to. With multiple swings to choose from, we were spoilt for choices. Moreover, the trend has picked up momentum and several companies now offer different scenarios as a backdrop along with the option of having a low swing of 10 metres (for those who are afraid of heights) or that of 70 metres and above

(for those who want a panoramic view).

ATV quad bikes

After the Bali Swing, we wanted to drive the ATV quad bikes through different terrains. Another day activity that would get you all excited for what is to unfold. What is important to note is that it is difficult to get a slot as the place is swamped with tourists. Make sure you start your day early and are able to get these crossed from the list as soon as possible. Riding the quad bikes through the rice fields, caves, bamboo forest, and the riverside was a surreal experience. We were so captivated by the surroundings that it turned out to be one of the best days on the tour.

On the third day, we shifted from Kuta to Seminyak — the party hub of Bali. Our plan was to go to Finns Beach Club and spend our afternoon relaxing by the pool before we headed out to the clubs in the evening to celebrate Christmas Eve. As we were about to step out, the rain gods decided to alter our plan. Non-stop rain for the next four hours meant that we were confined to our rooms in Icon Villa.

Later in the evening, we went to Mexicola to celebrate Christmas Eve and the vibe of the place was so palpitating that it didn't matter if it was raining or not. If you have plans to party till the wee hours then

Sacred Monkey Forest Ubud Sanctuary Balinese long-tailed macaque

A glimpse from the night safari

Throughout the year, Bali is hustling and bustling with tourists as it has been voted as the world's top destination twice in TripAdvisor's Traveller's Choice award in 2017 and 2021

La Favela and Red Ruby are your best bet. Over the next two evenings, we explored the nightlife and party culture in Bali. It goes without saying, there's no dull day here. You don't have to wait for the weekends for the places to be packed. Owing to tourists, every day is packed and crowds just keep multiplying as the night progresses. Nightlife in Bali is an experience that's hard to explain in words. The best way to do so is by living it.

Finns Beach Club

Touted as the world's best beach club, Finns is the place to be if you are looking for a perfect sundowner. With four pools, nine bars, three restaurants, seven kitchens,

DJs and live performances, you can spend your day with friends and family. Enjoy the sunset that sets the tone for pool parties that can go till midnight on weekends. To our dismay, it kept raining heavily on the days we tried to visit. While the first attempt was a total washout, we were able to make the most of the cocktails and delectable delicacies on our second try. Regardless, the electrifying atmosphere is worth the hype.

Mount Batur

A must-visit spot for trekkers and landscape admirers, Mount Batur is located one and a half hours away from Ubud by car. This active volcano, which last erupted in 2000, serves as a perfect setting to witness

the sunrise amid mountains and lush green surroundings. Since the visibility is low during the rainy season (December-March), and given how our plans were being marred due to incessant rain, we decided to skip the tour to Mount Batur. Don't miss out on the opportunity of exploring this magnificent attraction like we did.

Temples and heritage sites

Known as Pulau Dewata (Island of Gods), 'Land of a Thousand Temples', Bali houses thousands of temples that hold historic value and stand out for their architectural beauty. Every attraction requires at least a day's time for you to be able to commute and soak in the visual appeal. Since we had just five

Kuta Beach

The 'Five Pandavas'

Bali's energy drink — coconut water

days, we wanted to cover the islands and not the temples and heritage sites on this tour. For those who want to explore the temples, here are some of the prominent ones:

l ULUWATU TEMPLE

l LEMPUYANG TEMPLE

l TAMAN AYUN TEMPLE

l BESAKIH TEMPLE

l ULUN DANU BERATAN TEMPLE

l PURA TANAH LOT

l GOA GAJAH

l PURA TIRTA EMPUL

l PURA SARASWATI

l BATUKARU TEMPLE

OTHER TOURIST ATTRACTIONS:

l PAKERISAN VALLEY

l JATILUWIH RICE TERRACE

l TEGALLALANG RICE TERRACE

l BALI HANDARA GATE

l TIRTA GANGGA WATER PALACE

Nusa Penida

On the last day of our trip, we planned to visit Nusa Penida so that we could cover the picturesque islands before heading back. Luckily, it was sunny and we could go ahead with our initial plan. We took a fast boat from Sanur to Nusa Penida (around 45 minutes) and then took a car from the island to reach Kelingking Beach (one hour due to traffic).

Mountain cliffs, white sand, and shades of blue — tourists are welcomed to this

Mountain cliffs, white sand, and shades of blue — tourists are welcomed to this view at the Kelingking Beach. The stairway to the beach has several spots to take breathtaking photos

view that leaves everyone spellbound. The stairway to the beach has several spots for visitors to stop and take breathtaking photos. While we didn't go to the beach as we had lots to cover, we ended up spending more than an hour, capturing different angles of the island. Once you have a look at the image, you will surely recognise it from someone's social media feed as this place is a tourist hot spot.

For those who love to partake in water sports, Nusa Penida has several spots where one can dive or engage in water activities. Apart from Kelingking Beach, there are various other points of interest in Nusa Penida. These include Diamond Beach, Atuh Beach, Broken Beach, Suwehan Beach, Crystal Bay, Angel Billabong, Peguyangan Waterfall, Segening Waterfall, Banah Cliff Point, and Tembeling Forest, among others. Due to so many attractions, tourists prefer to stay in Nusa Penida for a day or two so that they can cover most of them. After Kelingking, we decided to cover Broken Beach before we would head back. After travelling for another hour, we reached Broken Beach. Known as Pasih Uug, the beach is famous for its archway that covers the water body in such a way that the ocean water flows through.

Angel's Billabong, a crystal clear tidal pool, is near Broken Beach. Due to time constraints, we skipped Angel's Billabong and headed back to Nusa Penida from where we took a fast boat back to Sanur. After a full-day excursion, we reached our hotel rooms and wrapped up our short stay in Bali.

The memories of the trip are etched in my heart forever. I would still keep Bali on my bucket list because there's so much to explore and five days didn't do justice. So, book your tickets, pack your bags and take that much-needed vacation. After all, we only live once. Reminder: Avoid planning your trip during monsoons (December-March). Traffic during peak seasons can be draining so plan your outings accordingly.

Finns Beach Club is touted as the world's best beach club

Beachwalk shopping mall in Kuta

HOTTEST FASHION TRENDS OF 2023: UNVEILING THE

Be it people's need for comfort, expression, or their will to do their bit to save the nature, the fashion industry has been taking notes.

Here are some of the latest trends that have taken the world by storm

Vani Raj

The fashion industry is ever-evolving. Each passing year brings something fresh while new styles emerge that captivate the world. Some of these styles, of course, are not so new but are making a comeback after years and looking fresh, nevertheless. However, 2023 has been particularly interesting and refreshing, and styles moved to being more expressive and focused on individuality.

From athleisure — which has been frowned upon for years — to bold prints, we are seeing styles that are focused on an individual's fashion, taste, and comfort, and less focused on following a set routine or style. Designers and fashion houses are embracing diverse aesthetics and encouraging individuals to embrace

their unique styles. While they do so, it is important for us to delve into the biggest fashion trends so far and what you need to know to stay up-to-date with the latest happenings in this industry.

Even if you are not one of the fashion enthusiasts, read on — because, believe it or not, every piece of clothing that you have on has somehow and in some way been inspired by the fashion of its time.

Sustainable fashion: a conscious approach to style

Sustainable fashion is the need of the hour since fast fashion has left a tremendous (and negative) impact on the environment already. It is, in a way, a style revolution as consumers have become increasingly conscious of the environmental impact of their choices. This has prompted designers

and brands to adopt an eco-friendlier approach and use sustainable fabrics such as organic cotton, hemp, and recycled materials more extensively.

Upcycling, clothing rentals, and vintage shopping are also gaining popularity, enabling individuals to curate their wardrobe while reducing waste and promoting a circular fashion economy.

Statement sleeves: making a dramatic impact

Statement sleeves are making waves in the fashion world in 2023. Whether it's voluminous balloon sleeves, ruffled cuffs, or exaggerated flares, sleeves are becoming the focal point of many outfits. Designers are playing with textures, prints, and innovative cuts to create visually striking silhouettes. These sleeves add a touch of drama and flair to any ensemble, effortlessly elevating even the simplest of outfits. If you like your outfit to be

Fashion is an art form that allows you to step into the world with confidence and make a statement without uttering a word. The latest trends celebrate sustainability, individuality, and inclusivity. Embrace these trends to express your personality and create outfits that reflect your authentic self

minimalistic, yet visually appealing for you to stand out, then statement sleeves can really up your style game and make you shine.

Athleisure: where comfort meets style

We all love athleisure, don't we? And we are glad that this trend continues to dominate 2023 and has beautifully blurred the line between activewear and casual wear. Comfortable yet stylish, athleisure outfits combine sporty elements with fashion-forward designs. Think jogger pants paired with oversized blazers, or sleek sneakers matched with tailored trousers — fun and sexy. This trend embraces versatility, allowing individuals to transition from the gym to office to a social gathering while looking effortlessly chic.

Gender-fluid fashion: breaking barriers and celebrating diversity

Think of Harry Styles, but in an everyday fashionable kind of outfit. Fashion is no longer being restricted by gender as people are embracing their inclusivity and breaking down gender norms. Gender-fluid fashion is all about garments that transcend the traditional binary classifications and are more gender-neutral and gender-embracing.

This trend allows individuals to express themselves authentically, regardless of societal expectations, fostering a more inclusive and diverse fashion landscape.

Bold prints and patterns: a playful expression of personality

Bold prints are a fashion staple, and you cannot go wrong with them. If you are a social butterfly or want to keep up with the evolving fashion industry, bold prints are a safe and great bet. Vibrant florals, animal prints, geometric shapes, and eye-catching designs make bold prints and patterns stand out. Safe to say, these are here to stay and slay for years to come.

You can choose one statement print or even mix and match different patterns to showcase your individuality and personality

through your unique yet playful choice of clothes. Bold prints can uplift your mood and add an energetic touch to the whole ensemble.

Tech-inspired fashion: fusion of style and innovation

Tech has become an integral part of our daily life and, as such, it comes as no surprise that even the fashion industry is taking notes and inspiration from it. Tech-inspired garments feature innovative fabrics with built-in functionalities such as moisture-wicking, temperature regulation, and UV protection. Wearable technology, such as smartwatches and interactive accessories, is also gaining momentum, seamlessly merging style with functionality.

Layering: effortless style and versatility

You can go back to Devil Wears Prada — the ultimate fashion movie — and you will see how layering has always been a part of the fashion industry and oozes fashion and chic. Want to make more of your dress, layer it with a chunky sweater. Want to make your tailored suit look more fashionable, drag on an oversized coat; basically, layer it up.

Layering allows for versatility, and you can wear an outfit in multiple different ways through it. You can adapt it according to the changing season or occasion and make the most of your individual clothing items.

Conclusion

Fashion is an art form that allows you to step into the world with confidence and make a statement without uttering a word. The latest trends celebrate sustainabiltiy, individuality, and inclusivity. From sustainable fashion practices to gender-fluid designs, bold prints to tech-inspired garments, this year's fashion landscape offers a diverse range of options for style-conscious individuals. Be it your willingness to go all out in bold and statement pieces or your desire to stick to natural textiles to save the environment, the choices are endless and the world is your runway. So, embrace these trends as an opportunity to express your personality and create outfits that reflect your authentic self.

HOW TO BE AN EFFECTIVE LEADER?

Leadership is more than just a title, it's a dynamic blend of qualities and actions. In today's everevolving world, mastering the art of being a good leader is indispensable. Learn how you can ace it

Diksha Dogra

In today's time, leadership is a sought-after trait even beyond organisational roles. It plays an important part in all aspects of life — in communities and at workplaces. A leader with a growth mindset helps lift and guide others to bring out their best. If you are wondering how you can become a good leader, fret not! Acquiring these qualities will give you the results you seek — personally as well as professionally.

CLEAR VISION

Do you remember the names of great leaders in history such as Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King Jr., etc.? I am sure the answer will be a yes, but do you know how they were able to achieve their dreams and make a significant impact? It was because they had a clear vision of what they wanted. A clarity of vision and purpose helps align everyone in the team towards a common objective, empowering them to work efficiently together. No matter where you are or what position you hold, if you have clarity

on what you want to achieve, you can be an effective leader.

BETTER COMMUNICATION

"Great leaders communicate, and great communicators lead," said author and motivational speaker Simon Sinek. Communication is not only about speaking but also about listening.

Effective speaking: If you have feedback for someone in the team, set up a one-on-one call or in-person meeting with that person to communicate your message effectively.

Transparent communication can build trust and long-term connections. Also, as a leader, get to know more about their aspirations so that you can guide them and help them select the right path where they can flourish.

Effective listening: Most people do not listen with the intent to understand, they listen with the intent to reply. Leaders who do not listen will eventually be surrounded by people who have nothing to say. If you are a team leader, there is a team waiting to be heard. If you are a politician or a leader in your family, some people need your help and guidance.

As I mentioned earlier, anyone can be a leader at any given time and place. Leadership is not limited to a workplace or a political party, this quality is useful everywhere in life. Leadership is a quality that comes with a great mindset, not with a designation. So, listen carefully to the people that follow you and you will be able to solve 50% of their problems just by paying attention to them.

BELIEVE IN YOUR TEAM AND ENCOURAGE THEM

Never discourage anyone in front of others. Also, don't judge people for their mistakes.

There is not a single person on this plant who never makes mistakes. However, the one who learns from them and makes conscious efforts to correct them needs to be appreciated. Your discouraging words can destroy a person's confidence and trust in you and can have a long-term effect on them. At the same time, your empowering thoughts can boost their confidence and give them a new perspective on how to be a better person or leader. Don't be an arrogant or a ruthless leader as people are always watching you and learning from you. Be the one who motivates others so that people who surround you get inspired by you to become better in every way, every day.

CELEBRATE SUCCESS

As a leader, you must take out time to recognise your team's efforts and celebrate their achievements, both big and small. This will give them a sense of accomplishment and is crucial to keep them motivated.

When you celebrate with your team members, they know that their work is being recognised. They will put more efforts to deliver quality work without any follow-ups and stress.

SAY NO TO MICROMANAGEMENT

Micromanagement hinders productivity and growth. It creates a lot of anxiety and stress among the employees. You must select the right people for the task and give them the room to do their job. Give your team the independence to do things on their own as this will also ignite responsibility and accountability in them. Be a supportive leader who creates a healthy environment.

EMPATHY

Empathy is the most important trait for a successful leader. It's a superpower where you understand your team's needs, fears, and dreams. When you connect with them empathically, you develop a bond that drives long-term collaboration and innovation. Respond to your team at a human level. It opens the door to mutual respect as well.

Leadership is much more than simply making decisions and enjoying an ego boost. An effective leader knows that real success comes when the team is united, motivated, and inspired towards a common goal.

Clear vision, communication, and empathy are some of the essential skills to become an effective leader. Leadership is much more than making decisions and enjoying an ego boost

Are

success? motivational videos a sustainable solution for

Watching motivational videos makes us all feel that we are ready to take over the world. But the real question remains: how successful are these videos in encouraging us to take sustainable steps for success? Let's find out

Vidhi Arya

Like many of you, I have been on the side where I have spent a lot of time watching motivational videos on loop. They made me feel energised, as if I was ready to accomplish all my goals, except that it never happened. It took a substantial amount of wasted time to realise

that these videos are not beneficial for me. Therefore, I crossed to the other side and stopped indulging in such content. Am I suggesting that these videos can sometimes be counterproductive? Yes! Am I suggesting that motivation in itself is of no good? Not at all! Read along to understand better. The internet is full of motivational videos, stories, and quotes. They can be helpful only if we take the right advice

and act upon it. The real problem occurs when our focus, perhaps unintentionally, shifts from implementing the guidance to binge-watching one video after another, only thinking we have been very productive.

When we can't invoke our inner motivation, we try to find external motivators. These videos succeed in giving us a short-lived kick of encouragement to do our tasks.

"You are greater than you think", "you can't fit in if you want to stand out", and "big things happen to those who dream big" — sound familiar, don't they? We all recognise the feeling these sentences invoke in us. They lift our mood and validate us, which pushes us to watch more and feel even better. Continuously watching them creates an illusion of learning, invoking instant gratification and psychological highs. Therefore, such videos keep us hooked without creating any real value. Ultimately, we end up thinking that this is step one to success. The truth remains: we keep indulging in the videos without taking the actual first step.

Every person has unique characteristics based on which they knit a unique life story. "Get up at 4am and see how your life will change" — but what if I am a night owl? Will I never be successful? Motivational speakers develop their views based on their individual experiences. Just because it worked for them, it's not necessary it will work for us too.

Because Steve Jobs could build Apple the way he did, it's not that everyone will be able to build something equally big just by following the same steps. Skills, thought processes, environment — physical and financial, teams, attitude, luck, and many more factors influence a person's journey. Without a proper contextual understanding of the speaker, such videos will only feed into the feeling that a fail-proof plan to success is to replicate someone's journey to success.

Success gurus would often say, "never give up", "don't stop trying", "give it your all", which is all true but such oversimplification of problems does not account for complex challenges and circumstances that a person faces. They often promote the idea that success is easily achievable by hard work. They often

do not consider any other factor needed for success, especially time, luck, or the plethora of challenges one might face in their journey to success. This makes us set unrealistic expectations for ourselves.

We get fixated on the shiny end result, and every small problem appears to be a huge inconvenience. One roadblock comes our way and we end up feeling frustrated and inadequate. All this is because though we're putting in the hard work, we haven't been able to quickly reach the level of success that's talked about in the videos. Milestones are as important as the final destination of success. We will have to earn 1,000 bucks before 10,000 before finally earning 100,000. Do not forget that our small wins ultimately make a big success.

Motivational videos sometimes also rely on shallow and easy-to-follow messages, like the ones mentioned above. They will always say, "be determined and motivated" but they will hardly talk about how to recognise if one is genuinely low on motivation and how to recognise the root cause of it, let alone how to rectify the issue.

Motivation can't be lastingly induced by just listening to someone. It is a multi-faceted concept depending upon various internal and external factors, such as interests, beliefs, value systems, goals, and suitable environments. I don't reckon these videos factor these in. Hence, they fail to keep people motivated for long spans.

The messages are good to go for quick inspiration, but are not going to fetch results in the long run. To be successful in the long run, we need sustainable habits, strategies, and plans. These things should keep us motivated, not a 10-minute-long YouTube video. We cannot keep watching them for five or 10 years, can we? People are the most motivated when they genuinely believe in their ideas and have a sense of relatedness and competence.

While it's possible that the motivation content gives you motivation, there is nothing better to reach your destination of success than having an intrinsic attachment to your goals. If you are someone who has immense passion and attachment to your goals, motivation will always flow from within and you will not have to seek it from an external source.

Motivation is an important feeling. We need to have a certain level of it to start something new and to take that first step towards our goals. But it should come from within, and we should not rely on other speakers for it. In one of the articles for New York magazine

The Cut, the famous author Melissa Dahl rightly said, "The only motivational advice anyone has ever needed: you don't have to feel like getting it done to get it done."

Focus on sustainable strategies, find mentors, and continuously work on personal growth, even on days you don't feel like it.

We need to have a certain level of motivation to start something new and to take that first step towards our goals. But it should come from within, and we should not rely on other speakers for it. When we truly put our hearts and minds into something we want, magic happens

When the focus is on these things, internal motivation will automatically step up its game and you won't have to rely on external motivators. To set achievable goals and a plan of action is no secret. We all know our strong traits and weaknesses. We know what we want from life and what our skill set is. We need to use all this knowledge and start the journey to success. There will never be a perfect time. Now is the best time to get-set-go. Let's formulate our own formula for success. When we truly put our hearts and minds into it, magic happens!

Hong Kong:

and Community Serving Culture From Punjab to

Dedicating his life to the service of the community, Gurdev Singh Ghalib played a crucial role in the preservation of the only Sikh temple in Hong Kong. Read along to know more about him and his efforts to conserve his culture in a foreign land

In the bustling streets of Hong Kong, amidst its dynamic lifestyle, stands a beacon of culture and community — the Khalsa Diwan Gurudwara, the sole place of worship for Sikhs in this vibrant city. The gurudwara as we see it today, speaks volumes about the dedication and vision of individuals like Gurdev Singh Ghalib, whose journey and efforts have been instrumental in not only renovating this spiritual abode but also promoting a sense of cultural identity among the community. As the convenor of the committee that oversaw the renovation of this gurudwara,

Vidhi Arya

Mr. Gurdev has played a pivotal role in shaping its transformation into a place that stands as a testament to the heritage of the Indian diaspora in Hong Kong.

From his early years in Punjab, India, he embarked on a journey that led him to Hong Kong in 1974, at the tender age of 12. While adapting to a new land posed challenges, he gradually integrated into the way of life in Hong Kong, ultimately becoming a prominent figure in the city's cultural and community landscape. While we can part way from our hometowns, we always carry the essence of it deep inside our hearts. We are what our faith and culture shape us into. His story and insights make us stop and ponder how important our roots, service to the community, and cultural identity are. As we delve into his journey, we uncover the essence of community, service, heritage preservation, and the unwavering spirit that has contributed to shaping Hong Kong's cultural landscape for the Indian population.

When and how did you come to Hong Kong? How has your life been in this city?

In 1967, my father travelled to Hong Kong. By 1974, he had paved the way for our family's arrival, creating a new chapter of

I joined the Correctional Service Department in 1983. I was a part of the department for 33 years. I began as an assistant officer II and retired in 2016 as chief officer — the only one from my batch to be promoted chief officer

our lives in this city. I was just 12-yearsold when I came here from Ghalib Kalan, Ludhiana in Punjab, India. Back in India, I studied at a school in my village where the curriculum was predominantly Punjabi. With a mere understanding of English and none at all of Cantonese, it was pretty difficult to gel in initially. When I was enrolled in Sir Ellis Kadoorie School in Hong Kong, my father found a tutor for me so that I could hone the skill of English speaking. Both, me and my tutor had to work really hard. I had to go for tuition every day for nearly four hours before school. So, as a child, those days were definitely hard.

After my education was over, I joined the Ammunition Depot Police as a Police Constable in 1981. It was on Stonecutters Island. At that time, Hong Kong was still under British rule and this was where the British forces stored their ammunition.

I worked there for two years and in 1983, I joined the Correctional Service Department. I was a part of the department for 33 years. Joining as an assistant officer II, I retired as chief officer in 2016. I feel really proud that I was the only one from my recruitment batch of 90 to be promoted to the rank of chief officer, that too as a Sikh in a predominantly Chinese community. I have given 35 years of service to the Hong Kong community through these appointments.

Khalsa Diwan Gurudwara is the sole gurudwara in Hong Kong. Can you tell us what led to the decision to renovate this historic place of worship? What was your role in the project?

Back in 2004, when the authorities decided to expand the gurudwara, the committee had decided to only redo the part that's now the residential building. At that time, they asked me to join the ad hoc committee that was formed to oversee the reconstruction of that part of the building. I joined as a member of that committee and later I was appointed as an assistant convener for that project.

After we completed that project, we thought it would only be prudent to renovate the old building as we had

Khalsa Diwan Gurudwara 371 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai, Hong Kong

noticed some cracks in the old building which looked quite unsafe. We appointed some engineers who could professionally check the building's health and they officially declared that it was unsafe to use. After thorough consideration, I suggested that the best course of action would be to pull down the old building and then build a new structure. However, to accomplish this mammoth task, the committee needed someone who could immaculately spearhead the entire project.

At that time, in 2014, I was due for retirement in the next two years. I had plans to move to Canada with my family. But, when this came up, I made up my mind that I would stay in Hong Kong till the completion of the renovation project and I did.

Thereafter, they appointed me as a convenor and we made another ad hoc committee. Essentially, it was the same committee, but we had some new members and then we started the project to reconstruct the holy place. As a convenor, my role included planning for demolition, applying for government clearances, raising funds, and making all vital decisions. I worked there and did seva (service as called by Sikhs in Punjabi) there for eight continuous years. With god's grace, everything went well and we happily opened the doors of the gurudwara for everyone.

Were there any major challenges that you encountered?

Of course, there were many challenges. The plot where the gurudwara is was bought in 1901. There was a clause in the deed that one could not build anything more than four stories or higher than 15 metres. The building was vast spread but the height did not look proportional. We applied to the town planning and got the approval for the height elevation and got it raised to 31 metres. That was the first milestone that we achieved.

The old building was a historical Grade 2 building, so we had to go to the Antiquities and Monuments Office to get approval for the demolition of the old building. It's not as easy to demolish an old and historical building in Hong Kong. But with the grace of god, we were successful with our application.

There was also a time when we were fixing the foundation and we found a bomb in the ground, at the site. The construction workers called me that there was a bomb there and I asked them to immediately stop all work and then we called the police. We had to move everything from the gurudwara, we had to vacate it and then at night, the police disposed of the bomb. When it comes to our holy book, the Guru Granth Sahab, there are several rules attached to it to ensure it is always treated with the respect it merits. We had to move it to someplace safe while maintaining respect and ensuring we were not doing anything wrong. We did manage everything but it was a very challenging task.

You are also the president of the Punjab Youth Club in Hong Kong. Can you tell

our readers more about the club and your role in it?

Punjab Youth Club is a cultural and sports club. It was founded in 2000, I was a member for quite a long time, and during a general meeting few months back, I was appointed as the president of the club.

One of the major things we do is that we organise Komagata Maru Memorial Hockey Tournament every year. I think it is important that we learn about the history of Komagata Maru — a Japanese ship hired by the Sikhs in Hong Kong in the year 1914 that was carrying nearly 376 passengers. They sailed all the way to Vancouver, Canada where the government did not allow them to halt and deboard. As a result, they had to return back to Hong Kong. However, even the Hong Kong government didn't allow them to deboard

There was a time when we found a bomb during the restoration of the gurudwara. The construction work was halted and the police was notified. We had to vacate everything until the bomb was disposed

because the ship sailed to Canada without the necessary permission. Thereafter, they sailed to Kolkata, India. Unfortunately, even in Kolkata, where there was British rule, they were not allowed to deboard. One night, a few members of the ship tried to deboard secretly and the police opened fire on them and some passengers were killed. It is in memory of this incident that we started the Komagata Maru Memorial Tournament.

We also arrange cultural activities and shows. We invite singers or comedians from India and organise various shows for the Hongkongers. To ensure that our community stays connected to its roots,

we also teach dance forms such as bhangra and gida and how to tie turbans.

What does community mean to you?

It is truly my calling. I can say it's in my blood. I have given many years of my life to service of people and seva for the gurudwara. My community means a lot to me. I believe everyone should do their bit and their best to preserve the culture of their community. That is also why I joined the Punjab Youth Club — to preserve and promote the Punjabi culture. The upcoming generations should know what are our roots, where we come from, and what our culture is all about.

What steps can the society take to uphold and promote cultural values?

In a world where everything seems to blend so well, it's important for us to keep our cultural identity alive. One way to do this is by organising events and things to do for young people that engage them and make them feel connected to their culture. Instead of only relying on activities organised by schools and global organisations, we should create our own special events that showcase our culture to upcoming generations. Our traditional festivals are a great time to plan activities that the youth can enjoy and leverage to feel connected to their heritage.

Also, in today's time, when kids have a wide worldview, we should use modern ways to help our culture stay strong. For instance, what we did with the digital library in the gurudwara — that's an innovative idea. It lets young people read books and find information online, which fits well with how things are now. Along similar lines, we also offer classes for youngsters to learn about gida (dance form) and gatka (traditional martial arts) in the gurudwara. This way, young people can explore their spiritual and cultural sides in a friendly and relatable environment. We need to make sure that youngsters have interesting and meaningful ways to connect with their culture, blending old traditions with new ideas in today's world.

A heartfelt message for the Hongkongers?

My message would revolve around the importance of staying connected to our heritage and culture. In this ever-changing world, embracing our roots is essential. It's also absolutely imperative to ensure our children receive quality education, as this not only broadens their horizons but also helps them appreciate diverse cultures. Our younger generation holds the key to the future of our community, which makes providing them with good schooling and cultural teachings paramount.

I encourage all parents to give their children a solid foundation and introduce them to places of worship like gurudwaras, mandirs, or mosques, depending on their faith. This will help them stay grounded in their culture and beliefs. Let's take pride in our identity as Hong Kong residents and followers of our faith.

Mr. Gurdev Singh Ghalib with Hong Kong's Chief Executive John Lee

The of happiness D.O.S.E.

Hormones — the chemical messengers in our body — set the tone of our functioning and feelings. This article will help you understand how caring for your feel-good hormones can swipe all your stress away

Neuroscience is a combination of two words — 'neuro' and 'science'. It is a theoretical study of our brain and nervous system. This science includes understanding our brain and body — how they function, their co-dependency, their impact on one another, and much more. Neuroscientists study cellular, molecular, functional, behavioural, evolutionary, and computational aspects of the nervous system. Different subjects within neuroscience cover all these aspects.

As we all understand, the brain holds

an important position in our lives. The study of the brain is a revolutionary aspect of science which reveals amazing facts. It has certainly piqued my interest, and I find myself captivated by this topic known as "happy hormones". That's how I came across D.O.S.E.

I am sure you must be wondering what D.O.S.E. stands for and what it does for us humans. Well, let me explain this in detail. We all understand that hormones are our body's chemical messengers. They majorly rule our bodies and control how we feel. There are four feel-good hormones in our body: dopamine , oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins — D.O.S.E. Here's how each of them works.

D OPAMINE

As the release of dopamine is triggered by reward-seeking behaviour, it is considered a 'reward chemical'. Anticipation of an event that can cause happiness releases dopamine. Baking, shopping, sex, and other similar activities release dopamine. Low amounts of dopamine can lead to stiff movements, poor mood, low mental performance, etc.

Sahiba Chadha Vaid

Sufficient amount of dopamine production leads to better learning and attention, desired heart rate, good mood, sound sleep, swift movement, proper kidney functioning, and better pain processing.

BEST WAYS TO PRODUCE DOPAMINE:

Eat food that is rich in proteins and probiotics, and cut down on saturated fats. Chicken, poultry, milk, cheese, yoghurt, avocadoes, bananas, pumpkin and sesame seeds, and soy are few good sources of such nutrients.

Regular exercise is another good way to produce dopamine. Furthermore, getting enough sleep also releases dopamine. Studies indicate that dopamine is released in large amounts in the morning when it's time to wake up, and levels naturally fall in the evening when it's time to sleep. However, lack of sleep appears to disrupt this natural rhythm.

Relaxing activities such as listening to good music are also good ways to promote dopamine production. Studies have shown an increase of around 9% in dopamine production when music becomes a part of life. And, when we speak of relaxing activities, we cannot miss meditation. The practice of clearing your mind, focusing inwards, and letting your thoughts flow is another way to release dopamine. A few studies have shown an increase in dopamine of around 65% for people who meditate.

Lastly, ensure you get enough sunlight. Sunlight is a natural mood-boosting element. However, while doing this, please safeguard yourself from UV rays, sunburns, and skin ailments.

OXYTOCIN

Oxytocin is the hormone that helps us bond with our loved ones. It is released through physical touch, music, and exercise. The main function of oxytocin is to facilitate childbirth, and hence the term 'love hormone' is used for it. Low levels of oxytocin are known to be associated with symptoms of depression, postpartum depression, anxiety, and lack of bonding.

BEST WAYS TO PRODUCE OXYTOCIN:

Oxytocin production increases by being

around your loved ones and enjoying time with friends and pets. All kinds of social engagements lead to the release of oxytocin. Spending time with people you love is a stress buster and boosts your well-being.

Physical touch is another element which releases oxytocin. Hugs, cuddles, and snuggles — all help release this hormone. Needless to say, physical intimacy is the most effective way to release the love hormone.

Studies have shown an increase in the release of oxytocin whenever one engages in activities such as caressing, hugging, holding hands, and while experiencing sexual arousal and orgasms. Along similar lines, giving and receiving a massage is a fantastic and therapeutic way to release oxytocin. In a nutshell, skin-to-skin contact is something which stimulates its release.

Just like for dopamine, meditation also works for releasing oxytocin. Acts of kindness and being a giver are also good ways to release the love hormone. Volunteer at an animal shelter, visit an old age home or an orphanage, mentor a young person, or give a gift to someone.

SEROTONIN

Serotonin is the hormone responsible for making us feel happy. It boosts our mood and at times, gives us a feeling of euphoria. Regular functions of our body that are impacted by serotonin are sleep, breathing, sexuality, stress response, fear, digestion, and body temperature, among others. Consequently, low levels of serotonin are linked with depression.

BEST WAYS TO INCREASE SEROTONIN LEVELS:

Working out is the best way to release this hormone. Not essentially an intense workout session but something like lifting weights, running, cycling, etc., can help in releasing serotonin. Complex carbohydrates are also a good source to produce amino

Hormones are our body's chemical messengers. They majorly control how we feel. There are four feel-good hormones in our body — dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins (D.O.S.E.)

acids, which further help release serotonin. Vegetables, legumes, fruits, and whole grains are great sources of serotonin.

ENDORPHINS

Endorphins are the hormones which are called the 'natural pain relievers'. These hormones relieve pain and generate a feeling of well-being. There are about 20 different kinds of endorphins. On the other hand, low levels of endorphins can result in body pain, depression, sleep issues, and anxiety. Endorphins are released naturally when we feel loved, eat a good meal, have sexual intercourse, and laugh.

BEST WAYS TO INCREASE ENDORPHIN LEVELS:

Exercising at a moderate pace, taking a walk, or practising aerobics or Zumba are the best ways to release endorphins. Acupuncture is also known to trigger the release of endorphins by targeting the exact pressure points. And like it helps many other hormones, meditating by focusing on your breath and calming the mind is also effective for endorphins.

Playing music is another fabulous way to release endorphins. Pick up the guitar or bang on those drums and see yourself getting a joyous high. Lastly, but most importantly, laughter is truly the best medicine to release endorphins. There's nothing better than this practice.

Trying to keep yourself happy is the best way to stimulate your brain to provide you with D.O.S.E. — the dose for a joyous life. These hormones control a major part of a person's behaviour, lifestyle, relationships, work life, and mental well-being. Hence, it is genuine advice for all readers to indulge in daily activities that will promote the healthy secretion of these hormones and help you live well. If you look closely, a few daily practices have shown up repeatedly.

Practices such as meditation, exercise, music, a balanced diet, and smiling have to become a part of your daily routine to ensure a good mental and physical state. These small things create a big impact. Start by doing a few or all of these things for a week and observe the changes, if any, in your energy levels or your mental well-being. Notice and rejoice in how cheerful you become.

FOOD AND OF

PHOTOGRAPHY THE ART STORYTELLING

Unravel the art of capturing food photographs that tell compelling narratives, evoke nostalgia, and bring back lost emotions — leaving a lasting impression

Dr. Manjula Vijh

As humans, we all are driven by emotions and feelings.

And, food is something that connects us all. Whenever we think of a dish, we create an imagination in our minds that narrates a story about that particular dish, or the ingredients used in making that recipe.

Now, for a moment, close your eyes and think of an ice cream cone. What picture did you visualise in your mind? A crispy cone, loaded with your favourite ice cream,

with lots of delicious fruits and toppings! Or, you remembered the last time you had ice cream with your loved ones, and that invoked a special emotion in your heart. For some of you, this might have rekindled a childhood memory of visiting an ice cream parlour with your parents, and joyfully selecting your favourite ice cream.

So, you created a story in your mind moving around a cone of ice cream and this must have brought a smile on your face and some warmth in your heart. Imagine bringing all this to life, through a food story depicted in a photograph or a series of photographs.

Storytelling in food photography is the art of creating visually attractive photos that build an emotional connection between the audience and the image. By invoking certain memories and experiences, it makes the viewer a part of the story.

Food photography, whether it is for a client, editorial photography, or for a recipe book, requires visually captivating photos that tell a narrative about a dish that is being captured. And like in every narrative or a story, here also, the hero and supporting characters play a significant role in making up the entire image.

The hero here is the food. The props, angles, backdrops, lighting, and colour combinations are the supporting characters in the narrative. Styling up the entire scene requires a food photographer to go through some steps, building up every character involved. Let us go through all the steps one by one that help in creating an appetising food story.

The hero of our story — the dish!

The first step is to select what dish you want to shoot. Now, think about enhancing it

in the best way possible. What should be the different ingredients, how it should be plated, how can it be made visually appealing to the viewer. The food is the star of our story and it should be planned well as to what are the things that need to be highlighted about the hero in the photo.

The emotion behind the story

The purpose of an ideal food story is to make its viewer travel into another time or a memory lane, and to invoke certain emotions between the food and the viewer. Once the food or the drink to be captured is decided, the second step is to decide what emotion the story will convey to its audience. For example, food shots for a restaurant/cafe, should definitely make the viewer hungry and wanting to try that dish. Birthday cakes instil memories from our childhood and stir nostalgia. Photos for festivities like Christmas, Diwali, etc. should take the viewer into that festive vibe. Shots clicked for a recipe book should be compelling enough for the viewer to go ahead and try out that recipe. Once you have decided what emotion you want to bring out in your food story, the next step is to think how you can make your audience feel that emotion.

Ingredients and other key elements

This step involves selecting other major elements or ingredients that could be incorporated into the story. For example, a process shot for a recipe book could include the ingredients in the frame. If you are shooting a pizza for a cafe, the photo could include its main ingredients, a pizza board and a cutter, and you can build a messy story around it. For a breakfast scene, one can include elements like bread, butter, newspaper, honey, milk etc. Adding a human element as simple as a hand in the image picking a cup of coffee or cutting a cake slice gives the viewer an impression of being present in the story itself. Listing down the key elements of a food story will narrow down what exactly is required for composing the image.

Angles and frames

The angle at which the shot is taken depends on the food that is being pictured.

Different foods look good from different viewpoints. To start with, we can talk about three basic angles from which a shot can be taken. Overhead or 90-degree angle is best suited for flat dishes like a pizza, pie, galette, or may be a smoothie bowl where the toppings can be seen perfectly. Also known as top down or flat lay, this angle brings out the details of the dish from top. Another common angle is the 45-degree angle which is the angle through which a person sitting on a dining table views the food. This is suited for food items with some height but you also want the top of the dish to be in focus. It could be used for ramen bowls, cakes, gravy dishes, cupcakes, drinks in glasses, and soup bowls. This angle gives us the benefit of having the food in focus with background or foreground blurred. The third common angle called the straight-on or 0-degree angle is used for food with much greater heights or for stacked up foods. A stack of pancakes, cookies, burgers, parfaits, and other layered desserts could be shot using this angle. This is also suited for dripping or pouring shots. The frame of a picture depends on the story, whether you want it to be a minimalistic frame or a busy frame. For example, if you are shooting for a fine dine restaurant, the frame has to be minimal with only the dish in focus, whereas for a cafe, it could give a fun yet busy vibe. Choosing angles and frames wisely can enhance your food appeal and hence, the complete food story.

What is the mood?

One of the main factors that makes or breaks an image is the lighting used in the photograph. Whether you are using natural light or artificial light to click a photo, plays a key role in the mood you want to create in your food story. Lighting could be manipulated to add a bright, airy, dark, or a moody tone to the image. Using harsh light or soft light and playing with shadows takes your image to another level. For example, creating a story around a sunny brunch scene should use bright and airy lighting for the image. Dark and moody lighting creates a bit of drama by showing light and dark contrast and shadows in the food story. Lighting is integral to capture the viewer's eyes, mind, and soul.

Choose the colours

One can use the colour wheel to choose what colours you want to have in your food photography. Based on that, different colour elements can be added to compose a shot. Analogous colours are those that appear next to each other on the colour wheel. For example, orange, yellow, and red. One can also choose complementary colours that appear opposite on the colour wheel, for example yellow and purple. Such colours create a sharp contrast in your image. If you are playing with colours of the same family, like shades of brown, by adding elements of different tones of the same colour, then you are using monochromatic colours. Colour theory can be used to choose different colours and communicate a food story.

Other supporting characters — props and backdrops

Depending on the mood you have decided for your image, the choice of backdrops and different props can be made. For a bright and airy image, one can choose white, marble, or light-coloured backdrops. For a dark and moody image, you can go for backdrops in darker shades of brown and grey. For a rustic look, one can use rustic wooden planks in the background. Similarly, props can include plates, linen, fork, spoons, wooden platters, etc. For example, if you are shooting a birthday cake and the emotion you want to convey is of a kid's birthday party, the choice of backdrop could be in soft pastel colours, and the props could be candles, some confetti around the scene, colourful plates, etc. For a rustic vibe, one can use vintage cutlery, metallic bowls, spoons etc. If you want to shoot a fancy cocktail, the right choice of glassware should be used to give a classy and luxurious vibe.

Food photography and styling is the art of portraying food in the best possible way. The ultimate goal is to make the audience want to eat that dish. A food story should be cohesive with the food being the hero of the story. By creating visually appealing pictures, you can make the audience relate to the story and create an emotional connection between the viewer and the dish. After all, it's the stories that we remember! Isn't it?

The Allure of Minimalism:

How less is more in crafting your ideal home

Read along to know how you can make your home look minimal and aesthetic in just a few simple steps

Apurva Menon

In a world that seems to constantly demand more, the concept of minimalism has emerged as a refreshing antidote. Minimalism is not merely about owning fewer possessions, it represents a deliberate choice to embrace a more simple and meaningful lifestyle. In this article, we will explore the philosophy of "less is more" and delve into the reasons why creating a minimalistic home can lead to a more balanced, harmonious, and fulfilling life.

The essence of "less is more" "Less is more" is a phrase that encapsulates the idea of simplicity and reduction as a path to greater contentment and freedom. Although often associated with architecture and design, this principle can be applied to all facets of life, including our living spaces. At its core, minimalism encourages us to declutter, focus on what truly matters, and appreciate the beauty of simplicity.

Liberating yourself from materialism We live in a consumer-driven society that bombards us with advertisements and societal pressure to acquire more possessions. The pursuit of material wealth can be insatiable and leave us perpetually dissatisfied. Embracing minimalism is a way to free ourselves from the shackles of materialism and find contentment in the possessions we already have. By stripping away the excess, we begin to discover what truly matters to us and learn to appreciate the value of experiences over possessions.

Cultivating a mindful lifestyle

A cluttered and chaotic living space can have a profound impact on our mental well-being. Our external environment often reflects our internal state and an untidy home can lead to feelings of stress and anxiety. In contrast, a minimalistic home is intentionally designed to promote a sense of calm and serenity. When we declutter and create open spaces, we allow room for clarity and mindfulness. This, in turn, enables us to be more present in our daily lives, fostering deeper connections with ourselves and our loved ones.

Prioritising quality over quantity

In the pursuit of more, we often sacrifice

quality. Minimalism urges us to flip this narrative and prioritise quality over quantity. Rather than amassing cheap and disposable items, minimalistic living emphasises investing in timeless, high-quality pieces that hold both functional and emotional value. This approach not only reduces waste but also allows us to surround ourselves with belongings that truly resonate with us and stand the test of time.

The appeal of a minimalistic home

Aesthetic elegance

Minimalistic homes are celebrated for their clean lines, uncluttered spaces, and visual appeal. By removing unnecessary elements,

the focus is redirected to the intrinsic beauty of the space itself and the few carefully selected items that enhance it. The result is an environment that exudes elegance and simplicity, creating a sense of peace and comfort.

Enhanced functionality

With a focus on intentional organisation, each item in a minimalistic space has a designated purpose. Functionality is a cornerstone of minimalistic home design. This emphasis on functionality ensures that everything serves a role and that there is no wasted space or energy. As a result, minimalistic homes are highly efficient and conducive to smooth daily living.

Reduced stress

Living in a cluttered and disorganised environment can lead to constant stress. A minimalistic home, on the other hand, provides a sanctuary from the chaos of the outside world. The simplicity of the surroundings has a calming effect on the mind, reducing stress levels and promoting a greater sense of well-being.

Easy maintenance

The beauty of a minimalistic home extends to the realm of practicality. With fewer possessions and less clutter, maintenance

becomes significantly easier. Cleaning becomes a breeze, and organising becomes a pleasure rather than a chore. This not only saves time and effort but also allows us to focus on activities that truly matter to us.

Environmental impact

In the face of mounting environmental challenges, adopting a minimalistic lifestyle can be a powerful way to reduce our ecological footprint. By consuming fewer resources and generating less waste, we contribute to a more sustainable planet. A minimalistic home can be seen as an embodiment of our commitment to preserving the environment for future.

How to create your minimalistic home

The art of decluttering

Decluttering is the foundational step in creating a minimalistic home. Take the time to assess your belongings and let go of items that no longer serve a purpose or bring you joy. Embrace the mantra of "less is more" and cultivate a space that reflects your true priorities and values.

Intentional design choices

When designing your minimalistic home,

focus on intentional choices that align with your lifestyle. Opt for a neutral colour palette to create a sense of tranquillity, and incorporate natural materials to bring warmth and authenticity to your space. Thoughtfully select furniture and decor that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing, ensuring that each piece adds value to the overall design.

Embrace open spaces

Avoid overcrowding your rooms with furniture and decorations. Instead, allow your space to breathe and create a sense of airiness. By doing so, you'll foster a calming atmosphere that encourages relaxation and reflection.

Multifunctional living

Minimalism is not about sacrificing comfort; it's about optimising functionality. Embrace the concept of multifunctional living by repurposing spaces to serve multiple roles. A spare room can double as a home office, and a cosy nook can transform into a reading corner. The key is to strike a balance between practicality and simplicity.

In a world fixated on more, minimalism offers a compelling alternative that encourages us to appreciate the beauty of simplicity. By embracing less, we liberate ourselves from the trappings of materialism and cultivate a lifestyle that is mindful, intentional, and sustainable. The allure of minimalism lies in its ability to transform our living spaces into havens of tranquillity and inspiration. So, let us embark on this journey of embracing "less is more" and craft homes that reflect not just our aesthetic preferences, but also our values and aspirations for a more meaningful and balanced life.

In a world fixated on more, minimalism offers a compelling alternative that encourages us to appreciate the beauty of simplicity. By embracing less, we liberate ourselves from the trappings of materialism and cultivate a lifestyle that is mindful, intentional, and sustainable

RELATIONSHIP YOURSELF? HOW TO BUILD A WITH

While prioritising our relationships, we often forget to love ourselves and end up neglecting our wants and needs. Here's how building a strong relationship with yourself can help you lead a truly fulfilling life

During the intake process of a therapy session, I tend to ask my clients a lot of questions in order to gauge them — what kind of background they come from, their fears, inhibitions, and dreams. I also ask them about their past, their childhood, family structure, schooling, college, work life, and relationships. Lastly, we also delve on the subjective aspects like things that make them feel happy or sad, their strengths and weaknesses, and most importantly, what are their favourites.

During the course of asking them about their favourite snacks, movies, TV shows, colour, artists, etc., I always ask, "who is your favourite person?" Each client has had a unique answer to this question, but to my surprise, out of 10, hardly two clients choose themselves as their favourite.

Do you see where we are going with this? This is where the problem lies. We, as human beings, are so dependent on others for our happiness, emotions, and needs that we have truly forgotten what it is like to depend on ourselves and be there for ourselves.

Before we segue into understanding how to build a healthy relationship with ourselves, it is important to understand what is a self-relationship. In simple terms, a self-relationship is a relationship you have with your own self. It comprises your feelings for your own self, the way you behave with yourself, how you treat yourself, your decision making, thoughts, and dreams — all of this. It's basically how you view, talk, and respond to yourself and your needs and priorities. It's how you treat yourself, whether that's with love, compassion, hatred, disgust, or support.

Now, let's dive deep and figure how you can build a strong, healthy relationship with yourself. All human beings are made up of permutations and combinations of various things in various amounts. Something that might work out for someone, might not work out for someone else. It is important to realise and accept that whatever we discuss here is not one-size-fits-all. We will discuss a number of ways in which you can build a relationship with yourself from a lens and perspective of a millennial therapist. However, it is up to you to mix and choose as per your liking and comfort.

How to build a relationship with yourself:

HEALTH IS WEALTH:

It is so important to understand that though you may feel that you want to earn good money, have a great job, travel, buy new luxury things etc., at the end of the day, what you really need is to be healthy. Everything comes second, and health comes first. If you're a healthy individual, you will have a better relationship with yourself as compared to someone who neglects their

Astha Anand

physical health and well-being. Eat fruits, drink plenty of water, sleep on time, have a well-balanced diet and of course, work out.

JOURNAL:

You can gain self-awareness and practice introspection through the art of journalling. Journalling has been an underrated practice for the longest time. It is a tedious and time taking task, but writing down your thoughts and feelings can be a fantastic means to check in with yourself and expressing emotions in a healthy way. Journalling is a way to reflect on your feelings and learn from your experiences.

REACH OUT:

Seeking therapy is an important tool when it comes to working on yourself. Reaching out to a mental health professional might seem daunting at first, but this is usually the first step you can take in order to straighten things out in your life and progress towards self-awareness, self-realisation, and self-love.

RECOGNISE NEGATIVE SELF-TALK:

Humans tend to talk negatively when it comes to their own selves. When a friend or a family member is in trouble, you are there to offer help, give them advice, and even go out of your way to help them. How many times have you done the same for yourself? Do you realise how sometimes you are so hard on yourself? Everyone has a voice inside their head that leads them to everyday decisions. Replace this negative self-talk with something positive. Adding positive affirmations to your daily ritual can be the first step.

BOUNDARIES:

It is important to form boundaries not just with other people, but also with yourself. You can start small, like not ordering food and eating healthy at home or going out for a run instead of doom scrolling on social media apps. Having a good self-relationship means saying no when you need to. Sticking up for yourself and being clear about what you want, what you expect, and what you need is of paramount importance as it helps in the long run.

THINGS THAT

MAKE YOU HAPPY:

Having a healthy and fulfilling relationship

with yourself is imperative. It is your duty to ensure that you are happy with yourself. In order to move in that direction, you need to find out what makes you happy. When you are happy with yourself, you are not only more independent when it comes to your emotions and feelings, but it also improves your self-esteem and confidence. Exploring what makes you happy and actually doing those things is a great way to fall in love with yourself.

COMPASSION:

Human beings are hardwired to show others compassion, to be there for others, but more often than not, don't do that for themselves. If a friend was going through a hard time and you had to be there for them, how would you behave? What would you say? How would you make them feel better? Now imagine that friend is you. Are you still going to say the same things, do the same things to make yourself feel better, or are you your worst critic? If that's the case, you're not alone, but you need to start being more compassionate with yourself. You deserve humility, love, care, and compassion from yourself first. You simply can't expect to have a good relationship with yourself if you're constantly in an internal struggle.

LIMIT SOCIAL MEDIA:

Are you extremely dependent on social media? It is crucial to draw a line between reality and social media. Limiting social media can help with overall improvement in your well-being and happiness.

SPEND TIME WITH YOURSELF:

Alone time is so underrated. Many people feel that they always need to be surrounded by people — friends, partners, family, or colleagues at work, etc. Everyone should get alone time once in a while. It gives you a break from constant commotion and helps you connect with yourself on a deeper level.

FORGIVE YOURSELF:

Are you someone who holds onto the past, judges yourself inexplicably, and thinks you're not good enough? You must stop immediately. Human beings are not perfect. Humans have many flaws and crevices, and are all bound to make mistakes. To live peacefully, you must embrace this truth. When you mess up,

take accountability, but know that you don't need to be so hard on yourself. Give yourself a break. And as for others, it is still important to practice forgiveness. You need to forgive people for your peace and liberation. When you forgive someone, you make your mind a more peaceful place.

Why your relationship with yourself matters:

You may understand that building a relationship with yourself is good, but why does it really matter to form deep and meaningful relationships with yourself? When you invest in self-love, you reap important benefits.

MENTAL HEALTH:

Having a healthy relationship with yourself helps improve mental health. Those who experience anxiety, depression, stress, etc., tend to feel out of control. This can severely impact their overall well-being going ahead. Building a relationship with yourself can help you acknowledge your feelings and take control of their impact on you.

RELATIONSHIPS:

How you treat yourself reflects on how you treat other people you have relationships with. People who care for themselves and work on themselves consciously are more likely to have more love and care for their near and dear ones. As the saying goes, you cannot pour out of an empty cup.

BUILDING STRENGTH:

When you work on yourself and care for yourself deeply, you also build more strength along the way. This is not physical strength; in fact, it is psychological.

PRODUCTIVITY:

Liking yourself, working on yourself, loving and accepting yourself has a positive effect on your productivity. Building a relationship with yourself can kickstart the process of recognising and working on your shortcomings and weaknesses. This helps you improve your growth opportunities too.

At the end of the day, your relationship with yourself is insurmountably important. Only when you work on yourself — your goals, your happiness, and your health — you will be able to lead a wholesome and fulfilling life.

Hospitality Beyond Borders

Is digital hoarding messing with our

mental health?

Drowning in piles of files may seem harmless at the outset, however, the impact they have on our mental health is far-reaching. Read along to know how we sabotage our well-being with endless clicks

Vidhi Arya

Recently, I had to find a mail that I received nearly a year ago. I was skimming through my inbox and realised there were over 8,000 unread or useless emails. Infuriated, I pushed off the task and decided to declutter my inbox! A few hours, gazillion unsubscribe clicks, and several curses later, when it was finally done, I was left with just a few hundred important emails and an unmatched inner peace.

On the same day, I realised that I have around 12,000 photos on my phone, another 10,000 in my WhatsApp folder, and about 500 contacts when I literally have five friends. I also don't remember the last time I cleared my texts. Technically, I am drowning in digital clutter.

Digital clutter and hoarding

When we think of hoarding or clutter, we think of tons of clothes piled up in cupboards, a store room full of items, or anything that takes up physical space and we keep holding on to. But all those bookmarks, files, photos, messages, apps, and numerous icons — on our phones, tabs, and laptops — don't take up any physical space but surely impact mental space. This is digital clutter. An inability to get rid of these files is digital hoarding.

Today, digital space is available in abundance and at dirt-cheap prices. We have easy access to a large quantity of space, either on a physical device or on a drive or cloud. This clubbed with a unslakable need to capture everything happening in our lives, our OOTDs, our meals, the new buy, the fancy cocktail,

the scenic views, is just leading to piles of data on our devices.

Moreover, we constantly feel the need to save things to revisit in future. Articles to read later, e-commerce sites to scan in our free time, reviews of places we plan to visit sometime soon, and outfit ideas to try out. We never stop and think if it is worth it. We relentlessly add more and more to the pile. Our FOMO (the fear of missing out) and the urge to never lose out on anything leads to overloaded digital spaces.

Many of us don't clear our devices due to the fear of needing a deleted file sometime in the future. Clicking 50 photos, all in different poses, and refusing to delete any because one of those 50 striking similar photos might come in handy in future — a classic example of digital hoarding. But the sad reality remains that the more

we store, the less likely we are to revisit a file, let alone use it.

Remember, back in the day when everyone used film cameras, our parents managed to capture their lives and our childhoods in a handful of photos, those were real memories with real value.

Digital hoarding versus physical hoarding

Digital hoarding is very similar to physical hoarding. In both cases, we place immense value on things or files. We form an unreasonable attachment to them, making it very difficult to part ways. Hoarding is usually characterised by:

Feeling the need to save things

Stress associated with discarding these stored things

An emotional connection with things, irrespective of their actual value

Accumulation of things, irrespective of usage and value

Emotional connection with things brings comfort to people. Not seeing or using something often but knowing that it's present is a huge relief. But this exact thing is a very prominent reason for anxiety.

Physical hoarding is a mental illness that impacts many. If it ever so happens that digital hoarding is recognised as a mental illness too, in my opinion, the impact will be far-reaching. True, the physical impact of it is almost none but mentally, it can be distressing in the long run.

Impact of digital hoarding

Digital hoarding can have a significant impact on our mental health by causing feelings of anxiety, overwhelm, and even depression. Accumulating digital clutter, such as old emails, files, and apps, can make it difficult to organise and find files, thus leading to frustration and stress. Additionally, it makes it challenging to focus and be productive, leading to procrastination and low motivation. Constant distraction by all the data surrounding us and a reminder of pending tasks lead to a sense of guilt and inadequacy. Ultimately, digital hoarding can have a detrimental impact on our mental well-being and should be addressed proactively. Let's understand how all the data dump on our clouds can affect us:

Makes us anxious

Most people hoard data and files to cushion themselves against future problems. Photos for memory's sake, playlists for nostalgia, a bill we received over email for reference, anything and everything for comfort in future — all of it adding up in our storage leads to greater anxiety than comfort. Looking for that one photo in thousands of them or one mail in a flooded inbox eats up so much of our mental peace and time. Other than this, most people live with the anxiety that they are one glitch away from losing all the data and they won't have it when they'll actually need it.

Clutters our minds

How much of our data have we already reviewed? When do we know what's the right time to first analyse and organise all of our existing data before we add more to the pile? We just keep adding new files and information without using the pre-existing material. Something or the other will always be meaningful, important, and too good to lose. Here's a hard pill to swallow — most of it is trash and we will never go back to it, come what may. New information will keep replacing the old information's value. Despite it all, the hoarder inside will not let go and continue to clutter our storage and minds.

This behaviour pattern leads to overwhelm, a feeling of disorganisation and a lack of control. Often, we fall short of ways to effectively deal with all the data

at hand. Reducing heaps of data on our devices can help us feel organised and in control of our lives.

Causes distraction and procrastination

How our digital clutter distracts us is closely related to how it leads to procrastination. With a huge amount of data, searching for something, if needed, takes up a lot of time.

Let's be honest, most of us, while saving data, have no clear strategy for organising it, thus leaving behind a pool of mixed files. Similarly, when we look for a file, we again fall short of an effective strategy. This induces stress and more often than not, we just end up putting off the search and the task at hand. Thereby, procrastinating.

Another way it leads to procrastination is by the way of discretion. Imagine this: you sit down to write an article and realise that you had bookmarked a blog for reference. While searching for it, you stumble upon another unrelated article bookmarked for leisure reading. Turns out, you open it. One thing leads to another and two hours later, you have read several other articles but not the one should have read.

Let's take another example, shall we? You are working on a tight deadline when a friend texts asking you to send a photo of hers that you clicked. Like a good friend, you keep aside the work to look for that one picture in the pool of the thousands. And inevitably, you start looking at all the other photos that are too good to not scan. There you are scrolling through the folder for no reason, oblivious of how much work you could have done in that time.

Conclusion

The best we can do is to be mindful of our feelings and consumption. We all must acknowledge that saving so much content and information is counter-intuitive.

While we all want to click numerous photos and save several articles, we need to be mindful of what we save and delete things that no longer serve us. Yes, our hearts will tell us not to as they might come in handy later but we all know, we will not revisit most of these files. So, let's spare some time and commit to control and organise — purge and Marie Kondo our drives!

Glimmers

Subconsciously, being around certain things makes us feel good. But did you know you can leverage the power of your conscious mind and allow little things around you to make you feel content every single day? Let us understand how

Sahiba Vaid Chaddha

Glimmers is a fairly new word, isn't it? Is it just another word in the dictionary, or does it hold some undiscovered relevance in your life? Why am I writing about it, or why are you even reading about it? To be true, it is not just another word. It has a beautiful meaning and much greater importance in our life.

"Glimmers refer to small moments when our biology is in a place of connection or regulation, which cues our nervous system to feel safe or calm. We are not talking great, big, expansive experiences of joy or safety or connection, these are micro-moments that begin to shape our system in very gentle ways," says Deb Dana, a clinician, author, and speaker specialising in complex trauma.

Before we delve deeper into the concept of glimmers, let's first understand the exact opposite of glimmers — triggers. Triggers are cues that are potential threats to our instantaneous or long-term well-being. Anything that indicates that we may be in danger or makes us feel withdrawn is a trigger for our mind. As a response to triggers, our brain releases stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. These hormones further result in our bodies taking one of the following actions to protect us: Fight: facing a threat aggressively. Flight: running away from the perceived threat.

Freeze: inability to act against or move away from the danger.

Fawn: acting to try to please to avoid any conflict.

When we are triggered, our brain goes back to past experiences and associates past traumas with present events as if they're happening right now. It leads to our brain automatically picking up one of the above four responses.

Now that we know what triggers are and how our bodies respond to them, let's understand the role of glimmers. I'll start by addressing a few questions. Firstly, how exactly do we identify them, and what role do they play in our lives?

They are the moments and things that give us a feeling of calm, joy, and peace. They reduce emotional stress and make

us feel at ease, which further leads to a state of mind where we can easily grasp and learn. It is the state where we can thrive on our best abilities and perform well in life.

Glimmers are the micro-moments — the ones we do not consciously appreciate — that brings us a smile or calm or joy. Some simple examples are things around in nature like sunshine, greenery, or hearing the water flow. It could also be doing our favourite things like petting an animal, singing, or dancing.

Wrapping our body in a soft cosy blanket, the aroma of freshly baked bread or muffins, and the smell of a book can all bring us joy too. Releasing built-up energy and emotions from the body by shaking it is also an example.

For each of us, glimmers can be different. When we see, hear, or experience something, our mind registers all the feelings we experience at that moment — good and bad. Based on past experiences, preferences, and behaviours, each human has different feelings about different things.

For example, I am super excited when I see a roller coaster because it generates a feeling of adventure and joy in me. Whereas, the same roller coaster repels my friend because it generates a feeling of fear in my friend's mind. Similarly, my sister and I find immense joy in seeing a water body as it brings us a feeling of calm and we enjoy taking a dip wherever possible, but the same water body causes anxiety and triggers fears in our mother's mind because of a childhood experience that makes her correlates water bodies with drowning.

Seeing flowers usually brings a smile to most people's faces but there are a few of us who dread flowers because it triggers their asthma or allergies.

One has to identify these micro-moments of calm, joy, and happiness in our lives and

Glimmers are moments and things that give us a feeling of calm, joy, and peace. They reduce emotional stress and make us feel at ease. It is the state where we can thrive on our best abilities and perform well in life

make conscious efforts to enjoy them as much as possible.

Glimmers are known to release the happy hormones — dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins (D.O.S.E) — in our bodies. These hormones are responsible for making us feel happier, and transform us into the best version of ourselves. They ensure we are more anchored than agitated (as in the case of triggers). They also allow us to experience emotional stability, safety, and cosiness within an area or with certain people. Eventually, all this will make us more comfortable and will open our minds to learning and absorbing things around us.

HERE'S WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT GLIMMERS SO FAR:

l They are the opposite of triggers

l They are small moments of happiness or beauty that regulate our nervous systems

l They cue safety to the survival brain

l They instil peace and evoke joy

l They can be internal or external

l They improve mood and mental health

l They help build nervous system resilience

l They are a trauma-recovery resource

l Each day brings with it, hundreds of glimmers

l Noticing them is a powerful healing practice that adds up over time

l Seeking them will change mental health and life

In conclusion, glimmers are subtle moments of inspiration and hope that bring us joy. These seemingly insignificant moments have the power to bring a spark to our lives that can instantly make us feel uplifted and guide us through darkness. Glimmers are the reminders that we are all capable of finding something beautiful every day. Embracing these glimmers can lead to a more fulfilling existence.

I hope that reading this article has made you realise how understanding the concept of glimmers and making a conscious effort towards recognising the various things in life that bring you joy can improve the overall quality and happiness quotient of your life. While it is crucial to identify our triggers to work on them, it is equally imperative to recognise our glimmers and practice using them daily.

UNRAVELLING THE MYSTERIES OF AREA 51:

ARE WE ALONE IN THE UNIVERSE?

While no one can give a definite answer on whether we are alone or not in the universe, let's look at some of the events and locations that allegedly hold close connections to extraterrestrials

Vani Raj

Are we alone in the universe? This question echoes through the space of time... are we truly alone?

It doesn't matter who you are, whether you are sitting in front of your desk and typing away (kind of like me) or you are a free spirit looking to venture from one unknown to another, you might have asked yourself this question at least once. And when you think about the vastness and possibilities of the universe and the infinite cosmos, it is not that far-fetched to wonder if other intelligent beings exist somewhere?

Perhaps these beings are in the early stages of development, or they have been around for longer and are already far superior to us — the possibilities are endless. It is no wonder that this topic has tweaked the imagination of science fiction

enthusiasts and has even led to numerous conspiracy theories; topping all theories is the infamous Area 51

Area 51 has been shrouded in mystery for a long long time now. It has been the perfect playing field for conspiracy theorists and UFO enthusiasts. Nestled in the Nevada desert (USA), this top-secret military facility has fuelled countless speculations about extraterrestrial life and advanced technological experiments. And, at the heart of the fascination lies the profound question: are we alone in the universe? Renowned physicist Stephen Hawking once hosted a party to ponder this very question, emphasising the significance of seeking answers beyond our world.

Unveiling the secrets of Area 51

Area 51, also known as Groom Lake, is a classified US Air Force facility located in the Nevada Test and Training Range.

Its remote location, restricted airspace, and heavily guarded perimeters have made it a subject of intense speculation and give rise to questions on what the US government is trying to hide. While the existence of the base has never been denied, the nature of the operations carried out here, and the programmes it undertakes remains classified. If you look up Area 51 on any of the official websites, it is acknowledged as an advanced military testing ground for weapons systems and aircraft. But can we believe whatever the government is saying without questioning it? Conspiracy theorists say no! Over the years, numerous theories have emerged, suggesting a much deeper, extraterrestrial connection with this legendary base.

One of the most enduring legends surrounding Area 51 is that it houses crashed UFOs and their alien occupants. It is believed that the US government has been reverse-engineering alien technology, which has led to significant technological advancements in the past. The infamous Roswell incident in 1947 further fuelled these theories.

For the uninitiated, 1947 was the year when the US and other countries were in

the middle of a "flying saucer" fantasy.

People were spotting UFOs everywhere, and there were numerous alien sightings. However, what sealed the deal for conspiracy theorists was the discovery of "unusual debris" by a US rancher. He took this debris, consisting of rubber, tinfoil, and sticks, to the US sheriff, who then contacted the Roswell Army Air Field (RAAF) about it. This was just the beginning of something unusual as the RAAF announced that the material was of alien origin and that a "flying disc" had been recovered. But it soon backtracked and announced in the late 1990s that the debris belonged to a US balloon and was part of a top-secret project.

Conspiracy theorists all across the world took this information with a pinch of salt, and the general discussion continued that the US government was hiding something, particularly in Area 51. While sceptics dismiss these claims as baseless, the secrecy surrounding Area 51 only amplifies the intrigue.

Over the years, whistleblowers and former Area 51 employees have come forward, offering tantalising glimpses into the secretive base. Bob Lazar, a physicist who claimed to have worked at Area 51, stated that he had seen and worked on alien spacecraft. Although his claims have been met with disbelief and criticism, they have undoubtedly contributed to the enduring mystique of the facility.

The quest for extraterrestrial life

The allure of Area 51 lies in the possibility of its connection to extraterrestrial life. The vastness of the universe, with its billions of galaxies and countless stars, fuels the belief that life may exist beyond our planet. Scientists have discovered

multiple exoplanets (planets outside our solar system) that reside in the habitable zone, where conditions may be suitable for life as we know it. And we must keep in mind that the universe is a lot vaster than we know and can comprehend. Despite the advancements in technology, we have explored only a tiny fraction of it.

While the search for extraterrestrial life is ongoing, scientists have yet to find definitive proof. The Drake Equation, formulated by astrophysicist Frank Drake, attempts to estimate the number of technologically advanced civilisations in our galaxy. However, the equation relies on many unknown factors and remains speculative. Nevertheless, the discovery of extremophiles (organisms thriving in extreme conditions) on Earth, coupled with the existence of water and organic molecules in our solar system and beyond, provides hope for the existence of life elsewhere.

Exploring Stephen Hawking's party

But what has Stephen Hawking's 2009 party got to do with aliens? In a cursory glance, nothing! However, it has a lot to do with how we perceive knowledge, the possibilities life holds, and the mysteries of the universe that require our imagination but cannot be proven without scientific evidence.

Stephen Hawking, the renowned physicist, hosted a party with a twist — he sent out invitations to the party after the event had occurred. His reasoning was if time travel was possible, some guests would have been able to attend his party without prior notification or invitation. Despite the media attention the event gathered — after the date of the event —

Hawking received no guests, which led him to conclude that either time travel to the past was not possible or time travellers had chosen not to reveal themselves.

Hawking's party underscores the curiosity and open-mindedness required to explore the unknown and a willingness to challenge established beliefs. It encourages us to question our assumptions and embrace the vastness of possibilities that lie beyond our current understanding.

Conclusion

Area 51 continues to captivate our collective imagination, blurring the lines between fact and fiction. While concrete evidence linking the facility to extraterrestrial life remains elusive, the search for answers continues. Scientists and researchers are exploring distant exoplanets, unravelling the building blocks of life, and developing advanced technology to aid in our quest for knowledge. But while we make advancements in the direction, another question arises: do we ever want to meet these extraterrestrial beings? What if they are hostile (but not in a kidnap human to milk them kind of way)? Or what if our introduction to them leads to their extinction? Do we need to put a break on our curiosity or at least proceed with some caution?

Stephen Hawking's party reminds us of the importance of embracing the unknown and questioning the limits of our understanding. As we gaze into the starry abyss, we may someday find the answers to the age-old question: are we alone in the universe? Until then, the enigma of Area 51 and the search for extraterrestrial life remain an intriguing testament to the boundless wonders of the cosmos.

Global Boiling

Combatting with wit and humour

Scientists say the era of global warming is over and as the temperatures continue to rise, global boiling is here. While everyone has different ideas to help, here are few thoughts that can leave you in splits

Gauri D

It's official! We, humans, have proved yet again that we are the worst! First, it was global warming that was wreaking havoc. However, most of us conveniently ignored all the warnings and signs that were issued. Some of us just refused to accept that it exists. Others spoke too much about it and did nothing. The results of this preparation to combat climate warming just came out. And we failed with flying colours.

With Aurora making a spectacle at random locations, storms raging stronger than ever, to growing solar storms. We have officially entered the stage of Global Boiling. July 2023 was declared the hottest month the Earth has ever seen. We have breached the safe limits of

We have officially entered the stage of Global Boiling. While conscious efforts are needed to save the planet, these witty and humorous suggestions might help blow off of some steam

temperature rise, and the era of Global Warming is a thing of the past. It's so hot that now that the scientists call it "Global Boiling".

But I'm not here to discuss how we screwed up. Or to remind everyone of their civic duty towards Mother Earth. The way I see it, life will go on until one day, it won't. And we will cease to exist knowing it's our fault. When that happens, it'll probably be too late. Hopefully, our generation won't be alive to witness D-day. D-Day being the big Destruction Day. Yes, I wish we do as much as we can to postpone the said D-Day, but that's a story for another day.

Amid much disheartening news and serious discussions about global boiling, there is humour hidden in dark corners of the Internet. With serious discussions sometimes come brilliant, albeit funny or even impossible suggestions. While the

intentions are noble, some ideas will leave you in splits. If they do work out, that will be one heck of a feat by mankind for sure. In the meantime, we can all sit and enjoy a hearty laugh and also wonder if any of these ideas would work at all. So, just for today, let's fight the global boiling of climate and personal stress with wit and humour.

Reflection game

In 2009, a competition was organised to save the planet. More than 1,700 submissions were made by contestants suggesting unique ways of combatting rising temperatures. 26 of which were declared winners. One of the winners, Eduardo Gold, had suggested painting the Peruvian Andes mountains to their original colour — white. The idea was that white would reflect the Sun's rays into space instead of being absorbed by the Earth.

Similar suggestions of painting the mountain ranges and roadways white have been made by various individuals over the years. I wonder if there will be a shortage of white paint someday following these suggestions. Barbie created a shortage of pink, and global boiling might lead to a shortage of white!

De-vampiring of livestock

Funny title, I know. Livestock farming is one of the leading producers of greenhouse emissions. The livestock releases millions of tons of very potent greenhouse emissions in the form of methane. This is caused by cattle farts or flatulence, to be sophisticated. It is a result of methane-producing bacteria present in the livestock stomach.

Some suggest switching to a vegan or vegetarian diet to overcome this problem. However, some probably meat-loving scientists have another innovative solution. They have suggested raising the livestock on 'garlic'. According to studies, garlic is known to kill the methane-producing bacteria in the stomach. While this might solve the problem of deadly farts. I wonder if they have thought about the deadly bad breath 'moos' that might accompany this innovative solution.

Mirror-mirror

The hot and scorching Sun waves are causing our beloved planet to warm,

right? So why not give the Sun a taste of its own medicine?

Several scientists have suggested reflecting the Sun's rays into space to save the planet from further warming. You must have guessed that mirrors are involved in this idea. If the suggestion ended with mirrors, you would wonder if these mirrors could be placed at some remote location, probably at a certain height. That sounds plausible, right? Though we will not debate about the credibility or working mechanics of it. Besides, that wasn't the idea proposed at all. The idea was to send mirrors as huge as Greenland into space to act as Earth's shield. The mathematical estimate is that it would block at least two per cent of Sun's rays. I wonder if they calculated or even considered the math required to send a Greenland-sized mirror into space!

Let there be an explosion

The word explosion always comes with a disaster story attached to it. Since the invention of the first explosives, there has been a long and bloody history attributed to them. Apart from the beautiful New Year's fireworks, I don't recall a single instance of explosive materials leading to a happy ending.

But now, in the most outlandish suggestion ever made. A controversial book has suggested mimicking volcanic eruptions. Let me explain! The idea is to mimic the cooling effects of volcanic eruptions with man-made ones. The DIY method suggested is attaching several miles of the garden to a helium balloon and pumping sulphur dioxide into the outer atmosphere. Sulphur dioxide is known to have cooling effects by blocking sunlight. Of all the outlandish ideas, I hope this one doesn't make a cut. Because if it does work, that would be nothing short of proof that God exists!

If you have any such outrageous, funny, witty, crazy ideas, let them be known. Who knows something might just work out leading humans to rule the Earth for a million more years than we are originally destined to. Till then, open your eyes to reality and look around at the irreversible damage done by humankind. Let us all do our bit and make conscious efforts every day to save the planet from burning down.

FORMING BOUNDARIES IN 2023 WHERE TO DRAW THE LINE?

Astha Anand

"The most difficult thing about implementing boundaries is accepting that some people won't like, understand, or agree with yours. Once you grow beyond pleasing others, setting your standards becomes easier. Not being liked by everyone is a small consequence when you consider the overall reward of healthier relationships," says Nedra Tawwab, award winning therapist and the writer of the book 'Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A guide to Reclaiming Yourself'.

As the term suggests, setting boundaries in a relationship means forming an agreement between yourself and another person or with a group of people. This person or group of people could have a relationship with you that is purely romantic, platonic, or even familial. Boundaries in each relationship are important to demarcate where one draws the line of acceptance. It dictates what you allow and disallow in a relationship, and how you can smoothly function in one.

There are many types of boundaries in today's time such as emotional, physical, psychological, and even sexual. They help us form healthy relationships with mutual respect and well-being. Hence, all of these boundaries should be non-negotiable.

Before we fully delve into understanding how you can set boundaries, let's understand why boundaries are crucial. You might have heard of the phrase 'forming boundaries and drawing the line' more often than ever in the last few years. It is majorly because in the last few years, people have started to understand concepts of self-worth, self-confidence, self-esteem, and self-assurance. That is how people have started to carve their way into forming boundaries in their relationships.

Why setting boundaries is significant

Once you set certain boundaries in a relationship, you prevent people from taking undue advantage of you. You will realise that not every little thing in your workplace, family, or friendships bothers you or worries you anymore.

You will slowly start to realise that because of these boundaries, you are not sucked into unnecessary dramas, and you

can avoid unfortunate arguments and pointless confrontations.

Forming boundaries can also help you extraordinarily in becoming more self-dependent. Co-dependency in any relationship shows lack of emotional boundaries. It shows an unhealthy dynamic where two people are dependent on each other in a dysfunctional way. Clear and precise boundaries in a relationship prevents both parties from getting lost into the relationship. It allows them to enjoy the relationship and also peacefully attend to their own needs and desires.

Being honest is one of the simplest yet the hardest choice one makes in a relationship. Having clarity of thought on what you want from yourself and the other person can bring calmness and peace in a relationship. Forming boundaries and being honest with your partner, friend, family member, boss etc. can help you create healthier and more sustainable relationships.

Boundaries are definitely a great way to avoid drama and ugly confrontations, and thereby ensuring mental peace. Boundaries can help you find more time and space for you to grow and develop as a human being. It can help you become more

"Daring to set boundaries is about having the courage to love ourselves, even when we risk disappointing others," said author Brene Brown. Find out how setting boundaries can lead to a blissful life

sensitive to your own self. "The ability to say no to yourself is a gift. If you can resist your burgers, change your habits, and say yes to only what you deem truly meaningful, you'll be practicing healthy boundaries. It's your responsibility to care for yourself without excuses," says Tawwab.

I hope by now you understand why it is crucial to set boundaries and how it ensures sanity and mental peace in relationships. I also hope you understand how boundaries support inner growth and perspective. Now, let's understand how you can protect your needs and priorities when it comes to forming boundaries in a relationship. But the question still stands: where do we begin? How do we communicate all of this effectively without sounding like a fool? How do you establish consequences for crossed boundaries? How do you do all this without damaging the relationship?

Here are some strategies for setting strong boundaries in a relationship

LEARN TO SAY NO

The number one tactic in forming boundaries is learning how to say "no", whenever needed. Saying no can be extremely hard, especially when saying no to your friends, family, partner, or boss. However, it is imperative to understand that forming boundaries is no child's play. It takes a lot of courage, difficult conversations, and misunderstandings to set clear boundaries. Why is it hard for people to say no? Saying no can seem hard because first, you don't want people to get upset. Second, you don't want to offend anybody. Third, there is a threat of losing them because of disagreements due to different viewpoints. There are multiple reasons why someone might feel fearful about saying no but it is essential to start somewhere.

CONSEQUENCES OF ACTIONS

It is key to establish consequences for when your boundaries are being crossed. As the title of the article suggests, it is vital to understand that if you draw a line, a person is not supposed to cross that line. However, if they do, start by confronting the other person about the breach. Explain why the boundary is important

to you and how it helps you as an individual and both of you. If the breach continuously persists, there should be serious consequences to such actions. This could include ending the relationship or even taking a break for that matter.

COMMUNICATION IS KEY

Communicating your needs and priorities is extremely vital. Once you know what you want from a relationship or how you want it to function, communicating it will help the other person recognise and acknowledge your needs. Ensure that you are not aggressive or threatening. Use direct, verbal, and assertive language.

REACH OUT

Seeking timely support is imperative. If you need help setting boundaries or communicating your boundaries to people, it is okay to reach out to a third person or a professional who can help you understand the process. They can help you understand the process and work better. It could include reaching out to a close family member, a therapist, or a coach. Yes, being in therapy and seeking professional support is hard and takes time and effort but with enough sessions, one can learn to set strong and healthy boundaries that work for you, your friendships, and relationships.

How to successfully form boundaries in any relationship

ASK YOURSELF

You should always know what you want before sharing and communicating the same with someone else. What do you want from a relationship? What are your needs and priorities? Set them straight and then communicate the same externally.

CONSTANT CHECK

From time to time, check in with yourself and your relationships. This will help you understand how these boundaries are serving you and the relationship. Boundaries are also allowed to change over time as per the progression of a relationship. It is of use to have conversations around these boundaries when there is a need for change.

TYPES OF BOUNDARIES

One should know what boundaries to

be formed in what type of relationship. Financial boundaries with your partner and family, sexual boundaries with your partner, emotional boundaries with your siblings. Separate boundary settings would mean different needs, discussions, and patterns.

MUTUAL RESPECT

Respect goes both ways in all relationships. As humans, we crave respect, admiration, and affection. Mutual respect brings us to the last segment of the article. As you want people in your life to respect your boundaries, it is pertinent to respect others people's boundaries as well.

Let's understand how we can respond when someone else sets a boundary with us

LISTEN

Listening and understanding the other person who is coming ahead to form a boundary is very important. It is crucial to receive information rather than prepare for an argument. Listen to understand, not to respond.

ACCEPTANCE

It is paramount to accept their need to form a boundary. Listen to what they have to share. Also, communicate your needs and feelings around the same time to reach a middle point and a compromise. Try to accept the other person's perspective instead of jumping to assumptions and judgments. Apologise, if needed.

Sometimes, we don't understand or comprehend situations, and it is okay to make mistakes. You might have overstepped someone's boundaries, and they might have felt offended or violated over something. It is okay to apologise and accept where you went wrong. It is imperative you realise how your actions can affect your close ones and accordingly, make amends.

"People don't know what you want. It's your job to make it clear. Clarity saves relationships," shares Tawwab. Hence, it is essential to understand that human beings are not mind readers. If you want something, have certain expectations, or want clarity with your needs and priorities, only one thing can help you and that is setting boundaries.

A loop of dependence

Longing for attachments yet staying within herself, Laughing along the way while concealing her vulnerable self. Because she knows what getting attached would bring to her, Depending upon others once made her suffer.

She fell deeper into this maze, Unaware of how dependent she was becoming these days. Others' thoughts mattered more than they should, Making choices became hard, she understood.

REDISCOVERING SELF THROUGH PASSION

Walking home with a baggage of stress and regret,

Questioning myself if this is the life I aimed for, the actual purpose did I forget?

Just because I couldn't make it this one day,

What I planned and created didn't satisfy me in that way.

Losing the spark and connection that I once had for my work, I kept on going forward with it but it offered no perk.

What I didn't realise is I needed time to let myself breathe, So I took a break to know what I was holding beneath.

Listening to music, letting my body flow, Connecting me to the parts I lost control of, nice and slow.

It was hard at first, as all this time I stayed rigid, Restricting my movements for too long, I became frigid.

That day I regained something I had lost before, With every movement, I opened the closed doors of emotions and let myself be restored. Who knew that one passion of mine could help me reconnect with another, Letting me embrace all the forms of me, those I didn't have time to discover.

Adding life to my existence is what I now call my passion, Allowing me to flow deeper within, in a true self-expression. Making me experience the worth I hold, so profound, It's not just me, but my creativity that needs time to come around.

My passion gave me the power to build myself anew, It was just there, present inside of me, waiting to break through. At that moment, I realised that we need to give it space and time to thrive, Nurturing our inner fire will help us truly come alive.

Their opinions guided her more than her own heart, She followed suggestions like rules, tearing herself apart.

Drifted from who she was, lost in their view, Her confidence withdrew, forgetting her value. Not drawing a line led her this far, She made decisions in the past, which left her a scar. So she believed that others had no regrets over their decision, She kept living her life, forgetting her distinction.

Sharing what’s in your heart isn't bad, it's true and kind, But changing who you are, leaving yourself behind, That's not the way to go, it takes a heavy toll, Seeking help is good, but don't lose control.

Vinni Gupta

Vinni Gupta

HOROSCOPE

OCTOBER 2023

Aries

This month will inspire your adventurous spirit and bring exciting opportunities for travel. Don't be scared to take bold steps and embrace new opportunities in your career. You will achieve success, so keep an open heart.

Taurus

You might experience some changes in your relationships. Unexpected financial gains might appear, but avoid impulsive spending. Stay focused and your professional life will thrive. Health remains satisfactory.

Gemini

With collaboration and teamwork, you'll be able to achieve your goals. Exciting work opportunities will knock at your door, be adaptable to succeed. A mix of socialising and solitude will recharge your energy. Love life may face challenges.

Cancer

Try to release old baggage and find personal growth. Family connections will bring joy and show unwavering support. Professional growth will be imminent. Take care of your health with a balanced diet.

Leo

Being ambitious and innovative will help you shine in your career. Love will bloom with honesty and passion. Put extra efforts to nurture old friendships and form new connections. Practice meditation for your well-being.

Virgo

Don't be afraid to speak your heart to get what you desire. Focus on the details, but don't lose sight of the bigger picture. Nurture family bonds for harmony and joy. Trust your instincts in financial matters and you'll reap rewards.

Libra

This is Libra's month. You will attract new friendships and romantic possibilities. Celebrate all your achievements, both big and small. Trust your intuition in financial decisions. Take extra care of your mental health.

Scorpio

Let go of what no longer serves you. Trust your intuition and take calculated risks in both your personal and professional life. Stay persistent and your career path may lead to new heights. Time spent with loved ones will bring peace and happiness.

Sagittarius

Explore new cultures and broaden your horizons. Your innovative ideas will boost career prospects. Love life may face hurdles, be ready to make adjustments and compromises. Take care of your health through outdoor activities and sports.

Capricorn

This month will bring professional achievements, stay determined. Family bonds will remain strong and love life will also flourish as genuine emotions come to the fore. Financially, you must be cautious and budget wisely.

Aquarius

Be strong and advocate for positive changes. Career advancements are on the horizon too. Don't be afraid to stand out from the crowd. Your unique approach will attract like-minded people and create meaningful connections.

Pisces

October enhances intuition and spiritual growth for personal development. Financially, seize new opportunities. Focus on building a solid support system of friends and family. Your compassion will bring success and happiness.

DAB Ethnic Minorities Service Centre

DAB Legislators Starry Lee and Vincent Cheng, Yau Tsim Mong Branch and Ethnic Minorities Committee visited the Jordan areas with confirmed COVID-19 cases to bring the latest messages and masks for the affected residents in a swift manner. Meanwhile, DAB urged the government 1) to extend the service period and operating hours of testing facilities, 2) to issue quarantine order to the buildings of continuous outbreak and contiguously polluted, 3) to strengthen supports to Ethnic Minorities’ communication.

Tei on Nov 15,2020, DAB paid condolence visits to the bereaved families. We initiated a fundraising for victims of the fire; DAB Legislators Starry Lee and Vincent Cheng, EMC Chairman Derek Hung, Yau Tsim Mong Branch Officers Benny Yeung, Craig Jo and Alex Poon distributed the charity fund directly to the families two weeks after the fire. We also met with the Chief Secretary and related government departments to discuss the prevention of any future disasters. DAB urged to take a multi-pronged approach to resolve hidden safety hazards in old buildings.

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