Ganpati Bappa Morya

 

Nationalist and freedom fighter Bal Gangadhar Tilak was the man who turned the private Ganapati Festival into Public festival. Basically, he found the need to bridge the beliefs between people and there could have been no better options than Ganpati Bappa and Shivaji Maharaj. He started celebrating Shivajayanti and Ganesh Utsav. We all know Ganesh Utsav is a ten-day-long festival celebrated in Maharashtra. Now as people travelled in different states and countries they carried their celebrations and beliefs with them. Tilak choose Ganesh festival as Ganpati was “The God for every man” and “Common Man,” this helped him getting people of all upper and lower caste, Brahmins and non-Brahmins together and fight against the British who did not allow public gatherings in those days.

Ganesh Utsav then and now

Earlier idols were made up of clay, or say mud only which later turned to POP and use of other chemicals involved in making the idol more beautiful and presentable. Resulting in water pollution on immersion of idols after the tenth day due to the chemical use.

Earlier ten days were celebrated along with cultural events like dance, drama, musical night and debates but that was all related to the religious content or freedom struggle. But today we celebrate with dance and drams etc irrespective of religious content.

Earlier the festival was like “EK GAAV EK GANAPATI” today we completely fail on this concept. Though the cities have also become larger and expanded their limits there is no count of mandals around, every society and every defined area has their Ganpati festival, their own Ganesh Mandal. There is no outline of events followed, no defined structure. It’s just about competition among us comparing the height of the idol and the expenses done against the festival.

The regional celebration is now a National celebration and more of political celebration. Collecting donations for the idol was earlier as per the wish of donor, but now it’s more of threat and fixed amount irrespective of your wish for the local businessman’s.  

Today it’s just about endless meaningless music along with bare bodies moving on it in front of huge gigantic statues and pandals. Going by some figures there were 3000 pandals in Mumbai in 1995 which turned to 12000 by 2016.

Ganpati Bappa is the god of wisdom and prosperity. We all love him as the favourite god and for his Modaks. Can we make this celebration better by making small changes in it? This year we do not have many Pandals, taking this as an opportunity

Ø Can we make changes in our celebrations? Some villages have taken the initiative of “EK GAAV EK GANAPATI”.

Ø The idols are limited to 2 feet only. Above all this, there would be no assembling of people and no procession as well. But there are still POP idols. Can we all go for eco-friendly Ganesh idols, idols out of the paper mash, natural colours, and natural red and black Clay?

    Can we have some structure of celebration relevant to our culture?

Ø Can we try and make it less noisy, and more meaning full.          

Ø Can we all take up Tilak’s agenda and limit the number of idols. Of course, today making idols is one of the biggest annual businesses, but we will have to be hard and take a step ahead. In fact, going ahead can we learn pottery skills and try and make our own idols.

Ø Can we make Athravashirsha an everyday event for?

Ø Can we contribute less to noise and air pollution?

Ø Events like dancing are also forms of art to be conducted but can that be something classical, something religious.

Ø Let’s organise a competition that will enrich our lives.

    Mind it; it’s just not a celebration or festival. People tend to follow so many auspicious things at home, treat the same idol with so much belief and respect but same people fail to follow it in public mandals. What an irony! This year we need to take extra care during Ganesh festival. Let us stay at home, avoid visiting public places and sarvajanik mandals. Try spending this Ganesh festival with your Ganpati idol at your place. Let us pray Bappa for the eradication of all the diseases and sufferings around and may Bappa bless you all health and wisdom.   

Ganpati Bappa Morya,pudhchya varshi lawkar ya……..2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dealing with child's failure

Dealing with failures, here is a special note for parents, yes because parents need it more than children. The results are out and parents are celebrating by distributing sweets in society. Children are happy thinking they would easily get admissions where they had aimed for. But this happiness doesn’t exist when someone around, whom you know did not succeed, or due to failure takes a step to commit suicide. Thankfully no news yet. Still, I take an onus to write for those parents of children who did not score well.

As we say firstly every child is different. We should accept the child with his positives and negatives as well. Remember Amir Khan Starrer movie had a dialogue “Sab milkay har ungli ko bada karne main lage huey hain” As a parent what you should not do is something we will discuss today.

Parents let us take this an opportunity to change our mindsets. The problem is not in this generation but in ours, as we are bought up thinking differently saying marks and ranks define us. We had lesser carrier opportunities comparatively, isn’t it?.

Remember we were made to believe that status in society is due to the money we earn. And to get that salary a few options like the doctor, engineer were available. No one really thought of other options and whoever thought was looked up with completely different and ugly looks. The “Log kya kahenge“ factor pushed generations into these marks and grades race. Passions, choice, and interest was something apart from our carrier options.

Ø Many times parents keep using the negative terms for children like a failure, looser, and duffer. You cannot be insensitive for your pride to your own child. Yes! I mean pride, results are like pride issues to parents, the way they discuss, and share results on the public platform. But for them who are not able to do this keep on blaming the child and using one-liners like, “You will never be successful” “You are a loser” Now a day’s every class even nursery class has watts app group of parents, where parents literally compete among themselves.

Ø You are not only degrading them, but hurting their self-esteem and also taking steps towards being the most insensitive parent “You are a curse to our family name, ”I think you should graze cows and buffalos”. Here labeling the child will be like a stamp that would never go off him.                 

Some parents take away all the luxuries like mobile, laptop given to the child, stop talking to him and stop providing his pocket money or his playtime is called off. Doing this will not help the child to concentrate on studies but of course, the child is getting away with his thoughts against you.

This reflects the parent’s immaturity.  Behaving in such a manner will lead the child to get the feeling of no one understands him, he will feel lonely, upset, feel low, and depressed. This may lead him to the wrong company and mislead him to health issues as well. And the worst case will be leaving the house or committing suicide. It’s not about being a good parent or bad parent, it’s just that you are a parent and need to deal with this situation carefully. First please understand the child did not do it purposefully. He/She must have tried his best to study and get good marks but somehow they haven’t, Now rather than going into the past, as a parent can you move towards the future.

Ø Can you try some words carefully which would make the child feel better in the situation where he /she, is already in guilt? Maybe something like “Its ok! Try harder next time. Failures are the best teacher; we are with you no matter what happens. When you stop trying is when you fail, so try all over again”.

Ø Guide your child to take learning from failures. Encourage and guide him thru the process but also ensure he has learned from the failure.

Ø Take family out for a ride or dinner just to feel better and help the child move on.

Ø Go along with his entire study material and understand where he went wrong, where he can correct and take pains to improve.

Ø Talk enough with him such that he gives out all his anger, guilt sadness fear and other strange feelings to overcome the failure.

Ø Start focusing on Childs interest and passion. Keep your carrier option aside, let him explore his possibilities.

Ø There are good examples of young entrepreneurs in the business field, so you need not get old to be successful in business.

Ø Let children try and fail as they have a family to support. And of course, that’s the first step to success, isn’t it?

Remember the scene in three idiots when Farhan chooses his passion –photography over being an Engineer. The scene got all of us in tears when parents and children are in two different worlds, but they accept each other and hug, isn’t that feeling great. Go ahead and hug your kid, for all he has tried. Choose your reactions and shape the future of your child as you are mature, sensitive, and caring adult, who also may have failed or not scored well in life.

"One exam doesn’t define who you are. Each of you is blessed with numerous talents. Live life to the fullest. Never lose hope, always look ahead."

 

Wachal tar Vachal... Reading a Saviour

My mother always shares my memories of holding the pen in hand whole day wherever I go. I had that habit of noting down things as and when needed. No wonder I have always been writing and reading a lot. At times, I even keep the used newspaper, one which is used to cover shelves, if my eyeballs catch something new in it.

I actually used to tuck the pen in my dress as men do in their pockets. Further the pen went to my purse or bags along with small diary. Today when I see same habit in my daughter I try to encourage her to scribble with the pen. Thankfully she hasn’t scribbled my walls yet.

She draws some picture of a girl, every time its mom and sometimes when it had small beard like hairs on chin its baba. She writes alphabets and numbers on her book, imitating me when I write.

She is too small to read anything apart from her alphabets. I got some books for her and prepared a small child library. She very proudly shares mom, that’s my library.

I want to inculcate that reading habit in her and thus I keep trying different tricks, but to my realization that she is still four and identifies alphabets and numbers only. I hold back my urge to make her read.

I was sitting in my balcony accompanied by her besides me. Of course, I was reading out story to her. That’s the practice we follow whenever, she feels like listening or say demands for a story. We have been doing this as practice. When I was done with her reading and picked my novel, she went back to her book and started reading the bold letters on the cover page….F..A…I…R..Y  T..A..L..E..S….fairy tales, right mummy? And that’s the beginning she started reading anything in bold letters she found everywhere in the house. Names of biscuits, any wrapper she found, brand of television, refrigerator, movie names, clothes brands and bold names in newspapers.

One night I slept with the thought of buying new books for her as we are almost done reading all stories to her. I was also thinking how do I make her read books. We had serious discussion wherein my husband calmed me down saying she is small in a year or, so she will start reading, I should not worry and hurry as well. You can buy books online he said. And I slept with the happy thought of online book shopping.

Next morning my baby got up before me, while I was still in my bed she arranged few pillows to reach her library and got duckling book in her hand. She got it and sat near my pillow showing me the pictures and started reading…once an upon a time there lived a duck with her three little ducklings…….she couldn’t read, but she read the story the way she knew and recollected it, while she was turning pages……that was so cute. Her gesture made me so happy and content.

Moral of the story is, children copy you, imitate you in whatever you do. Be what you want your child to be.

In Marathi, we have saying “Wachal tar Vachal” reading saves. Here are some tricks I practiced making my child read.

· Introduce a funny reading game to your child by reading alternate lines. Making funny voices, act at times to develop their interest in it. Have some game of interest like who reads well, who reads faster etc.

· Bring books that are interesting at that age, where they can learn something new. That has catchy pictures as well.

· Never decide what they should read. Always give them choice. Let them learn to select and find their own interest. Expose them to various languages, authors and pictures and choose the best of their interest.

· Worshiping books will never bring goddess saraswati to your house. Let children find her when they turn the pages. Let them mark some points take notes, write new words. Introduce new words in their day to day vocabulary.

· Do not force child to read, make reading a pleasure for him. Convincing them to read would make it another task for them. Give them anything that interests them, some comic, some newspaper cutting, or just advertisements anything that they love to read,that will increase the interest and will be pleasure for them.

· Introduce games like searching words on the page of book. Teach Synonyms for some word or word puzzles for kids. Teach them use of one new word every day. Search for new words in newspaper or books.

· Create something like a book club with child and his friends, wherein they share their reading, the books and share the stories. Let them exchange their books and readings. Encourage them with the highest book reader. Peers are always motivating factor, and reading with friends will make the process exciting.

· The bookshelf for the kid should be handy. The child should be able to play with the book as and when he wants. Do not keep it high fearing the child may tear it.

· Create a cozy reading or writing corner for children. Add something like comfortable desk to read with lovely cushions and reading light. The ambience may excite the child and see that you keep the reading lights on at specific time, such that it becomes schedule.

· Keep variety of books to understand the child’s likes and dislikes of subjects. Encourage all type of reading.

· Keep the books handy at different locations as per their subject. Bedtime stories near bed, art and craft near play area cartoons stories in drawing room. Also keep a book for notes.

Prefer books than any gadget. It’s safe for eyes, it gives better understanding. Children feel comfortable with books than being anxious with gadgets. It may get tore but unless the child handles it, it won’t. Let the child handle it, see it, touch and feel the books to get that ownership.

Believe me it gives immense pleasure to see your child reading on his own.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We don't want war... We want peace

Finally, he is back in time to my surprise. I was restless as he left. Thou I assisted him with all required weapons when he left. The sight of he standing in door with a bag on his back and helmet in his hand, actually could relate to Abhinandan Vardhaman. Seems like he went on a mission. 

Going to court after, more than three months of lockdown almost gave me goosebumps. I was restless since he told me is going the next day. I didn't want him to go but still reminded him of sanitizer, jacket, giving him instructions like children going out for first time. Do not eat anything anywhere. Avoid crowding, do not shake hand with anybody. Keep distance when you speak to clients.

I gave him my greetings “abhinandan” as he came and sat for a chat discussing how things are going in the world around. My man also had changed his looks as the lockdown effect, but of course not as big and rounded like Abhinandan Vardaman.

Abhinandan does not require any introduction  I believe, his mustache also became a trend those days. People were in queue at the barbers shop to show their patriotism on face.

“Mooche Ho to Abhinandan jaisi warna na ho”

A man has posted a pic of his month-old child to be named as Abhinandan reflecting his feelings of patriotism.not bad..... The child will always have story to tell for his name. 

Whole day I sat disturbed yet positive with my Little one thinking what my man must be doing in crowd in such Covid-19 situation. Thou the cases were to be conducted in video conferencing, ensuring judges would be safe my man must be surrounded by clients. 

I could not stop thinking about the videos of Covid-19 warriors so far. The doctors staying away from their families. We have one policeman in our society who stands at the gate for his wife to bring him tea and serve at the gate itself. Wonder what his wife must be going thru. 

Just for one day my man was out, and I was so low battling with my thoughts.

I know there are sanitizer sprays all over in corporate, and public places. He can always take utmost care so that he doesn't get infected and of course once he was home I asked him to lather himself with soap first before he sat with us. 

These days we actually sat and Discussed on our policies and their nominations. Being lawyer we made people understand  the importance of WILL. 

Thou at times I ensure I am the beneficiary and in my case he remains one but what about those women whose man walks into line of fire somewhere on LOC. Insurance policies and nominees are vital questions and above all there is the fear that their man may never return. 

Sitting here and writing with help of social media and encouraging the government to have war is utter nonsense. It looks like fauladi heroes on the location like the film heroes who always return, but the fact is sometimes they don't. There are real men out there on the LOC and not the GI Joe figurines. Real lives are involved and for them fortunes are not counted in money they make but good fortune is to be alive. 

We mourn for Sushant since last fifteen days but have forgotten the warriors, soilders on the LOC we lost to war with China. I am not comparing the deaths I am comparing our reactions to both the deaths. Thou we call the soilders Shahid it's a planned murder by China and Sushant's seem to be planned murder. 

We are ready to. Keep. Posting on media but not ready to bann tiktok and other apps for those who actually are losing life for us.Do we deserve?? 

We show patriotism by naming our children in name of warriors like Abhinnadan by keeping mustaches like him. But along with that remarkable mustache the blood he shed was real, the life was at risk, Bravery he showed was real. 

How the Josh?? High Sir.

We do not want war countrymen. We want peace. I welcome and appreciate governments step against the Chinese apps.That's the way to deal than having war. Let's do it. 

Online study parents orientation meet invite

Early morning I received an online study introduction meeting invite. Of course, it was a zoom meeting as social distancing is a must. Children are cute but the parents of kinder garden students are cuter. I was so amused by the experience of online orientation. The meeting was to be held the next day and the link was sent on the group. After so many days almost three months, the group discussions made sense. 

Our Nursery C group had almost all mothers and a few fathers to have gender equality. The meeting was going to start at 11.00 am. The orientation was done on Sunday considering the working parents in the group. The head of the school along with subject teachers was going to be part of the meeting. Now that the meet is over I would love to share the amusement. 

I told the parents were so cute and so excited like their kids that they gave a different benchmark to my amusement. The variety of parents in the meet was hilarious and was taking over my funny bones. Let me take you thru my amusement experience. 

1. Anxiety parents:  They suddenly wake up to their thoughts and rush to watts app or other groups to get the link for meeting and rush to the meeting without any idea or study, say homework on the topic. 

2. Confused parents: These parents are not sure about the sessions so they get along their kids too to peep in the small screen. In spite of mentioning that the orientation is only for parents. They also ensure that their children say a loud greeting to the teacher. In addition to their confusion they confuse other parents to include kids. Adding on this other parents call up their kids to see their teachers and meet friends on screen.

 

3. Ideal Parents: They are ready before ten minutes on their screens with a good smiling appearance and are well dressed. They ensure their children and speaker both are on mute. In some cases, both parents attend the meeting showing their enthusiasm and interest.  

4. Party parents: These Parents are dressed so well that they get easily noticed and seem like having an online party. They ensure their friends see whatever they flaunt. 

5. Ignorant parents: Parents who completely ignore the background dancing and shouting yelling and crying kids. At times vice versa kids attending session sitting idle in front of the camera with parents hovering around in the background. 

6. Magical parents: They appear and vanish with connectivity issues and struggle to try out the session. They end up understanding nothing and reach watts app group for help. 

7.Conscious parents: These parents actually create a zoom corner in their house wherein they have various online interactions. They ensure the best possible view of their place may be study room or so. 

8. Shabby parents: Parents who have failed control over and around them, lying on the bed along with pillow and blankets rolled each other. These parents do not see the mirror before joining the meet and get surprised with others' looks and take small breaks from the screen, keeping it blank and towards the untidy bed.At times not worried showing the camera facing different parts of the body than face. 

9. Career oriented parents: These parents know everything syllabus of junior kg to carrier option for kids. They are worried about child development. Their child is always ahead of time and learning. They will have development-related questions at the end of the session.

10. Worried parents: These parents are very worried about their children they do not act on anything apart from scaring away the kid with the teacher’s name. They ensure they continue doing it by asking questions at the end of the session which is not related to the discussion done. Like he doesn’t have milk and food on his own!! He wants to play with mobile the whole day seeking the solution from the teacher. 

11. Thanksgiving parents: These parents will praise the teacher no matter what just to be in good books. They ensure they keep thanking the teacher. They will give entire credit for everything happening with their kid to the teacher even though they are been in lockdown for the last few months. 

12. Silent Parents: They log in time with the mute speakers. They listen to take notes if necessary. Ask relevant queries. Are quietly sorted and relaxed. They do not ask any unnecessary questions and not interested in anything other than the relevant topics.

13. Enthusiastic parent:  This parent is the watts app admin. She will take notes and paste the summary of the group post-session. She will also call for a meeting on the watts app for the understanding of those who couldn't attend the meeting. 

It was not different than the introductory meeting of the session before even children went to school last year.  When the principal told it’s your choice to select the menu for tiffin, only ensure that your child should eat. 

To which 

Parents no 1 asked can I send Non-veg? 

The parent no 2 my child is fond of wafers and chips only can I? 

Third said my child can eat anything with ketchup, so can I send ketup every day....

Never-ending queries. 

Alas…..child has grown to one grade but parents didn’t .....they have the same irrelevant queries.

Thanks to the teachers and principal for patience with grown-up kids. 

HOPE

Lock down has been inspiration, yes it was.... It is still. I started penning my thoughts on paper.I started blogging,  I started my online coaching as well as I learned a lot from various webinars. I got an opportunity  to explore online ativities.

Recently  I came across a social group which was related  to planting. I always wanted to have small terrace garden. We did plant some and loved taking care of them. During lock down when there was lot of negativity around those tiny little leaves always inspired us. When watered it  felt so amazing to eyes. Many smiles with blooming flowers gave peace to eyes. We have tried having a small kitchen garden also. I planted some essential  herbs like curry  leaves, coriander, mint, onion, garlic, and some creepers. With limited space we sometimes failed and sometimes the plant refused to grow in to small pots. 

I guess plants also felt that viral discussion in the air and decided to survive. Some amazing results of many stems and plants were seen when kept in water. It gave such hope.

Curry leaves always refuse to grow, no matter you get sapling. I call it the most adamant plant. But even the stick when kept in water showed small leaves grown on it. 

We have been associated with hope to get promotions, our children to grow upright way, get married and settled, we hope for a beautiful home to live in, a healthy body, and much more.

In the last some months we have been talking a lot about medicines, change in lifestyle, exercise, yoga, maintaining routine activities, correcting nutrition working from home, increasing immunity, and much more. Each of these things has shown their place but there is one thing that every human being on this planet has but do not much speak about it HOPE. We do not speak much but silently we have it within us hoping and wishing for things.

When it comes to any disease the thing that comes first is a big load of fear with it, Fear is exactly the opposite to Hope. Fear limits us to every positive thought. Hope heals in every possible way. People travel thought the world to treat diseases like cancer, TB, AIDS, they do so may treatments but the first and last much-needed thing which is not given is Hope.

Remember the doctors in the movie somewhere in 70’s would always say, you are late, Agar thoda jaldi atay to shayad Kuch kar sakte the, third stage pain hain, can’t help. And the patient would ask Kitna time hain mere pass?

Isn’t it losing hope completely and accepting? It’s almost a fear-induced market around. Saying this to the patient is taking away his hope completely.

Look around there are people who actually are living life to the fullest these days at home, in limited resources, just because they know the situation is critical and there are chances, of getting infected. Of course, there is a cure to Corona, but the fear that we see in the market is due to the phase that we have seen and have been through for months.

Remember Rajesh Khanna in ‘Anand’ the character actually lives the life to fullest when he comes to know that he has less time, he challenges the verdict of doctors and enjoys every moment of life. 

When a patient is told he has limited time at the time the patient’s body and mind give up. We have been listening to two types of people around, who have lost their loved once and those who have fought the Virus and came out of it successfully. While we feel low at the death figure, we do not feel good and inspired by the real COVID fighters……negative media.

Replace that FEAR with HOPE and a positive attitude.

You cannot live life like this just sitting at home getting scared of some virus. You can work on your body your physical as well as mental health. Take precautions and use various tools like Mask, Sanitizers, soaps, avoid crowding, have healthy food, and most important HOPE……HOPE that my month-old sapling gave me.

I thought it's dead  but it actually turned up today morning wishing me a good beginning of the day.... Felling so positive and full of HOPE.

Hope is the thing with feathers, that perches in the soul

And sings the tune without the words And never stops at all

Emily Dickinson

Ek smile de… thodi hass jara......

Smile a beautiful expression. The best curve of your body. And believe me it is contagious. It brings that spark to those plain eyes. Every individual today is struggling trying to find meaning out of life. We all have become so busy, so engrossed in our lives that we actually have forgot to live it.

In this rat race we our self have forgotten to smile, enjoy life, so giving that smile to some else is out of question, isn’t it?

There is book named “Who will cry when you die” Apart from what is inside the book, what do you the think title says? 

Think what will people talk about you when you are not around? GUESS?

What you want people to say about you is in your hands, you can do it by the way you want people to talk about you. Like if you wish people should say he/she was a good human being, very kind and lovely person, u need to be one.

If you want one to say you have lovely smile, you need to give that smile to people around. Today when all are dealing with social distancing issue, believe me people are treating each other so badly. Even I see people around me who hesitate to smile at each other.

People are closing doors on each other’s face. Social distancing has converted to emotional distancing. It’s ok not to touch each other as need of an hour, but treat each other as human.

I remember in 2020 due to pandemic how northeast girl was treated by a man at a mall when he literally spit at her. How could one?

Despite all the hurry in our life we can stop for a minute to make life beautiful and world a lovely place to stay, leaving a mark behind where ever you go. Here wherever means any place like clinic, market, park, school, and workplace. Help the needy, we are lucky enough to be one who can help than the one who needs help.

Sometimes our little gestures make a lot of difference, brings smile on some ones face. A small deed of random kindness can do wonders. Giving a tip at big restaurants is a style, or say a gesture that makes increases your status. Why not give some extra money to those who delivered milk, grocery, eggs and essentials to us during pandemic. While we were in lockdown they doctor, staff, sweepers helped us in recommendable way, give it a thought.

Some simple ideas can be complimenting someone. Complementing may make the person happy and make him feel more confident. A small help offered by you to unknown person will go long way. You may find many thieves in public places but you never know who is the real needy person?

We have a sunday market near my house, where we often go for veggies and some shopping. One day I lost my husband wallet to a thief. I was extremely low and cried my heart out. I was very low as I lost all his cards, and some heavy cash. I was feeling so bad that couldn’t forgive myself for that negligence.

To my surprise my husband explained me “You never know the person must be needy and may be money was needed in hospital or some good deed” I felt so amused at his way of thinking.

To our surprise he got call from unknown person wherein we got his cards and wallet back with no money. Thief had thrown it at some railway station. So believe in “Achay logon ksaath hamesha acha hota hain”

I had lost originals to a thief while I was travelling to office in a train, but I didn't get it back. Bad meee !!

Always stay positive, be kind have empathy. Universe is like a mirror, it reflects back whatever you give. So give out positivity, give good vibes and so will you get.

We say what you sow shall you reap”

Humans can go on and on talking about themselves, try a give an ear to someone who needs it. Offer advice wherever needed. Maybe we will have less suicidal news, Fewer thefts, less bad energy.

Do not hold yourself back if you wish to help someone. You will not lose by doing something good but will lose if you hold back.

Simple activity of removing the stone from midst of road may save accidents. What say?

Remember smile is key that fits in every heart. You cannot change the world by smiling but yes if you even smile at one person making a difference then go ahead and bless that one soul. Let your radiance flow wherever you go.

Social Media Trap

Social media allows people to be expressive in a virtual world, it is also important to be expressive in your real world, but it's easier when its virtual, don’t get confused, be you on and off social media, don’t become lost in the facade you create for the virtual world.

Social media is a boon and a curse. It really depends on what you are using it for and how you use it and how much you use it. You cannot make it in either side. Many people spiral into depression and sadness when they think their lives and what they have and how they are living is inadequate compared to the lives they see on social media, Which believe me is not real. 

Of course, you can use social media to learn, inspire, share, educate etc, and then you can use it to feel good about yourself or get locked into watching the lives of other people. Things you should remember, take care of when you are on social media--

The lives of most people, your social media friends would appear like they have done well, but a lot of them are lacking many things like they are really living off parents wealth, living in homes of their parents, flaunting clothes, Jewelry, cars, etc that don’t really belong to them. It's just that you can't see beyond. A lot of people own material things on loan, which in a way is not really theirs until they pay off the loan. It’s easy to take loans and show the world a life that is not real.

Everything you see does not have to be real. There are a lot of fake things around, which look real. Artificial things look lovely and interesting.

A lot of people search for validation on social media, and that's the worst place to get validation from, that is the virtual world. You need to connect with reality for your living and unfortunately most of the virtual world is nowhere close to the real world it's very far from reality of life. 

A lot of people have fake lives. Be careful of all the people who teach you ways to hack certain parts of your lives. These are lies. Certain or actually almost all aspects of your life need self-discipline, consistency and there are no shortcuts. THERE ARE NO Shortcuts.

Understand the power of light and photography and how it can make body’s and body parts look different from real life and don’t get sucked into that lie ...If you need to look to social media for constant advice on how to dress, how to date, whom to date, sex etc, your life is pretty shallow and you need to really work at less social media time and more time figuring out and being more of you, living the real you, using wisdom, instinct etc ....

If you constantly have to refer to social media all the time to validate every part of your life, you are empty, you don’t have a mind of your own and you need less social media time and more time healing. You need time away from the social media, be yourself. 

Then of-course you have apps that can make you think, lean, strong, skinny, muscular, fake abs, butts, lips, boobs etc .... and you see this in awe and then look at yourself and immediately feel inadequate. It's just a way marketing their product differently and earning making you feel, dull, obese, ugly and low. 

Before you start your day with social media sit back and reflect on why you are on it or why you are going to spend time on it. Enter it with a mission, be it to learn, share, inspire, motivate, pass time, or is it because it is going to fill some void in you ...know this, be mindful ....think patiently. 

Be aware of people who promise you quick money making schemes ....if they really worked or were sustainable, everyone would be doing it, but everyone isn’t, so be mindful about this.

Always remember to apply your mind, use your own common sense, wisdom, intuition and instinct. Social media is full of people’s opinions, including mine, but have a mind of your own, take what you need, leave what you don’t need everyone is different. What worked for someone doesn’t have to work for you.

A lot of fad spirituality shoes us that we need to give up on life and move to the mountains to find peace and happiness, it can work, but it's not the only way. The kingdom of heaven is within you and you should be able to be spiritually remain grounded amidst chaos and life. 

In short, most of the answers we are looking for when it comes to life, living, spirituality, will be found while living your life, your real life with consciousness and awareness ....so keep social media in balance, use it well.