The Little things that matter

(An excerpt -My short story from an anthology I have co-authored -Lockdown Emotions, Unvoiced Heart Publications, Available on Amazon )

He knew there was more to come. The day had just begun and his patients were streaming in. The city’s leading neurosurgeon, Dr Amit Sharma started his day before dawn. This was his routine for the past 17 years. So then why was he feeling uneasy today? He somehow dreaded the day that was unfolding before him. Something told him that he shouldn’t be at work today. Where else was he supposed to go? The home he built was no longer familiar to him. His life was at the hospital. On days filled with surgeries, he didn’t even bother going home to sleep. On other days, he went after his family was asleep and returned even before anyone could see him. Life was fast-paced.The power, fame, money he enjoyed was addictive. He was the provider, he was the miracle worker, He was the Neuro God!

Shaking off the distressed feeling, Amit walked into a critical patient’s room for a consult. And then he knew. Before seeing her battered face, he recognized her. She was the love of his life. She was the one who taught him to count stars, to play in the rain, to watch the kites fly. As he reached out, her tiny hand slipped into his. Barely being able to speak, she spluttered- ‘’Papa, You came. ‘’

The miracle worker lost his words. He had missed her school drama in which she was the princess. He asked to be left out when the family went to the zoo. He had forgotten the day he was supposed to take her to the park. He was saving lives, but he took for granted that he had a daughter who needed him.

He heard his wife crying and telling him how their little girl had crossed the road to go to the neighborhood park. A careless, drunk driver appeared from nowhere and changed their lives forever. ‘’You have to save her, Amit. You have to bring our child back, ’’the distraught mother cried.

The Neuro God walked into the Operating room, with his wife’s words haunting his ears. Could he do it? Was it worth giving up his family for all this fame? Could he bring back his very own child to life? Could he play God once more?

By Mini Balakrishnan

Quotes For Tough Times

We must accept finite disappointment, but we must never lose infinite hope. – Martin Luther King, Jr.

Learn how to be happy with what you have while you pursue all that you want-Jim Rohn

Never give in. Never, never, never–Winston Churchill

The friend in my adversity I shall always cherish most. I can better trust those who helped to relieve the gloom of my dark hours than those who are so ready to enjoy with me the sunshine of my prosperity.-Ulysses S. Grant

Tough times never last, but tough people do–Robert Schuller

When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it. – Henry Ford

We must embrace pain and burn it as fuel for our journey.–Kenji Miyazawa

Obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it-Michael Jordan

I learned there are troubles of more than one kind. Some come from ahead, others come from behind. But I’ve bought a big bat. I’m all ready, you see. Now my troubles are going to have trouble with me- Dr. Seuss

The Super Heroes of Daily Life- The Covid Caregivers

As Covid is taking its toll on people all over the world,every household is on the brink of panic. No, I am not going to tell you about the dangers of this horrifying virus. You have had more than enough of that already. It’s all over social media every day. So what are we talking about today? Let’s take a slightly different approach.

It’s not only the Covid patients who go through severe stress and pain. Take a moment to think about the terrified family members who have to take care of the patients-The caregivers.

The emotional agony they go through is equally distressing. There are minutes of fear, which cannot be explained. When you know that the decision to save a loved one’s life is entirely in your hands, those long hours when you see them fighting against the odds to survive, the clock-ticking minutes when you are exhausted of searching for proper medical guidance and adequate treatment facilities- Those moments stay with you for many days to come.

So what do you do?  When you know you are the person responsible for making decisions, when you have to be the person forgetting your own needs to make sure your family is safe, when you try everything in your power to get rid of their pain, how would you manage?

Believe In Ultimate Guidance

You may be so exhausted with all the physical strain and emotional trauma that praying for long hours won’t be practical. So ask God or the Universe or the Infinite Source you believe in to guide you towards the right path. Trust that this guidance will reach you on time in the form of ambulances, doctors, oxygen cylinders, caring superiors who help you take decisions, family members who offer support, friends who buy you supplies and pass on cooked meals. You will know that you are taking the right decisions if you take a moment of silence. When in doubt, pray for the right guidance and it will come to you.

Switch Off Social Media

There are so many scary stories out there. DO NOT listen to such stories which mostly talk about death rates and complications. You are here to be brave and row your boat to safety. You may be in a constant state of tension and there is no need to increase your stress levels.

Avoid Unnecessary Personal Calls

 Yes, that seems rude, but it’s necessary. People tend to repeat Covid stories, especially the bad, sad ones that they know of. It’s human nature, the speaker may have a good intention, however, at this point, it affects your mental strength. And that’s not going to do you any good. It will deprive you of what little energy you have left. Filter who you should talk to, who you should not, who offers positive words and who offers you actual help.

Seek Guided Medical Attention

Do not wait for emergencies. Keep in constant touch with a doctor who is ready to help at all times. Inform him/her that you would want to call them for online consultations. Follow all their instructions. You will get advice from all sorts of sources.But, your doctor knows best. And only YOU know what’s best for your loved ones. So follow your gut.

Check availability of hospital facilities if you feel there might be a need to admit any family member. Don’t keep thinking that someone will get all that done for you. You are in charge.

Do The Oxygen Check

 As far as I know ( Please note that I am no medical expert), what will help the most is keeping a regular check on oxygen levels. That is the best indicator of things going wrong. When there is a slight dip beyond what is required, do not hesitate to seek medical help.

Trust You Will Make It

This one is the most important. You have followed all medical instructions, you are taking the best care of everyone, including yourself, you are taking all the required precautions, now what? This virus takes its own time. But you are better than that. You keep your trust intact. You have asked for proper guidance and for sure, You will be provided with that. Just keep knowing that you are all going to be free of Covid soon. The next test results will prove that you defeated the virus!

A Special Reminder

Dear Readers, Get yourself and your loved ones vaccinated. Then even if you do contract the virus, the complications will be far less.

We are defeating the virus. The whole world is overcoming the Covid situation. We are celebrating our freedom once more. A big salute to all the caregivers who are doing the best to keep the world safe.

You Will Achieve

(A poem from my book-Dare to Live….)

You can

If you want to,

The question is

Do you want to?

You will

If you decide so,

Doors will open

If you want to.

You should work

On your dreams,

You should know

Only you can achieve them.

Work on your dreams

With trust and faith,

Believe you will achieve them

Because you know you can.

A letter to you…Dear Friend

Dear Anyone

If there’s anyone out there who is having a hard time, whatever the reason, this letter is for you. A simple note of encouragement and care. A gentle reminder to let you know that you are not alone. A hopeful note to anyone who is struggling.

I know, it’s hard to go on not knowing how life will turn out. Embrace the mystery and look up with wonder.  Listen to your inner voice. That may mean staying in bed the whole day. That could mean working so hard that you are too tired to think. That may mean gorging on chocolates and ice cream. That may mean you want to spend the day in silence and meditation. It can mean a hundred of things to different people. And that’s perfectly alright. Do what you must, leave the rest and stay still.

Let people in. If you observe, you will find someone who is waiting to hear you out. If you relax, you will find a way out. Let your feelings touch your life, experience the pain, the joy, the excitement. Watch them as you would watch a movie. Do not keep suppressing and ignoring your feelings. They count and are worthy because that’s who you are. Let go of unwanted emotional baggage. It’s not going to do you any good.

Cleanse yourself internally. Cultivate the habit of finding happiness in what you have. Losing people, losing opportunities, losing that what matters most will hurt deeply and painfully. However, you do not control everything. You have to trust the Universal flow. Control what you can and let go, with the blind belief that what’s meant for you is with you. You are exactly where the divine force whats you to be now. Trust the process, as hard as it seems to do. Keep the faith.

You are a beautiful soul. You may have made mistakes, but that’s how you learn. So hold on, dear one. Pause and exhale slowly.

To second chances, to new beginnings, to start dreaming again!!

Love and prayers

(An excerpt from my book- Dare to Live)

Healthy Quotes To Remind You To Eat Clean

“When diet is wrong, medicine is of no use. When diet is correct, medicine is of no need.” – Ayurvedic Proverb

“Sorry, there’s no magic bullet. You gotta eat healthy and live healthy to be healthy and look healthy. End of story.” – Morgan Spurlock

“It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver.” – Mahatma Gandhi

“Let food be thy medicine, thy medicine shall be thy food.” – Hippocrates

“Moderation. Small helpings. Sample a little bit of everything. These are the secrets of happiness and good health.” – Julia Child

“The doctor of the future will no longer treat the human frame with drugs, but rather will cure and prevent disease with nutrition.” – Thomas Edison

Body Fitness Goals- The Start Of A Clean Journey

*Step one:-Clean eating, that too ON time

A balanced diet is what you need to keep your body fit and healthy. Say no to extreme diets. Stop the race behind fad diets. Leave out the fancy shortcuts and fast solutions to weight loss. Take a look at how your body is responding to the diet you feed on. Are you feeling weak? Are you feeling fresh? Do you constantly feel hungry? Are you falling sick more often? The answers are right there in your diet.

More than often, people fall sick when their metabolism plays havoc. You tend to mess up with what you feed your body frequently and then run after the solutions.

Clean eating is the best way out of healthy metabolic activity. Your body derives energy from the balanced meal you ingest for removing toxins within and other body functions. Proper digestion of food eaten is the best way to shed pounds.

Picture Courtesy :- Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health https://www.hsph.harvard.edu

Remember that there are no quick fixes if you have not been on track for some time. Don’t hurry to lose weight. Start slowly and let your body adjust to the changes happening. When you remove junk food from your diet and increase your water intake, the body benefits immensely. Your skin starts glowing and though slowly, your health improves.

When you are healthy within, your external appearance starts shifting for the better. Combined with eating clean on time, you will start seeing remarkable change. Timely intake of food is yet another factor that is not taken seriously.  Make sure you prepare your home meals early enough to follow a routine daily. The time you have your food is equally important as the quantity.

Clean eating, controlled portions and timely meals- Start today with these baby steps. We have a long journey to continue. See you soon with the rest of the smart ideas to get a fit and healthy body!

Smiles For The Weekend !!

What makes a person beautiful  ? What makes someone strikingly attractive ?

The answer -A smile.

A smile straight from the heart

A smile that explodes in blissful joy, sprinkling with love

A smile so powerful, magical and true

Unbelievably beautiful, enlightening your day

Filling your heart with endearing bliss

Caressing your face with loving joy.

A smile so touching, delightfully happy

A touch of sunshine, a ray of warmth.

Enchantingly dear,spreading around cheer

A smile to love,a smile to cherish, a smile to remember !

Mini B

I Learned That It Is Ok

(An excerpt from Dare To Live)

I learned that it is ok

For me to not be ok

 And not pretend I am.

I learned I can feel sad

It is allowed and only fair

To know that I am in pain.

I learned that I too could take it

 one day, one step at a time

picking my pace slowly.

I learned that I can be sad

and sink in thought

to process my losses.

I learned that I don’t have to

Be a mighty warrior at all times

For no one should have to.

Acceptance Is Your True Strength

The serenity prayer speaks the truth. It says:-

“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.”

Being able to accept what this moment brings makes you a powerful being. You may or may not like what is happening. The power lies in being able to accept the situation as it is. Life offers you a variety of options each time. You can either accept life as it comes and faces the challenges bravely. Or you can also try to change things under your control. However, sometimes, things happen that are beyond your control.

What would you do then? Complain? Cry? Struggle? Do all that you have to. Put in your efforts so that you know that you have given it your best shot. But then learn to know when to stop. Learn to know when it is time to accept a situation for what it is. Know the difference between what you should accept and what you should let go.

Take the leap of faith and trust that you are strong enough to stand up to challenges. Use your physical and emotional energy in directions which are meant for you. Accept what you cannot change to give your mind peace and calmness. What you can do is to change yourself for the better. Instead of focussing on something that you do not control, bring in all that energy and make a difference in your own life. 

You can do so many things with all the time you have. The world is full of new opportunities. Discover your hidden talents. Nurture your hobbies. Smile more, dance with the breeze, sing along with the birds. Take life lightly. There’s more to this fantastic life than you think. So cheer up, you will find your rainbow!

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