Rise Above Prejudices

15

Some people would always worry about what others think of them, and unfortunately I'm one of them.

I do care about my image in the society and among fellow friends. I do get distressed and nervous in embarrassing situations. I do care about others' perception even after knowing the fact that there would always be at least 4 people around me. One who will always criticize, one who will always mock at me, one who'll bitch about me and the last one is who spreads rumors no matter how sincere, helpful and friendly I become.

But the point is who is to be blamed for this? The people who make false judgments about you or you yourself, who is getting affected by their thinking?
I think both of the them are equally the partakers of being blamed. It's quite an irony that me who is the most worried one about other people's reaction is saying you to not get affected by what they say. Isn't it?

But believe me, I'm subduing this weakness of mine and those who are in the same boat should improve themselves too. If you earnestly believe in something or want to do something sincerely and passionately that you like the most then you shouldn't stop yourself from doing it and just go for it without paying any heed to what others have to say about it or how would they react.

Because after all it's your life not theirs, you should be the boss of your life and the decisions that you make, and not anyone else, not even your best  friends or guardians. Although sometimes, or rather most of the times having criticizers near you prove to be very beneficial like a blessing in disguise since they let you discover yourself and emerge with zeal to prove them wrong and also improving in certain aspects at the same time.

Speaking of the former ones, that is the people who make preconceived ideas about others on the basis of their clothes or their family background or gender or perhaps, their race. In our daily lives, we come across many victims of prejudices be they the single mothers or the homosexuals or the girls wearing short dresses or the HIV patients and the list won't end. Apparently, prejudice and discrimination are two different things. But the latter is the aftermath of the former.

We all must have seen or heard of the incidents of discriminating single mothers by the conservative relatives, homosexuals being discriminated by their friends, HIV patients by their office staff and girls wearing short dresses at times being blamed for the crimes against women.

Judging anyone on these basis, making them the butt of ridicule and inequity, discriminates them from the society that doesn't make any sense.
I mean if a child with completely different temperament and choices is born in your family would you just discriminate him/her from your family? No, right? Then how could you discriminate your fellow human beings? Are you right in doing so? After all, we all are the children of one God. Everyone is a part of your family, just start considering them one. Stop being a stereotype, rise above prejudices.

Live and let live, stop judging the book by its cover! 

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The Blurred Path

0

It was just a regular day with me sitting in my confined room, I started feeling suffocated like a fish out of the water. I tried to make myself tranquil for few minutes but a point reached when I couldn't take it anymore and I moved out for a long drive.
I was still feeling choked, I glided down the side window to feel the cool breeze and I felt like I've just started breathing. The view in front with flowering chestnut trees at its peripheries was laudable and exemplary. Gazing out of the window to see beautiful forms of nature was replenishing my enthusiasm.

Suddenly, I came across an eye donation camp. I stopped my car and brooded for a while resting in my car, of whether or not to donate my eyes for the needy ones.

"What would I do of them after my death, it would be a pleasure if I could bring back colors to someone's life".

I had no problem in donating them after my death, but all I was feared of was thinking of the time when my spirit will leave my body. The thought of dying was petrifying, I didn't want to think about what happens when I die.

"What if I die after, say roundabout 40 years from now, would they be able to approach my body for my eyes?"
I started feeling uneasy and restless. I immediately, left the clutch and accelerated my car to its full pace. I was horror-stuck. I turned volume of the music to its loudest limit so that it could overpower my frightening thoughts.

My vision slowly started becoming blurred, those tall trees at the sides were no longer perceptible to my eyes. Now I had become even more terrified. Before I could make any effort to decode this situation, my vision turned almost dark. I was not able to do anything to make myself feel any better. My level of anxiety was at its pinnacle. I couldn't figure out what was happening to me, was I becoming unconscious or losing my eyesight? Was it because I was not brave enough to donate my eyes or my fear that was making me feel so. Not only just my eyesight, but all my senses were slowly getting out of my control.

Out of the blue, I heard a solacing voice, a voice that I wanted to hear the most at that instant of time. Voice of my mom saying, " It's 10:30 beta, come on get up, brush your teeth and I'll get you your breakfast".

" Thank God. What a relief!"

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The Battle of Life

4

Life is demanding but I'd be granting,

Learning is tough and never enough,

Mending is tricky but I'd be quicky,

Wounds are burning but I'd be running.

For I know moving is hard in the start,

Working is laborious but outcome is glorious.

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Today is a gift.

2

My quote for Day 3 is: 

"Yesterday is history, tomorrow's a mystery, today is a God's gift, which is why it's called the Present".

Image courtesy- Google

I'm not absolutely certain about it's author. I spotted a glimpse of this quote in the lyrics of Justin Timberlake's song Mirrors. According to my recognition, it was quoted by Lil Wayne, an American rapper and songwriter but lately I discovered that the quote has ancient roots, it's either given by Bil Keane or Alice Morse Earle.

The quote suggests the significance of now, that is the present, is a gift to us as the name suggests. Regretting the past and worrying about the future will futher flatten the time in which you're living.Celebrate today and try to employ the most of it, since you can't change the past and you are unaware of the future. 

With this I finally complete the challenge given to me. Thank you Lata Subramanian for giving me this opportunity.

The rules for the 3 Day Quote Challenge are simple.

1. Post a favorite quote of yours for 3 consecutive days,  obviously  a different quote each day from any book, any author of your choice. It could also be your own quote.
2. Nominate 3 bloggers with each post to challenge them.
3. Thank the person who nominated you.

My Nominations for day 3 are:

Bushra Muzaffar

Damyanti

SREEDHAR BHATTARAM

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Moments of mute

0

An intolerable pricking pain and all I could think of was how to endure it further.

It was spearing my skin six layers deep, augmenting with the time. 

My mind had become insensate at the verge of twinge. 

I could barely intuit the vicinity. I had become numb.

After hours of pain and discomfort, I could finally have you. 

I wish there was an easier way of getting inked.

Image courtesy- Abhinav Chawla

Moments of mute are those silent phases of one's life which are so intense that one could hardly feel the presence of his neighboring creatures and environment. 

This post is a part of Write Over the Weekend, an initiative for Indian Bloggers by BlogAdda.

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Education first

5

My quote for Day 2 is: 

One child, one teacher, one book and one pen can change the world. 

" Let us wage a glorious struggle against illiteracy, poverty and terrorism, let us pick up our books and our pens, they are the most powerful weapons. One child, one teacher, one book and one pen can change the world. Education is the only solution. Education first. "

Malala Yousafzai delivered this this quote on education to the United Nations Youth Assembly on 'Malala Day', her 16th birthday.

Malala, a children's activist, women's rights activist and the youngest ever recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize brought a revolution all over the world acknowledging the power of a pen and a book that can engender a more potent influence than the guns or any other weapons can.

A Woman hold the competence of transforming the world's insight, all she needs is a pen and a paper, or rather the internet to give voice to her contemplation. Education is a fundamental right of every child whether s/he be a girl or a boy.

Thank you Lata Subramanian for nominating me for the 3 Day Quote Challenge.

The rules for the 3 Day Quote Challenge are simple.

1. Post a favorite quote of yours for 3 consecutive days,  obviously  a different quote each day from any book, any author of your choice. It could also be your own quote.
2. Nominate 3 bloggers with each post to challenge them.
3. Thank the person who nominated you.

My Nominations for day 2 are:

Mahathi Ramya

Somali Chakrabarti

Clementia

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Design is the pedestal

8

I have been nominated by my blogger friend Lata Subramanian for the 3 Day Quote Challenge.

My quote for Day 1 is:

Courtesy - Google
Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.

“Most people make the mistake of thinking design is what it looks like. People think it’s this veneer – that the designers are handed this box and told, ‘Make it look good!’ That’s not what we think design is. It’s not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.” – Steve Jobs.

This quote is from the 2003 New York Times article “The Guts of a New Machine.” (November 30, 2003)

A very thoughtful and inspirational quote of Steven Paul Steve Jobs. 

Steve Jobs accomplishments and inspiring quotes have always served to me as a great influence and a stimulation that keeps me charged and working forth towards my goals.

Although not being a Graphic designer or a product designer, I could utterly relate to this quote. Design here, according to me, does not refer to any particular jargon, rather design is a mere prompt, a delightful thought, a deliberate plan that leads one to the preferable output. Design is the pedestal.

You can't build a great building on a weak foundation and you can't execute on a desirable 

dream with a weak plan(design).

Thank you Lata Subramanian for nominating me for the 3 Day Quote Challenge.

The rules for the 3 Day Quote Challenge are simple.

1. Post a favorite quote of yours for 3 consecutive days,  obviously  a different quote each day from any book, any author of your choice. It could also be your own quote.
2. Nominate 3 bloggers with each post to challenge them.
3. Thank the person who nominated you.

My Nominations for day 1 are:

Archit Aggarwal

Indrani Ghose

Ashish Kumar

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A Rain droplet

10

Pic credits - Abhinav Chawla

"Escaping the scowling clouds, 

pricking through the midst of sunlight, 

heads free towards the earth to reach its home,

gets wiped off at my windscreen 

and ultimately dies with its fellow friends."

~ Story of a rain drop

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Incredible India

18

Here a litter, there a litter.

India's sight, excessively bitter.

Alien eyes seeing people hungry,

Make false perception of my country.

My dear foreigners I want you to know,

India is a country with alluring glow.

Cultures and customs are fascinating possessions,

With a unique story and diverse expressions.

See the country from my eyes,

Fall in love with its colors and spice.

Source- Google

Misconceptions about India :

#1 Most of the outsiders believe in the myth that visiting India could be dangerous for them as far as their health is concerned. While actually, most parts of India are very safe and decent to visit.

#2 Also, most of them consider India as a dirty place, to which I guess all of us have already taken a step forward in making it cleaner and even more beautiful. #Swachch Bharat Abhiyan.

#3 India is a poor country? Many people in India are under the poverty line, unemployed, homeless and street beggars. But that doesn't make the entire country poor. India, on the other hand is very rich in its vast diversities of cultures and their respective customs and people that leave a mesmerizing footprint. Moreover it has some of the most sumptuous and prized possessions such as countless forts, palaces, hills, desserts and beaches. But still if you are in a doubt go visit a big fat Indian wedding :D , even a middle-class woman would be wearing a lot more gold than you could think of.
So, poverty in India is just a partial reality. The actual problem is huge discrepancy between the rich and the poor, which I wish it covers up soon in coming years.

Source - Google

#4 Indians don't speak English. Well in that case they might not consider most of us as Indians.
English is actually one of the official languages of the country. Though we may speak it in a different accent or may not prefer speaking it considering Hindi as our national language.

#5 Everyone in India are insanely dancing and singing around the trees. Well, that's what we call Bollywood, but real life in India is as normal as in any other country.

#6 All Indian foods are spicy and curry based. Though many Indian cuisines are spicy but still, we have a lot more varieties of food other than that and not every food is curry based. Haven't they heard about Gulab Jamun or Samosa? :P

I hope they give a second thought about these false myths and stop being judgmental about India before being exposed to its actual beauty.

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A Beggar in the street

2

A Sunday morning and me on the settee,

With perfect meal of juice and spaghetti.

But very next moment comes  a sound from the street,

fragile and weak but yet overly sweet.

My curious mind prompts the feet

Consequently I rush myself to the street.

There I see a man in ripped dress,

With clumsy hair and no address.

Instantly my question arises what he does?

Listening to which this shabby man buzz

" Day and night I play my flute,

in hope of getting some money or fruit."

I wonder if he knows, it's an off day,

Misery has made his life full of stray.

Courtesy - Google

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Low-Carb vs Low-Fats

1

The mainstream idea for losing weight that immediately bangs in our head is opting for a low fat diet. In recent years, the idea of keeping a diet low in carbohydrates has been brought into spotlight.
Making a choice between carbohydrates and fats is similar to choosing between bread (or 'Roti') and milk, since bread contains high content of former and milk contains the latter. Both of them have equal importance in our lives. So, how to decide whether to choose milk or bread?

A low- fat diet is generally referred to maintaining a diet to get no more than 30 percent of the daily calories from fat, while a low-carbohydrate diet refers to keeping a limit of 120-140 grams of carbohydrates per day.

Low fat diet includes foods like  Coffee, Orange Juice, salads, low-sodium vegetable soup, carrots, apples, Brown rice, wine, diet soda, etc. While a Low Carb Diet Meal Plan includes Meat, Fish Spinach, broccoli, cauliflower, Apples, oranges, pears, blueberries,Cheese, butter, heavy cream, Almonds, walnuts, etc.

Recent studies and analysis have shown that people maintaining a low carb diet tend to show more significant weight loss changes than that of a low fat diet. So, if you are looking for a weight loss plan then a low-carb diet plan is definitely better than the conventional cutting out of fats. Moreover a low-carb diet adds the fringe benefits of reducing the risk of heart disease, consequential increase in lean muscle mass and better cholesterol levels (HDL).

However, most humans are inclined towards eating more carbohydrates in their diet to procure sufficient amount of energy since it provide necessary dietary fiber. So instead of cutting out carbs, replacing the beneficial ones with the bad ones would be quite apt. Such as replacing refined foods like white bread, noodles and pasta with whole grain and fiber rich foods.

But remember, One size doesn’t fit all. So opt for the diet that suits you and your body the best. According to me a healthy diet should be a blend of equal proportions of all the nutrients so that we can attain each and every benefit from them. Cheers! :)

“I am participating in the ‘Ready For Rewards’ activity for Rewardme in association with BlogAdda.”
https://www.rewardme.in/health
Source:
http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20313653_5,00.html
http://authoritynutrition.com/low-carb-diet-meal-plan-and-menu/

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The Doll house

4

Shreya, a little girl child who is nearly 7 years of age was born in a family falling under the category of conventional middle-income group. She was being raised in the surroundings where she saw her parents compromising small necessities of their lives for sparing some money in order to save enough to raise their child and meet all of her forthcoming demands. Shreya inherited the giving and compromising temperament as a genetic gift from her parents. She at this little age decides to stop making any further demands to her parents for she can't see them giving up their needs to fulfill hers.

The other day, Shreya goes to the market with her parents keeping in mind that she won't point on any toy or candy or anything that attracts her. She walks past the toys section ignoring all of them but out of the blue she comes across an expensive glossy doll house, the most quintessential thing of which she could only  imagine in her dreams was right in front of her eyes. Her eyes get glued to it, the shine of that doll house was clearly visible in her eyes.

Keeping the promise she made to herself she doesn't demand to buy it. While her parents buy the other commodities, she plays with the doll house there and then and later comes back to home with them. After few weeks Shreya's parents again decide to go to the same supermarket to buy some important stuff. Shreya taking the advantage of this opportunity once again goes to the toys section to play with that doll house. And, the same story repeats for a couple of times.

One fine day her father suggests her mother to go to any other shop instead of going to that supermarket. But Shreya, craving to play with her doll house insists her father to go to the same place. Shreya's father who's absolutely clueless asks her the reason and the innocent child speaks, "When you'll buy your stuff, meanwhile I'll get time to play with my doll house. I know I can't have it but at least I can play with it for few minutes. "

On hearing this he immediately takes Shreya to the supermarket and buys her that doll house.
Shreya astonished by her father says, "I don't need it Papa, I can live without it."
On which dear dad says "Beta, you're too young to worry about us and you never have to. Your wish will be my command princess,  because that's my responsibility and that's the reason I'm here for." Father touched with this heart warming incident, takes Shreya into his arms and kisses her on the head.

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Father's Day

0

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Yes, I can.

6

"If you can imagine it, you can achieve it. If you can dream it, you can become it."
                                                                   ~William Arthur Ward

To Dream is the first step for achieving anything in life and the next step is putting best efforts in executing that dream. You are capable of achieving anything that you dream of, all that is needed is the hard work and motivation towards achieving it. Sooner or later you'll surely succeed in bringing your criticizers to their knees.

I can climb the toughest cliff,

I can dig the deepest hole,

I can dive into fathomless sea,

I can crawl the tallest tree,

I can fly to touch the sky,

I can be the apple of your eye.

All I need is the nerve to dream,

And transform my dream into a scheme.

My dream will get its wings to fly,

Hyper-critics will regret for their decry.

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Story of a wife

8

Reena is an ordinary housewife and is married to Arun from last 3 years. Both lived very happily together for first 2 years of their marriage but after that Reena started feeling depressed. Cheerful, chirpy Reena was turned into a silent gloomy housewife. So, one fine day she decided to speak her heart out to Arun by penning down her grief in the letter.


Arun,

I'm not liking it..I feel awful, you're not even 1% of the person I loved. May be that person never existed..I changed for you completely, I turned into a new person according to how you wanted me to be..but I couldn't change a bit in you.
I thought everything will be the same as it was in starting but it ain't. I know you might be liking the way it is now because you can be how you actually are with me but then you shouldn't have been nicer in the beginning, I'm not used to it and I can't get used to it.  Tell me one single bad habit that you've given up for me? Moreover, You were never a kind of person who abuses in front of a woman and you were the only one who always gave me respect. What happened to you?
Not listening to even a single wish of yours leave me crying in bed for entire day and eventually you always get it done, whereas you'll be left counting forever the things that you stopped me from doing. I managed to understand your possessive nature, I broke contact with almost every male friend of mine, fought with my parents and friends for you but you? You didn't even care for once to make me feel any better. I have so many hidden wounds in my heart that I can write forever and it won't end.
You go to your parties and tours without even thinking that I'd be left alone at home, obviously you can't just stop going out because of me but then why do you always ask me to message you whenever I'm at Maa's house when you yourself can't do it. I mean, I try not to get affected by it but I'm helpless, I can't control my emotions anymore.

You changed from 'ap' to 'tum', it's fine but you shouldn't have started it earlier. You changed from always ready to talk to always busy, fine again. But, I can't take it anymore.
Last time we went on a holiday you were busy with your office work, clueless me kept waiting for you, you came, you were tired and you slept. Whenever I tried clearing out things with you, you blamed me for arguing. You even said that you feel more love for me when you see me than when we talk to each other. What does that mean? Do you love me for what I'm inside or for what I'm outside damn it.
God forbid, if something wrong happens with my face, would you leave me?
At times I even told you that I'm not comfortable with how things are but to hell with my comfort, you always have to do the things your way. I always tried making you feel special in a different way every time thinking that you would treat me better but every single time, you didn't even notice it..And you know what the sad part is, even after you've hurt me so much I can't stop loving  you..that's my love for you and you can never beat it.. Remember that time when you asked me to think about my passion? I couldn't think of anything because I don't have any passion, I don't have any damn thing in my life that I would want to do rather than to be with you forever..

Tear drops from her eyes kept rolling down her cheeks constantly while she was writing. After writing this letter, she read what she wrote and wiped off her tears. She threw the letter in the dustbin and resumed to her job of being 'a housewife'.

All she needed was some time, appreciation and the inner healing..!! 

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The Adrenaline rush of a crush

5

Missing those times when tiddly things used to cause an immense impact on heart and mind. When not completing the homework for school was the most stressful thing in life. Being the center of attention was the only aim at that time and when a small accolade or responsibility given by teacher used to make my day. I still remember how we kids used to fight to sit at the first bench just to get teacher's attention and if you were lucky enough, you also got the opportunity to mark the attendance or note down the marks of a class test on teacher's behalf.

And then came a transformation from childhood to teenage when fights for first bench were replaced by fights for the last one. When life revolved around Orkut and Facebook, when not getting enough likes on status was the most distressing thing for most of us, along with mood swings and changes in hormones and physical appearance. Teenage also brought a new kind of adrenaline rush, an intense feeling on seeing someone you were attracted to. An eye contact of few milliseconds or a glimpse of light smile were enough to stop the heart beat for a while. When getting their friend request and seeing them online used to bring a wide smile on face.

And, as they say everything has a good and bad side, so do this phase of life. Along with the ecstasy, also came the heartbreaks on seeing them with someone else or continuous failures in bringing your significance into their attention. Though, this adrenaline rush of crush used to last for a short time and was not fixed for a single person.

The advancement from teenage to an Adult has brought acknowledgement of actual problems in life, where making a puppy face is not the solution to any problem. Those times are gone when you can skip the test by taking an off from the school. You have to face your problems no matter how challenging they are. Now, when I gaze back at the past, I literally laugh at myself for being so stupid at times and not realizing what was important and what wasn't but also at the same time I miss it a lot because life was much easier back then.

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Letter to God

18

Dear God,
I Hope this letter of mine finds you quite well, I don't know if this would be appropriate to say but never mind.
Being one of your innocent children, I have a hell lot of queries in my mind for you, some of which are mentioned below. Please be patient while reading them and kindly bestow me with respective answers ASAP.
1. Why did you create people under different categories?
Good or Evil,
Girl or boy,
Black or white,
Ugly or beautiful,
Short or tall.
I mean if identification was the reason, you could have given a stamp or an id card at the time of creation but why this difference?

2. Why did you put the feelings of hatred, jealousy, anger and depression inside a man.
Well, I understand a man without these feelings would be no less than God, but if anger, hatred and depression reside just in a man then why is Lord Shiva known to have shown massive anger at times ?

3. I am very thankful to you for you have created the mankind but why did you bring floods, droughts, volcanoes, cyclones, earthquakes and many other catastrophes into existence?

If human practices against environment are the reason for it then why was a man given that ability to find ways for exploiting the environment, you could have made us Eco-friendly (no pun intended).
4. I've always been taught that God is one, then why does your existence takes a different role in every religion with a different story-line. Are all of them true? Or some of them? Or none?

But now after writing these questions I've realized that the only mistake you did while creating a man was giving an extraneous thinking and reasoning power to us which created these differences between skin, religion or gender and also made us evil minded. You were never biased, you always see everyone of us with single eye, you equally listen to the prayers of a girl or a boy, a black or a white. It's we who created these differences, it's we who did injustice to the environment that is responsible for causing disasters. I guess you were more innocent than us that you thought your children would never misuse these skills but guess what?
They did.

Love,
Deeshani
P.S.- I respect every religion and this post is not intended to hurt anyone's religious sentiments. 
For IndiSpire Edition 68 #QuestionsForGod

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