From Beans to Leaves

Bonjour les amis! With the pandemic going on, we never have had so much of free time ever. Away from all the time wasted in traffic and few precious moments spent together with family and friends, right now we're stuck with ourselves locked in our homes. The first few weeks were a headache with all the extra load given from work where you have to prove that you are actually working at home, so glad that passed away. Now with more and more time at home, scrolling through the explore page finding out the bright side of this pandemic I came across how our ecosystem is healing and the trees, birds and the wildlife is finally breathing, eventually living without the much restriction or boundaries to abide by. This made me think if I could make my home a better place and at the same time help in this healing process. So my quest to gardening began.

    Aloe Plant that I got from Amazon

I got on Amazon and ordered 3 pots and soil. Now I needed a plant. I started my research, "Aloe Vera" was my first choice. For plant 2 and 3 I decided to do my own hard-work. I took the easiest seeds to germinate, beans and lemon. Soon my accessories came and I was ready. As my Aloe Vera arrived I checked on my seeds and chickpea has already germinated. I was so happy seeing the start of what I had dream.

I started checking on Aloe everyday, wondering when will they start growing new leaves. For the bean seed I had potted it in soil since it had germinated. Post 3 days of my Aloe arrival, I checked my lemon seed, there was no sign of anything and I became uneasy. Checking online I came to know it would take almost 40 days for shoot to show up. After a week, the leaves of my aloe was starting to turn brown and bend at the tips. I had placed it in bright direct sunlight for 6hrs and it resulted in sunburn. Also checking online I came to know I should water it only if the soil appears dry. I have so much to learn.

2 weeks passed and I was already irresistible, I gave up on lemon seeds, no no.. I did not throw them. I just left them to concentrate on others. Now even the online deliveries were restricted and I had a lot of soil left, so I took old bucket and jars and filled them. Now I just needed plants. I had 2 buckets and a jar. I started reading more and more articles on plants and how they behave how they grow. Reading helps you to know a lot and in turn take better care and steps when things aren't going in the right direction.

So I learnt the key is patience and thus, I got a few more plants to add my collection. Certainly it adds beauty to home. Well, I did the research and honestly it does not make much of a difference to the oxygen levels or even reducing the carbon emissions or filter the toxic gas. However, this should not stop you.

In this journey of growing plants, I encountered a lot of problems, life leaf falling off, turning brown, growth stagnant. These problems might mess you up since they are all the same, but eventually a few clicks online will save the greens.As a newbie, the problem I encountered was over-watering. I thought watering every now and then will speed up growth, end result: root rot! While my money plant grew in water bottle, my aloe and rubber plant needed much less water.

This journey definitely taught me patience, caring, as well as how each plant is different yet they all give immense happiness when they glow up green. I had to fight few gnats put some fertilizers frequently but all the work is worth it when you sip your coffee and breathe that fresh air. Let's reward you all with my collection:

PS: My lemon plant germinated, but not much of a progress, but after-all I've learnt patience. :D

Quarantine Thoughts

 Konichiwa Yuujin! It's that time of the year again. 15th September. 2yrs have passed since Dad passed away. I still have the reminder set for the exact time. Yepp... things have moved pretty much forward and as we wished it's been stable. I get reminded you him once in a while and yeah sometimes I cry to it too, but yeah that's mostly when I am alone. Don't want to bother people or more accurately put this way- Don't want people to bother me. We have still few paper-works pending. He used to take care of it all and maybe that's what spoiled me. I don't care much about those. The lockdown has been a great way of bonding, although I wish to be a more of a care-taker, however I do want Mummy to be seen as the high authority and keep things as they were. Just want everything to be gradual rather than sudden. My creativity has hit the rock bottom here. I don't know how but I don't find the time that looked so much easier when I used to be alone. Let's give staying awake till morning a shot, I mean what could go wrong.

Ahh.. and to be on the same ground, Covid still exist killing thousands if not millions every week. People now have been more casual to it. Of course you can't bind people more than the limits. I try my best to be more at home, while there are lots of forces pulling me out but the health of other members compels me to stay home & break the chain. This has actually impacted my health. I'm the brand ambassador of couch potato. With all the extra Quarantine calories, I am sure I've beefed up, My closer circle might agree that I need to, but exercise is equally important as against to getting belly fat. Sadly the park nearby is closed and running on roads with all the rash drivers here is too risky. I waiting for the park to re-open, well to be honest I'm procrastinating. I actually should get into action and this is why journal helps me, to introspect. Well, thinking of where I have been spending most of my time, I am basically left with my all time favorite game; CS:GO 💓 and the second one "YouTube".

For videos I have 3 goto apps, Netflix, Amazon Prime and YouTube.(well Instagram too, but I like stationary memes) Although not having Youtube Plus, my digital wellbeing says I'm a lot more active on Youtube than others. Lately astronomy has grasped me in all the mystery it beholds. How amazingly scientist have all worked on explaining the very basics of it and simultaneously unfolding new mysteries. How amazing a black hole is. The life of a star, the planets all around us and all that beholds in the millions of galaxies that exist that we may never even get a chance to see. It might be depressing but is at the very same time amusing.

Let's talk about the recent study of the planet existing in our very own Solar system. The neighbour planet Venus. How it can be possible for life to exist on Venus. I was reading an article that just a Telescopic view suggest that something might be alive on Venus right now. I have linked the article if you want to give it a read, all this makes me so enthusiastic on finding life, yet how insignificant we are. Not just time, but even our actions are relative. Few theories suggest that we might even be just a hologram and all these might just be a test or say a short dream or something of an amusement for the next intelligent species. Well... I could go on. These are the theories that makes life more meaningless to me. People point the key term "depression", but how can we actively work on something that would just be dust(or garbage value) in few decades or light years, who knows.. time is relative. The Holy books suggest, time somewhere else to be like 1 min = 7 years. How do you explain that. Or all the afterlife stories. Maybe this is just a test, where we are given new lives to live in set of rules only to observe how we behave and accordingly given the roles. The theories are unlimited and so is the universe and so are my thought, but alas time is bounded. Sayonara... Will come up with a proper article soon.

Minimalism: the art of Living

Minimalism is beyond time, it is Stillness of Perfection.

When you think of Minimalism, you will most probably identify it with the root word minimal, which refers to reduced amount. Many people refer minimalism as a loosing substance and they indulge so much in loosing stuff around them that in the process, they start to loose themselves.

According to Cambridge Dictionary,  Minimalism is:

a style in art design, and theatre that uses the smallest range of materials and colours possible, and only very simple shapes or forms.

Minimalism has been a trend around for a while and while many do understand the basic concept, they either tend to go too far or altogether go in a different direction. I choose to believe minimalism to be related to minimizing, but more importantly de-cluttering your life.
Minimalism for me is a tool, rather than a way of living. People following a trend, incline to make mistakes since they focus more on the visual aspect rather than underlying mindset.


I was introduced to the concept of minimalism from the Stoicism that I came across while attending toastmasters session. I dived deep into stoic philosophies of Seneca and Marcus Aurelius. Stoicism is the Greek philosophies that depends on 4 virtues viz. Wisdom, Morality, Courage and Moderation. I was moved by their philosophies of how simple life can be and how complex we make it for ourselves.

"Moderation is the key"

    We might have heard this alot and might have even followed this once in a while, but reading the articles on Seneca made me realize what I was doing was wrong. While moderation is the key, but we look at it in a more materialistic way instead of spiritual. From there I was moved toward the true definition of Minimalism. For me minimalism is de-cluttering your life. Removing not just the stuff that you are in possession of but also removing your worries, anxiety , removing every other thing that hold you back. Removing toxic people and re-evaluating the things you need.

Let's talk about materialistic aspect:

With the rise in digitization, shopping has never been this easy. This results in buying of things that we don't need, Stuff that just looks fancy in the pictures or we just need it for the showing purpose. The world has become more dominant of displaying their wealth by the items they possess in shorter amount of time. Buying any stuff from Amazon is just a matter of few clicks. With that power people profusely exploit and end up buying what they don't need and isn't necessary.

From a non-materialized aspect:

We end up possessing more worries, work loads, end up consuming more digital world. All this as a result ends up giving us the stress which we brought upon us. Remember, Less is more! When you start removing the unnecessary distractions, reducing digital time, taking time off your work, having a work-life balance; you end up with more time to yourself, more time with Family and more time enjoying life than stressing about it.

We always thought why time runs faster when we grow up, but never realize the time management and how minimizing could help you. Even from the materialistic aspect, if your desires to possess excessive stuff is held back and you only invest your time and money on stuff you need, you will have much more time in your hand and also cut back from work since the money that was being wasted is now saved.

Stoicism also taught me satisfaction, by removing clutters from our lives and living simple ones leads us towards a more happy lifestyle and this is what actual luxury is. A controlled life is driven by you not others or bits and pieces around you. Take minimalism as a tool not as a way of living, there are people who take it way to far and removing most stuff around them leaving them dissatisfied with life. The mantra of minimalism is lost there, minimalism is all about possessing of stuff that has a meaning to you, impacts your life and makes it beautiful.

Benefits:

The benefits of minimalism that I experience everyday is the first and foremost "Freedom". I have more space in my apartment, more space in my life, to chose my goals and not limit myself to the stuff in my life. I also get a sense of responsibility when I chose to possess only those that necessary, in a way I am saving the environment, also it helps me cut back my spending and save for the goals that I have planned or unplanned circumstances. Hence providing me with a peace of mind and happiness. The less clutter I have, the more focus I can infuse and prioritize. Two tips I have for my readers:

1. Do not put pressure on yourself, remember, Minimalism is a way of living, or a tool not an end goal.

2. Do not loose yourself or make it unattainable.

That's all I have to say from the experience Minimalism has brought in my life, I'll continue to practice this art but not be bound to it.

“No person has the power to have everything they want, but it is in their power not to want what they don’t have, and to cheerfully put to good use what they do have.” — Seneca

Peace ✌️

Life is it a Race?

“Life is a journey to be experienced, not a problem to be solved.” – Winnie the pooh

Life is not a race, they said

Take time and calm your mind,while themselves running.

If life isn't a race, why is time money?

If life isn't a race, why is the society judging?

If life isn't a race, why does a minor stumble so much frowned upon?

If life isn't a race, why does everyone runs until dawn?

If life isn't a race, why is taking a break such a big deal?

If life isn't a race, why isn't everyone following their zeal?

If life isn't a race, why are medals/prizes/certificates seen as success?

If life isn't a race, why is everyone chasing the next sunset?

If life isn't a race, why is everyone trying to be ahead?

If life isn't a race why are we always competing for a comfortable death?

If life isn't a race, why are there so many comparisons?

If life isn't a race, why are career path seen as 

running tracks where you can't even change lanes?

If life isn't a race, why do the rich get a head-start while the poor fails to lead?

If life isn't a race, why does money helps you pass all 

the drug test & weed?

I could go on and on... But life isn't a race, let me live life at my pace and judges, please be out of my face.

“Life is not a race but a pace we need to maintain with reality.”

When gone

As I was listening to this new song, "Aaftab" I reckoned, what happens to this world, after you are gone. Then I realized how the world perceives the scenario of you not being around them anymore. It basically depends on how you are gone and while you were alive what surrounding had you been living in.
Recently the news of this Indian actor Sushant Singh Rajput passing away suddenly, by committing suicide. The news was shocking, but what came aftermath was a wide-spread of condolences and conspiracy theories of what might have led to the act. Nevertheless, one thing was common, everyone was shocked and wanted to have him back once again. At least talk to him while alive. Talk to him once, hold him once, stop him once, but now that he is gone all we have with us are memories of the movies he did and what a wonderful man he was. The reaction was not unusual, from expected, but different from a common person. Let say a student c omitted suicide, all he has left behind is a world untouched and not interacted. Although, there are things which the said actor also might not have touched, but he surely had an impact. Then again there is death, the natural death that comes to a man, maybe sooner die to some illness or the old age, but that is not much of an impact to the society.
Since I lost my Dad, I know it was quite much of an impact, to those close, but that is widely accepted and we would move over it. But an abrupt death by suicide actually might be an ending of a bright aura that the person emitted, but it surely did a chain reaction with others thinking, this might be a way to escape whatever they are going through. I am no one to judge if that is correct of incorrect but that is a way for sure, which people have going in their head. There are religious books that mark this action as an unforgivable sin and we have a society that explains these as acts of a coward, but do they actually think of what made someone "coward". The said actor, had spread so much smile and himself quoted "Suicide is never a solution" had to go through this.
I really wanted to talk on this matter, but the problem is I don't really have a person in my life to talk to someone with and this is something that needs to be addressed. Sushant must really been going through a lot, but really a man with 80Million followers on Instagram really had no one to talk to. Not a single person. This can be answered considering the situation in my life. Let us be realistic, 80M followers, must have a few 'true' friends from his initials days of school, those school friends, like me, may not be much in contact, so that eliminates, sharing sensitive information with them and maybe asking for solutions. Due to changing schools and changing places where my childhood was spent, I literally have no school friends with whom I talk to. Let alone be the chance of explaining my problem and asking solutions to. Moving further, there may be college friends, but the thing with him is, he was an amazing student who was studious, and had interest not just in academic syllabus, but actually extra knowledge of many other things, mostly kids with that broad of a knowledge don't have a big circle, or maybe just too busy with himself that he never had chance to grow the friendship with them. Let us not totally cut them all out, maybe he had say 5 close friends. There is one fact that we are ignoring, he dropped out. So, being in a totally different field(acting) drifts him further apart from his friends. Now being in acting industry he might have made contacts, but this cuts through, how many of us have the friends from our offices, even friends with the people working on same floor? That would give a variable answer, some might some might not. I have people who have been working in offices for 2 straight years, but don't have a single person to spend a weekend with. For me, I might have friends from offices, but rarely to we talk on sensitive matter or even talk much other than office period.
I have the same 5 friends from college, but as we are ageing, we are realizing the relation is drifting much. Few busy with their significant others, some busy in their office schedule, and those who are neither, are much occupied in themselves. Just because you are living with someone does not mean the bond with grow along, it might be stronger, but drifting apart is natural.
This is so much the situation with every third person or maybe everyone, but some people have other people to vent it out, some have other means to vent it out, people like me keep storing it and one day, think of ending this vessel altogether.
So what happens when you are gone, you had vented it out. The answer is same, how you might have lived your life. I have always tried to find positivity and happiness around me and spread the same. I might not say this much but ignoring problems and looking at the brighter side not just helps you with the problem but also helps other to perceive problems in a different ways. I want people to have my name on their lips and the memories of happiest moments put a smile on their face. I don't try hard to impress people and keep them happy, all I try to do is keep myself happier with whatever I am facing and cheer that out. Other watching me, might either laugh at my foolishness or smile at my innocence. Either way I got smile on their face. Now you might question why not look at the brighter side of dealing with problems. The brightest way sometimes I feel is, maybe crying it out. Of course I have cried in front of people and regret for that. That part of darkness I should be hiding from the people, they don't deserve it. They are good people.  The thing is I might be bad at stuff like making friends, making people stay, that is why I loose them. I might not have people who care when alive but I will have them not to be blamed after I am gone, then I might have mastered the skill of caring.

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Distance

"Distance isn't for the fearful; it is for the Bold.It is for those who are willing to spend a lot of time alone in Exchange for little time with the one they Love. It is for those who know a Good thing when they see it, Even if they don't see it Nearly Enough."

Ever since we humans evolved, we are finding ways to connect, interact, explore places faster. We had a nomadic lifestyle until the Neolithic Era("The New Stone Age"). We as human beings started to settle down, mostly near Water Bodies. Farming and husbandry of plants and animals became the main occupation.
With the rise and fall of empires, Kings and Emperors started to conquer the distant part of the world. Information stared top spread out in the form of Christianity and Islamic Golden Age.
We having the tendency of hunters-gatherers started to build homes form colonies(civilisation), now running and nomadic life was no more entertained. We longed for rest and laziness started to kick in. This paved way for the sedentary lifestyle which is usually overtaken our lives right now. The sedentary life though seems to be much seated has moved us away farther.

Recently, I read this book called "Who moved my Cheese" by Dr. Spencer Johnson. One analogy that I derived is once you get the Cheese you settle down there. We don't want to move or run until and unless the Cheese finishes. Yet, in a marathon, we see runners who push themselves farther away from their limits, because that is how our body is designed. The science says that. To push the muscles farther than it's meant to go only to grow ourselves. This is how we grow. But we prefer this running and pushing mostly mentally and not physically. We run away from our problems, responsibilities and away from over-work. We have this sedentary life were we may seem to be seated is actually not the case. We have moved away keeping everything thing placed but actually distant.
Take any common House, a Child has to leave early to reach school on time, sit there for 6 hours, overlooked only to be seen as Sitting, but is now drifted apart from family. The parents are away from Child to work, and away from their parents, joint family is a rare concept. Even the helper, he's away from his home/village his family only to settle for work.
Technology that claims to have united us, banished distances has actually made us distant. This is an irony that needs further explanation though faced by all spoken by none.

When I ask a simple question:"Has technology eliminated the distances?" The quick and obvious answer is Yes. There is no point of debate. I have a different perspective. No doubt it is easier to fetch information, no need for long hours of travel. Socially most active than ever. But if thought with respect how much better has it been for us, Are we the same? No.  What I agree is, Technology has made everything affordable, but to answered if it had eliminated distances, NO. We are more Distant from our families and friends than ever. More distant from our native homeland. Distance is not just a matter of meters/feet or matter of time required to reach a place. To be thought with a sane mind, distance is How close we are from a place/person. How easily can we just drop by.
Take this example of my Friend X and his brother M. The distance is just about 57km. They don't live together because of respective Job location. It takes approx 2hrs to reach by Car, and 1hr by Metro. But do they meet on weekends? NO. Festivals? Hardly. I've seen them once a year. That's is. They don;t have any row. They usually chat and tag, but how close they are, I still doubt. We do have the technology, but not the mentality to reduce the distance. I don't solely blame Technology, That is the story of all our lives.
It's a digital age, we can't just altogether reject Tech. That is not possible. We are tuned to be Cyborgs, Hearing-aids, pacemakers, Glasses, watches that control how we interact. Certainly destroyed as people and destroying places we can reach. It's not far to go far away places, and so now we see the glimpse of humans destroying them. Think about all the forest,Top-soil,Rivers and land-acquisitions. To avoid digitally life is challenging, being bored isn't one of the problems. Socially interacting with friends and neighbours made me realise how can we still be close being far away.
To avoid extreme Technology is the major requirement this time. This is how we can recognize ourselves how far we have been only to show how close we are. We can still form civilisations right now were we are, it's all in the mentality now. After-all Man is a Social Animal.

The Joy of Giving ☺

Donating Blood costs nothing except few minutes of your time that might give someone another chance at life.- The billboard->Apollo Hospital.

As you might have guessed, yes I donated blood and it was one of the happiest moment of my life.
It was 30th Jan, Wednesday, I had a great good night sleep ready to lazily get dragged to the time when I had to go work. Soon, my phone rang, it was my Boss, The J. Jonah Jameson kind.

On picking up, the first thing I hear is : "What makes you take so much time to pick up the phone? WHERE ARE YOU RIGHT NOW?". Okay, that's not how I want my morning to go and just ruin it for the day. My mind said. Just one day more until pay-check then you're Free to go! After consolidating my spirits to still work, I kept my tone low and had to come up with excuses. Briefing the conversation, it bought good-news. No! She won't be paying me today :(, but it's my day off. Hurray! Relieved. That stress just went away which I might have to carried all day long. Although, it could've been my last day since it was my pay-day but never mind.

After winning this mini battle with my boss, and now enjoying the bliss moment of holiday, I decided to just lay in my bed all day long, that is how holidays are meant to be spent. I was ready for my Brunch when, I met a friend that informed me the incident. One of my senior had called, asking for help yestereve. His Uncle was reported with Blood Cancer and they needed 12 units of blood. Had it not been the big amount, he would have just let it go. Any help was welcomed, and time was a crucial factor here. This friend I met, was ready to offer his help and asked me if I would too. I was unsure of it. First, I was on a Ketogenic diet since a week, second I had given blood more than an year back. The only thing that bothered me then was my growling stomach, so I decided to contact him after munching something. This guy, once again followed me, this time with his plans to go. I gave it a thought, and having no stress of my work, I decided to go. The only thing that could go wrong was me being underweight- That's what my mind thought.
After the incident with my Dad, I never liked the idea of dropping out to help. I know how it feels, little help from someone does wonders, and this gesture of mine if it could save someone's life, I'd be happy. Being positive, we were on our voyage(way, Hehe) to meet the senior's friend who would take us to the Hospital. It wasn't too far, and soon we reached the Hospital with the Senior. There we met the patient's relative. He was jolly kind of person. On meeting us he was happy that we came to help and called us little angels. Haha. Soon we went inside the hospital.
The nostalgia hit me. The smell of Hospital, patients being transferred, doctors and nurses on a rush, visitors waiting in turn with their passes, everything hit me. Trying my best to hold on, I kept walking behind my friend. It felt like, once again I'm there with my Dad, switching roles with Mummy and keeping an eye on him, while talking to him distracting him of any worries he might be going, though actually I'd be distracting myself. This Hospital was almost the same, with the clean, rush environment. We followed him to the blood-bank, where the check-ups were made. Turns out, the friend who accompanied me had taken some pills last night which made them cancel him out. I went there to the Doctor's chamber, and then my weight & height was measured. And then it hit me, my height is so low... How can it be that. Why is it that? Aahh... I sooo want to be taller than what I am right now. Weight on the other hand pleased me. It was better than my expectations. While I was there, I overheard someone at the adjacent chamber, He was asked what his blood group was. Replying the Doctor, it previously used to be AB+ but few years back it changed to B+. I can hear that Doctor's laugh exploding, holding my laugh was a tough job, while my doctor was checking out my blood type for confirmation. My Doctor then smilingly questioned, "Blood Groups don't change without any transplants, you know that right?". "Of Course I know that blood groups don't change. r/madlads maybe? Haha"

I was made to drink water, and the water there tasted good, atleast better than what my dorm has to offer. I gulped more than 4 glasses there. I gave my blood, after I was done the nurse attending me said that I had good blood flow and it went faster than it usually is. It felt encouraging. Today, regular drinking of water payed off. I was given refreshment. Yayyy! I wasn't hoping for it. It was all sugary food which I had been avoiding, but I needed glucose that my body just gave off. There was happiness on the face of Uncle(relative) who was with us. That made us happy. The senior who accompanied us, too gave blood. But he being a habitual chronic smoker had to divide between the two hands, the veins had gotten thinner.
Be honest with the doctor, that's the most important. We were ready to go back. Soon Uncle, handed all of us some money as a token of gesture. That made us feel quite awkward, since we were there for the happiness of giving and not receiving anything. Politely we asked him to not do the formalities. He was a jolly person, and finally we concluded to eating someplace that would be good for both parties.
This wasn't the first time I was donating, but knowing that it will be used for someone in need it made me smile. I felt happy from inside. Last time it was for an organization. Today it was for someone in need. I hope that person turns out to be safe and healthy soon. I tried sharing this happiness with Mummy, guess what, she starts scolding me. Ugh! I had to change the topic lying that it was just a prank. Too scared, maybe being a bit frank could've helped.

Finally the day ended with my friend who actually did not donate blood getting extra eggs, while I who did donate blood, gets nothing in return, coz I don't eat eggs. Huh! Not whining, just a little self note, what you do, do it for others, from others is what you gain the real Happiness.
Talking of pranks then, I thought of playing a little prank on my girlfriend. Showed her the bandage I told I had fainted due to the extensive Ketogenic diet, to the point I was admitted to hospital and had to take Saline Solution+ Glucose for recovery. Haha, scared her to the point where she walked from work to home all the way thinking about me, actually worried. Not good I know, but I love disturbing her. The way she cares. <3 p="">
Finally ending the note, The joy in giving has much greater reward than you can see, the things that money can't buy; Happiness, inner Peace and compassion. It doesn't always need to be in the form of Money or blood. Small things like socks for a homeless is what matter. If not things, give through your gestures and kind deeds. That's all one needs to spread, the "JOY IN GIVING IS MUCH MORE FULFILLING THAN RECEIVING." 

This one is cute.

R.A Salvatore said:"The joy multiplies when shared and grief diminishes with every division."