Embracing Wellness By Being #ApneTareekeSeHealthy...

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"Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity."

Going by this interpretation of 'Health' by World Health Organization, being healthy or even striving to achieve wellness seems to be a herculean task. For it is an arduous task to strike a balance between the three facets of the holy trinity of health - physical, mental, and social.

More often than not, it takes a truckload of willpower to proceed (and persist) on 'the road less traveled by' as Frost may have put it. Neglect (knowingly or unknowingly) towards one or more of the above facets while aspiring to achieve well-being also plays its part in making the road seem rocky. 

~~~ 

What is needed is a little push for our lethargic and inattentive selves to pay heed to our hearts, minds, and brains hopelessly churning themselves from night to day and further again, immersed in our 'busy schedules' just like hamsters on wheels. 

However, going by the conventional school of thought, there exist not three but six facets to health and well-being. Those six facets or components of health would be:

PHYSICAL HEALTH concerns and is affected by aspects such as the intake of a well-balanced diet, regular exercise, presence or absence of illness, genetics etc. for a person.

PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH or MENTAL HEALTH concerns multiple factors associated with the proper functioning of the brain namely the ability to learn, memorize, rely on intuition, analytical thinking, communication, logical reasoning, concentration, and such.

EMOTIONAL HEALTH, as the name suggests, concerns emotions and their appropriate expression in suitable situations.

SOCIAL HEALTH concerns the fact that man is a social animal and cannot have a black box existence. A person's reactions to situations are borne keeping in mind their interactions with their immediate social circle, be it family, friends, colleagues, or even social media in today's times. 

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH encompasses all environmental factors that can possibly affect human health, and thus impact wellness. 

SPIRITUAL HEALTH according to WHO, is given perspective in the following definition presented by the health assembly. 

"The spiritual dimension is understood to imply a phenomenon that is not material in nature but belongs to the realm of ideas, beliefs, values, and ethics that have arisen in the minds and conscience of human beings, particularly ennobling ideas. 

Ennobling ideas have given rise to health ideals, which have led to a practical strategy for Health for All that aims at attaining a goal that has both a material and non-material component. 

If the material component of the strategy can be provided to people, the non-material or spiritual one is something that has to arise within people and communities in keeping with their social and cultural patterns. 

The spiritual dimension plays a great role in motivating people’s achievement in all aspects of life." 

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Taking into consideration these six facets, I have devised a six-point strategy on to stay #ApneTareekeSeHealthy...

For the upkeep of Physical Health, a three-point-agenda of Eating Right, Exercise, and Positive Lifestyle is to be adhered to, religiously.

It is of utmost importance to have a well-balanced diet comprising a fair share of vitamins, fats, carbohydrates, minerals, nutrients, etc. Being hydrated throughout the day also plays its part, as does maintaining a regular sleep cycle which in turn syncs our body clock.

The inclusion of a minimum fifteen-minute brisk walk at the neighborhood park in my daily routine is what keeps me going. Early morning Yoga comprising of simple breathing exercises and stretching before I leave for work is what keeps my energy levels up through a hectic day.

In addition to the above, being a teetotaler and abstinence from alcohol and smoking works in my favor, big time! :)

As far as #ProtectHerHeart and my PROTECT Checklist is concerned, I have my Saffola Total by my side to keep me 'Dil Se Healthy' as it gradually works on the eight bio-markers of heart health for my family and me.

As far as Psychological Health is concerned, my daily newspaper comes to the rescue, as there are numerous puzzles - Crossword, Soduko, Kakuro, Word Wheel - to jog my brain's muscles. A half-an-hour session at the maximum, alongside my morning cuppa, is what is required to keep my cognitive abilities intact. As for my creative insights, I always have my blog to fall back on, thinking out of the box for numerous writing prompts as I have always done in the past.

In order to keep my emotions in check and to counter stress which has the potential to adversely affect my Emotional Health, meditation and an effort to maintain a positive attitude, seeing light at the end of the tunnel in day-to-day situations that might lead me off-track work wonders.

Social Health, in today's times, might be one of the easiest (or hardest) to maintain well, given the all-pervasive World Wide Web. I, for one, have a limited virtual friend circle, prefer to maintain cordial relations with colleagues, and be available for as much 'Family Time' as possible.

Environmental Health is what I believe, is the trickiest to sustain appropriately, not only in the perception of a personal domain but also on the global level as well. However, simple, humble, but significant steps, like putting the 3Rs - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - into practice, striving for the upkeep of an in-house garden, opting for paper or jute bags whenever wherever possible, segregation of household waste, commuting by the all-pervasive Delhi Metro network or carpooling in all workable scenarios, and opting for energy-efficient appliances, have all helped me reduce my Carbon Footprint one step at a time, over the years.

As far as Spiritual Health is concerned, I have not had to take conscious measures to reflect on its upkeep because that is a domain which reflects on ideas, beliefs, values, and ethics. Praying, both before I rest for the day, and as I begin a new one, meditation, and appreciation for the harmonious coexistence of all life-forms, and a feeling of gratefulness throughout is what makes me connect to God Almighty on a spiritual level.

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It is through this six-point strategy focusing on straightforward measures reflecting on each facet of health, that I strive to strike a balance in the continuum of life and embrace wellness by being #ApneTareekeSeHealthy. :) 

I am joining Saffola #ApneTareekeSeHealthy initiative and sharing my ways of being healthy in association with BlogAdda.

Recounting The Journey, This Mother's Day...

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Since the last one week, my heartbeat was playing havoc. Pacing, given the thrill of the burning question - 'Would I hear those three words, those for which I had longed?' 

No, not those three - ' I love you'; those had been cherished a couple of months back. This time, it was more than those. Have you got it? 

Yes! The three golden words this time around were 'You are Pregnant'. 

The statement which can lead any married woman's life into a topsy-turvy situation. 

This burning question led me to the Gynae in no time. My fingers were crossed the entire time, to hear from her, a reply in the affirmative. And, she didn't disappoint me. With a broad smile on her face, she declared, 'Yeah, now you ought to visit me every three weeks for the next nine months, after which I'd be happy to hand over to you, your bundle of joy.' 

For that moment, I experienced a multitude of emotions, which cannot find expression in words, but foremost was the feeling of Gratitude to the Almighty for bestowing upon me, the bliss and cherished privilege of nurturing a new life within me. 

In the next moment however, a tsunami of doubts, questions raged inside me. This being my first pregnancy, I had no idea how to deal with it. Of course, I wanted the best for my baby. But, ensuring that my baby grew well in me seemed like a maze, which was difficult to navigate by oneself. 

The doctor could very well gauge the mixed reaction on my face. She held my hand and assured me - 'Everything will be fine. Just be yourself, be happy, don't strain your body and mind unnecessarily. Eat healthy and follow my instructions as far as mild exercise and the intake of vitamin pills are concerned. It will all be fine!' 

Yes, I will! I was determined to endure through the best and worst for my baby and myself too. I knew it for a fact that unless the Mother is hale and hearty, she can't expect the same for her baby. 

I reached home and broke the good news to all the family members and the journey to wellness began. Being a working woman, I had to now cope with my pregnancy, job and household chores, all in one go. The family members took care of the house and I kept myself stress free on the work front. 

Days passed by leading me to embrace the bodily changes. Some unpleasant, many more pleasant. 

Needless to say, I too had to deal with nausea or morning sickness. For me, however, the sickness was not only limited to the morning time, but lasted almost all day long. It happens, my doctor told me. One should not worry as this phase too passes away. Eating healthy could help - it did help me - in this regard. 

During her second trimester, every expectant mother is bothered about stretch marks, which are an aesthetic celebration in my opinion, bundled with pregnancy. I was mindful of their appearance and used to lightly massage the area believing that this exercise would lighten the scars. 

In the third trimester came the 'baby bump' as it is addressed, nowadays. One should not be conscious of the visibility of the tummy but dressing gracefully helps. After all, you are and should be proud of and not ashamed of being pregnant. 

As the time of delivery grew near, the amazing realization of being a mother grew on me too. Along with me, my husband and both sets of family members were waiting impatiently for 'D-Day'. 

When that day came, my water broke, the labor pains consumed me and my screams were growing louder by the minute. At the same time, I was thinking of the abundance of joy that was to be bestowed upon me, in a couple of hours. This thought helped me in coping with the pain. 

God gave me the courage to bear, and believe me, he gives this strength to all. All of this experience was encapsulated forever in that one moment when I finally became a Mother. 

Yes, that is what pregnancy can do to you. To all the expectant mothers out there, it's about putting all those apprehensions to rest, shedding all inhibitions about being pregnant, about what-how-when of managing yourself and your baby during those nine months, about giving birth by bearing lots of pain. 

Yes, of course. All of this is an experience of a lifetime but the moment you take your newborn in your arms, the moment she or he first glances at you, you become unmindful of the entire universe as from that very moment, your child becomes your entire universe. :)

It has been two decades to the time when I embraced motherhood, yet recalling this account brings along with it, a feel-good-factor which leads me to celebrate motherhood with each moment of life! 

 ~~~ 

I’m writing about my wonderful journey of pregnancy for the #YummyMummy blogging activity at BlogAdda in association with Marico Bio Oil.

Mirroring Personalities With The Jungle Book!

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जंगल जंगल बात चली है... 

पता चला है... 

~~~ 

Does this prompt you to hum along to a familiar yet timeless childhood melody? 

It does, Yes! 

Whose arrival does it proclaim? 

Who else, but the innocent yet playful 'man-cub' Mowgli's! :) 

 ~~~ 

भारत के इन जंगलों के बारे में कई अजीब कहानियां हैं। 

मगर सबसे ज़्यादा अजीब कहानी है मोगली नमक एक छोटे लड़के की। 

यह सब तब शुरू हुआ जब एक अजनबी आवाज़ ने जंगल का सन्नाटा तोड़ दिया। 

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Thus began, humanity's tryst with fauna that interwove with itself, lifelike emotions. Visualize a three-year-old being introduced to such an interesting avenue of familiarizing herself with the nuances of being one of the elements of the wilderness as opposed to seeing the wild come to life, from the point of view of a 'man-cub'. 

But, of course, it would intrigue any inquisitive child to learn how these two very different worlds came to collide with one another and explore each other's companionship! 

Yours Truly was no different a child, then. Just as mesmerizing as Mowgli's first chuckle which drew Bagheera to him, was Panther Bagheera's narration to the children of the nation. It seemed to draw its audience into the narrative. 

 ~~~ 

What fascinated me the most as a child was the fact that the 'man-cub', in no time, became his foster brothers' favorite. The pack of wolves along with their parents Rama and Raksha, adored Mowgli as his foster-family! 

Mowgli too, considered them as one of his own, not realizing the bitter fact, highlighted by Bagheera as an initial pointer, that Mowgli was not meant for survival in the wilderness. He had to be united with the village-folk, one day or another. 

It, of course, broke many hearts, when the separation had to come soon, in the form of the leader of Wolves, Akela informing the pack of the return of the fierce Shere Khan, thus prompting the decision of Mowgli's exit from the wilderness! 

Bagheera being Mowgli's closest confidante chose to break the news to him, to which a puzzled Mowgli questioned the beast's intention of drawing the life out of him. Mowgli, as a child, wanted to persuade the Tiger instead, that he would not grow up to become 'एक और शिकार का शौक़ीन मानव', but in vain.

While Mowgli's dislike of Bagheera's remark of him not being able to climb a tree to rest on one of its branches for the night, was quite evident, a striking parallel came to mind when he himself admitted thus.

और फ़िर, मेरे पास तो पंजे भी नहीं हैं...  :(

While the night's episode began with Kaa, the Python's deceitful gaze, coupled with the repeated knotting of his tail over the narrative's length and ended with the trumpeting of Colonel Hathi's contingent's orchestrated march at dawn, this Jungle adventure had just begun! 

जंगल की ताल पे हम... 

मतवाले मस्त कदम... 

धरती हमदम... 

चलते हैं हम... 

न रुकेंगे कभी हम! :)

Another fable that came along with the customary patrolling was 'सन अट्ठासी के वीर चक्र की कहानी'. 

Colonel Hathi's strong belief of a 'man-cub' being included in the contingent hinting to rebellion highlighted his principled outlook. 

~~~ 

While Mowgli's idiosyncrasies prompted Bagheera to let him be on his own, Mowgli ended up bumping into Baloo the Bear, and his easygoing डूबी डूबी डूबी डी डू, and we thus spoke of bare necessities which Baloo thought highly of! :)

अपुन इस जंगल में सब देखेला है... 

पर यह चीज़ तो बहुत सही चीज़ है! 

It was as if one had been introduced to a new dialect altogether, all at once! Papa Baloo's छोटे मियाँ had just been learning the ropes of growling like a bear, when Bagheera took no time to describe him as मस्तमौला, भटकू, जंगल-छाप बालू! 

Well, of course, Papa Baloo believed that the village-folk would spoil Mowgli and make him turn into a human, to which he ends up taking Mowgli's responsibility entirely. 

Who can forget their signature steps to मस्ती की गुदगुदी चाहिए, बस मस्ती ही चाहिए? Not me. 

In all this fun, the monkey shenanigans successfully kidnap Mowgli to take him to their ape-king, King Louie, leaving Baloo helplessly approaching Bagheera to rescue him. 

King Louie on the other hand, tricks Mowgli into believing that he could stay back in the jungle, provided he lets King Louie become like him. Baloo and Bagheera reach just in time to learn that Louie is hell bent on learning to make fire, instead, as Shere Khan, the Supreme is scared of only fire! 

Their foot-tapping tune captures Baloo's musically inclined free spirit, to which Bagheera brings him back to his senses by saying, इस वक्त भेजा चाहिए, भंगड़ा नहीं! 

While they manage to barely escape with Mowgli in tow, we heave a sigh of relief too. By the time one realizes, Mowgli's journey has become our own too! :) 

After a fair share of gimmicks overnight, Bagheera succeeds in persuading Baloo to let go of Mowgli, to let him settle with the village-folk, but Baloo's persuasion in turn to Mowgli falls on deaf ears. 

Innocent Mowgli feels betrayed by his Papa Baloo and runs off, deep into the wilderness, only to be recaptured barely by Kaa, and comforted by a venue of vultures, who too, are unwelcome and displeasing to the creatures of the Wild. 

The final showdown with Shere Khan results in a severely injured Baloo rescuing Mowgli from the clutches of death, yet again, coupled with the alertness of those vultures. 

A lightning stricken tree branch provided for fire, which was no match for a helpless Shere Khan, जो अपनी 'दुम जला कर भाग लिया'! 

Just as the narrative is about to end on a sad note, with Baloo's death and Bagheera's declaration of him being a Hero, Baloo springs up to life saying, 'ऐ, बन्द मत कर बग्घू, अरे मस्त बोल रेला है!' 

It was as if life had been summoned back into lifeless being, that even the audience would rejoice at such a good news! 

All's well that ends well, especially if our Mowgli is smitten by a village belle, to be back where he belongs, while Baloo and Bagheera return to where they belong, isn't it? ;)

~~~ 

While as a child, I was intrigued by the mannerisms of each character in this fable (and continue to do so in a corner of my heart and mind, I believe), as an adult and a parent, I have been better able to draw a parallel between each of the character's personalities and the life lessons they impart. 

As engrossing as the narrative was, for a naive three-year-old, it was, is, and will be interesting for me as a grown-up, with its many adaptations too. 

As a parent, I felt a certain newness on re-exploring the fable with my child, appreciating or condemning certain qualities or shortcomings in each character as the narrative proceeded. 

 ~~~ 

Take for instance, the fact that Mowgli's was the most familiar characterization, for he was to be the star of the story, the one around whom the fable's numerous situations revolve! 

As a fictional feral child, he is able to evoke in his audience - children and adults alike - the emotions of amusement, sadness, anger, disappointment, and bewilderment, at various instances in the fable. 

On one hand, Raksha and Rama fit the bill in abiding by the gender stereotypes of the Wild, with the male choosing to hunt while the female rears her cubs. On the other hand however, be it in print or on celluloid, Raksha has always been portrayed as a mother who knows her business. It is this parental instinct which always binds a mother to her child, and Raksha to Mowgli too. 

The jungle is wilderness, and such wild attitude translates to danger for naivety, thus prompting Bagheera to mentor Mowgli to escape from the clutches of the ferocious Shere Khan, by persuading him to leave the jungle and return rightfully, to village-folk. 

Bagheera's art of persuasion is to be applauded, while he talks Baloo into his plan of Mowgli's return and Colonel Hathi to send his contingent to search for him when he runs off, into the jungle after being supposedly betrayed by Baloo. His stern attitude acts like Mowgli's guardian angel at more times than one and he is the perfect mentor to this man-cub! 

Kaa's deceitful gaze mirrors the fact that we as individuals too, could be led astray into unpleasant avenues, and one must exercise a certain degree of self-control in order to prevent probable mishaps. 

Baloo comes across as a generous teacher and friend, whom Mowgli addresses as 'Papa'. His uninhibited and exuberant outlook towards life in the jungle leads to Mowgli learning a trick or two regarding the Law of the Wild, from him. Baloo cares for Mowgli as his छोटे मियाँ and puts up a brave face, twice. Once, to prevent his kidnapping by the trouble-making monkeys, and second, to save Mowgli from the clutches of Shere Khan. 

Baloo prompts Mowgli to learn to fight like a Bear, from him, and when the man-cub lands a powerful punch, he is quick to remark, सही जगह पे फटका दिया, which leads me to believe that no matter how big a problem may seem to be, in its scale and stature, once one knows how to deal with it in the right manner, it is nothing but a mere grain of sand. 

King Louie presents another face of selfish treachery, by luring Mowgli with the rights to stay back in the Wild, provided he lets him in on Man's secret to making Fire. Just as monkeys are close behind Man with respect to evolution, Louie and his apes are the closest equivalent to Mowgli in the fable, thus repeatedly pursuing the man-cub, हम बनेगा जैसा तू! His myopic plan to threat Shere Khan with Fire, thus tilting the Jungle Throne in his favor is foiled by Bagheera and Baloo's wittiness. 

Shere Khan comes across as a ferocious beast, who has his own weaknesses - Man and Fire. He wants to suppress a potential hunter - a harmless man-cub by nipping it in the bud itself. This predator is shown riding high on his immense physicality as opposed to other animals who fear him for their lives. 

Mowgli comes across here, as a confident, fearless individual who emphasizes the fact that he can care for himself in the wilderness, while not being bothered by any Shere Khan. What outwits the Tiger on the other hand is the fact that the man-cub was the first of his kind, who refused the join the league of other apprehensive and terrified creatures in the jungle. 

Towards the end, it is not physical stature, but the presence of mind, that leads Mowgli to outlast the Tiger in the big, wide, and wild Jungle. 

~~~ 

There is not just one favorite character or memorable instance from this classic by Rudyard Kipling but the beauty in its narrative's entirety which leads me to believe that each incident and character in the story complement one another and lead the fable to achieve its rightful beginning and end. 

I believe that there is a Mowgli in each of us, guided towards right or wrong by its alter-egos in the form of such fauna's personality traits as in the Jungle Book. This fact leads me to be of the opinion that my entire experience with The Jungle Book, as a kid and as an adult, forms for a beautiful #MyMowgliMemory. 

Would you like to share your #MyMowgliMemory with me too? :)

 ~~~ 

I’m blogging about #MyMowgliMemory at BlogAdda.

Thy Will Be Done!

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A kingdom is as good as its king. But you know very well that at home there is no king. Every home is governed by a queen. You have all rights to behave as a king outside but at home, it is only a queen and her subjects. Well, you are my favorite subject. You do a lot for me. But then you know a queen is a queen. And this queen is quite demanding. Let me demand some promises from you today. And you have to promise to give me all these promises from the bottom of your heart. Once you promise, remember to keep them for life. A promise is never meant to be broken. If you intend to break a promise, never make it. And once you make it, never break it. So here we go.

We have hardly spent twenty-three years together. Promise me to keep admiring the beauty of the whole universe in my eyes as you have been doing till now. Remember when we met the first time, you admiringly looked into my eyes, took a long dip and stayed there for a long time. It was as if you never wanted to come out of it ever. I had to pull you out. In fact, if I had not done so, tears would have started. It was difficult to control my eyes to blink. It was becoming too painful. I tried my best to keep them intact without a single blink as long as possible. The universe and eyes are still there and will be there as long as the most admiring soul is there. You are that soul.

My second demand is that you will wake me up every morning as you have been doing for all these years. It is because when I open my eyes every morning and see your face, my day is bound to be fantastic without any doubt. The same I want to happen as long as you, me and our universe is. So promise me to wake me up every morning with your usual style and a hot cup of tea. Morning tea is as dear to me as you.

My third demand is to let me be the queen of the house. That can happen only if the king decides to hand over all his powers to his queen. Because when I am happy I can make your world. Promise me to give me so much space to let me use my powers of being the queen of the house.

~~~

I’m blogging about the kasams I want from my man this Women’s Day with the #SadaSexy activity at BlogAdda in association with Set Wet.

#IAmCapable, She Exclaimed!

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The day had begun with the usual chant of prayers and the aroma of incense sticks filling the house. It was a special day, however. That day was to be when Deepti had to take the first step towards the professional world and her parents wished her well. Her mother had a certain wish for the Almighty, to make this walk of Deepti's life, a bit different from her past.

Within a few months of obtaining the title of being a graduate, Deepti had landed a job at one of the 'Big 4' firms. It was her 'dream job', so to say, and she hoped to carve a name for herself with her perseverance and sincerity towards work. 

It was not long after she had joined that she gradually proved her mettle to her seniors and received a promotion within a couple of months of her joining. But, blame it on her beautiful physique and elegant mannerism that her colleagues came to think of it as a case of favouritism towards her by the senior management. 

Well, such 'chinese whispers' spread like wild fire and it came as no surprise when Deepti found herself at the receiving end of such rumors as the one doing the rounds. She was, however, used to being judged on the basis of her beauty and being demeaned on the basis of talents she possessed. 

The people around her used to be stunned by her looks and were of the uninformed opinion that her looks were the only positive to her individuality, thus overlooking her efforts in every walk of her life. Her beauty had actually turned out to be the beast in her life, quite literally, thus hampering her concious attempts to make her peers look beyond her appearance. 

Her mother's disappointment knew no bounds when she learnt that Deepti had been subjected to the same false reputation time again. More often than not, it was Deepti who used to talk her mother out of such disappointment and this time around too, it was the same. Though she had always been bothered about such remarks all through her life, Deepti never let it reflect on the outlook and let her work do the talking. 

Deepti thus chose to break the stereotype by putting her desire to reach her potential in the limelight when she was chosen as a representative to a prestigious national summit and had to deliver a presentation on her firm's behalf. She then chose to silence her colleagues who witnessed her efforts and confidence, to realize that they had been in the wrong all this time. 

Now, she is on a much better, level playing field in her professional life and has been able to successfully overcome the judgemental perspective being offered to her. :) 

It's not just about Deepti's experience, but even statistics are of  a similar opinion that one must not judge a woman based solely on her appearance. Nihar Naturals #IAmCapable survey conducted by Nielsen India reveals the following startling facts: 

• 69% of men agree that their judgement of women is based on their looks. 
• 64% of women agree that the judgments passed on them have affected their ability to reach their true potential. 
• 70%of women agree that majority of judgments on women are from family members or friends rather than strangers. 
• 72% of women agree that working women face more judgments on their looks or their clothes than housewives. 

One needs to understand that the age-old adage 'Do not judge a book by its cover' holds true even today, and one must learn to look beyond appearances and appreciate the qualities and capabilities of a self-made individual, be it female or male. 

I’m breaking stereotypes based on appearance by sharing my experience for the #IAmCapable activity at BlogAdda in association with Nihar Naturals. 

Supple, Subtle, Yet Susceptible...

This post has been declared as one of the Winners of #SoftestFor BabySkin by Pampers India and Blogadda.  

~~~ 

September 25, 2015 

11:00 AM

New Delhi

It has been just three days that Poonam has returned from attending the launch of #SoftestForBabySkin. Well, I know because I read it on her blog. Didn't I?

And, I am green with envy. Because, she didn't take me with her. Leave alone me accompanying her, she's enjoying with another one here. 

Well, she's cuddling this excited individual here, but once she was back, she was with me. She had attended that event for me. While she then became occupied by the formalities associated with attending the event, like exploring the Goodie Bag she had received and recalling to jot down the exact proceedings of the evening, I was busy thinking to myself - 'This #SoftestForBabySkin Diaper is not the ONLY commodity you'd require to keep my soft skin safe'. 

Well, I kept it to myself initially, but now, I can't contain it anymore. Who better than me to counsel you on the other essential pointers to keep soft skin safe, dear Poonam? 

I am crawling to you. Just wait! 

Of course, it's me. After all, my skin is a valuable treasure. Alas, it is supple, subtle, yet susceptible. To counter that susceptibility, you would want to pair these five pointers with your preferred Pampers Premium Care Pants (which you had reviewed too) without a doubt. :) 

I am a pampered child. Yes, it has been so since the start. I do not complain, but I'm going to convey my cheat-sheet to protect my skin by the means of one-lined quotations. 

That's because I want you too, to guess what facet of baby-care it could point toward. Of course, I'd be elucidating each one's detail so that I am taken care of, properly and skin is able to retain its suppleness and softness and negate the susceptibility!

~~~

A Clean Home Is A Happy Home: A clean home is important. A clean environment is also critical for the same purpose. Every touch that comes my way should not only be gentle but also be antiseptic in nature, thoroughly sanitized. Well, I'm akin to being carried around in gentle arms or being seated on a warm lap, so you must ensure that you should also be neatly dressed. 

I Choose To Be Happy Today: Happiness around me with cheerful faces emanates a positive impact to my activity and keeps me joyous round the clock. There is a psychological impact which scores high on the list, to ensure my healthy growth. 

If there is a gloomy atmosphere around me, I apologize to remark that I would be better off with such a negative impact masking my positive energies. 

Well, with a child as cheerful as myself, it should not be such a herculean task for you to be your cheerful best, should it?

A Big No To Gloominess!
Keep me away from it, please.

Green Is My Favorite Color: This isn't because I was envious previously. I was born in nature's lap and would like to marvel at nature's each realm by being as close-knit to it, as possible. 

I would thus encourage the use of as many green products as possible. All commodities of daily use, be it edible or non-edible need to be liberated of chemicals and all synthetic products that could lead to life-threatening consequences in the long run or even otherwise need to be kept at bay. 

My milk bottle should be sterilized before every use, with the obvious pre-requisite that it had been procured from a reliable, known and quality source in the first place. The milk must be pasteurized, and that goes without saying, too. 

Green, leafy vegetables need to be washed and cleaned properly before preparation. I would not want to feed on dust and germs masked as food, even when I grow up. Similar precautionary measures follow for all such products present in the house, coming into my direct or even indirect contact. 

Nothing Is So Strong As True Gentleness: All-cloth towels are what I prefer. As soft as possible is how I prefer them to be. Synthetic clothes may have catastrophic consequences towards my soft skin. 

Similarly, oils and soaps that are used to tend to me are required to be chemical-free. No harsh or strong product should be applied to my susceptible skin. The products must be bought from a known and reliable source. You must try your best to examine thoroughly the 'Tests Approved & Certified' claims before procuring such products for me. 

There are plenty of manipulative sellers in the market who sell artificial products at a subsidized cost. Never allow yourself to be trapped by such lucrative but risky offers. Such offers might lead to serious repercussions later. You must not prefer saving some pennies in the first go but think wisely and consider my life which would be at stake afterward. An initial saving of a few pennies might lead up to huge spendings at a later stage in my life.

When Words Fail, Music Speaks: While I'm still at my baby-babbling, gurgling, and cheeky best, music serves as my best accomplice! Neither too loud nor too harsh melodies sooth my mind and calm my thoughts. Ensure to play soft music at a low volume to pep up the mood for me. I would then be at my active best. 

Keep observing the kinds of tunes and rhythms I tend to like more and that which evokes me into a playful mood.  For some time,  keep aside your preferences and match my beat as I dance to my tunes. My reactions to certain actions of yours would provide you with ample pointers, provided you are a keen observer. :) 

~~~

You could take my word for it, Poonam. Such a balanced environment would ensure the best conditions for me to play, laugh, learn and grow up perfectly. 

Your protectiveness would provide me with the perfect opportunities to be at ease with myself and the people around me. 

~~~

Pampers brings you the softest ever Pampers Premium Care Pants. Its cotton-like softness is #SoftestForBabySkin and allows it to breathe, thus keeping baby’s skin soft and healthy, and your baby happy.

P.S.: The images utilized in the post carry the blog's copyright and are not to be misused, howsoever. 

Let Us Pledge To #ProtectHerHeart...

~~~ 

We are not humans. We parallel our lifestyle in today's times with that of a mechanized robot, whose gotten too busy making a living, that he's forgotten to make a life. 

Come to think of it, we are merely existing, not living. A majority of the human race today is busy meeting deadlines, running errands, completing projects, putting ourselves together. 

Our lifestyle is now governed by not what we would LIKE to pursue, but what we HAVE to do. Our only folly? It had been aptly highlighted by David Muecke. 

"A hectic life usually lacks attention to detail, and often the details are people."

I would like to add my two cents to it by saying that most often, those people who lack our attention also include our own selves. 

Being a woman who has been (attempting to) maintain the work-life balance since the past three decades, I can testify to the fact that I realize too, that I neglect my physical well-being every now and then owing to various factors which influence our lives and lifestyles in today's so called modern world. 

Progressing towards a perpetually connected world also weighs heavily on the yardstick of maintaining good health too, thus limiting my physical activity. 

Our lax and lazy-bones alter ego has been successfully overpowering our active and on-the-go self, over the years. 

Especially us ladies - we overlook the fact that this ignorance - towards our own well-being - is NOT bliss now. A bane rather than a boon, in the long run, would surface, where we might have to confront long-term illnesses.

Gradually, it is becoming harder to realize that physical activity is more about physical endurance - brisk walking, jogging, working out, Yoga - and less and less about just running errands and doing the chores of the house. 

I feel that the time is not far when our muscles, organs, and even the heart would go on strike against our nonchalant attitude towards our soul's temple - our precious body. 

Given the increasingly harrowing time constraint of twenty-four hours -  'just' twenty-four hours in a day which seem too small a time-frame to pass, existing through our daily routines, most of us - including myself - have to make time to spend on and to pamper ourselves. 

That pampering is also when we decide to take time out of our so-called 'busy schedule' to spend some of it upping the 'physical activity' meter. 

Fortunately or not, it now takes us a 'test' to remind us on a scale of 'Just Keep Going' to 'Take Immediate Action' how ignorant we've truly been. 

~~~ 

I am talking about Saffolalife and their #ProtectHerHeart initiative which prompted me to take their Weight-Heart Test to come to terms with some awe-inspiring facts regarding my own self. 

Based on providing some vital stats, I was greeted by 'Kindly Take A Note'. I hope that this Note does not lose its way through the numerous Post-It Notes on an erstwhile office desk! 

I sincerely do. 

It also presented a clearer picture of how this anchor of the family's walk over turbulent water is ever-proceeding towards accumulating rust. 

There are some pointers which I hope to adopt, towards the achievement of a healthier me and a healthier heart on my inside, just in time for my Birthday this month. For it is my heart which bears the brunt of not only emotional and psychological but also physical ordeals. 

Well, of course, it won't be a 'build-in-a-night' case in point. It would take persistence and determination. And, I've made a promise to myself. My spouse has made it to himself and to me too. We've pledged to #ProtectHerHeart because we don't want these figures to engulf her while she rudders the house and home impressively albeit neglecting her own self all the time. 

Most certainly, we would not like the consequences of lack of self-care to profess themselves on her delicate being down the timeline too. 

That Her in #ProtectHerHeart is Yours Truly. :) 

~~~ 

Well, I have prepared a seven-point checklist to ensure that we - my better half and me are able to match ourselves up to the seemingly herculean task of #ProtectHerHeart to achieve a healthier lifestyle for both of us. 

That checklist goes by the acronym PROTECT. Each letter signifies a minor addition or change to our present-day routine which would add up to a major improvement over the horizon. 

Put Our Hearts Together, Pledge Together...

Rationalize Those Pros-Cons, Become Better...

Outsmarting Each Other With The Pep Talks...

To Alleviate Stresses Over Some Brisk Walks...

Evaluating What's On Our Plates Over Dinner...

Coming Through Each Day As A Person, Fitter...

The Worries Vanish As We #ProtectHerHeart!

In addition to this, religiously following a sharing of household duties, getting up to obtain some fresh air, each day - inhale and exhale - deep breathing, along with pushing ourselves for that forsaken Health Checkup, would go a long way in assisting us to uphold our Pledge. 

We've promised ourselves to fulfill this Pledge to #ProtectHerHeart over the year. Have you and your better half taken it up too? :) 

~~~ 

I am joining the Saffolalife #ProtectHerHeart initiative and pledging my support to better heart health in Association with BlogAdda.

گردبادی از هویت

She was there.

She stood on the edge of the vast valley, which reached out to her to convince her to jump to oblivion.

The sight was not new to her. She had thought of it infinitive times in the past, but then, she had also mustered the courage to take the final step, that day.

In the abyss of thoughts which were overwhelming her mind, and memoirs which brimmed over her heart, she had forced herself upon this consequence.

From the pinnacle of the Tower she was standing on, all she saw was the wake of vultures circumscribing her Grandfather's deceased body.

On the other hand, was the inexhaustible horizon to jump to.

~~~ 

The Tower Of Silence had become a second home to her, now. 

Why, she had lost her entire family to such an unexplicable calamity.

In a span of three weeks, her entire world had come crashing down upon her.

The first to leave her side was her father, followed by her grief-stricken mother. Now that her grandfather had left her too, she was orphaned.

Grandma was the most oblivious to it all as she had abandoned all sense of space and time. 

She had lost all hope in the beauty of life and saw it now as a dull, lifeless panel which had been ostracized by all.

~~~ 

Just as she was about to let her feet lose touch of the ominous ground, she felt someone's hand tucking at her saree.

She saw her Grandfather!

With a note and a archaic collection of five pages in tow, he led her down from that edge to the entrance of the Tower Of Silence.

Once she was outside the Tower, all she could see were a soiled letter and a handful of pages on the road.

In the immensely morose sky above, she saw a raven perched on a tree branch, overlooking the sullen moon.

A signboard outside made her realize that she was part of an exclusive community. A community that had made her what she was.

That which had given her an identity, 

As an antiquarian legacy. 

It then occured to her to pick up those pages and the letter, lest they be blown away by the meandering wind. 

The letter, to her utter dismay, was blank, though it had گردبادی از هویت written on it. 

گردبادی از هویت in Persian, meant 'The Whirlwind Of Identity'.

And, the pages? 

She could sense that they held the unknown answers to the many unexplored questions which had exhausted her completely. 

They were hoowever, a pointer to some bigger secrets that they would reveal. These incoherent, random pages would somehow weave together, the fabric to a deterministic ancestry. 

~~~ 

Her Grandfather's voice clearly echoed saying: "Go back home, Dear. We are waiting for you."

She rushed back home to find a sight which overwhelmed her beyond all bounds.

There, she saw her beloved Grandfather in spirit and her aged Grandmother whiling away on their most favorite hammock in the house.

As soon as she tried to approach her, Grandma got up and proceeded to the inside of the house, with Grandpa's spirit following her particularly to Grandma's Prayer Room.

There, she saw light.

It suddenly occured to her, of the Fire Invis, a game which she used to play with her Grandma. It was like the Secret Spy. A coded message on paper would be discovered and see the light of the day when subjected to fire.

The soiled letter, then was no different. It led her to explore a secret chamber in her grandparents' room which had been concelead by a door with a symbolic inscription on it, all these years.

The central lock of three concentric rings had been overlooked by her as a child, even though it sparked her curiosity as a mature individual. 

Grandma knew and chanted the prayers which would unlock a better understanding of the abyss. 

The opening of the lock made her even more receptive to the intricacies of the existence of her dwindling community. 

~~~ 

For it revealed to her, a book dating to the 10th Century, tracing the journey that her ancestors had taken to carve an identity for themselves and members of their sect, battling the dominance of Arab Muslims in Iran, establishing a name for themselves as professionals, partnering with Englishmen, and partaking in the Industrial Revolution for India's development as a country. 

Now, with her grandparents having left her all on her own, it had dawned upon her to not let go of life as a  precious possession, which had to be preserved in all its purity. 

The embellishment of a Fravashi on the outside of the book ushered into her, a sense of determination and perseverance to hold on to herself and steer clear of all suicidal tendencies which had clouded her essence to liveliness and hope. 

The wings symbolised the Spiritual World and made her draw inspiration from the spirits of her now deceased family. 

The body symbolized the Physical World and reminded her of the sense of control to her materialistic possessions that were not to overpower her, at any said point in time. 

The head symbolized the sense of Conciousness of a greater purpose to her sect and her community, than her own, and that made her reminisce the teachings of Prophet Zarathustra, in their entirety. 

~~~ 

Out of those five pages which she had obtained outside the Tower, four belonged to members of her family, and one was to call her own. 

The Whirlwind Of Identity had thus been simplified, with her embarking on a journey to self-realization with her Grandma by her side. 

As they were about to leave, they saw her Grandpa in spirit, on the same hammock, keeping to himself, the memoir of his cherished abode.

~~~ 

In a matter of hours, she had known what it meant to embrace Zoroastrianism and embark on... 

The Path Of Zarathustra 

~~~ 

I am participating in this creative activity organised by makers of The Path of Zarathustra in association with BlogAdda.

P.S.: All images have been attributed to Google Search.