Showing posts with label sustainable living. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sustainable living. Show all posts

Thursday, 21 September 2017

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. 

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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.

Friday, 30 December 2016

Smart Toilets With French Collection By Somany...

Somany Ceramics crosses another milestone with the launch of an exclusive French Collection range. This, in fact, marks a new definition of the Smart Toilet Category. The company is a pioneer in the Indian ceramic industry. Their latest launch is an exquisite, inclusive, and intuitive design-centric French Collection range.


In fact, this is their most premium offering till date. But definitely, is not the last. In fact, this presents a new horizon of higher expectations from the Indian ceramic industry. Rather, Somany Ceramics enters a new world of the smart and intelligent toilet market. And this range is an offering of contemporary unique designs, high technology, and seamless performance.


As a matter of fact, these trendy designs are winning the hearts of builders, architects, and consumers quite effortlessly. As the global focus is trending towards green initiatives, smart cities, and high sustainability, Somany Ceramics is not far behind in joining the bandwagon.


It is important to introduce sustainable living against the increasing threats of global warming. That is the reason for global and Indian construction companies focusing on the development of smart cities. As we all know, smart cities, in turn, create a smart nation. On the other hand, smart buildings and homes create smart cities.


And, in fact, when we talk about smart homes, the concept starts with smart bathrooms. Smart bathrooms intend to promote sustainable development and efficient energy management. In this regard, therefore, any smart bathroom must offer completely integrated solutions like smart toilets, automatic flush systems, and automatic faucets.

Sunday, 3 May 2015

Onward To A Green Yatra...

This feels good.

A tree would be planted in my name by the kind folks at Green Yatra.

Two, actually.

Towards A Greener Planet...

Two Trees At A Time. :)



Earth Is Calling - Runner up!

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 वृक्ष कवि की गर्जना 

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बबूल शूल ले उठो, 
सपूत साल तुम उठो! 

नीम तुम हटो नहीं, 
आम तुम डटो वहीं! 

उठो मिठास छोड़ दो, 
ज़िन्दगी को मोड़ दो! 

तुम्हे जो काटने चले, 
तो हाथ-पैर तोड़ दो!  

छीन  लो कुल्हाड़ियाँ, 
बीन लो ये आरियाँ! 

सतर्क जागते रहो, 
छोड़ दो खुमारियाँ! 

अब नया विधान हो, 
अब नवीन गान हो! 

मिटे समस्त क्रूरता, 
सुवृक्षता का मान हो! 

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I was moved. So much so, that I was compelled to ponder - What if this was to be a true scenario?
What if the bearers of Mother Earth's anguish were to call out to us, with all might and shove all those adversities, in our face? :o

After all, the proceedings of events in today's time call for it, in a very unwelcoming way, though.
We wouldn't be happy if these words turned to actions, certainly not! 

We, homo sapiens, or humans are a peculiar species. The early man stumbled on rocks, to learn to create fire. 
He foraged on and utilized leaves and meat skin to cloth himself and satiate his hunger. 

Gradually, he started to practice the art of being an agriculturist, reaping what he sowed, which were the fruits of his blood and sweat. He experienced bliss under the cool shade of sheltering trees amid the sweltering sun. 

Early man had to master the art of 'Survival of the Fittest' in order to explore the soil he was inhabiting. He had to practice and substantiate for himself and his kinfolk, the concept of sustainable living. 

Gradually, the vulnerable, naive ape turned into an intelligent, sophisticated man.

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Every day, we hear scores of news bulletins announcing, proclaiming to the world, the adverse effects of the disappearing green cover over the face of our Earth, of the ill-effects of global warming, which are setting base to uproot us from our very existence, and to prefix a 'Late' with 'Mankind' and hold a mass funeral. 

Yet, it does not baffle us enough. It isn't unsettling enough that the face of mankind has embraced a certain form of 'Reverse Engineering' to make the same intelligent man lose control over his gray cells and wreck havoc in his own territory! :( 

Yet, man learned to chop off the same branch which he was seated upon. Yet, man learned to exploit the pool of resources, nature's bounty had provided him with and then complain of scarcity. 

Selfishness and greed took over kindheartedness and giving. Man, knowingly or unknowingly was vehemently marching on a path which lit his own pyre!

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Humans are creatures who cut trees, make paper, and write on the same paper, 'Save Trees'. 

Ironically, we don't learn! 

We fail to realize that it may be earning someone his means to bread and butter, when he decides to cut trees, but in turn he also resolves to rob millions on the face of the Earth of their lives, some day or the other. 

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We fail to acknowledge or respond to the numerous cries of despair from an agonized Mother Earth. 

We proclaim that we are constantly doing our 'bit', even I do at times, but the truth is that just like it is perpetually impossible for a child to repay the debts of his mother, so is it seemingly difficult for us as a human to repay the debts of Mother Earth, if I may write so.

It is a matter of self-pride and a feel-good factor associated with the perspective of having done something for the world we inhabit. It is indeed blissful to experience that kind of a contentment.

The joy of splashing feet in the puddles of rainwater, or plucking ripe fruit from the orchard's trees or even playing with the raw, earthen soil, to uncover it, dig deep, follow the snail's trail and plant a tiny seed to observe it sprout into a plant and flourish into a tree as a child, is ever empowering.

We've to now time-travel to our childhood and those unselfish explorations and innocent treasures, to rediscover ourselves as Nature's Comrades.

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An initiative as elementary as opting for paper or jute bags over the big bad bags of plastic counts.
An initiative as elementary as adopting the 3Rs - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle of an eco-friendly lifestyle counts.
An initiative as elementary as segregating the household waste into the Green Biodegradable and the Blue Non-Biodegradable waste cans counts.

An initiative as elementary as opting for LEDs and CFLs over those archaic bulbs can prove sustainable.
An initiative as elementary as opting to carpool or travel to the means, by public modes of transport, can prove sustainable.
An initiative as elementary as opting for energy-efficient appliances, demarcated by their BEE ratings can prove sustainable.

An initiative as elementary as opting for eco-friendly toiletries as handmade soaps or green cosmetics can work wonders.
An initiative as elementary as opting for bio-fuels or organic food as pointers to a 'Green Citizen' can work wonders.
An initiative as elementary as making an attempt to keep a check on one's Carbon Footprint can work wonders.

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As a science teacher, as a conscientious citizen of my country and as a responsible daughter of Mother Earth, I have taken a pledge. 

I've taken a conscious decision, to embark on a journey. 

I've taken a step. 

Onward To A... 

Gauging The Severity Of The Matter,
Renewing A Parched Bond With Earth.
Enriching Fruits Of  Bliss, Lay Scatter,
Entitling Us To Rendezvous Of Rebirth.
Now Is The Time To Take That Call...

Yearn For The Dream World To Be True,
Accomplish The Dream, Aim For Reality.
Tap That Essence Of Repaying The Due,
Reap Gratitude, As You Sow Humility.
Adore Replenishment, Give It Your All...

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Have you stepped up to the responsibility yet?

I hope you do.

After All, Mother Earth Is Calling. :) 

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This post is a part of Earth Is Calling Contest by Green Yatra in association with IndiBlogger.
You can vote for it here.