Tiffin Tales 123

Hola...

It's Friday and we are indoors. The sun is blazing outside, the heart is screaming to go somewhere by the waterside but there are demons outside. I wish the demons would have gone on some vacation too. We could have got some respite in summer. Summers are a festival here after long winters and who doesn't want to be a part of the celebration. This year we have this unwanted guest who is spoiling our summers, derailed all our plans and bungled all our year long activities.

Let's not even talk about this guest. This week has been good for us in terms of weather. The temperatures have been on the higher side, the sun was fierce and we could not have been happier. There have been rains but no complaints about that. 

We have been celebrating birthdays of our loved ones with virtual hugs. We smiled, wished, spoke loudly and secretly shed a tear or two. We do not know about our next meet but prayed hard that we meet soon. My kids have been insisting on baking cakes/cupcakes/muffins when people on the other side of the screen hav been cutting and enjoying. Lol, thats what is childhood I feel. So I baked muffins to lift their moods, ran with them in our backyard till I got leg cramps, read with them till I fell asleep. I always look and feel sleepy though.

This weekend again we have no such plans. We might try to soak the sun a bit. No travels for us, simple rule of this summer.

What are your plans for this weekend? Lets share some ideas. 

Tiffin Tales 122

Hola...

I am visiting this space after a gap and feel like the world has changed a lot. Everyday surviving is getting more and more challenging and keeping a healthy mental health is getting all the more brute. I know barely anyone reads my lines but writing here makes me feel like standing in front of an open window. We can see and feel a lot of emotions standing in front a window but at the end it makes us feel fresh and more open to our thoughts. 

With so much going around I feel my mind has been cluttered and standing or sitting next to a window seems to be stress buster for me these days. I want to write about so many things but feel not to write about any negativities of our present world. On some days I find myself overpowered by emotions that I speak less on those days. The weather, the world affairs everything seem so very difficult to comprehend.

I am not one of those whose writings or posts or any photos garner any attention. Still I write, post my updates not to bring any big change in this world but help myself. I find writing or posting pictures therapeutic. A few words creates so much impact. These day I am randomly reading blogs of people. People write about so many incidents, thoughts and ideas leaving me alarmed as to whether my words make any sense at all. But then we all are different with different levels of perceptions. 

Over the past few weeks we together have watched or so to say binge watched, tried new recipes and tried to laugh a bit more. Laughing is one of life's blessings and in the current scenario we are too stressed for that. In my home we try to crack a joke or remember any funny incident from past which brings smile or makes us laugh. Apart from lightening the environment it adds well to the family time.

I have no idea where this virus is driving us but each day I pray for more positivity and immunity. Lol! We need both of them in equal proportions now. Its's a hot day here today and we are so happy. Nothing we do but go for walks, run till I can. I am a bad runner by the way. Once home exhausted have dinner and pray. Pray for a better tomorrow, pray for freedom and pray that we are never deprived of basic necessities. Are you praying too? Let me know incase you go through these lines...Stay safe and stay positive...

Tiffin Tales 121

Hola...

It's the sixth month of the year and by now we all have undergone and experienced so many varied levels of emotions. While another six months of the year remains most of us are yawning and waiting for this year to get over. Some of us are stressed and some are scared to the core as to what awaits us next.

Scared? But why? Is it fear of unknown or the fear of how to process that abrogating that piece of news? We all are different when it comes to facing negativity or any other complex emotion. Most of the people must have read about the news of the actor who took his life because of depression. Since yesterday I was feeling disturbed too. The actor wasn't related to me or my family in any possible way but his untimely departure has left many open ended questions. I am sure many like me are looking for answers. He looked well, acted well, earned decently, was well-informed and perceptive then why did he take such a drastic step? We all are weighted with our 'why's'. His set of questions left the earth along with him but our minds are simply drowned with so many questions. It seems he wasn't given due credit, acknowledged for his work, was sidelined and so many things that are surfacing now. He was avoided by many when he started visiting doctor for depression. Nobody to hold his hand firmly and assure him that whatever be the situation it always changes. Only if he knew, understood and hadn't succumbed. My wish along the wish of thousand other people's wish.

We all want to be loved, listened and encouraged from time to time. Feeling loved by people is a basic instinct I guess and he was no different. In this over populous world we find hard to find a trustworthy person to share our feelings. I am sure just like him there are millions out there who really want someone should calmly listen to their stories. Listening is so important and in parenting it's one of the top most. We argue, we scream, we cry, we advise but rarely listen. Having someone listen to our story is so therapeutic. 

In this world of gadgets most of our feelings are expressed through emoticons, smileys, abbreviations and you name it. Machines sense most of our needs, help us with finding the perfect gift for our loved ones. I wonder can they gauge our love for them too? The funniest thing I find people do not trust their family members with their phones. Phones keep their trusted secrets which human beings cannot. My brain still spins while I am writing this. We have replaced human touch with lots of other disposable things.

As I pray for the soul of the departed actor I am hoping that someday we all will have answers to our questions, at least of some. We all can play a little part that nobody falls prey of taking their own lives. It's a one time gift for ourselves and our parents. A parent(s) contribution in raising a child cannot be jotted down in a few lines but when people succumb to the worldly pressures parents die almost instantly too. The actor had many heights to scale, many rocky roads to walk, many milestones to celebrate but he chose a different path. Let's all respect his chosen path but synchronously chose to be more patient with the people around us. Often we ignore people who try to reach us but later regret it. I hope we all try, the least we can do... 

Tiffin Tales120

Hola...

I hope everyone is doing fine amidst all the things in life. The universe seem to be in quite a chaos now. We are all slowly getting back to our pre corona lives. Even though we are trying to make changes and emphasizing a lot on hygiene, yet there is some amount of fear in our minds. The virus has dug deep into our lives and minds.

I really don't know how to feel these days. Each day feels like a mixed bag of emotions. Its June and the only day when everyone at my home felt happy and excited was on May 31st 2020, when two humans went to International Space station first time from a private company. The feeling was so good. It felt that human beings achieved a new scale, set a new benchmark and years of hard work was meeting success. Not for a minute the virus bugged our thoughts, only kept fingers crossed and wished success. Those few moments are so far the most enjoyable and memorable for us.

Within a couple of days I was deeply saddened when I read the news of pregnant elephant who died after consuming pineapple with firecrackers. My head is still spinning thinking how low can we stoop down as humans. This pregnant elephant was just looking for food and trusted the humans. The elephant should have trusted the nature perhaps the baby elephant would have arrived by now. It's so shameful and derogatory just thinking about it. 

We all living beings have equal rights over this planet and resources provided by nature. Our skin color, race, religion should never be a hindrance in getting respect and dignity that we all deserve. The recent killing has opened up all the bottled up oppression that people have to face today and everyday. Protests have sparked off far and wide and its time we change our approach. The universe is trying to change everything or man made beliefs. The century old norms are about to change and we all have to learn to coexist.

I don't know how this weekend looks like but I have to shop a bit. My pantry needs a bit of restocking. So with masks and gloves I will have to run a bit of errands and settle for the next week. Let's just hope the coming days are peaceful so that we all can sit under the sun. Our summers are pretty short and losing one sunny day is a precious loss. All we hope is that the coming days are less stressful and more peaceful. Much love to all...

Tiffin Tales 119

Hola...

It's Memorial day weekend and we are thinking of the fallen heroes all over the world for the service of mankind and humanity. I feel we have warriors all around us. They are unsung and unheard but silently serving the community around them. The brave men and women who defy all societal norms to help others are just more than courageous.

In these corona times we have lots of warriors around us. People who are fighting for our lives and health, people who are keeping us connected, people who are working to deliver the deliverables, people who are teaching and many many others who trying to help in whatever big or small capacity. 

I like to call my kids warriors too. They are helping themselves and me at times to keep everything flowing. These little ones are oblivious to many facts of life yet they are trying in their best possible ways to keep themselves occupied, sometimes without being asked.

Back in my small home town is one such 'Pishi' (aunt) who is doing amazing things in these trying times. She is a widow and her children live in different states. She advised them not to come to her in these strenuous times. Her children regularly call her and try to take care of her. She is fully aware of the current situation yet she decided to make food packets and asked a trusted neighbor to drop them at hospitals or any government organizations where people work in shifts. She never refuses anyone whoever comes at her door step asking for any kind of help. She has been doing this for the past two months and wants to maintain that. While her children are almost freaked out thinking about the consequences she assures them that she is doing fine. Pishi wears gloves for most part of the day, wears masks when she cooks and drops the neatly packed food packet at her patio before someone comes to collect them. She has a maid who also happens to be her renter who helps her in her household but when it comes to cooking she insists on doing everything herself. She takes immense pride in cooking herself and satisfies her soul thinking that someone has eaten the food without going hungry to bed. She makes very simple food probably what she eats but she feels home cooked has extra nutrition because its cooked with love. Those of us know her have simply been amazed by her thoughts and her zeal to do something in these arduous times. Pishi is exemplary for people around us. Some of her neighbors have been motivated by her energy and devotion that they do groceries for her and drop at her door step and she helps others with those food items. Circle of life I say.

There are perhaps thousands of 'Pishi's'  around us who are trying and are contributing. Not everyone can be like her but everyone can smile, pray and share some load and together we can make a difference.

These days the schools are closed and all focus is on the lunch. My fridge has very limited vegetables but surprisingly there were a few chicken drumsticks in my freezer. Rice, chicken drumsticks and some diced carrots and peas, onions, with some minimal spices and all in a cooker. What would you call? He named it 'surprise biryani'. I couldn't be more happy. Now he is resting and let me watch something...Take rest and take care everyone...

Tiffin Tales 118

Hola...

 I was so elated about the sun shining yesterday that today we don't see the sun at all. Ironical! All last night I was apprehensive about the storm that has affected the lives in West Bengal and other adjoining areas. The storm which has been named 'Aamphan' has been really destructive and most people say that they haven't witnessed so strong and calamitous previously. The coastal areas have been the most hard hitters. Huge tress have uprooted, birds and animals have died and lot of places are presently without electricity or water. Nature is really furious, it seems.

The year of 2020 is a year of nature and the disasters that we are witnessing . It started with horrific fire emergency in Australia. Millions of animals and scores of land had been destroyed and wildlife was the worst hit. Even before the wildfire started there were news of volcano spouting lava displacing almost putting 500,000 lives of people in danger in Philippines. The Australian wildfire hadn't even settled yet when the world was gripped and still by the corona virus. The virus has been described as pandemic and the world wide spread has forced the world to close everything and sit inside our homes.

The first five months of the year has been investigating in terms of patience and survival. Each and every day we all are struggling to keep ourselves safe from the virus and yet trying to lead a 'normal' life. I don't know the new normal because we were so used to previous normal that settling with the new normal will certainly take lot of time and tons of effort.

A few of my friends and families live in and around West Bengal and since morning I have been texting them to check about their safety, the least that I can do. Nature has its own way of teaching the mankind and perhaps it's a subtle way to indicate to obey the laws of nature in order to avoid any future catastrophes.

I so want to go out for a walk now but feel too lazy to put on a pullover. I think I should and return for a cup of tea. The dinner will be late for sure...

Tiffin Tales 117

Hola...

The clouds are slowly giving way to sun. The sun is visiting us after a gap of five days and we are hoping to see him everyday. It isn't a bright sunny day yet feels good to catch a glimpse of sun every now and then.

This morning my elder one was struggling a bit to play a simple song on his guitar. It hasn't been long that he started to learn this instrument. We cannot completely say he loves it but he shows interest to play it. He is short tempered and very emotional by nature. He cannot hide his frustration or anger. I could see his frustration at his inability to master that tune. Patience still doesn't come close to him, perhaps fearing his temperament. Well, I always joke about that. He struggled for sometime and then he 'almost' gave up. I suddenly murmured that, 'you are trying your best, and success follows soon." I don't know how much he listens to me but this morning he did. He did and he triumphed. 

Words have so much magical effect on our minds and hearts especially on the kids. A simple line or a few encouraging words makes a day and perhaps frames a mind. When it comes to kids they take parents words very seriously and sometimes they get imprinted in their minds. I encourage my kids to try everything in life and think less about consequences. Trying new things opens a lot of opportunities compared to guarding them against everything. Now when I say this it doesn't mean I advise them them to do anything unhealthy, unlawful or anything abhorrent in nature. I want them to try, fail, learn and then set on a new adventure. Trying new things takes a broader horizon to look at challenges and some encouragement. I cannot say about other kids but mine are restless and are constantly looking for a change of activities. It is highly challenging and exhausting on my part but yet I feel in the process we all might end up learning something unknown.

We all need perhaps one perhaps who will never give up on us irrespective of the circumstances. One person could be just anyone who will encourage us to swim even if the tides are high. We all need one and we should try to be that one. Trying to be that one will be a bit harder because at some point we will have to let go off our ego and put some else on the priority list. To overlook their faults and happily embracing them just the way they are. 

My mind is clouded when i think how I will be able to navigate their thoughts and lives but no matter what we as parents will love them unconditionally for just the way they are and the way they want to be....