Four Clover Life- By Namrata Shailendra Singh

Either way, it's a big deal today. You browse through parenting articles and Google throws you ******************websites/blogs. Phew. That's a lot.  Our parents were not into such craziness, yet we all grew up to be fine, doing well, earning well, and living well. I read somewhere that we have moved from 'fairly interested parents that our parents use to be to wholly invested parents.' Yes! And there is a reason behind this. TIMES CHANGED; HENCE THE NATURE OF PARENTING CHANGED. I shall touch upon few aspects, knowing very well that there are subtle, not so subtle, big and small aspects that contributed towards the current insanity. Are we sure it's insanity, or are we just responding to how the world is changing around us? Do you know- An iPhone 7 has more processing power than the entire NASA organization had in 1969. That's around the time our parents were around adulthood, starting to work and forming families. And I can quote many such f

Dear Words, I am struggling, and I am new. Everyday tracking of page views, Google AdSense and affiliate account earning (if any), umpteen social media accounts, followers and following, stumbling and pinning, posting and reposting, Facebook groups and their admin, gaining entry and getting blocked, FB pages, and no. of likes,  and the list is endless. I am overwhelmed by the vastness of this world. I am out of breath already. Collapse I may anytime or quit. Should I? When I see myself in the ocean that I am in, I feel scared. There are so many people writing so well, blogging so well, skillful and artful, earning and thriving. And here I am scrambling to survive. When I quit my corporate career to follow 'WORDS,' I was unsure if I am doing the right thing. I followed 'WORDS,' and I am still uncertain if I am doing the right thing. Every day a new revelation, a new learning, and a new lesson. It's when you see millions of people who have been there, done tha

I shivered, reading Michelle Obama's words. " I never cut class. I loved getting A's; I liked being smart. I liked being on time. I thought being smart is cooler than anything in the world." The words echoed as I felt goosebumps on my body. My heart shriveled up as if aching from old pain, and my mind raced fast. I know what it means to cut class. I know what it entails to chase cuteness. I know how it feels to get an A. And I now know that being smart never goes out of fashion. It's the safest bet, actually. When I was in high school, I was a victim of the 'cute syndrome.' I was all of 16, and there is something about being 16. A lot is going inside, and then there is a threshold that you never get to know when you have crossed. There is a big ' YES' your heart says for every 'NO' that your mind says, and you oscillate like a pendulum. I surrendered to many YES’s only to realize later that I lost out on class, grades

To paint is to create a whole new world on a blank sheet. The world can be as beautiful as you want or as real as you see around. What you paint speaks volumes about you. I love painting autumn trees. There is some tranquility in knowing that everything comes to an end and fresh beginnings happen. It's calming to know - this too shall pass . The only words which make you smile amidst sorrow and be grounded when riding high on success. The only words capable of keeping the ' honsla '( strength) and ' umeed ' (hope) alive, kicking, breathing, and thriving. Image courtesy-Pixabay

Maa, I am just so upset, irritated. This is not done. I am just so not into Mother's Day. One day this father-son duo will make me breakfast- the humble, effortless bread and omelet( no grand, sumptuous aloo parathas),  present me pink Lillies, take me out for shopping, and rest of 364 days, I keep chasing them for everything. Huh. From riches to rag story all in a day. This is what it is. Unbelievable. What is the use of Mother's day?  The little grandson of yours is making me demented day by day. He thinks I am his Google in life. Maa, he is just four and has 400 questions every day. That makes 400*364 to answer. Now you see my plight. And I can't even ask him to go to Daddy. That brings to another big problem in my life- His Daddy, his calls, his work. I tell you Maa, this man is forever on his phone. The adage - 'and they lived happily eve after' is most suitable for this man and his phone. He just doesn't have time. Either he is on his daily st

"How to manage to stay so slim?  I have weight issues. You also look better. I have beauty issues. You have a good life. I have life issues." I had read somewhere that jealousy is a great teacher. It teaches you the kind of person you want to become, the kind of things you want in your life, and the kind of relationship you yearn for. For we are only jealous of someone when that 'OTHER' has what we don't have, but WE WANT TO  HAVE. That is the long and short of it. Is there a problem being envious or jealous? Yes and No. Yes, because it is a negative emotion, so it makes you feel unpleasant. You can feel unpleasant to the extent that it attacks your self-esteem. So you keep thinking about it, brooding, I must say, and the circle is vicious as you feel as if you have it none and that other has it all. No, because it is human and normal and natural. It's innate, instinctive, and to an extent, essential. We have it; it's there. It happens to all of us. Some

Roses are red, Violets are blue I love Selfies, and so do you? FB FB, dear FB wall How many likes did I get in all? Some fall off a cliff, some fall off and drown in the sea and some fall off the train. He was somebody's young son; she was someone's adolescent daughter. Click on the link to read about selfie deaths in India alone- https://www.ndtv.com/topic/selfie-death . Taking selfies is not harmful. It started as a mode of self-expression, and a means of communicating and connecting with others. But the story did not end here. Slowly and steadily, the art of selfies along with the advent of Facebook and Instagram took this self-expression to a different level. A level where every kind of attempt is made to gain approval, admiration and validation and gratification. This leads you to a form of obsession.People start looking for validation and become dependent on them. They literally throw the reins of their life, their self-esteem, their self-identity in other pe