MAADHYAM

She floated into my life when I never knew She grew so close and knew all that she wanted to know About me and her She spoke to me when her heart felt blue We sat and sang talking of all the things we would do Dreaming of staying together Crying when we though what if we had to part? Life brought a smile to me face which she knew why? We would wonder how our lives would pass by. How she could spend time endlessly not a care about the world Just wanted to smile and float like a butterfly A butterfly who knew not where she wanted to go But spread happiness on every flower she touched She could never see anyone sad And would try and pull my socks if I were ever in that state She had a hidden beauty which everybody loved She loved life and waited to see each day go by Talking of days not knowing what if we never met? But our friendship just grew by leaps She went miles away but not so far To come by sometimes and see how we are Call to check if all is right And fill our spirits...

People often ask me how I became a content creator, learned to write, and—most importantly—how I found the courage to stand up for myself. The answer is simple: Professor Jerry Pinto. I still remember our first day in class. Forty girls, all slightly nervous, trying to figure out what journalism school had in store. Jerry walked in and said something none of us expected: “You will not call me ‘Sir’. I haven’t been knighted by the Queen of England. I’m not your teacher. Call me Mr. Pinto or Jerry.” We were stunned. Then came a question that truly shook us up: “How many of you can ask your friend to return the money they borrowed, without feeling guilty or awkward?” Only a few of us raised our hands—including me. Then he asked, “How many of you have money saved up that nobody knows about?” Again, just a few hands went up. Mine included. And then… the real shocker. He told each of us to stand up and say, “F@k off.”* You can imagine our expressions. We were frozen. Some giggled...

My grandfather was freedom fighter And on this day 70yrs ago he saw freedom from the British rule He was a true Gandhian and followed his principals He dropped his surname and caste to join the Gandhi Movement So when asked whats your surname here is my reply He wore only khaadi and used only khaadi The Kurta khaadi The Dhoti khaadi The Handkerchief khaadi and even his undergarments Khaadi Every Year he would come and spend time with us He would narrate stories of how he went to jail and how they fought for freedom When we met his friends when we went to Kerala for our summer breaks we spoke about freedom and heard stories from his friends which one may only see in films but are true His favorite song he hummed through the day Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram Pati tapavan Sita Ram Eshwar Allan tero naam Sabko Samati de Bhagavaan I am proud to be his granddaughter He always said you are first Indian then whatever you want be Religion is man made Be good  Be ...

The Dragonfly I’ve always been fascinated by these little creatures and fler they were mystical.  There’s something about them—mysterious, delicate, yet powerful. The day I drew this dragonfly, something within me shifted. It came a day after a close friend lost his father, suddenly and without warning to a Cardiac arrest. One minute he was playing with his grandchildren the next he fell dead on the sofe.  No good bye No time to react No time to process Just gone That moment made me pause. The dragonfly , in cultures around the world, is a symbol of transformation — Not just surface change, But deep, internal change that stems from emotional growth, Mental maturity, And a new understanding of life itself. Reflections Life is fragile. Life is unpredictable. It takes just one event — One breath, one heartbeat, one goodbye— To change everything we know. But in the face of this uncertainty, We must continue. We must rise, And live. Not in yesterday, Not in ...

 “Don’t confuse setting boundaries with lacking ambition. The boldest generation is the one brave enough to protect its peace.” – Sandhya Lal We’ve all heard the murmurs:  “Gen Z doesn’t want to work.”  “They’re entitled.”  “They lack drive.” But what if we’ve been asking the wrong question all along? Rather than labeling Gen Z as lazy, what if we looked at their mindset with fresh eyes?  What if, instead of resisting this shift in workplace culture, we paused to reflect:  What are they doing differently—and what can we learn from them? As a wellness and communications coach working with teams across generations, I’ve seen firsthand how Gen Z is not destroying the workplace—they’re redefining it . And in doing so, they are offering the rest of us a roadmap out of burnout. The Stats: Gen Z Is Not Lazy. They’re Just Done With Burnout. Let’s begin with a reality check. 50% of Gen Z workers are considering quitting their jobs in the next year due to ...

From Innocent Play to Pressure-Packed Trends: A Tale of Two Generations Growing up, many of us remember sneaking into our parents’ rooms, rummaging through their vanity, and swiping on a tube of lipstick with reckless abandon. It wasn’t about looking perfect or capturing a moment for the camera—it was pure play. The oversized heels, the smudged red lips, and the powder dusted over our faces were all part of pretending, of exploring the idea of being "grown-up." These moments were fleeting, innocent, and most importantly, disconnected from any societal pressure. When Makeup Was Just Play Back then, makeup wasn’t a routine or a statement but a novelty. There were no expectations of perfection, no filters to compete with, and no audience to validate our efforts. We played dress-up for ourselves, for our siblings, or for a good laugh. By bedtime, the lipstick smears were wiped away, and we returned to our carefree world of books, outdoor games, and imagination. The Shift to the ...

DADDYYYYY Me and my dad We love each other He taught me to be me Taught me to fall and rise Taught me to never give up Taught me to enjoy the simple things in life Taught me to argue and  not take things at face value Taught me be good first  Taught me to give and not ask for something in return  Taught me to love unconditionally Taught me to cycle and balance my life Taught me to a be a strong woman so I can stand up for myself Taught me to be independent yet care for others Taught me to have faith and never loose hope Taught me to be brave and have no fear Taught me a lot I'm so glad  He was the person who could answer my questions and I can still share my thoughts and ideas Even though we argue over things he teaches me to think aloud  He supports my ideas and claps and cheers to see me do the things I do and also makes sure I am humble and down to Earth I'm lucky he is there now to teach my little ones the same Whenever he was asked why didn't h...

Happiness is an art which can be learnt. It has a lot of benefits. If you are a parents it is a boon in your life. Positive and Happy Parenting does take too much of your time and when practiced just like any other artform leads to a better state of mind and a happier family. If you pay attention to what you do on the canvas it will be beautiful piece. But! You ask me how can I become a better parent? How can I become a happier parent?  Well! It is all about what you say, how you behave and what you do. It is all about the choices you make in life. Just like an art piece we use color , we have a medium, paints and a canvas all come together to make a masterpiece. If any of the three are not in balance the outcome is not what you want and not beautiful. It may be nice but! if I told that you can do it could better if you do something else. So! For positive parenting you need to be happy first yourself. What if I told I will give a "Happiness DOSE pill for free. No c...

Women's Day why the hype? Are we Safe? Lets ask these questions.  If we get 80% yes then Maybe we should not celebrate. Are we safe as women today? Can we walk down the road in the middle of the night without the thought of something bad happening? We have daughters can we trust all the men to keep our child safe? When our girls are at school till they get home we are wondering if they are safe? When they go to study in another city away from home are they safe? When we dress the way want and walk and don't have a single person really ogling at us? When we can go where we want without any fear? Any city or town where there is no molestation, rape and harassment of women? When the girl child has been seen as a boon in every Indian family? When we start treating our women like the way we treat o goddess, devi's and matta's. When we answer No to 80% of these questions , only then should we celebrate  Women's  day. -Sandhya Lal

Rising Anxiety in Youth: The Role of Social Media and the Digital World As a wellness and parental coach, I have observed a concerning trend among young people today—a rise in anxiety and related mental health challenges, exacerbated by their interaction with social media and the digital world. While digital platforms offer unprecedented opportunities for connection and self-expression, they also pose significant risks to mental well-being, particularly in adolescents and young adults. The Growing Epidemic of Anxiety According to the World Health Organization (WHO), anxiety disorders affect approximately 3.6% of the global population. Among adolescents aged 10-19, this number jumps significantly, with estimates suggesting that nearly 10-20% experience some form of mental health condition, including anxiety. Social media use has been identified as a critical contributing factor to this trend. Social Media and Its Psychological Impact Studies reveal a strong correlation between excessive...

Don't let numbers matter Let us not make our kids marks in Board exams  something to talk about It puts pressure on our kids Each time they achieve something positive, we post But how many will post a failure and ask to cheer? None. Social media is more of a status of what our kids are doing and achieving You may say, but we want to share our happiness But what happens to those whose kids are not achieving as per our social standards It gives them low self-esteem Since there mother is not sharing Stop comparing and sharing what our kids do in school Don't discuss how much the kid is getting It puts so much pressure on them, you can’t imagine They are kids at the end of the day, they have a heart Let us be careful and not break them apart They may not be good at maths, but they can draw They may draw well, but cannot write They may be good in science, but hate art They may not be able to give a chemical formula, but they could bake a cake...

When it comes to guiding our children’s growth and career paths, we often fall back on traditional ideas of intelligence—grades, test scores, and academic skills. But intelligence is much more diverse and dynamic.  According to Dr. Howard Gardner's theory of Multiple Intelligences, people are smart in many different ways. Recognizing and nurturing these unique intelligences in our children can open up a world of potential, leading them to fulfilling careers aligned with their natural strengths.  Here’s a closer look at Gardner’s eight types of intelligence and the potential career paths for each. 1. Linguistic Intelligence This type of intelligence is about language—using words effectively in writing, speaking, or both. People with strong linguistic intelligence tend to excel at storytelling, reading, writing, and debate. Career Paths: Writer, Journalist, or Author: Perfect for those who love storytelling and expressing ideas through words. Public Speaker or Orator: An ideal ...

Who is my teacher? When I was small on this planet I didn't know who I was?  You taught me to say my name You taught me about everyone around me When I was small and could not walk  You held my hand, let me fall only to rise again When I was small and put food in a spoon  You showed me my mouth so I can learn to eat When I was small and took my favorite colour to draw  You gave me paper and showed me the shapes and colours When I didn't know how to love  You taught me to say " I love you" When I didn't know how to read  You taught me A B C D When I wanted music  You taught me to sing and dance When I was wrong you corrected me told me what is right When I was lonely and needed a friend  You took me out to play When I was low you taught me to smile When I was scared and had nightmares  You took my fears away When I had failure  You taught me to never give up and go on When I was lost in love  You made s...