Nanotale #Gift

"What did you get as a gift this Diwali?", she was asked. "Memories", she replied.

Nanotale #Choice.

If given a choice, what would you rather be? Subject of someone's attention, OR Object of everyone's attention?

Homework or No Homework?

Two weeks into kindergarten and not a day has passed without my daughter coming home with a thick folder of worksheets along with instructions to complete the work by the following day. Initially, she would tackle it quite easily - tracing alphabets, making sight words, coloring pages, beginning numbers, et al. Until recently she's started to dread the work. Not because the worksheets are difficult, but it hinders her after-school time. Not allowing her to do what "she wants" to do. And that's when I started questioning it all - is homework really necessary? This debate is not new. Parents have always questioned how much homework is too much? or too little? In my opinion, homework in elementary school serves no academic benefit, and is actually detrimental to kids. It squeezes out their play time. They have passions they want to pursue - from building Lego, playing with friends or any recreational reading with the family. And homework often diminishes or eliminates time for such activities. It also reduces family time; dining tables are being turned over into school, these days. As parents, we want to build a rich family life, and homework SURELY interferes with that process. It dominates the purpose of wanting to balance work, family and our children's educational goals. I think kids are naturally curious and show willingness to learn at all times, hence if their day is well-planned there is really no need for homework. What say you?

Nanotale #Life

"So, how's life?" "Perfectly app-ed."

Nanotale #FutureChanged

15 years later, what could have been, "She's waiting for me at home", Changed to "I haven't seen her in a long, long time".

Nanotale #Revenge

He avoided looking at their pictures in an effort to forget the moments they had once shared. She looked at their pictures and each time found something new to love him for. It was her turn for revenge.

Nanotale #3:00AM

One night at 3:00AM, "I ripped a part of her", he cried thinking of her. "You are a ripped part of me", she cried thinking of him. Love leaves, faith doesn't.

Nanotale #LessonsBunked

Life gave him a second chance at love. He bunked that lesson, too.

Nanotale #Faceoflove

"What does love look like?", she was asked. "Like him. Not perfect, but goddam beautiful", she replied.

Nanotale #Regret

...And they both cried, One for giving up. One for giving in. Decisions that are hard are not always right.

Nanotale #Confessions

"Truly, madly, deeply..., he confessed to her, like any normal person. She laughed, shook her head, gave him a little smile, and said "Silly goose". "She loves me too". Some confessions are out of the ordinary.

Nanotale #Wingsoflove

Even from a distance and in the most discreet way possible, she wanted to wrap her wings around him, hold him inside the most intricate part of her being and keep him safe. He chose shelter in the social media storm, instead.

Nanotale #Ifyoulooseher..

One fell out of love with her for her qualities of giving too much and loving unconditionally. One fell in love with her for the same reasons. If you loose her, someone will find her.

Nanotale #Future

"Where do you see yourself 5 years from now?", she asked him. "Tracing memories of our life, and saying "Life has been to good me"", he said. Life is beautiful when you have someone to spend it with.

Nanotale #Change

Friends - someone who hears you. Love - someone who really listens to you. Life is not about the choices you make. It's about the changes you make. #Changewisely

Nanotale LovevsEgo

"No one will love you like I did", said Ego. "No one will love you like I do", said Love.

Nanotale #UnitedbyPain

His days were wrecked. Her nights were haunted. Separated by love, United by pain.

Nanotale #Fights

He fought to let go. She fought to hold on. Fighting helped their survival.

Nanotale #Defective

"What made you love her"? "She brought out the best in me" "What made you leave her?" "She was defective. She loved me way too much, unconditionally".

Nanotale #Night

In the darkness of the night.. He fell asleep wondering if she stayed awake thinking of him. And... She lay awake wondering if he fell asleep thinking of her.

Nanotale #PrivacySettings

Facebook - blocked. Hangouts - blocked. Tinder - blocked. Twitter - blocked. Whatsapp - blocked. Heart - No privacy settings.

Nanotale #MakeMeLove

"Make me love", she demanded, looking at him straight in the eye. He made her tea while she relaxed. #Loveisinthesmallerthings

Nanotale #ExistentialCrisis

He chose to wake up to the beep of his cell phone notifying him of social media updates than a text from a loved one. Welcome, my love, to a lifetime experience of existential crisis.

Nanotale #LoveWhatMatters

"What was so special about her?", asked the friend. "She was the only one who loved me for no other reason than for being ME", he said. #Lovewhatmatters

Nanotale #Heartache

Chats deleted. Photos deleted. Messages deleted. And, in the stillness of the night, his heart ached to be loved in the way she loved him.

Nanotale #Memories

The love bites she gave him faded away.. The memories of how it made him feel didn't. #Momentsfade #Memoriesdont

Nanotale #Imperfect

"She wasn't perfect. You should have let her go a long time ago", said his friend. "I let her go. I allowed her to be imperfect", he said. #Loveisinacceptance

Nanotale #Showyourlove

He sang for her on one of their long distance phone calls. "Not good at it", he said sheepishly, red faced. "I love this acoustic version of you", she replied. #Loveisinthemoments. #Showyourlove.

Nanotale #Unmasked

He blocked her from seeing his profile picture on Whatsapp. She looked at the raw, unfiltered, unmasked image of him that no one else could see. And fell in love with him more than ever. When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change. #Loveisanemotion.

Nanotale #Underestimate

Never underestimate the power of a listening ear, she had read. She responded to her diary with kindness.

Nanotale #Choice

Alas, loving you was never a choice I had to make...

Nanotale #Real

"Tell me more about yourself", asked the prospective bride. "I have a baggage of the past"; "I've made many mistakes"; "I've failed at keeping promises"; "Imperfection is my last name"; ...he replied "You are real. Please marry me", she said. #Loveisintheknowing #Acceptanceisavirtue

Nanotale #Happiness

He gave her a shawl to keep her warm during winters. Happiness looked good on her. #Loveisinthedetails

Nanotale #United

Divided by presence, United by thoughts.

Nanotale #Everything

"I am nothing", she told him as he removed the ring to propose her. "In this nothingness, you are everything to me", he said. #Loveisinthesmallthings. #Loveiseverything.

Nanotale #Forever

"I'll take care of you forever", she said "I'll love you forever", he lied

Nanotale #Understanding

"I know a lot of people. I have lots of friends", he told her. "How many of them understand you"?, she asked. #knowingsomeonedoesnotmatter #Understandingdoes

Nanotale #LovevsEgo

"I love you", she texted. Facebook : blocked Hangouts : blocked Whatsapp : blocked She fondled her Love, he pampered his Ego.

Nanotale #TookAway

"I took away the best of her", said love. "I took away what was left of her", said death.

Nanotale #Acceptance

He moved in She stayed; He moved out She stayed; He moved on She stayed; He regretted She loved him back. #Oppositesdontattract #Acceptancedoes

Nanotale #Reflection

"What did you see in me? That you love so much?", he asked. "My reflection", she said. #Loveisinthedetails

Nanotale #LifeIsShort

"I won't be around forever", she told him. "Let's make the most of what we have today", she continued. He realized the essence of her words when cancer took her away from him forever. #Donttakeloveforgranted #Lifeisshort

Nanotale #Rain

She looked up at the dark clouds, thinking of him, tears streaming down her eyes; Just then, it started to rain. The rain gods cried with her.

Nanotale #Place

"Let's go to a place where one can find the soul in you, the human in you, the love in you?", she said, discussing their holiday plans. "Don't have to travel anywhere for that. It's right here", he said, coiling himself in her arms. #Showyourlove

Nanotale #Memories

...And she dyed her soul with the rainbow colors of his memories.

Nanotale #ShowYourLove

Hair unmade, no make-up, wearing an over-sized dress, "I can't go to the hospital like this", she said between her contractions. "Never mind. You look gorgeous", he said #ShowYourLove

Nanotale #Friend

"Say something"; "How are you feeling"; "Where are you?"; Asked my 3:00AM, Facebook.

Nanotale #Truelove

People wishing him on his birthday - 100+ messages on Facebook, 200+ messages on Whatsapp, True love prayed.

Nanotale #Together

They promised they'll always stay together. And, they did. He in her email password She in the tattoo on his arm. #TogetherAlways

Nanotale #Forever

The Forever between the first Hello and the last Goodbye...

Nanotale #ShowYourLove

"I have nothing to give anyone, anymore. Except headaches", she told him with tears in her eyes. "Sounds very appealing", he told her with a smile. A new chapter started for both. #ShowYourLove

Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible - Dalai Lama.

Kindness is not weak, naive, silly or unimportant. I believe it is the highest form of intelligence in the most challenging, difficult situations. Times when you are going through a rough stretch and feeling down, when you feel the dark clouds are always following you around, and that you you will never get yourself out of this rut. It's in the these times that a hug, kind words of reassurance or any small action, performed with kindness, is so comforting and helpful in getting back on track. And, that's where the POWER of kindness comes into play. People who go out of their way to put a smile back on your face, sometimes without knowing what's running in that head of yours. People who keep you going, make you see the positive in things, people and situations. A friend told me, "Don't allow the troubles in your head to take up too much of your time. You'll be dead and gone, one day". I cannot stress the importance of that statement enough.

There are going to be bad days and there also will be situations you can't change. But, the responsibility lies within you to uplift yourself and move on. If you are lucky, you'll have some really good friends to help you on your way up. Don't let some painful situations get in the way of the love you have to give. There will be times when you will feel disabled in every way, shape or form. People wander, marriages/relationship's fall apart, and things go awry. That's when you need time alone with your thoughts - to accept that you were hurt and to rejoice that you'll recover. Learn from the past experiences and grow with them. Don't regret anything, just recollect the good times and show gratitude for the lesson(s) it taught you. Harboring negative feelings is nothing but a waste of time. Use that energy to help yourself, as well as others, in a positive way.

Recently, I read an article that stated how we don't appreciate and accept people for who they are. How we don't recognize the small acts of kindness and love they offer. I started to feel it was written keeping me in mind. Never before I realized how much I really want to give back the love that so many people gave me. I know that feeling of hopelessness and would never want someone else to go through it. I know that amazing feeling of what a helping hand can do for you. Just taking a nanosecond to put a smile on someone's face can turn the day around for them, and for you. The deep satisfaction that comes when you know you've touched a heart. The sun you bring in someone's day will light up your day, too. Treating others with kindness, love, respect and compassion will only bring the same in abundance for you as well.

I've been lucky, really lucky for the family I have and the most awesomest, loving friends I have made in my life thus far. Reaching out to people with kindness will only make you a better person. Take the time to help others, treat them with respect, say nice things and think good thoughts - Because EVERYTHING comes back!

Current mood - *feeling determined*
On the playlist - Muskurane ki wajah tum ho (Arijit Singh on the vocals, at his best).

**Pics off the web.

When was the last time you told someone you loved them?

I recently watched a video, and it made me realize how seldom we tell people close to us that we love them. That we value them. As friends or family. I thought to myself - What is it the one thing that I would still set out to acquire in life, amongst all the worldly possessions, in the grand scheme of things? What is that one thing in life that would give me a rapid heartbeat of anticipation or the possession of excitememt in breath?And, that would be - love of others. Not the thrill of fancy cars, clothes or experiences, just pure, unadulterated, oragnic love. ONLY love.

The love from friends and family that is sometimes so overlooked, so taken for granted, so kept under wraps. The love that should be kept close - to the heart, and to life. So much so that you'd have difficulty in letting these people go, if a situation arose. The people you'd want to hang onto, cling to, and make them stay in your life forever, for they make up for the love you feel. The ones who are considered unbreakable pieces of your family - and MOST importantly YOUR life.

Love, for me, has always been very sacred and delicate. It can be the best moments and the most beautiful memories of someone. Love, so pure in thoughts and yet so majestic in gestures. Love that triumphs over all, the kind of love that uplifts us from darkened days and is the light at the end of the tunnel. The kind that makes their chest swell and tightens their throat by just thinking of how much you mean to them. The gift of uncoditional support that cannot be bought, but only earned. The thrill of someone tolerating you while you are having a bad day, and still love you at the end of the day. It makes me wonder that love is really not so complicated after all. You give love, respect and abundance and that's exactly what you receive. But, for some the concept of love is always up for debate. It's been terrifying and hurtful for some. Sometimes telling someone you love them causes more anxiety than an open-heart surgery. It's never easy telling someone that you love them, the first time. It's even harder to accept if it's not reciprocated. My response is, that one should take the risk, be bold enough to say those three magical words, without expectations. To express and not supress. But, there's everyone who needs a little bit of love at the end of the day. There is comfort in the knowledge that someone loves you for what you are.

 I've heard people say that you need to attract positive vibes from the person you love, at the core, to attract love and abundance in your life. But, we just don't say it enough. Regardless of who it is - your partner, family or just a friend. When was the last time you told you near ones you love them? Maybe, the time is NOW.

Mood right now - *Smiling*
On the playlist - Bolna from Kapoor & Sons (Arijit Singh at his best)!  

**Pics off the web

Nanotale #Thankful

Your arms held me when I was at my weakest,
Your eyes called me beautiful when I was ugliest,
Your heart loved me at my worst.

Oh! Love! I could never be more #Thankful.

Nanotale #DeadSpirit

He sliced every piece of her heart with his harsh words.

His ego was reborn. Her spirit was dead.

Nanotale #Real

"You are dumb, stupid and a psycho", he told her, spewing venom with his words.

Over time, he realized she was the only REAL person he knew.

Nanotale #Misjudged

"Don't follow me. Don't stalk me. I HATE it. STOP IT NOW", he told her curtly.

Little did he know, she was only watching her prayers of his safety and wellbeing come true.

#Misjudged, yet again.

Nanotale #Time

Time passed them by;

He realized her importance.

She his irrelevance.

Nanotale #StayHungryStayFoolish

She fed him her soul.

He starved her with inconsistency.

She stayed hungry, stayed foolish.

To feed or not to feed - Raising picky eaters.

There is no one safe guarded secret to feeding a healthy child. For most of us, as mothers, it expresses trouble. Trouble eating, trouble with feeding, and trouble with cooking. Getting kids to eat is anything but enjoyable. As mothers we set such high expectations for feeding our children what is "good" for them. What I realized over time is that the secret to feeding kids is to love food, and sharing that love with them. To teach them the framework of knowledge, habit, attitude, and necessity - all the perspectives that go into eating and enjoying what you eat.

As a mother, the predominant attitude about eating is "Don't". "Don't eat too many chocolates. Don't eat too much junk. Don't eat too much fat". So much of time is spent is thinking about avoiding than eating! A friend told me once, "Getting good nutrition is not about taking fun out of eating". I quite agree. In today's world, we manipulate food only for the sole purpose of feeding our children. We supply them with so much "healthy", and end up raising kids that have shorter lists of foods they enjoy, and eat precisely what suits them.

Truth be told, we all eat what we like. Same is true for children. More often than not, kids loose food acceptance skills when they get more interference than support. We need to instill in them the desire to consistently eat a variety of foods than just foods that are branded "healthy".In my opinion, we should allow kids to choose from what they'd like to eat rather than pushing it down their throat, even if it is just one food choice they make from what is served on the table.

You give them the liberty to choose if they'd like to eat or not, and as much as they want.(Maybe reward them if they eat without a fuss, later!)Also, the biggest backbone of eating competence lies in being structured. Sit-down meals than eating on the go is one of them. Or absent-mindedly snack or nibble on foods when hunger drives you to it. Or eating at irregular intervals. Kids need to be taught the essential framework in eating well - to eat at regular and predictable mealtimes, and to take the time to tune in and enjoy the food they eat.

Bribing isn't the best practice when it comes to mealtimes with kids, either. Bribing or forcing them to wipe off their plate or making them eat certain foods will only ignite a more power struggle over food. They may also pair mealtimes with anger and frustration and become less sensitive to their hunger cues. Also, no begging or cajoling. It is healthy food, good for the, and tastes equally well. Period. If they curious, explain why the food is healthy and making conscious, good eating choices is important for their growth and overall development. If they put up a fight, stay calm. Don't push them, but firmly let them know that it's okay for them to not eat, but the food they are served is all they will get(for that time), and that you will dish out their favorite meal for next time.

You are the best role model for your child Parenting experts say that kids pick up behavioral patterns of what they observe than what they are told. If they see you consistently choosing healthy ingredients over their counterparts, they are more likely to start choosing it,too. The trick of the trade is to make eating and trying new foods a game than a punishment. The victory isn't in inducing a tearful child to finish or eat what they don't like, but raising self-aware kids who choose healthy food and even healthier habits by their own free will.

Honestly, there are no goods or bads, no rights or wrongs - only baby steps of what works for you and your child. Steps that make feeding them one of the most rewarding attempts we undertake. If you are going to take all the trouble of keeping up with the daily routine of cooking meals, it might as well be enriching and rewarding. (The juice has to positively be worth the squeeze!)

Nanotale #HimHer

Temporary feelings for him 

Permanent scars for her.

Nanotale #Howloveshouldbe.

"Hello", she said answering the phone

"Hello"

"Hello"

"Hello"

"Say something. I'm listening", said the voice in her head.

Voice quiet. Recognition instant.

#Thatshowloveshouldbe

Nanotale #Destiny

The intense relief she felt when she moved into the arms he opened.

#Destiny played a role in bringing them together.

Nanotale #Humans

He walked away leaving her hurt and heartbroken.

Looking past the hurt of his betrayal, she tried to understand him than hurting him back.

She created love, he abandoned it.

#Humans, I tell you!

Nanotale #MindfulConversations.

...And through the silence they now share, she had the best conversations with him, in her mind.

Nanotale #IncompleteLifetime

1999:
Suppression of emotions. He lost her.

2016:
Confusion of emotions. He lost her, again.

Nothing changed. Each time an incomplete lifetime.

Nanotale #Messages

Too often, he underestimated the power of the words in her messages.

Alas, the words from his verbal conversations with others could never be re-read.

Nanotale #Friendship

It all starts with being friends.

It all ends the same way.

Nanotale #Lonelyheart

A sociable mind entered a bar

"One pint, please"

A lonely heart exited.

Friends like these keep the doctor away (Almost!)

"Did you know that people who don't have atleast one best friend are likely to die an early death?", said the friend.

"Really", I ask.

"Yes, sacchi. It's science". But don't you worry. You have already upped your chances of living a healthy, long and a happy life.

"How?", I asked.

"You have me", replies the friend.

I couldn't disagree. You are the friend I bonded almost immediately because of the identical sense of humor we share. How we just see through each other's weirdness, without an unspoken connection, continues to baffle people around us. You are the friend who pushes my limits and pulls me to step outside my comfort zone. Your quest for knowledge and curiosity stir-fry's my brain, but is thrilling at the same time. Surrounding myself around you has been instrumental in my desire and appetite for life.

You are the person I turn to when I'm on the verge of a full-on meltdown. You've heard my every word, offered almost no sane solution or advice ever (doled out more wisdom when not required), but just talking to you makes me feel instantly lighter. Your mere presence calms me down when I'm having a panic attack or freaking out on something. You've been my absolute be(a)st(ie); someone I can never grow apart from. Each time we are together, we've yielded some extreme nostalgia from the past and always seem to have the bestest time.

Your presence has always helped me cover ground; although we are different individuals with different mindsets, with opposite interests (except a handful), but just having you in my life roots me to something at the fundamental core within myself. You are my homecoming (I'd feel lost without you as an anchor), and just seeing you or talking to you has always been comforting. You are someone I can let my guards down, and annoy you to the breaking point, and still nothing changes between us.

Although I'd love to check you into a rehab for not sharing my wavelength for retail therapy, and for always walking out the store in 3 minutes flat, you will always be the friend whose friendship is as important as breathing. You are someone who is priceless, even with those countless duck face selfies you click each time we hang out together.

I know you'll read this sooner than later. Kindly remember to feel guilty if I'm severely punished for lying so much. I may not really live happily and healthily ever after, after posting this!

Current mood : Feeling blessed
Current music : title song - Dil Chahta Hai

Nanotale #Scars

...And he walked away
Leaving behind #scars of unspoken feelings...

Nanotale #Independence

She didn't expect anything of him.

She wasn't desperate for him to love her anymore.

In spite of the #Independence he claimed, he felt lost without her.

Un-becoming who you are not!

"Maybe the journey isn’t so much about becoming anything. Maybe it’s about un-becoming everything that isn’t really you." - Author Unknown.

"People wear masks. They hide their true self, even from themselves", I am being told. It got me thinking  - there certainly is something about wearing a mask and pretending to be someone you are not. It changes the essence of who you are. There is a sense of freedom that comes from being anonymous. It's like walking into a masquerade party. You can fearlessly express hidden features of your personality. For that moment, the mask will make it so much easier to be yourself. But what happens when the mask is taken off? You are no longer anonymous, but naked and raw.

Being pretentious or wearing a mask for any length in time is hard work, it requires tremendous amount of energy to uphold the image you are carrying. It's not something that is born in a day. It takes years of nourishment for it to develop to it's current form.

Why do people choose to mask themselves instead of expressing their true self?

No one is perfect. We all have flaws, some of us are aware of them and some are not. The main reason people build a persona around them is because they are scared and insecure to show those flaws to the world. They fear from being "unacceptable" and may loose respect, friends and relationships if their flaws were to be uncovered. In the final analysis, we often wear masks in a pursuit to "fit in". We are hungry for people-approval. We perceive a set of "public behavioral patterns" in order to win "that" acceptance. It is true, sometimes people will only accept you in a particular way. But each one has it's own expectations and desires of how people around them should behave and act - so in an effort to please "some", you are neglecting "many" others. Wearing a mask also makes you hold ideas, beliefs and reactions that are conflicting and contradicting to your inner core values. It's really not a healthy way to live life.

Wearing a mask is going to create a distance between you and the people who really, genuinely care about you. Your mask will solve the primary purpose - of pleasing people. The problem is, they are the WRONG people. Someone out there will be impressed about your knowledge, your intellect, your work profile, etc., but ONLY because they are the ones complimenting that personality, and not your own.

Please note - Your social mask is not you. You will loose track of the person you are, and loose people along the way, if you don't shed it in time. There are people who love you for what you are - UNCONDITIONALLY. There is no fear of rejection, displeasure or misjudgment with them. There are people who understand and love the "REAL" you. People you can be honest with, shed every inhibition, people who hear what you say even before you say it. The kind of relationships that don't need a mask. People who listen and show they care in more ways than one, who empathize with your struggles, who encourage and offer support and who love you for who you are - without judgments and criticism.

So, UN-BECOME the person you are not. Reach out for those who love and accept you with genuine affection, and derive happiness in honoring you as the person you are, AND NOT the person behind that mask!

Nanotale #Diary

"Do you have anything more to say"?, he asked her.

"No", she replied.

The pages of her #diary were filled.

Nanotale #SoulCleaning

Being good to someone sometimes becomes the worst of your crimes.

#SoulCleaning #SpringCleaning #Lessonlearnt #firstdayofspring

Nanotale #Findingways

He waited for her to forget him.
She burnt one cigarette after another finding ways to do it.

Teach your child the F-word!

Failure. No one likes to befriend failure, the F-word, regardless of how you sugar coat it. But, inevitably, failure is a part of life. Sometimes things don't work out. At times we don't get what we want. Stuff happens. But if you reconstruct these situations the right way, one learns to create a new normal; to endure, to be more flexible, or to redirect our energies.

Failure is extremely hard for everyone, but more so, for overly ambitious kids. They are unaware of how to deal with this unaccustomed territory. It kills their self-esteem because they associate their performance to intelligence and brain power. And, it isn't a pretty picture. We need to give our children more wings and opportunities to embrace failure. They need to learn the skills and know-hows of how to build a relationship around it. Experiments may fail, data won't look right, someone may make better presentations, and even present them better. So many places to learn persistence and resilience.

I feel rebranding failure might be one of the many cures for the fear of failure in children. If your child has learnt something from the experience, he/she hasn't failed. Whatever they did was all a part of some kind of learning mission. Schools, too, have this failure-thing all messed up. They strive on getting the answer, but it is the question and the various ways in obtaining the answers that are more instructive. It's the pursuit in finding answers that they learn. Often, you'll hear kids say, "This may not be the ideal answer, but.." Kids fear sounding dull-witted. They fear being looked upon like a failure. It's OKAY to put forth your ideas and discuss them.

Schools and parents need to make space for asking questions as a safe and sacred haven for children. No one knows it all. If answers are unknown, "let's find out together" should be a more realistic approach. Education's primary focus on finding the "right" answer and having "good" grades makes kids afraid of asking questions. Schools harbor the fear of failure, which causes unnecessary work load on performance, and does not enhance learning at all.

At the same time, it is ironic that kids are the world's highest risk-takers. They'll want to balance on curbs, grab and reach out to shiny objects, discovering the world around them. Somehow, that sense of curiosity and discovery is lost in schools and classrooms. Educational institutions need to reinforce that risk-taking skills in them within their premises as well.

Kids need to be taught great stories on failure. How successful people have tried and failed in various fields, and still emerged triumphant. Every 10 tries to reach a particular result will teach them 9 ways that didn't work. Those are valuable lessons, too.

I feel, to weaken the fear of the F-word in children, parents and schools should be more open to the idea of failing. Kids should be encouraged to report what they learnt from taking a risk. They should see us as more approachable in asking questions and sharing their experiences. Because to succeed, they NEED to shake hands with failure. Failure will make them more kinder, better, stronger, and a wiser human being.

So, teach your kids the F-word. Have them get out there, and FAIL!

Nanotale #Worth

Gained attention. Lost respect.

Looking back he realized it wasn't #worth it.

Nanotale #Welldeserved

"What did I ever do to deserve this?", she asked herself with tears in her eyes.

"You loved him", said her inner voice.

Nanotale #Vulnerability

Strong in elegance. Vulnerable in feelings.

Nanotale #Beauty

Hair straightened, makeup, eyeliner applied, she looked at herself in the mirror and said, "Beautiful", with a naughty glee in her eyes.

He turned her around, cupped her face, looked in her eyes and said,  "Gorgeous" with a smile on his face.
#Realbeauty

Nanotale #Price

He achieved professional and personal goals. Lost her in the process.
Success came at a price. 

Nanotale #Lovelost

Somewhere between "wanting you" and "keeping you", love was lost.

#Lovelost

Nanotale #Gift

"What do you want as a birthday gift?", she asked him.
"Your company for the rest of my life", he replied.

Nanotale #MorningAlarm

"Huh! How I despise early morning alarms", said a disgruntled colleague.
"I love them. For, mine starts with her voice", he said.
 

Nanotale #ChangedFeelings.

Held her in my arms. Felt You.

#ChangedFeelings.

Nanotale #Choices

He chose his friends over her.
At 2:00am he only had a bottle of alcohol for company.

Nanotale #Viciouscycle

Strangers they were.
Then became friends.
Love blossomed.
They got married.
Became strangers again.

#Viciouscycle

Spread love, one small step at a time.

The world we are living in today isn't the brightest or happiest. News columns are filled with reports of crimes and deaths, that sometimes it's easy to forget that there is some amount of goodness left in the world. With Valentine's Day rolling, this day brings a gentle, spiritual reminder that there is love and kindness left in the world and we should recognize, embrace, and celebrate it for all it's worth.

We can't remove war, poverty, starvation and hatred. But the least we can do is to spread love and kindness regardless of the circumstances. Let's start by:

1. Be kind- There is endless human suffering around. People are being stripped of their identity, confidence and purpose. People are raw, broken and vulnerable. BE KIND to them by giving them a chance to express their doubts, hopes and insecurities. Fuel their growth. Motivate them to believe in the power to turn their hopes and dreams into reality.

2. Be grateful- Being grateful is a choice we make. End your day by being grateful and feeling truly blessed for all that life has to offer. Train your mind to focus on what you have than what you've lost. Express your desire to truly thank people who helped you stay afloat when you were drowning. People who helped curtail grief, desperation and fear by showing love, kindness and generosity. People who helped you laugh, embraced you, offered shoulders to lean on and provided sorrowful reaction to tears. Make sure to pen down your gratitude to people who have made you smile or lightened your burden. The tangible note will be something they will refer to in moments when they need to know they've made a difference. Your act of gratitude will be just as meaningful as the effort that prompted it.

3. Be hopeful- Offer hope to people who are lost, suffering, bitter, worried and struggling. Lift someone's spirit. Keep the positivity flowing in them. Be the platform to provide light to others.

We all have this limitless power of goodness within us. We get so busy in our lives that we forget to appreciate the people we love. So, sometimes we do need a reminder. I don't feel off the hook in treating people with love and kindness during the rest of the year. I feel more stimulated. So, let's bring some love back into this world.

A zillion thoughts run through my mind along with a flood of emotions. My heart swells with the memories of the various acts of support and help that were done on behalf of you'll. A BIG thank you to each one of you who allowed me into your lives along my journey thus far. Your every prayer, every encouraging word, and kind gesture has helped me be the person I am today. Each one of you'll contributed to making me better than I was yesterday. You'll taught me to celebrate the small victories in life, and that my life is a result of the choices I have made. THANK YOU for being in this with me. I'm extraordinarily blessed and truly humbled.

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone.

Nanotale #Lost

"Give me space", he said.
She obliged. He felt liberated, only to be lost in a crowd.

What comes first - Marriage or Kids?

Neither. YOU come first. Sounds narcissist? Don't care. The truth is that you MUST love yourself first before you love anyone else. "Love your neighbor as you love yourself" is an advice more given than taken. How many of us really do have the ability to love our neighbors in the first place? Leave alone like ourselves. What I understand from that phrase is, Love yourself FIRST, and then love others as yourself. It's a gentle, spiritual reminder to respect yourself, feel valuable and worthy of who you are, taking care of yourself, before we treat others in the same way.

While parenting, you'll often hear people say, "You are a MOTHER. You CHOSE to be one, honor that job. You are selfish to be leaving your child(ren) behind to pursue interests of your own. Your kids are all that should matter to you. You will destroy them if you focus on yourself. Be a GOOD mother." Traditionally, a mother and a martyr are synonymous. The Religion of Motherhood states that a woman should sacrifice herself, her essence dying with the placenta, after childbirth. Mothering is all about ignoring your needs and dreams to support the ones you 'love the most'. WRONG! This
MYTH is going to kill you. The only way you'll survive is to love yourself MORE before loving anyone else. Motherhood is the awesomest responsibility of becoming THAT most important living example in the eyes of your children.

For kids, you are their world. You are their true hero, and what you say and do really matters. Use your own life as an example to teach them how to feel worthwhile and valuable, how to accept flaws, be independent and self-sufficient. Let them see you tolerant of your own mistakes in the same way you would want them to be. They MUST see you rest, play, laugh, and nourish yourself - spiritually, physically, emotionally and mentally. This is the best gift you'll give your children - the knowledge to see their needs as valuable and important, the gift of living fully, and of showing love by doing what you love.

Healthy relationships occur between two people who are comfortable with themselves, in addition to one another. Love develops by making your own happiness a top priority. Relationships flourish when both partners are kind, accepting, compassionate and empathetic towards each other. Make compromises, but not at the expense of loosing out on being yourself. Happiness means so much more when it's derived as a result of working towards becoming the person you want to be. So, get out of your comfort zone, awaken your thoughts, explore your dreams, thrive to succeed, also fail until you hit rock bottom. Make your personal contentment and prosperity a lifestyle choice.

So, Dear YOU:
Tailor your dreams and cling on to the one that makes you, YOU. Create the pathway to contorl what makes you happy. Be selfish; focus on you. For, there is nothing more satisfying than adjusting the rear-view mirror on your life to look back and see how much you've grown.

Absence doesn't always make the heart grow fonder.

Love is hard to predict. A lot of us have experienced the unexpected, when it comes to romance. In the age of social media, it's easier than before to feel like we are close to someone, despite how physically far away we are. However, physical proximity is extremely important in love to achieve real intimacy. Distance means not having to see, touch, smell and feel your partner in person. There would be times when you can't help but wonder if your bond is strong enough to withstand the distance.

The thought of being miles away from your significant other, sitting by the window, and longing for their embrace seems very romantic, but not very realistic. There's a plethora of reasons why a couple might be in a long distance relationship, but sometimes the distance can actually be a deal breaker. In the beginning, the rush of running into each other's arms after a few days, weeks or months of being apart is exhilarating and thrilling, but over time, distance can win. Not due to lack of love, but due to lack of contact. At first, it's excruciating to live without your partner. Days will seem forever and nights endless. But after a few weeks/months, one finds ways to fill up their lives with other things that your partner's absence doesn't feel as palpable. Lack of physical intimacy can be stressful, too. Physical closeness bonds you to your partner in deep and meaningful ways. You can have some great conversations and write the best poetry when you'll are living apart, but nothing compares the feeling of curling up in someone's arms and the sense of security that comes with it. More often than not, truth becomes optional in long distance relationships. When there is absolutely no chance of meeting your partner for extended periods in time, with significant enough time-zone difference, streamlining conversations is evident. Since fact check doesn't take place, we make details of our daily lives of how we want them to be.

The worst of all this is that you are oblivious of what the other person feels. Is he/she spending time yearning for you? Is he/she pinning for you in the same way? You'll not only get anxious of your feelings, but theirs, too. It's tempting to believe that distance is not an obstacle, but a beauiful reminder of how strong true love can be. It's tempting to hope that a person who loves you truly will never let you go whatever the situation is. We want to know we'll sail through.

So, if you are in a long distance relationship, focus on the details of the situation. With all it's colors and shades. Respect, support and communicate with each other. Be faithful, honest and true to each other. Love each other with all your heart. It's okay if it gets messy. Love doesn't have to be perfect. Just worth it!