Recently I randomly searched the term ‘competitive spirit’ and this is what Google threw- ‘a combative, fighting attitude or temperament’; and ‘a drive to win; desire to succeed and be the best’. I think I am a competitive person and I often introspect on that part of me as to why I may be like that. It must have started innocuously with loved ones pushing and cheering me on and who doesn’t like to be appreciated. Later on, I assume

I have often proclaimed that I have a huge respect for children and a big reason for that is; they are not people pleasers and that they have a conscience they heed to. As we grow older, we often struggle with both these concepts. The idea of being alone and unpopular is not a palatable one, so to an extent that struggle is justified. When I was in third standard, I remember a moral science lesson that centred around conscience.

The other day my daughter and I happened to linger on a dance-based reality show while browsing through channels. We especially enjoyed one contestant’s performance and were curious about what the judges had to say. Two of them had words of appreciation but the third one wasn’t impressed. My daughter was empathetic and wondered how sad the contestant would be. As if it wasn’t bad enough; that she had to smile and nod through it all made it even worse.

23rd August 2020 If I asked you what were you doing on that day, chances are you may not remember. If I tell you it was a Sunday, you might say— Oh it was just a usual lazy holiday, catching up with family, enjoying a hearty brunch or some such. What was I doing, you might ask? In all probability, I must have been worrying or cribbing about the lockdown that was making our return from Mumbai difficult (with the

We are back in Hong Kong as most of you would know and since schools here have started, we dived straight into routine and the discipline it needs. In the given times that is a blessing in disguise as most would agree. That also means I have a bubbly twelve-year-old coming back from school brimming with stuff she can’t wait to share. When I look at her bright eyes and hear her non-stop chatter I am filled with gratitude and

I’m not the one you would find wallowing in regrets but not having played too many sports is something that does prick me. I loved skipping and badminton and did indulge in free play with friends and cousins but I was essentially a homebody happy with my books, art and crafts and connecting with friends who had similar tastes. I am not lazy. In fact, it’s quite the opposite because I like to keep busy. Just that my idea of

I’m not an overly ritualistic person and my relationship with God is extremely personal. As I write this, an oddity glares back at me that makes me smile. I talk about my worldly relationships very openly but paradoxically I don’t talk about one that I have with God but that would be a topic for another time. Today I shall not digress and in accordance to my plan, I intend to tell you a little about THAT ONE guiding principle

Last week Reuters published an article carrying the headline- One in 7 reported COVID-19 infections is among health workers, WHO says. It further elaborates that in some countries this figure rises to one in three. I don’t have to tell you which way India would be leaning statistically. The article further says, ‘It’s not just the risk of infection. Every day, health workers are exposed to stress, burnout, stigma, discrimination and even violence.’ As we crib about the new normal

They also serve who only stand and wait– thus reads the last line of John Milton’s poem ‘On His Blindness’. My mum introduced me to this line when I was a little girl since patience was never my virtue. She drilled it into me that the poet had written this when he was struggling with his own blindness and may be trying to find his place in God’s larger scheme of things. I don’t know how he found it in