“Isn’t it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet?” — L.M. Montgomery Every month, I do something that feels almost symbolic. I clear the chat in our Raising Readers WhatsApp group and start the new activity of the month. When I press delete chat, it’s not just…… Continue reading The Joy of a Fresh Start
Let Them Find Their People
“Children must be taught how to think, not what to think.” – Margaret Mead There’s a quiet pattern I’ve often noticed in some homes … especially among loving, well-intentioned parents . Every visit from relatives, every friendship… basically, every interaction that involves their child is orchestrated. Who the child meets, how long they spend, what…… Continue reading Let Them Find Their People
Clarity and Chaos – Listening Beyond the Noise
During one of our long drives recently, Ballelakka song started playing in the car. Usually, I’ve only seen it as that loud, colourful, high-energy song from Sivaji — full of dance, drama, and visual chaos. But this time, there were no visuals, just the song playing through the speakers. And wow — what a difference…… Continue reading Clarity and Chaos – Listening Beyond the Noise
When the Mind Won’t Turn Off
“Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.”— Carl Jung Ever wonder if sleepless nights are just the mind’s way of saying, “Hey, remember me?” Maybe insomnia isn’t a glitch after all. Maybe it’s a small rebellion — a midnight protest from a brain that’s had…… Continue reading When the Mind Won’t Turn Off
Never Waste a Good Crisis
“Every setback is a setup for a comeback”- Joel Osteen Recently, my niece was telling me about a work activity that failed — because it was poorly planned and managed. She had actually raised red flags well ahead of time, but her concerns were brushed aside. When everything fell apart (as she had predicted), she…… Continue reading Never Waste a Good Crisis
Battle of the Buzz
Over the past few months, shuttling between Chennai and Bangalore, I’ve made a strange yet fascinating discovery — about mosquitoes! Yes, those tiny terrorists have regional personalities. Bangalore mosquitoes are like over-smart ninjas — lean, quick, and annoyingly strategic. They don’t just bite; they plan it. They buzz right into your ear, circle you like…… Continue reading Battle of the Buzz
The Quiet Joy of Living Simply
“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” — Leonardo da Vinci We recently visited our son’s campus and stayed there for a couple of days. Those few days felt like a pause button on life — long walks surrounded by nature, simple food, early mornings, unhurried conversations, and time together as a family. There was something grounding…… Continue reading The Quiet Joy of Living Simply
When Being Nice Just Doesn’t Cut It
“Peace is not the absence of conflict, but the presence of justice.” – Martin Luther King Jr We’ve all been told since we were kids—Be nice. Stay calm. Don’t argue. And sure, kindness matters. The world could definitely use more of it. But somewhere along the way, we took that message a bit too seriously.…… Continue reading When Being Nice Just Doesn’t Cut It
Schadenfreude — When Joy Hides in Another’s Misfortune 🫢
I came across the word Schadenfreude while reading a book recently, and it immediately stood out. There’s no perfect English word for it — perhaps because it describes something people don’t often admit. The term comes from German: “Schaden” means harm, and “Freude” means joy. Together, they mean “joy in someone else’s misfortune.” It may…… Continue reading Schadenfreude — When Joy Hides in Another’s Misfortune 🫢
When Logic Doesn’t Work, Let the Music Play 🎶
There’s this old Greek story about Orpheus — the guy who could make even stones weep with his music. When his wife, Eurydice, died, he went straight to the underworld to bring her back. The path wasn’t exactly easy — imagine facing Cerberus, a three-headed monster dog guarding the gates of Hades. No amount of…… Continue reading When Logic Doesn’t Work, Let the Music Play 🎶
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