“ Children learn more from what you are than what you teach .” – W.E.B. Du Bois When we went out for dinner recently, there was this cute little swing hanging from a tree branch… just a log and rope, right in our line of sight to the live singer performing. It was impossible not…… Continue reading Swing & Missed
Operation: Firestick Revival
This morning my Amazon Firestick decided to go on strike.Honestly, not being able to watch TV didn’t bother me much as I usually spend more time reading or writing anyway.What did bug me was that it wasn’t working, and I couldn’t fix it. So every few hours, I’d try something….remove and replace the batteries,switch the…… Continue reading Operation: Firestick Revival
The Myth of “Making It”
“We can do our best and still not get what we want. That’s life, not failure.” – Alain de Botton Since childhood, we’ve been told that success is entirely up to us. Work hard. Want it enough. Believe in yourself. You’ll get there.It sounds empowering—and to some extent, it’s true. But it’s not the whole…… Continue reading The Myth of “Making It”
The Joy of a Fresh Start
“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
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