Pet Love

 As I sat down lethargically on my couch after a tiring and a hectic day, there was a sudden knock and the door swung open. I was in for a big surprise as my neighbour's pet jumped over me; started cahooting in joy and wagging his tail. I stroked him gently, cuddled him and played with him for about half an hour. After he left, I suddenly left rejuvenated. I lost all the fatigue and got in new energy.

The next day, another incident occurred. I had gone to visit my cousin's pet dog. I had last seen him two-three months ago when he was a baby- when he was not even my palm size. I doubted if he would remember me, but I was in for another surprise, as he did recognize me!!  He was gyrating in ecstasy, wiggling with excitement and jumping on me. We could see the sparkle in those luminous eyes of his- an inexplicable sense of delight. We spent about an hour with him, took many pictures and left.

Both those incidents had a strong impact on my mind. I was completely dumbfounded as I never expected to get lots of love and remembrance from pets. I was never an animal lover at start. I was someone who was really very afraid of dogs- someone who wouldn't even go beside them even though assured that nothing would happen. I was scared stiff of dogs and always maintained a distance of 10 feet from them. But these two pet dogs completely changed my perception about animals and from then on, I was never ever frightened.

                                     

Was it easy to lose fear?? To be honest, it wasn't that easy, but on interaction with several pups near my father's workplace, near my college and in our apartment made it a little easier to accept them and to get close with them. In the start I was apprehensive, but later on started to bond with them effortlessly. I understood that if we give pets their own space, look beyond our fright and think of them as living beings-as children who will obey to our say  if spoken with kindness, then the boundaries will automatically disappear and we will lose our fear.

 If there is someone who can understand human tendencies, their emotions, can give them perennial joy, can stand with them and protect them like a rock from adversities is a pet animal. He can bring in ecstasy on his master's face and can transform a gloomy and melancholic day into a day of delight thorough his playful antics. 

He can bond easily with everyone; can gel with friends, relatives and neighbours and can leave a mark in everyone's minds. Only his presence makes our day complete and his absence creates a void within us. That is how emotionally attached and connected we are with pets- we can't imagine a day in our life without them.

Compared to other pet animals, dogs are the most adored and adopted ones. 33% of people in the entire world have dogs as their pet. I was really curious to know: what was the speciality-the charm dogs have that is dragging people towards them? What ranks them all above the rest?

Dogs are most highly preferred pet animals as they are the embodiment of loyalty, honesty and true love towards their owner. They have an associative memory due to which they remember everyone they meet for long periods of time. Dogs teach many values to humans- resilience, bravery, kindness and most importantly, the willingness to serve their family till their last breath. 

They have all the qualities of a good friend; they stand by your side during sorrow, they become the reason for your happiness, are present in all your happy times and never get angry on you when you scold them because, they know -they are confident that you would never scold them from your heart-and even if you did, it would be only due to your stress and tension over a few issues and nothing beyond that. Due to this mutual understanding, dogs are called man's best friend.

Taking care of a dog and fulfilling his needs is equal to service to God. Dog when spelt from backward reads 'GOD' which is an indirect proof that God himself  has created animals to remind humans about the qualities they once had and had given up over the passage of time. 

                                     

Most people think that having a pet makes them look cool and great among their friends circle. They don't understand the responsibility and commitment that is needed to nurture a pet. They are misguided- they don't know the drastic difference between playing with someone's pet and personally taking up the duty of looking after a pet. They get carried away seeing videos about these pets, end up buying them, not devoting time to them and finally throwing them away on the streets. 

This is not only in the case of dogs, but is applicable for any animal whatsoever. People have to understand that once they bring any pet home it becomes their moral responsibility to take care of them. Owners of pets should know they would be signing a contract of lifelong care, dedication and love towards them if brought home. People must know that they have only two options- either to play with a pet, admire them and not take up the duty or have a pet, raise him to be strong and stay with him till the end. There must be no middle route. Only then all the pets can live a better life.

People are becoming more aware about pet care, the conditions favourable for their proper growth and the kinds of breeds they should have depending on their financial stability. Many government organizations and NGOs that work for pet welfare, rescue and vaccination of these animals have come up. One way this is a good sign of progress, but on the other hand, there is a horrific picture. 

Animals are being treated well only in their owners' house but not in the society. Knowingly or unknowingly, they are being pestered, attacked with stones and are not allowed to walk freely on the roads. Sometimes, people hit them out of fear just to drive them out of their way, but mostly stones are hurled at animals to show human supremacy and for personal entertainment. The fun they have is only momentary, but little do they realise that their actions will have severe repercussions in the future.

Some of you might try to justify the action of throwing stones on animals as an act done to trepidation, but that is not the case. What we don't realise here is that at times animals do run away, but sometimes, our act can provoke them and they can turn more violent.

Instantaneous dread is something that first arises when a stray animal crosses our path. That is very common. But we must also remember the fact that most of the dogs that we encounter in our way are community dogs-dogs being taken care of by people out of their own interests. So, they mean no harm to us until we create a menace. Avert your eyes if you are tensed; avoid giving eye-contact. Follow such small steps and it will be easy to overcome your fright. 

 Every person has their own choice of pets. What you may consider as an ideal pet may not be accepted by others. Some may adore dogs, some may adore cats and some even have wild animals as their pets. So stop bringing a distinction between animals. Consider everyone the same and don't spread hate against any animal. Wild or domestic, every animal has its own lesson to teach humans.

The day when people understand, realise and change their definition of an animal from 'it' to 'he/she' is the day when there will be a true transformation- a day where animals are treated equally with no distinction. People will acknowledge that animals may be mute, may not be able to articulate their feelings but can express their emotions through certain nuances and can sense humans' feelings and reactions.

 So on the whole; I would like to conclude by making a penultimate point. If you can't help, don't hurt. An animal never expects anything from you in return. He only longs for your presence. He comes into your life, makes it colourful and departs after changing you completely. The time he spends with you is very short, but the impact he has on you is very profound. Acknowledge his daily contributions- his catalytic methods to make your day brighter and understand that- 'An animal is someone who ACCEPTS YOUR NATURALITY, INTERESTS, MINDSETS AND LOVES YOU UNCONDITIONALLY.'

                                                   - Anusha Sridhar

Cricket-an overview

On Tuesday, the 19th of January, the entire country was blooming with happiness as India had defeated Australia in the Brisbane ground (The Gabba)- a venue where the latter team had a record of being undefeated for 32 years. Headlines like the 'fortress has been breached' and '36 to 328-the remarkable turnaround' were circulating in all the news channels. People who predicted that India couldn't achieve anything without captain Kohli were proven wrong.

The equanimity and classic knock of stand-in-captain Rahane, the stoic demeanor of Pujara, the aggressive batting by Rishabh Pant and Shubhman Gill, the terrific bowling performance of Ashwin, Siraj and Natarajan and the impeccable 7th-wicket stand of Shardul Thakur and Washington Sundar- all were crucial for the team's victory. The young stars created history and this was considered as India's best performance. Tuesday had ended on a very dramatic note with the entire country gushing over the magnificent win. 

Suddenly, all the cricket lovers started to feel very weird on Wednesday morning as there was no match. They were missing the early morning 'chai-charcha', the nervousness and excitement that surrounded the game and of course their self-commentary on the cricketers' performances. From this, one can imagine the degree to which Indians enjoy cricket and get completely invested in the game.

For the world, cricket may just be an ordinary game like any other sport- but in India, it is not so. Cricket is not just a game, it is an emotion. It is relished by people across all ages. If the team wins, it is considered as the win of the entire country. It is celebrated like a festival everywhere. There are parties, tasty food prepared and even family reunions! There are bets that take place everywhere (though it is not good) and the money won is used to satisfy food cravings and giving treats and gifts to each other.

Compared to others, it is children who have a lot of interest in cricket and news about the sport. They follow the regular updates and collect player cards to get rewards. Also, they stay up late night to watch matches with a bunch of snacks. The best part is, even though some of them don't understand the game and the intricacies of the rules, they end up watching the game due to the craze around it, their own inquisitiveness and their liking towards a particular player.

We are aware of the fact that the higher the level of involvement in the game, the higher is the tension about the result. People have some sentiments; they pray to their favourite God or Goddess before the match. They fix a particular place at home and usually don't move from there. They offer prasads to God, take oaths and become very spiritual that day.

How can I write about cricket and not mention about Gully cricket? This has its separate fan base. The best part in this way of play is that the rules are modified according to our convenience. Choosing captains for such teams is the funniest part as several petty quarrels take place. But whatever said and done, it is really fun to play cricket amidst the fights of friends and sounds of the locality.

Cricket is played in different forms: T20, IPL, ODI and 50 overs match. All these variations are thoroughly enjoyed by people. But the most-loved format amongst these is Test Cricket as it tests mental and physical endurance, stability and patience. We get to know the worth of a player and his innate abilities only through test cricket. That's why it is the most complex and celebrated formats of cricket as every match brings out new stars previously unknown to the world.

During the earlier days, cricket was not considered as a career choice. But now, the scenario has changed. People have understood that sports too is a field where one can achieve success and get a high pay. Due to this positive change, many youngsters are pursuing their careers in the sports arena. They are having higher trust on their talent and intuition.

Cricket is known as the 'gentleman's game' since it was being played since the time of aristocrats. The reason it was called so was because there was no false play; everyone was genuine and played for their country's honor.

But sadly, now the things have changed a lot. There is betting, match fixing, ball tampering and hurling abuse on the opponents. Many bad things like racial abuse in the stadium and partiality towards a particular team is taking place. Cricket has completely become commercialized .

The question that arises here is that- has cricket lost its former glory? The answer is not a complete yes. Yes I agree that sports have become more inclined towards profits in certain aspects and few players are crossing the boundaries, but the charm is not completely lost. It is not correct to blame the fraternity if the mistake is committed by a single person.

Now to the next question-Why do these players make these mistakes when they are aware that their actions would cost them their career? There is a very simple reason for this. The rush of adrenaline, the sky-high tension, not weighing the priorities correctly, keeping one's personal vendetta above national honor and the thought that they can't be caught when they cheat makes them to commit such errors. The players do realise their blunders later on and even ask for an open apology, but the damage is already done right?

One must think twice before speaking and many times before performing any action. If the players get a feeling that cheating will save the country from defeat, they must immediately stop that thought as their actions would cause disgrace to their nation. If this one point is taken care of, then cricket can surely get back its original status and love the people once had towards the sport.

As I stated earlier, cricket is not any normal sport, it is an emotion. This had several positive and negative outcomes. The positive aspect is that the entire country comes together regardless of their differences to cheer the national team. But the negative aspect is that there are communal fights with people from other countries. There are unwanted controversies and defaming of people.

If a match is played between two countries, it is taken as a prestige issue. If one of the team loses the match, they will have to face trolls and backlash from everywhere. Their sincere efforts will be ignored; they don't get their due credit and only their flaws will be pointed out. They will be poked fun at and will become a laughing stock. The shocking part here is half the defaming and negative comments come from their own countrymen!

The irony in the situation is that, if the same team wins the match, those people whoever had spoken very badly and had no hopes of recovery will be the first one to celebrate. What hypocrites! 

We are no better than others. Think about it, how many times we would have made fun of players and their efforts? The only difference between them and us is that we don't talk about it on national TV, make trends about it in Twitter or start the blame-game.

Learn to respect those who put in their 100% in order to keep up the national pride. Not always things work in their favour, right? Cricket is all about ups and downs and how one manages to stay afloat amidst heavy competition. We should understand that and act as mature fans and not as those waiting for a chance to pull the team down and dampen their spirit. We should support our team both in win and loss; we should have their back. If not us, then who will do that? We must keep encouraging our team to push their limits and aim higher. If we are successful in doing so, we will surely get to see outstanding results.

Finally, I would like to conclude by saying one thing. Every sport is similar to two sides of a coin. There is both victory and defeat- one must accept that. We proclaiming that a team can never be defeated is sheer stupidity as the tables can turn any time. We can create history by being the most successful team as well as the team with the lowest total. India's test series in Australia is an example that a team that slumped to an all-out with a meager score of 36 can roar back ferociously and can come with a bang by breaking Australia's winning streak.

Cricket is a beautiful game when watched with the right eyes and complete knowledge that it (cricket) is only a mixture of three things: probability, hard work and trust. So, keep your differences aside, come together and enjoy the unfolding of the greatest games of all times-cricket-the celebration and the metaphor of sportsmanship and unity. 

                                       - Anusha Sridhar

                                                             

Unrealistic reality

Every weekend night is family time with everyone tuning in to their favourite shows of diverse genres; comedy, singing, dancing etc. We get to hear different sounds from houses. At one end we can listen to the melodious voices and rendition of songs. At the other end, we can listen to peppy beats and loud laughing noises. This is the extent to which the reality shows are loved by people.

Due to the existing pandemic situation, the screen time of viewers has increased exponentially from the yesteryears; they are on a spree and  are watching shows across different platforms. This has contributed towards the skyrocketing popularity of reality shows.

What exactly these reality shows are and how they are different from daily soaps? A reality show is something which is designed for entertainment with bits and pieces of messages conveyed through small acts. The main aim of a reality show is to bring people out of their worldly tensions and make them a part of their world.

Few reality shows provide a platform for the economically backward sections of the society while few reality shows make you aware about the threats persistent in the society. Few highlight real life issues beautifully through sketches while few truly move your hearts and you end up donating for a good cause. The ways in which people connect to these shows are different, but the purpose is same.

Times have changed and so have the methods of presenting things. Lavish sets, designer dresses and heavy loads of makeup are being added into these shows. Long breaks and lame jokes make people really irritated. The hideous laugh and clap tracks added for every silly thing makes the audience bored.

This raised a question in my mind. Why do we unnecessarily have to complicate something very simple? Why do we need to specifically add in the 'money factor' in such shows? The answer is T.R.P i.e Television Rating Point.

What is TRP? It is an indicator; it helps us to find out how many households watch a particular programme. This word has driven channels crazy; there is a cut-throat competition among channels as to who will come first in the race. For this reason, production houses get ready to do anything- paying crores of rupees to the hosts and judges, scripting jokes to such an extent that it starts appearing fake and adding in commercial elements to make the show more spicy and 'masaledar'.

( An interesting point to note here. It is not only the commercial TV channels rooting for highest TRP and methods to mint money; it is even the TV news channels also! Shocking, but surprisingly true. Bribery and threats are being given to people to watch a particular channel. Seriously??  How low can these people stoop down shamelessly?😤)

Now-a-days, sadly, comedy is presenting vulgarity, dance is presenting gymnastics and singing is presenting  everything else other than that. Reality shows show the whole nine yards other than the main point. For example, in a singing show you will have dance, sorrow stories after every five minutes and even a fake marriage between two people!

Look at the extent to which everything has fallen. Gone are the days when we could genuinely laugh, cry and express happiness. Every single thing is scripted; what the contestants have to speak, to who would be the winner, everything! People are told when to laugh and at times, the audience doesn't even understand the joke! That's how bad the shows have become.

Remember, you can never make a perfect reality show if you focus on things far from real. You can never succeed if you forget what your purpose is. You can earn the first spot in TRP, but you can never stay in people's hearts as the most-loved show. Instead you will be branded 'overrated'.

 So are olden day shows the best? They also weren't that perfect. Things were scripted then too. But, there was a touch of originality. How bad a show may be, the attempt to refine it was genuine. Actors put in their life and soul; tried their level best to elevate their performances to the top-notch. They were simple and natural. This is what is missing in today's shows. Adding pompousness will never make a show memorable- know that.

 But, there is an advantage now. Comparing from the past, there has been a huge increase in the talented individuals across the country. Also, there is an increase in the shows to showcase their talent; something which was not there before. There is a real tough competition among people, and they are coming forward without any fear- which is a very good sign. 

As I dug deeper into this issue, I found out something else too. Psychology says that man is a tamed beast; he enjoys watching others in problems and fights between people. Due to that sole reason reality shows make scripted fights! Also, unwanted sound effects, camera zooming in and out every second builds in the fear and tension thus making them over-excited. 

This situation is existent even in TV serials too- the melodramatic  'saas-bahu', over-the-top makeup and jewellery, the cunning villians, the silly ideas and the intense music for foolish reasons.

I understood one thing. People watch reality shows for those few moments of good singing, dancing and comedic gags. Everyone does get sick of a few things, but they watch it only for the performances. Shows that were enjoyed and watched fully are now being despised for the exaggerated things depicted.

The next question that arises here is- can reality shows become realistic?  Sadly, it is a big NO. It is a natural human tendency to act before the camera; to wear a fake mask when everyone is around. So, how much ever one tries to bring out true feelings, there will be a bit of acting with it- we have to accept it.

The penultimate question now is- should we watch reality shows or completely stop it? The decision is entirely yours. If you don't want to watch it, good. But if you watch it, know the difference between true and false. Don't get carried away by the content. Most importantly, don't start dreaming of some impossible things. If you do so, you will fall into the trap laid by such shows.

The main purpose of such shows is to make you ambitious; to make you yearn for the non-existent glamorous world. Know where to stop. Don't become an addict- because once it happens, you can never become your old self.

The message I want to convey through this blog is - you become what you watch. Don't watch too much of violence and become heartless. At the same time don't watch too much of heart-wrenching stories and become very sensitive. Strike a balance between both.

You never know whose face is behind the mask. Similarly, you never know the things done behind the scenes to make on screen look bright. We will never know the original face behind the tons of makeup done. So, get one thing imprinted in your mind:

TV reality is NOT practical life. It is the perfect example of 'UNREALISTIC REALITY'.

 

                                                                                  - Anusha Sridhar

Oral health

If there is something that is majorly ignored in the start and given attention when it is too late is oral health. This topic is very rarely discussed among people, and until and unless we face a dental complication, we never really know the salient role it plays in our life.

If we compare our childhood and present, ironically, dental hygiene was the most discussed topic during the former time. The first instruction given every morning was to brush teeth. Even in the good manners book, it was written to brush teeth twice and drink milk regularly. Every child had the basic knowledge not to eat anything before brushing. Also, kids used to keep their fallen milk tooth safely thinking that they would meet a tooth fairy and three of their deepest wishes would be granted. Those were sweet days, weren't they?

Some studies and research that has been done on teeth and maintenance of oral hygiene has bought devastating results. 2% of people stay without brushing for more than twenty-four hours and 46% of people don't brush for an entire day! What is even more shocking is that they really don't bother if they have dental issues, eat all kinds of junk without any limit and refuse to go to the dentist too!!

Why this drastic change within the same people who used to take care of their teeth so well? There are two major reasons for this. One is laziness and second is the swag. People have become really lethargic; they just want to relax on their bed and remain in the same cozy position. Also, the preconceived notion that 'not-brushing-and-not-bathing-is-cool' makes people inconsiderate towards their teeth. They feel that telling friends about such things will make them savage. It is not that way. Instead you will be branded as the 'stinker' and the 'bad-breath guy'.

Our mind has this tendency to avoid problems i.e to push back all the unpleasant details to a corner. This is exactly what happens when we discuss about teeth. The first thing that comes to our mind if we talk about deformed and spoilt teeth is cavities, fillings and root canal. The first two emotions that ring in are fear and pain.

 Fear, as everyone has their suggestions, their ways of complicating simple procedure and their ways of exaggeration. Root canal is compared to excavating in mines and filling is compared to stuffing something bad in the teeth. Due to hearing such comparisons from a long time we feel that the pain is going to be exponential and we stop looking at the benefits after the treatment.

I am not saying that everyone is scared. There are a few who take care of their teeth really well. They know how important it is to not have bad breath. But unfortunately, the percentage of such people is very less. 

How do we reduce the persistent fear from the minds of people? Read something funny about teeth; poetries, stories or anything that makes you laugh and forget the pain. I would suggest all of you to read the poem 'I wish I'd taken care of my teeth' by Pam Ayres. You will chuckle as well as you will understand the seriousness of the issue.

There is no problem if someone is scared in general. The problem arises only when they procrastinate the treatment due to fear. Due to such actions, they themselves complicate the entire matter. What was just supposed to be a filling turns into a root canal and if delayed even more turns into teeth removal. 

Remember, it is not correct to blame someone else for our mistakes. We can't blame the dentist if the procedure pains- because it is happening due to our negligence and indifference towards our teeth.

Many people think that only treatment is the problem. But there are problems before that also. First, is to find a good doctor whose clinic is close to your place. Second, is to fix a proper time so that there are no after-treatment complications. We may consider these two reasons insignificant now, but they do really matter.

It is very common that after one person in the family gets treatment done, we get to know that even others too have the same issue. We end up spending double the money than our estimation. We may curse the dentists momentarily that they are purposely charging more, but the end result is always in our favour. We must never compromise to get certain things done as it can change your life for the better.

                                  

Now you may ask me, why am I giving so much importance to oral health? It is because good teeth gives a good smile and a good smile elevates your look altogether. Even while getting a picture clicked we are told to say 'cheese' so that our mouth opens into a wide natural smile. Smile is the most beautiful gift of God. A true smile can move mountains and melt even the harshest of people. We can get a beautiful smile and all this is possible only when we have clean and white teeth.

Not only for this reason, but also, good teeth makes you confident while speaking in a crowd and speaking to friends and family. Others can form a good first impression on you. Your talk will surely be remembered and people will be more willing to talk to you. But if you delay, you will have several obstacles such as yellow teeth, improper speech and many others too.

Prevention is always better than cure. Work towards having strong teeth because that is when you can relish all your food cravings without any issue. This is not something which will not happen overnight. We must take care of our teeth in the same way we take care of our appearance as good teeth gives a good look, but a good look can never give us good teeth right? 

Always remember, there is nothing wrong in discussing about our oral health problems. If we share our experience, it is going to help someone; they can mentally prepare themselves if they have to take treatment. We are not going to become a laughing stock among people that we had problems at an early age. Instead we will become an inspiration for those who have assumed apprehensions regarding the treatment.

If it can happen to you, it can happen to anyone. Never feel that you are immune towards such problems. Always be on the alert. Even if you feel a slight discomfort, immediately consult the dentist. Be true to your teeth otherwise, they will be 'FALSE' for  you.

Last but not the least,

Brush your teeth everyday

Keep dental problems away

Follow pratices without going astray

Surely people will listen to your say!!

(P.S Many of you might ask me why I had chosen such a simple topic after writing a spree of complex and high-end ones. The reason is, I felt that you can connect easily to a topic like this. Also, I really don't want people to give oral health the last preference and repent later. 

This is a personal insight so please don't take offense to any of the comments and observations mentioned. I hope you could connect to the points and understand the message I am trying to convey)

                                                                           - Anusha Sridhar

Lessons Learnt

 2020 is a year which everyone has christened as 'ew year' as it has spilt water on their plans. The year has become unpredictable like a 20-20 match, with each ball bringing in new turns and tides.

The clock has ticked backwards in many aspects and has even gone slow, but this period has taught us several important life lessons. We have understood the value of a family and the strength they provide during tough situations. Students who enjoyed bunking classes have now realized the significance of offline classes and are longing to go to school. They are able to understand the effort put in by teachers to teach them in a hassle-free manner. People have started giving respect to the frontline warriors and have acknowledged their sacrifices.

Pollution levels have dropped, roads have become cleaner, air has become fresher, birds have got their freedom and nature is setting back to normalcy. Amidst all the negativity, there are positive connotations. These trivial moments of cheerfulness has got us out from our pensive brooding. We have understood that happiness doesn't always lie in our big achievements but even in small things around us.

We enjoyed performing PM Modi's tasks, sitting lethargically and watching TV, brought out the chef within us and had online celebrations. All these small things acted as stress-busters; we drifted out from our worldly tensions and attained tranquility.

The most significant teaching in the COVID period is regarding the true definition of time. Everyday in this period has proved the fact that time and tide waits for none. We may have slipped four steps backwards, but time is running in its same pace. April felt like eons, but October got over before the blink of an eye. This has taught us that the more free time one has, one feels the more slower time goes and vice-versa.

If there is one major change that has occurred and has a profound impact is our levels of devotion. Our arrogance and pride got crushed as the disease didn't treat anyone partially. We had to bend down in front of the Supreme Power and accept our faults. We have understood that we may be the king in our game but when he plays, all of us come to the same level. Most of us have embarked on a spiritual odyssey and have connected with the Omnipotent, which is a very good sign.

But sadly, there is a small glitch here. We worship God, believe he is omnipresent and are engrossed in chanting his names. But we don't see the existence of God in our fellow human beings (even in animals too). People behave very rudely with COVID patients and have no concern towards them. They are forgetting the fact that our fight is with the disease, not with the disease-infected patient. You can be cautious, but it is not necessary to be callous. There is a thin line of difference between cautiousness and callousness-understand that.

Remember, it is of no benefit worshipping God if you are stone-hearted. Realize the fact that true devotion is not shown by fasting or by performing different kinds of rituals, but is shown by respecting your fellow beings and considering them as a part of God.

Now that most of the curfews have been lifted and there has been an ease in rules, we are getting used to the 'new normal'. Theatres, restaurants, malls have opened with 50% people and staff allowed. We have realized that life must move on and pages have to be flipped to write a new chapter. We have to fill in voids caused due to the horror, wipe our tears, stand up stronger and hit back harder. Our productivity must be at its maximum and we must make up for the entire backlog. We must be responsible for our health, take all the safety measures and not blame others for our mistake of not following the precautions. We must know that safety is and should be our top priority over enjoyment because only the rules have become lesser stringent, not the virus.

One more teaching here is not to assume things. We may feel that everything is in accordance, but there is always something that is not visible to our eye. The trends of the virus may have come down and the recovery rates are soaring, but still there is no proper vaccine. When we are fighting with an unknown enemy, you may never know from where it will attack. So, we must never conclude that something is over because you may never know from where a new problem might spring out from. 

We may have learnt several good habits, but knowingly or unknowingly, a few bad habits may have got induced. One can't deny the fact that people have become lazier, have no or less moods to work and have started finding excuses to delay. Also, it is going to be very difficult for people to start getting back to their old routines without the influence of lockdown habits. So, in the second half of the year, follow three steps. Learn, Apply, Practice. If you do so, you will start thanking 2020 for helping you grow as a better individual and making you retrospect your flaws. There may be many pessimistic things that may have occurred, but remember, one diya is enough to dispel the darkness.

So, on the whole, don't call 2020 as a 'ew year.' Instead name it 'view and review' year as it has given you valuable time and priceless lessons to learn. 

(P.S It is really difficult to digest the fact that it has been one year since the first case of COVID was spotted. It marked the birth of the most deadliest virus that destroyed lives and has been the cause of deep sorrow and misery. The crisis has left an indelible impact on our minds. We might adapt to the 'new-normal', but this incident is forever going to be imprinted in our mind.

 It is sad to see people celebrating the first anniversary of corona like a happy occasion without sympathizing with those who lost their near and dear ones. The people who left this world can't be brought back from the doors of death. Corona has not had a positive impact on everyone. Please don't make a joke of the efforts put in by all the social workers.

This article is a small attempt to divert people's attention from all the depressing things going on around them and infuse positivity. I agree, this period has caused some unhealable hurts and scarred hearts. But good is always hidden even in the grimmest of situations, right? 

We can't stay stagnant in one place altogether. Things have to fall in place once again. So, cherish the memories of those whom you lost, fasten your belts and get back to work as life has to move on.....)

                                        - Anusha Sridhar

Fear

In this world of competitiveness and in the race to success, there is always a lot of pressure on people. With every achievement they get, their responsibilities increase and they have to put in double the energy and effort to stay on the top. Few people manage to stay afloat and are able to maintain that status, but most of them falter and fall down. The only reason for this is FEAR.

The immediate question that pops up here is: Fear of what? Well, there are innumerable reasons for that and one can go on listing it. Few reasons could be: fear of comparison, fear of peers and so on.

First thing we must know here is, why does fear arise at all? Fear arises because one is mentally not prepared to face the consequences. One always looks at the darker side and asks questions like: "What if I can't do this? What will happen next? What if I fail?" Always remember this. Results are never partial to anyone. If you work with a mindset to do your best and not for the four claps or five praises, your grades will surely improve and you will surely achieve your personal goals. If you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail. So, always put in your heart, mind and soul in your preparation and always anticipate for the best. By doing this, you will surely emerge out of the downward spiral of fear.

What are the most common signs of a person who is afraid? The first thing is that he becomes fidgety and turns absent-minded. He stars mincing his words due to lack of confidence. He always gives higher importance to others and thinks about himself as someone who is fit for nothing.

Fear can induce two things within you. One, it will make you do things that you wouldn't have even dreamt about. Two, it will make you fickle-minded and you start doubting your own capabilities.

Now, many of you might tell me that the first thing is good as it makes you exert yourself more and prepares you to jump into action. But my response is not a complete yes for this statement. I say so because at one point of time when you question yourself as to why are you doing something, you will not have a convincing answer. (This is when you do the donkey's work i.e when you are doing something just because someone forced you to do so). But if you are wholeheartedly interested in doing something, fear turns into fire. Instead of plummeting, you reach the pinnacle. I had used the phrase 'not a complete yes' to signify the fact that in every situation, there are both pros and cons. Just because we are always facing bad times that doesn't mean there is no ray of goodness. We must always have a broad approach towards things.

People are afraid of so many things, no doubt. But, this one factor helps us to distinguish between the brave hearts and the weaklings. That is fear of suppression. Now, why I am saying this is because in most cases domination is not accepted with open arms. One can accept anything, but not someone ruling over their interests. Suppression propels one to turn from a small fire to a forest fire. Even most of the frail ones try their level best to not fall a prey to subduing. But there is a small catch here. Few people don't fight for their rights because they look at the aftermath. (Again there is a negative thought. This is what happens when you don't try whole heartedly to come out of the circle of fear). These people although wanting to rise don't undertake any task and are always afraid of what would people do to them if they take over their positions.

If we talk about fear in general, then there are two kinds of fears. One, is fear of something (which we have been talking about till now) and the second is fear for someone. The specialty in the second case is we are afraid regarding issues faced by someone else. This fear can be attributed with concern. For example, we fear for our parents' health, our siblings' safety and so on. We are bothered about our kith and kin, friends, family and others. It is this one quality that distinguishes humans from others- concern and affection towards others.

You may ask me why I am equating affection with fear. I am doing this because the higher the affection is, the more fear one has about them.

 

So, coming back to the main point. As I raised the point of signs of fear earlier, few may ask me this question. What would happen if these were not cut down soon? More you delay the treatment, higher is the deterioration in health. Similarly, if the roots of fear start spreading its base, it becomes very difficult to come out of it. I say so because the person entangled in the web of fear looks at everything with a big eye i.e even small tasks appear mammoth and impossible. They always chose a chance to leave the assigned work as they are filled with negative energy.

So, remember all the afraid people. The word impossible itself means 'I am possible'. Thinking to overcome fear will not work. Only your consistent action in that direction will fetch results. Understand that fear is just a state of mind and is like a barricade in your path. You have to move it from your way on your own, because, the traveller is you and the journey is yours- not anyone else's. People can just motivate you, it is you who have to gear up and become stronger. Fear has two meanings: Forget Everything And Run or Face Everything And Rise. The choice is yours.

Once you overcome your fears, and by chance, if you fail in something, never get dejected. Because FAIL is the First Attempt In Learning. Never think it is the end because END means Effort Never Dies.

Be aware of one thing. Fear is recurring. You can never defeat fear completely because it is a natural trait. Yes, you can win over it for a while, but it will again envelope you. Aim not for absence of fear, but victory over it whenever it tries to hinder your progress. Coax your heart and convince your brain that you would be successful in conquering fear always. Remember, the only thing that you have to fear is fear itself and nothing else. Danger is real. But fear is a CHOICE.

                                  - Anusha Sridhar

3, 2, 1......

It is very common that after watching or listening to something, we no doubt, would have had a change in our minds. We surely would have felt one of the three I's namely: inspired, impressed or an impact. We get impressed by good singing or dancing. We get inspired and feel a powerful impact after reading amazing writings or viewing extraordinary artwork. But, there is one thing that makes all the three I's hit our minds at once. That is good communicative skills.

In this era where misunderstandings among people have become quite common, an effective speaker is the only one who can save the day. You will be amazed to know this, most of the fights happen due to petty things that are blown out of proportion due to people's lack of conversing and convincing skills!

The most common question that arises here is: how do I speak without offending anyone, put my point straight without any obstacles and prevent the escalation of  the situation to a worser level? If this has to be asked in simple terms, how do I fire three arrows on the target without missing a single one?

Before proceeding to the answer, I'd like to share with you a common misconception that occurs at this juncture and a small experience of mine. Recently, I was watching the Rajya Sabha session where there was a discussion regarding the farm bills. The first hour was going on smoothly without any hinderance, but then suddenly, people started screaming hoarsely, behaved in a very indecent manner and they indulged in a verbal spat.

It is always believed that the more you shout the more power or authority you can gain. I think this is completely wrong. Ok, to an extent you can keep people's mouth shut and reduce their voices, but you can't crumple them. Your acts will double the rage within them and the fight becomes more intense. Shouting to show your supremacy is equal to adding ghee to a blazing fire. This neither provides you an upper hand nor helps you to silence your opponents.

What has to be done here then? One thing we must know here is that people have different perceptions regarding different things. If we understand the very basic fact that just like how no two people have the same fingerprints, people don't have the same perceptions. So, using your intelligence, you must put your arguments in such a way that people agree with you and also, can't raise fingers against you. The speakers who understand this ground reality become the most impactful and of course, the most popular and favourite.

One more point to remember. When you partake in any discussion, the most essential thing here is to understand that when you point a finger towards someone, four fingers point back at you. Never ever feel that you are perfect or are the best speaker. Because that is when you either miss out on points, reduce your preparation or start getting inclined towards the flatterers. Also, your vision becomes hazy; you can't distinguish between true admirers and fake praisers. So, it is very important for a good speaker to be down to earth and open to suggestions.

The most important factor that raises you above the rest is your response to critics. Speakers' take on critics keeps changing over the passage of time. When you first set your foot in the world of communication, critic reviews affect you a lot. A new speaker is mostly sensitive and takes reviews to the heart. Gradually, reviews start affecting you lesser and you are able to look at the deeper meaning of things and retrospect. Once you become very good, you start ignoring them and crown yourselves as the best. But again you face a tumult and come back to normalcy. 

Remember, even if you win the first prize, you must be open to suggestions on improvement. A good speaker is the one who respects the opinion of the critics, applies the good suggestions and is himself capable of thinking like a critic.

A small motivation to the starters who have realised their superb skill of conversing. A critic is like an antibiotic, sometimes sour, sometimes bitter (sometimes sweet too!) but always helps you rectify your faults, gives you new stamina and makes you feel rejuvenated. If you have spoken in such a way that no critic has raised their finger, it means you have achieved your biggest success! (It might seem impossible, but there is nothing wrong in aiming for that).

Experiential learning is something that surely stays in the mind and leaves a mark. So, if you have experienced that haughtiness of yours, have come out of it and haven't fallen in that trap since then, kudos to you! You are a balanced speaker who can accept both good and bad!

A few beginners might ask: why do we need to pay attention to the negative comments? Optimism is the best way to climb higher on the ladder of success. Yes, I agree with that point. But, one thing I'd like to comment here. Everything lies in the brain. Critics aren't pessimists; they are keen observers with high intelligence who give tips to improve. Now it is all up to you, how you receive it. If you take it as demotivating stuff, then it is entirely your fault. But if you look at it with a different viewpoint, you can do wonders. Those who are able to look diametrically can never be defeated.

One more thing to remember. NEVER beat around the bush. You may speak for less time but don't ever go round and round. By doing so, you give your opponent an impression that you don't have much knowledge regarding the topic, thus reducing your impact. If you have a choice regarding choosing a topic, don't choose something that is difficult for you. Choose something which you are comfortable with and just see, you guys will rock it.

Often it is assumed that speaking on hard topics makes you appear like a sophisticated person which is completely baseless. It is fine when you have thoroughly prepared and have full knowledge regarding the topic. If not so, you end up making a fool out of yourself in the crowd. If you have a choice or don't, just remember one thing. Go behind covering good points and convincing the audience. If you do so, then you are bound to build up the three I's within the audience.

The first problem faced by all those who want to become great speakers is their stage fear. Few of them are able to overcome it very easily, few arise with a push, but few- even though having ideas- aren't able to come out of their cocoon. The only difference between the first and third type is that: The first have mastered the the two E's: emotion and expression. These are also very important qualities that separate exceptional speakers from the normal ones. If you can control your emotions (without making it too melodramatic like in the debates) and use the right expression (puns, irony) at the correct instance, you truly rise above. Your words will surely connect with the audience, you will strike the right chord and reflections of your thinking will surely resonate among the masses.

A small tip to all the scared ones out there. You will never know the taste of something if you don't taste it yourself.  Only if you start, you can aim to become a sensation. Similarly, until you don't face the stage, you will not know what your actual worth is. Prejudging your abilities without a try is very foolish on your part. When you stand in front of the stage, think you are standing in front of a mirror and there is none around. This way, you can motivate yourself and perform better.

On the whole, if you want to hit all the arrows correctly on the target, follow the three important aspects (3 I's), the two main points (2 E's) and bear the perceptions and critics in your mind. Let your speeches be the cause of change, not the tool of propaganda. Always be aware of the fact that provoking speeches and powerful communication is both a sword and a shield. Even though the person is not alive, their voices still ring in our minds. 

Finally, remember, we all have the spectacular speaker hidden within each one of us who has gone into a deep slumber. He just has to be roused. Last but not the least, you will become an awesome speaker if you awaken your inner voice and are able to voice your concerns in a plausible way.

.                                         - Anusha Sridhar