Ann Frank’s story is such a wonderful reminder in these tough times, to hold on to hope. To believe in the goodness within us and that of one another.

The world is going through tough, turbulent times. There is mass unrest, lives being lost, political friction, pandemic woes, mental health issues on a rise, devastations and despair. Yet there are instances of hope.

And today I choose to share a few hopeful instances that have added meaning to my days.

Covid Recovery:

The number of recovery cases from Covid in India are close to 53%. Even though the numbers continue to grow with each passing day.

A heartening news came in this morning. The 8-10 residents who were tested positive in our condo, have now tested negative and recovered. Bless them and their families immensely.

A dear friend also shared her day to day symptoms and recovery process, on social media. I believe she is a brave heart to have done so. Especially at a time when she showed responsibility by sharing her test reports, and people went against the grain and used it as an excuse to gossip.

Kudos to your grit, girl. And a heart brimming with compassion!

Doesn’t this just go to show the courage and resilience people have shown in these testing times?

 

Children in the Pandemic:

I have been mulling over this for a while and have shared my thoughts on this with my friends and family. It is heartening to see the outstanding resilience children and young people have shown in these trying times. Nobody prepared them for a pandemic and it’s interesting and inspiring at the same time, how well they have adapted to the changes. Ann Frank wasn’t a hero without reason.

I don’t think I’ve heard anyone say that their kids are frustrated with the new normal.

Children adapted to being home schooled online. Some of them, like my 12 year-old were barely that hands on with a computer. But they learned. They adapted. And they woke up beaming each morning, infusing our lives with hope and laughter. This goes for my 21 year-old as well.

They also learned to find ways to keep themselves engaged, when they couldn’t go and play outdoors anymore.

They learned to enjoy and celebrate their birthdays over an online call.

And they continue to learn. Thank you Pragun, for reminding me to write about this.

 

In Another News – Between Self, Home and Work:

I’ve spent the lockdown period connecting with the self : meditating, chanting and practising yoga. No better time than this. The days I don’t, something feels amiss. And this connecting with the self is an eye opener of sorts.

It goes hand in hand with reading a lot of relevant literature too. Siddhartha by Herman Hesse is just one of them. There are also other books from Soka Gakkai Buddhism, and the others such as these that have inspired me during the last three months – Lisa Ray’s Close to the Bone, Ruskin Bond’s Book of Nature, Anita Krishan’s Fluffy and Me

I guess as women we end up taking our role as nurturers very seriously. Not that we shouldn’t, but I believe not at the expense of giving up on nurturing ourselves.

You can't fill others from an empty cup, can you? Share on X

Having said that I do have my weak moments too, like all of you; more often than not. But choose to pick myself up and go forth.

The last two weeks, at my work place I was compiling good news from our forest lodges in the form of our newsletter.

The newsletter started with a poem. An offshoot of staying tuned in to my true self.

I had almost given up on writing poetry, various forms of which I experimented with way back in the 2000s, as a member and co-founder of two chapters of India’s first online Writer’s forum, Caferati. I had set up the North India (Lucknow-Kanpur) and Singapore chapter.

I’m glad the poetic muse returned. And I realised I still can, only if I try and not give up on myself.

 

Whoever said 2020 should be cancelled?

2020 is meant to be.
A year so daunting and tragic,
Jolting us out of our ignorant slumber,
Like a raging cyclone.
Pulling us out of our comfort zone.

2020 is meant to be.
A year that’s an eye-opener
A year we come to terms with change.
Accept change. Embrace change.
And
Be the change.

2020 is the year to stand by each other.
Payback our dues to the precious planet,
And allow it to heal.

2020 isn’t going to be cancelled,
It’s a year to grow and evolve.
A year to just be.

 

Little Gratitude for this Poem:

This poem was inspired by Leslie Dwight’s poem  Thank you Lesile, if you happen to read this. 🙂

And thank you Aditi Kumar who shared Leslie’s poem with us.

I am also immensely grateful to my boss who continues to inspire and infuse patience and positivity, and be our guiding force.

And most of all gratitude to the universe that guides me to keep pushing my pen and imbue my life with positivity. I’m grateful if that positivity spills into your lives too.

 

We got to keep picking ourselves up every time we fall. The crux is to never give up on ourselves. However hard the going may get. The sun of our lives is sure to shine. Share on X

 

And on that note:

I promise you this is the last one. 🙂

My blog, Natasha Musing features among the top 100 Lifestyle Blogs of India, by Feedspot.

Immense gratitude to the universe for these very kind blessings. And especially to every reader, blogger, friend, family member who has contributed to this journey of growth and evolution.
I’m just a medium, a speck in the scheme of things, following my life’s purpose of bringing to you words that may inspire, make you smile, take you back in time, remind you that you’ve also been on this journey, or not. 

Our stories are tied together. And we are in this together.

Love, Light, Laughter and Gratitude,

Natasha

 

 

 

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