Nayana's Stories

  There is a thin dividing line between self-love and self-care. Often times we substitute one for the other and use the words in the same context. However, self-love is a much deeper feeling of the self where you value yourself for who you are as an individual and entity. Self-care falls into the domain of should or should not. There is a whole industry that trains people towards how to care enough for themselves for better performance, better appearances, and better excellence. People link the need for self-care depending on the needs of medical care, how much money and time have at disposal. In this domain, one is struggling to be a better human being looks and performance-wise. Here experts train you towards better competencies and traits that you may not have. You assess yourself on some parameters and are then are given the training to upgrade your skill and competencies. Many people believe that this is part of the self-love traits that we possess. However loving yours...

  In this age of over clutter of information, messages, and good wishes for birthdays and festivals I am all the time wondering which group I should respond to. I am unable to handle excessive information and excessive good wishes. All the wishes that I get on festival days or birthdays or anniversaries I just scroll through them quickly not to be very rude. But also people who have not wished or are not a part of any group are dear to me, close to me, and intimate to me. So what is the meaning of intimacy and closeness that I hold in my mind is relevant? Just being part of a Whatsapp group tons of messages are forwarded by hundreds of people. Actually, to me, I would prefer a relationship where communication is where one shares and express oneself. People find me snooty and a snob because I don’t want to belong to any group. There are lots of promises made where people say they will not send any forwards and the information will be task-based or personal. However, I disc...

  It is Diwali time and time to declutter the home and other spaces. The cleaning up invites gods and goddesses to a clean, fresh home, and auspicious home. Families also get-to-gather for celebrating the holidays. Therefore it is necessary that the space mental and infrastructural should be available to receive the guest and enjoy the festival with a free mind. When I start cleaning my cupboard or leftover drawers, I g0 through the process of recollecting all the memories associated with everything I bought, I had and I held it for much time. I have the habit of giving away all the unnecessary and considering it as garbage. It could be things, clothes old photos, expired medicines, and everything that is not needed. I also would like to give things away so that the needy and the poor can use them. Hence to me, it is also an act of goodness that I would like to do to deal with my excess baggage. However, there are people who relive and reside and take a lot of pleasure in...

  Many times I struggle to take a position that is an individualist location or one that drives me into a collective space. What determines this choice is what I ask myself many times. When I take a stand that is individualist my reference point would be needed for the self. Here I respond to what is important to me my needs and the people in my world. However, I also respond at times to choices that make me want to belong. There is fear of being left out, fear of being left alone, and a question mark am I alone in all of these? Deep down I am more of a person who responds to the individual self but social norms, social coding, and social compulsion also push me into a collective space. For Example, would I rather watch a movie or read a book all myself or go to a party where there are 20 people to entertain and engage me. Over a period I have realized that my pull is towards being alone but then when I need people for support very few are around me. Especially in corona time...