The Magic of Words

Words : Either an angelic warmth

                         Or a devilish frost....

                

"Hello, there, my beautiful piece of stardust. How's your day going, sunshine?"
"Hey. How are you?"

Both of the above sentences mean the same. But, hearing which one of these would make you feel better about yourself? Surely, the first one. The first sentence makes you feel beautiful and loved, whereas the second sentence is casual and doesn't make you feel anything special. So, how does this happen? While both of them convey the same message, how is it that we perceive them in different ways? Why does the first statement feel better? It is only because of the arrangement and usage of the words. There are many endearing words used in the first sentence that makes it fall sweeter on the listener's ears.

Words are what human beings use to convey and express the deepest feelings in their hearts. Words are a two-way mechanism. They affect both, the listener as well as the speaker, or, the reader as well as the writer. On the one hand, the speaker is able to get the weight off his chest by expressing himself and on the other hand, the person on the receiving end of the words is able to feel the depth of the speaker's emotions.

Also, the way in which one says or perceives things can tell us a lot about a person. For instance, there might be someone who'll say that he likes the second, casual expression better than the first as the first one seems creepy. This could tell us about the deepest realms of the person's mind. It is possible that the person is scared of showing feelings so openly, maybe because of a bad experience in this respect. Also, the bravery in the heart of a person can be seen by his choice of words, the rawness of his feelings expressed through his words.

In any relationship, most of the problems occur because of communication gap, because people don't bother to talk. If there is any issue, talk it through, instead of jumping to conclusions. Talk about your problems and solve them. Words can save relationships, if used in that way; at the same time, harsh and hurtful words can also destroy relationships. Words can be used in any way one pleases, either as a saviour or as a destroyer.

Words have great healing powers. Just talk to a person who is distraught. Sometimes even just listening to him talk, helps him. The words coming out of his mouth slowly takes the pain away from his soul. Sometimes, your words are like a layer of  soothing warmth on his cold aching heart.  That's why we have poetry. Poetry doesn't always have to rhyme. If it can make you feel, it is poetry. Poetry helps the poet as well as the reader in the same amount. Poetry is the sweetest medicine available for any ailment.

In ancient India, words, or rather sounds were given lots of importance. Ancient Indians used to practise many mantras which, when pronounced correctly, used to produce great results. The ancient Indian sound of 'Oum' is still revered in India, and its effects have been scientifically proven. No other word or sound in nature can produce the exact same vibrations as those produced by 'Oum'. This one little word is immensely beneficial for our health and purifies our body and soul.

There are many words in various languages that don't have any direct translations. The exact meaning or emotion expressed by these words cannot be replicated in any other language. A few of such words are 'आत्मा' (aatma) in Hindi, 'déjà vu' in French, 'torschlusspanik' in German, 'Vergüenza Ajena' in Spanish. These words are unique as the essence of these words cannot be captured by any other. 

Words are truly magical in the way they can make us feel; either in seventh heaven, or in the deepest pit of hell. Words, once spoken, can never be taken back; so be wise in your words. Think before you work that tongue of yours.


Till next time, yours
Pragya :)

Who are You?

         The smallest question with 
                             the longest answer...



'Who are you?' This is the most frequently asked question you encounter in your life. 'Tell me about yourself' or 'Introduce yourself' are other variations of this question. Heck, even facebook asks you to describe yourself under a section called 'About you'. Wherever you go, whoever you meet, this is the first question to be addressed. Only after that, you move on to other topics of discussion.

When we answer this question, our first response is our name. But, is that your identity? Your name? Is that all that you are? There are many people with the same name as mine, but they are not all me. So my name can't be who I am. At most, it can only be a little part of who I am.

My face and this body that I live in are the first things that anyone who sees me notices. They see my height, my weight, my skin colour and all other such physical attributes. So, do my physical features define who I am? I don't think so. No, they don't. These don't tell you anything about me, so no, this is not just who I am. But my expressions, my movements and my aura do tell you a little about me but only if you pay really close attention. Great observation is required to receive and interpret these subtle signs and only a few people bother enough to do so. So, the subtler physical features are a part of my identity.

Now suppose you are in a job interview and the interviewer asks you about yourself, then how do you respond? You tell them your name, qualifications, degrees and other things of the like. So, does that mean that you are your degrees? But, there are so many more things you do, can do, want to do, are learning to do that has no relation with all of these degrees. Are those of zero value? No, they are not. I would even go as far as saying that those are of more value since you did these for yourself, without any greed of a 'degree' to show off, because you put your heart into it and loved doing it. So, the things you do also become a part of who you are, even though degrees don't. For instance, your understanding of engineering is a part of you, but your B.Tech degree is not. It is the knowledge that matters, not a piece of paper.

Now, you meet someone at a company or business party. What do you tell them? You tell them about your job, the department you work in. So, for them you become 'The DGM from the Marketing Department'. Is that all you are? Do you become a non entity outside of work? What happens once you leave your workplace? You are still here, alive, breathing, thinking, present. You are here and you still do have an identity. Maybe not the one of the tag of 'The DGM', but something. So, your work, again, just becomes a part of who you are, not your complete identity.

In a family function, maybe, everyone won't know your name or other particulars about you. How do they know you? They know you as his son or her daughter or her husband or his wife. The children know you as his/her father/mother. So, are you your relations? Are you just that? A father, a husband, a mother or a wife? No, you are beyond that. You are so much more too. That doesn't mean that your relationships with others are meaningless. These are important, but these are not the only things that you are. So, again, relationships become a part of you.

You must have opinions about various issues. Your thoughts and opinions about everything is your brain child. When you have conversations with people about these things, then they start relating you with your thoughts and that is fair enough. These thoughts, thus, become a part of you. But, no one can know each and every thought that ever crossed your mind, except you. Your feelings for various people, about different issues and in all your situations are a huge part of you. Since you are human, your feelings govern your thoughts and actions. This makes your feelings a great part of who you are too. You might attempt to talk about your feelings to others and they might even empathize or sympathize with you, but they can't ever feel exactly what you are feeling. So, these feelings become a very intimate part of you. I think that the thoughts in your mind and the feelings in your heart are the greatest part of your soul's identity.

So, finally, who are you? Are you your name, or are you your face and body, or is it your expressions that you are, or are you your degrees or works or knowledge, or your job or relationships or are your thoughts, opinions and feelings your identity?
You are none of the above alone. You are all of these and a lot more simultaneously. You are a combination of so many things, both little and large that you could write a book as the answer to this and yet not be done because you find new things about you everyday. And guess what, no one else can tell you who you are. It is only you who can decide that. And even more, no one can know you as well as you do. Doesn't matter how close you are to them, how much you have told them about yourself or how observant they have been. You are the only one who knows you. Actually, that's all that you need too. You don't need anyone else to know you. You need only yourself. And everyday, you will find new, beautiful, mysterious, unique parts of you to love. Never stop discovering yourself and never worry about what others think you are. The only opinion that matters is that you have of yourself. So, keep on finding new rooms of your soul to fill with your love. Cheers to the magic that you are.


Till next time, yours
Pragya :)

Little to Strong

A little girl of 12.

Her body is changing and she knows why.

She has read about it in school

and her mother said that it'll happen to her soon.

But, there are other changes she doesn't understand.

Why is she stared at wherever she goes?

Not only her face, but also her body.

Why do they look at her that way?

She is uncomfortable and wants to hide.

A girl of 13.

She is in a train, happy,

returning from a nice vacation with family.

The train is still and she's near the door, alone.

A guy comes, hits her chest and gets off the train in less than five seconds.

She is left, alone again, in shock and denial.

Only this time, the loneliness is more profound.

She locks herself in the washroom, cries, washes her shirt 'cause she feels violated.

Then pretends as if nothing happened.

A girl of 14.

She is shopping for a new jacket.

The salesman is helping her with the stubborn zip.

But, only she knows what's going on behind the cover.

How his fingers press down hard on her above her jeans.

He smirks at her then, as if he owns her, but she knows he doesn't.

She leaves immediately.

It hurts down there for days.

A girl of 15.

It is a pleasant evening.

She is strolling around with a friend, by her home, her safe haven.

A bike approaches too close to them.

He gropes her friend and speeds away.

She tries to be brave and shouts after him.

But, deep down, she's scared.

A girl of 16.

She is cycling off to the nearest shop.

The road is deserted except for one man.

He whistles at her and gestures towards his unzipped pants.

She cycles away faster, afraid of what he might do next.

She takes a different, longer route back home.

A girl of 17.

She is in a crowded metro.

She feels a hand on her waist and something else on her lower back.

Before she could react,

the doors open and there's a rush.

She gets off and walks home, numb.

A strong girl of 18.

She is walking down the road.

Not scared at all, just wary.

She is on her toes now, wherever she goes.

No one will ever catch her off guard now.

No one will ever take advantage of the element of surprise,

or the suddenness of attack.

She knows that not all men are same,

but she doesn't know which ones are.

She won't be scared ever again.

She will stand up for herself, always.

She just misses being carefree.

She is forced to be alert all the time

and subject everyone to the scrutiny gaze.

But, that is the sacrifice she has to be willing to make.

Wishful Imagery

I imagined a world;

With no boundaries

And no countries,

No wars

And no violence.

I imagined a world;

That had one God

And various ways of life,

But no religions

And no religious fights.

I imagined a world;

Full of humanity

And compassion,

Where people were kind

And full of passion.

I imagined a world;

Where love was freely given

And hatred never made an appearance,

Where different was not strange

And unity in diversity was claimed.

I imagined a world;

Where there was no fear

And everyone was loyal,

Where there were no set standards of beauty

And everyone was pretty.

I imagined a world;

In which development was sustainable

And people were responsible,

Where Mother Earth did not suffer

And ozone layer did not crumble.

I imagined a world;

Which may exist in a parallel universe

But is forgotten in this creation;

Maybe it will be tomorrow's reality

Or just remain my wishful imagery.

Stigmatized sadness

            It's okay to be
                                not okay....

Sadness is a very under-rated emotion. One will pretend to be happy and smiling even if he is unhappy or broken or crying inside. Being sad is considered as something undesirable by society. But it is not. It is okay if you are unhappy once in a while. You don't have to be happy all the time. No sane person can be.


We are scared to admit that we are sad as we think that no one will understand. For instance, you tell someone that you aren't in a good mood and there he goes saying that you should be happy, just move on from whatever is causing you unhappiness. 'Why?', I ask. Why can't I just feel sadness as profoundly as I feel happiness? Why do I have to rush through this feeling? Even worse than this is the fear of being labelled as 'uncool' or 'loser' or 'depressed'. Instead, I think it is quite brave to be able to accept sadness in a world where it is considered a taboo. 


In fact, I think we should let ourselves feel pain and sadness very profoundly. It is when we are upset that we discover the deepest facets of our character and persona. It is in these sad moments when we reflect deeply on our lives, our actions and the changes that we want. These moments make us who we are today.


We, humans, have a huge range of emotions for a purpose. We need to explore all of these feelings and not be ashamed of even a single one of them. So, lovelies, feel free to feel everything without any shame and end the stigma attached to sadness.


Till next time, yours
Pragya :)