“Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be,” said Abe Lincoln. But can one choose to be happy? Yes! Many happy people understand that happiness is a choice and that it is up to them to select it daily deliberately.

Those who are content with their lives do not let their circumstances dictate how they feel or look for enjoyment in other people or things. They recognize that when we stop seeking the happiness that the world defines, we realize that the choice to feel pleasure has always been available to us. This perspective is further supported by positive psychology research.

10 Ways to Choose Happiness Today

Being aware that happiness is a decision is insufficient. It still takes a conscious choice to choose happiness each day to experience it fully. So how might every one of us then start to feel this joy?

1. Be thankful for all you have

Happy people focus on the positive aspects of life rather than the negative. So, first, they set their minds on specific reasons to be grateful. Then, they express it when possible. And they quickly discover there is always something to be thankful for.

2. A smile is all you need

A smile is the most beautiful thing you can wear. But there's more to it than that: research suggests that how we express our feelings with our faces directly impacts how our brains interpret them. So, in the same way, our brains may move the emotion on our fronts, and our facial expressions also influence our brains. Put another way, by making the conscious decision to flash a smile, and you can train yourself to feel happier. Furthermore, your level of happiness is virtually certain to rise as a direct result of the numerous compliments you will receive from flashing your smile.

3. Affirm yourself daily

Affirmations are positive sentiments accompanied by affirmative beliefs and statements of truth that the individual speaks. When repeated daily, affirmations can relieve stress, increase confidence, and enhance attitude. Affirmations should be selected thoughtfully, founded in reality, and talk to the requirements of the present moment for them to be as powerful as possible.

4. Keep your complaint to yourself

Don't lash out in anger at someone, something, or yourself the next time you want to. Instead, please keep it to yourself humbly. You will almost certainly diffuse an unhealthy, unhappy environment. More than that, choosing peace in a difficult situation will bring you joy.

5. One life-improving discipline should be practiced

Personal development can bring happiness and fulfillment. Knowing that you have purposefully dedicated time and energy to your personal story is one of the most satisfying feelings you will ever have. So accept and put at least one act of self-discipline into practice every day. This could be exercise, budgeting, guided learning... whatever your life requires to grow. Look for it. Put it into practice. It's a reason to rejoice.

6. Make the most of your abilities

We are born with unique talents, strengths, and skills. And when we use them correctly, we feel alive and at ease in our skin. They assist us in discovering joy in our being and happiness in our design. So, every day, embrace your strengths and work within your gifts. If you need to find this outlet outside of your job, by all means, do so.

7. Accomplish one significant task

People who choose happiness to have more control over their lives. They don't make decisions based on a desire to find happiness. Instead, they act on the satisfaction that they have already chosen. They recognize that they have time constraints, worthwhile goals to pursue, and significant contributions to make to the world around them. Choose one primary task that you can complete each day. And take pleasure in your contribution.

8. Consume a nutritious meal

We exist on three levels: spiritual, emotional, and mental. We have physical bodies as well. Our lives cannot be divided into discrete parts. As a result, one aspect always has an impact on the others. Our physical bodies, for example, will always impact our spiritual and emotional well-being. As a result, caring for our physical well-being can significantly impact our emotional well-being. Eating healthy foods is a simple way to choose happiness today. Your physical body will appreciate it, as will your emotional well-being.

9. Treat others with respect

Everyone wishes to be treated with kindness. But, deeper down, we want to be treated with the same care that we would like to be treated with. Therefore, kindness, patience, and grace should be extended to everyone you meet. The Golden Rule is a firm guideline. Of course, it is advantageous to the recipient. However, it also increases your self-satisfaction as you strive to treat others as you would like to be treated.

10. Look for the good in your Challenges

This life can be challenging. Nobody escapes without suffering. We all come across it at some point in our lives. When you do, remember that even though the trials are complex, they will pass. And look deep for meaning in pain. Choose to look for the advantages that can be discovered in your test. At the very least, endurance is being developed. And, most likely, the ability to comfort others in their suffering is also being set.

“Saral hu Saadharn nhi” (Simplicity is not Ordinary). This phrase encapsulates her entire existence. A woman of few words, a daydreamer, who is certain that there is life beyond stars. An HR professional who began her writing journey when corona knocked on our doors. A Content Writer, Screenplay Writer, and published Author. She is die-hard romantic and that reflects in her quotes, poems and short stories and currently working on her first book. She enjoys cooking, dancing, singing, travelling, and is a huge Bollywood enthusiast. She is a wife, a mother and a friend you can most certainly rely on.

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Exam time in India can be an incredibly stressful time for children. The pressure to perform well on tests is immense, and with the high stakes of college admissions, the competition for university spots can be daunting. It is common for students to stay up late, cramming for exams or sacrificing sleep to study. It is also common for children to experience anxiety, depression, and stress during exam time as they are constantly worried about their results and future. This immense pressure severely impacts children’s mental health and can lead to physical health issues such as fatigue, headaches, and stomachaches. Parents, teachers, and schools must ensure that children are supported during this time and that the pressure to perform is not placed on them.

How can parents support children during exams?

1. They can provide a quiet, comfortable studying space and ensure their child has all the necessary materials and resources.
2. They can encourage and reassure that the child can do their best.
3. They can help their child develop a study plan and set achievable goals.
4. They can motivate their child to take regular breaks and eat healthy snacks.
5. They can emphasize the importance of doing their best rather than focusing on the outcome of high marks.

Parents should not pressure Kids On Grades

1. Focus on the Process:
   Encourage your child to work hard and learn the concepts instead of focusing on the marks.
2. Set Realistic Goals:
   Don’t pressure your child to achieve impossible goals.
3. Encourage Self-Evaluation:
   Let your child assess their performance and provide guidance, rather than just judging the marks.
4. Praise Achievements:
   Praise your child for any achievements, no matter how small.
5. Don’t Compare:
   Avoid comparing your child’s performance with someone else’s.
6. Show Support:
   Provide emotional support instead of putting pressure.
7. Don’t Place Too Much Emphasis on Marks or Grades:
   Remind your child that marks are not the only measure of success.
8. Help Create a Positive Study Environment:
   Make sure your child has a quiet, organized place to study.
9. Encourage Healthy Habits:
   Ensure your child gets enough sleep, eats properly, and exercises.
10. Make Learning Fun:
    Make learning fun using games and activities.

Making exam time fun for kids can be demanding, but creative ways exist to make it a positive experience. Creating a game is one way to make studying for exams more enjoyable. Create a game board with different topics or questions related to the exam and let the kids move around the board as they answer each question. You can also keep things light by having a reward system for each correct answer. Another way to make exam time more fun is to have a study buddy system. Kids can study together and quiz each other on their learning topics. This can make learning more enjoyable and help kids retain information better. Lastly, don’t forget to make sure your kids get enough rest and stay hydrated during exam time. Eating healthy snacks and taking breaks throughout the day can help reduce stress and make studying more enjoyable.

——

Augustus Manohar Stanley is now serving his life’s calling as a full-time Educator and works in Karnataka. He loves creating short academic videos and is also a music enthusiast.

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Moving abroad is exciting and scary at the same time! It s a chance to establish yourself as a permanent resident of another nation, pick up a new tongue, and develop your independence. However, it also implies that you will be apart from your friends and family, live in a strange culture, and establish a brand-new society.

Whether you are relocating for work, school, or a change of scenery, it will undoubtedly be an adventure. Moving to another country is an exciting and life-changing experience that can bring new opportunities and adventures. However, it can also be a daunting and overwhelming process with various challenges. The experience of moving to a new country involves not just physical relocation but also a significant emotional and mental adjustment. It requires adapting to a new culture, language, and environment and building new relationships while leaving behind familiar ones. From practical challenges such as finding a place to live and dealing with bureaucracy to emotional difficulties such as homesickness and culture shock, moving to another country can be a complex and overwhelming process that requires careful planning and preparation. 

Let’s explore why moving to another country can be overwhelming and provide tips for smoothing the transition.

1. The Process: Bureaucracy & Paperwork

It takes time to qualify as a resident of a foreign country. Be ready to deal with more paperwork than you ever imagined and become accustomed to bureaucracy. The process continues after the visa applications. There will be documentation for opening a bank account, renting an apartment, moving your possessions, getting a driver’s license, passing background checks, and possibly even enrolling in the grocery store’s loyalty rewards programs. It’s all worth it, and this too shall pass, keep in mind. Ensure you have enough passport photos (having a few more on hand is always a good idea), and welcome the formal introduction to your new land.

2. Embrace small victories

Recognize and appreciate all successes, no matter how minor. Moving to a new nation requires courage, and that grit might occasionally show in ways you wouldn’t even notice back home. Of course, it’s great when you have your first successful exchange in a foreign tongue! But so is the first time you use public transportation without using Google Maps to find your way. Or, you may attend a networking event where you know nobody—learning how to use the grocery store’s bagging system. Or the first time a stranger asks you for directions on the street, presuming you are a local. Even while there may be days when you want to cry from frustration, if you step back and celebrate all these seemingly insignificant victories, you’ll notice that they soon mount up.

3. Finding New Friends is Challenging But Possible! 

If you recently moved for employment or school, your coworkers or classmates may be your immediate social circle, but if not, it’s time to expand your social circle. Even though every location has a unique social environment, you must still be out there. Through a language class, a Meet-Up gathering, a blind set-up from a friend of a friend, or perhaps a networking event sponsored by the city. Even a friendship app is an option! Slowly but surely, you will feel like you’re creating a community.

4. Don’t Forget Your Hometown & Friends

While traveling, keeping up with relationships back home might be difficult. Make Skype or WhatsApp dates. Do it regardless, even if it means getting up early on the weekend or staying late to account for time zones. Simple things, like giving handwritten cards, can make a big difference. Reclaim the lost art of the private email. It’s simple to get swept up in the thrill of your new life, but it’s crucial to make an effort to maintain ties to the past. Of course, there is also the sobering possibility that you may lose friends. Who does and who doesn’t reach out will surprise you. This is also fine, I’ve come to realize.

5. Laugh & Learn From Your Mistakes Off

Akin to living Newton’s Third Law, moving to a new country involves one tiny accomplishment followed by an equal and opposite faux pas. For a while, you’ll have a feeling that you are alone. It’s alright. There will be many misconceptions and complete translation errors. It’s alright. You’ll have to inquire about quite essential matters in ridiculous ways. It’s alright. The term “Amused and Confused,” blinking on a sign one day as I passed it, has since become my expat process motto. You are welcome to claim it as your own.

6. You will miss home

Building a life and community takes time and effort in a foreign place. It’s conceivable to feel these contradictory emotions at what seems to be the same time while utterly adoring your new life and the things it delivers. Even mundane activities like a Saturday brunch or movie nights with friends are challenging to miss, like weddings or graduations. One day I’ll feel like I’m walking on air because my Canadian life is finally coming together, and other days I’ll wish I was back home where things are simple, routine activities aren’t challenging, and I can be myself without even trying.

7. Accept the Adventure

Living abroad has the chance to alter your life. Discovering a new nation, language, cuisine, culture, and people is an opportunity! Eventually, you will feel like you belong, but it will require time, effort, and stepping outside your comfort zone. It will be inhabited. And that feeling of accomplishment will stick with you always.

Moving to another country can be an exciting adventure that opens up new possibilities and experiences. However, it also presents significant challenges that can make the transition overwhelming. Moving to another country requires careful planning and preparation, from cultural differences and language barriers to practical challenges and emotional adjustment. Despite these challenges, it is possible to overcome the difficulties and thrive in a new country with the right mindset, support system, and resources. By embracing the experience and staying resilient, one can create a fulfilling and enriching life in a new environment.

“Saral hu Saadharn nhi” (Simplicity is not Ordinary). This phrase encapsulates her entire existence. A woman of few words, a daydreamer, who is certain that there is life beyond stars. An HR professional who began her writing journey when corona knocked on our doors. A Content Writer, Screenplay Writer, and published Author. She is die-hard romantic and that reflects in her quotes, poems and short stories and currently working on her first book. She enjoys cooking, dancing, singing, travelling, and is a huge Bollywood enthusiast. She is a wife, a mother and a friend you can most certainly rely on.

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Raising a 3-year-old can be both a rewarding and challenging experience. It is essential to set boundaries and provide consistent discipline while allowing for exploration and creativity. To nurture a healthy and happy 3-year-old, parents must create a safe, secure, and stimulating environment. It includes providing plenty of attention and love and setting clear expectations and consequences. It is important to remember that 3-year-olds are still learning and exploring the world around them. They are highly curious and need plenty of opportunities to be creative and explore their environment. It is crucial to provide them with age-appropriate toys and activities that help them develop cognitive skills and socialize with other children. Reading aloud to them and engaging them in conversation can also help them learn the language, communication, and problem-solving skills. Additionally, providing positive support and praise is essential when they demonstrate good behaviour. Connecting with your 3-year-old can help build a strong bond and foster a sense of security.

Children are developing their own sense of independence and autonomy at this age, which can lead to power struggles and stubbornness. They may also start expressing their opinions and preferences, which can sometimes clash with their parent’s expectations. These behaviours can be reminiscent of teenagers’ mood swings and defiance.

The term “threenager” is often used to describe a 3-year-old child who exhibits behaviours and attitudes similar to a teenager’s. In addition, this term is often used to describe the challenging and often unpredictable behaviour that can arise as a child reaches the age of three. The term “threenager” is primarily used as a lighthearted way to describe the challenges of parenting a young child.

How to Raise a 3-year-old?

1. Set limits and boundaries: 

Establishing clear boundaries is an integral part of parenting a three-year-old. Explain why certain behaviors are expected and provide positive reinforcement when those behaviours are followed. 

2. Encourage independence: 

As your child grows, it’s important to foster independence. Please encourage your child to do simple tasks such as putting on their clothes, brushing their teeth, and helping with chores. 

3. Provide positive reinforcement: 

Positive reinforcement is a powerful tool for teaching good behaviour. Compliment your child when they do something right, and use rewards or treats to reinforce desired behaviours. 

4. Spend quality time: 

Spend quality time with your kid every day. Read books, play games, and engage in fun and stimulating activities. 

5. Model good behaviour: 

Children learn by example. Model the behaviour that you want your child to emulate, and lead by example. 

6. Teach problem-solving skills: 

Please help your child develop problem-solving skills by teaching them how to think things through. Then, if a problem arises, talk it out and help your child develop solutions. 

7. Promote healthy habits: 

Establish healthy habits such as healthy eating and regular exercise.

a gentle reminder to parents raising a 3-year-old 

1. Patience is critical when raising a 3-year-old. 

Take the time to listen to your child and understand their needs and wants. Children of this age group are still developing and trying to figure out their world. Showing patience and kindness can go a long way in helping your child feel safe and secure. 

2. Encourage your 3-year-old to explore and express themselves. 

This age is a great time to introduce activities like drawing and painting, as they can help children to express their feelings and explore their creativity. Reading is also a great way to help your child learn more about the world and explore new ideas. 

3. Establish routines and rules early to help your 3-year-old learn boundaries. 

Setting consistent expectations and limits can help your child feel secure and understand that they have limitations on their behaviour. Make sure to be firm but fair when enforcing these rules. Encouraging your child to practice self-control and responsibility is essential to their development.

Lastly, Always be patient with yourself. You are also learning and possibly doing this for the first time. It takes work. I have a tiny 3-year-old tornado who I love to bits. But sometimes, he can push all my buttons and test me. But I also know he is a lovely child, and I am more than happy and grateful to be his dad as much as he is my tiny tornado!

——

Ignatius Deepak Stanley is an experienced business coach, trainer, educational consultant and full time dad. He has worked with several well known corporates before deciding to take time out and be a full time dad to his 3 year old son. Beside being a consultant, he has written and published books. Deepak enjoys riding and driving, reading, writing and travelling.

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Education in rural India has long been a topic of concern and debate due to its critical importance in development. Rural India, which constitutes a significant portion of the population, faces unique challenges in accessing education compared to urban areas. The need for proper infrastructure, resources, and qualified teachers in rural areas has resulted in a significant disparity in the quality of education between urban and rural areas. However, various initiatives have been taken by the government, non-profit organizations, and private institutions to improve education in rural India. In this context, it is essential to understand the current state of education in rural India and the efforts being made to improve it. This essay will explore the challenges, opportunities, and initiatives in rural India, highlighting the significance of education for the development of rural communities and the nation.

Familiarity with the local culture and rapport with the students is essential when educators educate in rural India. Flexibility and creativity are crucial since rural areas often lack necessary resources like textbooks, technology, and other materials. In addition, it is required to engage the community and involve them in the educational process. Using culturally relevant activities for the students is also essential, as this can make the learning process more meaningful and enjoyable. Finally, valuing the students’ voices and incorporating their perspectives into the learning process is elementary.

Initiatives in Education in Rural India

1. Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan:
   The government initiative aims to provide free and compulsory education to all children between the ages of 6 and 14. The program also focuses on improving the quality of education in rural areas.
2. Mid-Day Meal Scheme:
   It provides free meals to children in government schools to improve their nutritional intake and encourage regular attendance.
3. Digital India:
   The Digital India initiative aims to provide digital infrastructure and services to all citizens, including those in rural areas. This includes giving digital devices, internet connectivity, and e-learning platforms.
4. Skill India:
   The Skill India initiative aims to provide vocational training to youth to increase their employability and contribute to the local economy.

To be ready to teach kids in rural India,
here is something educators can do

1. Learn about the local culture:
   Learning about the local culture, traditions, and customs of the area where you will teach is essential. This can help you understand the perspectives of the students and their families, which can facilitate communication and build relationships.
2. Understand the language:
   In many rural areas, the primary language may not be Hindi or English. Therefore, it is essential to understand the local language or dialect to communicate effectively with the students and their families.
3. Be adaptable:
   Teaching in rural areas can present unique challenges due to the need for more resources and infrastructure. It is essential to be adaptable and flexible to work with the available resources and make the best of the situation.
4. Use technology effectively:
   The use of technology can help overcome some of the challenges in rural education. Educators should be familiar with technology such as e-learning platforms, digital resources, and mobile apps and be able to use them effectively in their teaching.
5. Collaborate with local communities:
   Collaborating with local communities and involving them in the education process can help build trust and engagement. This can be done by involving parents and community members in school activities and events.
6. Be patient and persistent:
   Building trust and engagement in rural communities can take time. Educators should be patient and persistent in improving education outcomes and work collaboratively with the local community to achieve the desired goals.
7. Reach out to local stakeholders:
   Connect with local organizations and businesses to create a comprehensive community-wide approach to improving the educational outcomes of the students. Develop partnerships with local organizations and businesses to provide additional resources for students.

Useful Learning tools for kids in rural India

1. Audiobooks:
   Many kids in rural India may need access to physical books. Audiobooks, played on mobile phones or other devices, can provide an excellent way for kids to learn and improve their listening and comprehension skills.
2. Educational apps:
   Many educational apps can help kids learn math, science, language, and other subjects. These apps can be downloaded on smartphones and tablets, increasingly becoming more accessible in rural areas.
3. Interactive whiteboards:
   Interactive whiteboards can be a valuable learning tool for classrooms in rural areas. They allow teachers to create interactive lessons and activities, which can be engaging and help students learn in a fun and interactive way.
4. Solar-powered devices:
   In many rural areas, access to electricity is limited. Solar-powered devices such as solar-powered lamps, tablets, and other devices can provide a sustainable and reliable power source for learning tools.
5. Community libraries:
   Community libraries can provide access to physical books and other learning materials for kids in rural areas. These libraries can be set up in schools, community centers, or other public spaces and can provide an excellent resource for learning.
6. Educational videos:
   Educational videos can be a valuable learning tool for kids in rural areas, particularly for science and social studies. Videos can be played on mobile devices, TVs, or other devices, providing an engaging and interactive way for kids to learn.

Reminder points For teachers

1. Ensure you maintain a positive and encouraging learning environment.
2. Motivate your students to reach their full potential by setting achievable goals.
3. Adapt teaching methods to accommodate different learning styles and abilities.
4. Utilise technology to provide students with access to resources and materials.
5. Take advantage of available community resources to supplement your teaching.
6. Maintain regular communication with the parents of your students.
7. Encourage your students to develop their sense of civic engagement.
8. Promote the importance of lifelong learning.
9. Advocate for your students to receive the necessary support and resources.
10. Lead by example and embody the values of environmental stewardship.

Education is essential for the overall development of rural communities and the nation. It can help break the cycle of poverty and improve rural communities’ living standards. In addition, education can promote gender equality, reduce child labor, and enhance social and economic mobility. Moreover, educated individuals can contribute to developing their communities and the nation by bringing about positive healthcare, infrastructure, and agriculture changes.

——

Augustus Manohar Stanley is now serving his life’s calling as a full-time Educator and works in Karnataka. He loves creating short academic videos and is also a music enthusiast.

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As I step into my 30s, I have learned to recognize what is most essential in life. We constantly give advice to our peers, judge our neighbours, and believe we have it all figured out when in reality, the majority of us are running in hamster balls, not saying „goodnight “to our significant others, are upside down on our mortgages, and are simply going through the motions of daily life while putting on a front. As a millennial, I am offered advice, evaluated, and often mocked daily, but the one thing I cherish that many others lack is happiness. I have also learned the value of wearing comfortable shoes and having an extra hair tie. Still, most significantly, I know what makes me happy, a trait many seek.

1. Reconciliation and forgiveness are unrelated

Forgiveness is not about the other person but about letting yourself rid yourself and others of toxic anger, resentment, or destructive emotions. For instance, you can forgive someone who has wounded you, even if they do not apologize. It is not about them or the connection but about you and enabling yourself to have space for other great people and healthy sentiments in your life.

2. Seek direction from people you admire

If you’re anything like me, you’re probably tired of hearing „words of wisdom “from people you know. People like to feel important, so regardless of whether you ask for their opinion, they will give you their two cents on anything from relationships to real estate to finances. So, unless you admire that person, listen, nod, and smile before casting that advice over your shoulder and moving on. Instead, listen to the recommendation of individuals you respect and appreciate.

3. Spend quality time by yourself

You must constantly make time to be by yourself, recharge, laugh, and relax, regardless of whether you are a mom or grandma, a 40-hour-per-week worker!, or a CEO! So take a getaway, go for a run, call in sick, and, for at least one full day, just be YOU. You will love yourself more if you are rested, at ease, and upbeat. And the fun fact (your co-workers, spouses, family, employees, and friends will like you more ), do this only for yourself. 

4. The only day that is ALL ABOUT YOU is your birthday (In my case)

Because it’s the one day a year when I get to make the decisions, celebrate and do whatever makes me happy. I never work on my birthday; instead, I take a vacation or spend the entire day doing everything I love with the people I care about.

5. Read

“The man who never reads lives only one. The reader lives a thousand lives before he dies.” George R. R. Martin, One of the best resources for your intellect is the library. A fantastic resource is Goodreads.

6. Spend some time outside

Nature can aid with depression and anxiety, according to studies. Mother Nature is highly therapeutic, whether hiking, camping, surfing, paddle boarding, jogging, or taking a stroll on the beach. Because it’s the common human dream, many individuals work hard to find love, settle down, and start a family. Nevertheless, many never find true happiness. Don’t follow what society tells you to do; follow your course.

7. Choose your fights

I’ll never know why people argue over politics or publish offensive things on social media. Decide what is worthwhile to fight for. I will not argue with my friends and family over small matters. 

8. Words, once spoken, cannot be taken back

You can never take back anything you express. But, unfortunately, we’ve all had moments where we lost control and shouted regrettable things. Words can break people’s hearts, so use caution when speaking.

9. Embrace terrible days as they come, but know when to get help

There will be days when you don’t feel like getting out of bed when everything appears to be going wrong, and maybe even when you think your life is ending. Those times and days will pass, but if they don’t, ask for help, talk about your feelings, and never hide behind your mask because doing so will only worsen these times and days.

10. Clear out the clutter

We accumulate far too many unnecessary possessions. Go through your home, closet, and garage once a year, and donate whatever you haven’t worn or used in the last 12 months because you obviously don’t need it. I have a rule: I must donate an outfit or a pair of shoes from my closet for every new pair of shoes or clothing I purchase. I also make an effort to shop primarily at thrift shops. 

11. Become more environmentally conscious

Even if you don’t compost your waste or drive an electric car, you may at least preserve the world by being aware of how much trash you make each week and finding ways to reduce it. Recycle, avoid buying disposable utensils and plates, pay attention to Amazon packaging, carpool, drink tap or filtered water from your faucet, and pick up garbage when you see it.

12. Strangers will become friends, and friends will become strangers

It’s okay if some of your friends and you become less close. Friendships require a lot of work, and if both parties are unwilling to put in the effort, the relationship may not be worthwhile in the long run. On the other hand, making new friends can happen at any age or level of coolness.

13. Discover a new hobby

I eventually started writing in 2020 after wanting to do so for a long time. I had no idea what content writing was all my life, and now I’m constantly asking people what niche they feel most at ease with. So take up a new hobby and make yourself more formative and resourceful.

14. To each their own conflict

You can never wholly understand someone else’s struggles. They could seem thriving, cheerful, and in good health on the surface, yet they might be going through some of the worst times of their lives. So, embrace, forgive, listen, and be kind to others.

——

“Saral hu Saadharn nhi” (Simplicity is not Ordinary). This phrase encapsulates her entire existence. A woman of few words, a daydreamer, who is certain that there is life beyond stars. An HR professional who began her writing journey when corona knocked on our doors. A Content Writer, Screenplay Writer, and published Author. She is die-hard romantic and that reflects in her quotes, poems and short stories and currently working on her first book. She enjoys cooking, dancing, singing, travelling, and is a huge Bollywood enthusiast. She is a wife, a mother and a friend you can most certainly rely on.

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Hello Besties, how are you doing? Oh wait… Why am I calling everyone my besties? Because… it’s the trend! Yes, you heard that right.

Growing up and in school, I had to determine much about whom to call my bestie. Whether they consider me their best friend too? That was a pre-requisite. Cut to 2023, when social media has become everyone’s alternate best friend and every stranger on here is now their bestie. My concern is how we dilute the essence of something by overusing and turning it into slang. 

To give a little context, using bestie as a greeting started on Tik Tok, a social media platform where the sound ‘Bestie Vibes Only’ got more than 80,000 videos. It barely takes a moment to change the medium from TikTok to Instagram. First, users started commenting, referring to strangers as besties, and then the rest followed. So now we have creators calling their followers besties and influencing others to do the same. At some point, ‘bestie’ even became a signal of friend-zoning. On the internet, we are all each other’s besties? Off the internet, we think, ‘can I cry in front of my ‘real’ best friend?’

Bestie is, after all, just a shortened form of a best friend. But why does it irk me so much? Because as you go and grow through life, you start understanding who your true friends are. Someone whom you chose in school to distribute chocolates with on your birthday is probably not even in touch with you. Today, can we even give one or more than one person the superlative of being the best when it comes to friendship? Few are lucky to have a different set of best friends, while others rely on their 150-7000 followers as besties. It is just a form of affection; what’s the harm? 

Do You Have a Bestie? 

In today’s age, we are consciously aware of red flags, lousy behaviour, problematic thinking, generational trauma, and objectifying mentality in a person. How many of you know a friend with at least one of these aspects? How are we then deciding on our best friends? Are we improving them, or are we trying to bring in a change among ourselves? 

The internet will give you a set definition of a best friend, but as you experience situations, the implicated meaning will keep changing. 

For example, do you have five best friends you can tell everything about or just two who know what you are going through? Why do you choose the two to share and make sense of or mean something to you and then share tidbits with the others? Why?

Do you have someone you can call in the middle of the night, through every breakthrough and breakdown, and share minor things without hesitation? Someone who can unfold the layers of your thoughts and place them in front of you to pick and choose the good ones and eliminate the negative ones. As we get older, we get entangled in our responsibilities, and the frequency of calls/messages with our best friends reduces. As a result, we genuinely forget to share some things and brush away others for good. 

As of today, with all you have been through, do you have a bestie? Someone who has seen you drunk, probably half-naked, embarrassing yourself, falling for the wrong person, giving you a piece of mind over and over again… Someone who stood by when you lost your pet or cheered when you cleared the exams to go abroad and chase your dreams? There can be a broader spectrum of all these emotions, but to have one person through it all is a blessing of a bestie!

Now the question is, have you been someone’s best friend too? Friendship is, of course, a two-way street. Have you stood like a rock alongside someone through their growth and downfalls? In friendship, this also has to be done without expectations. 

The internet will forget about besties when there is a new word around the corner. The 700 followers on your profile are only doing it for engagement. Remember how everyone went LOL and now it simply means nothing at all without even a hint of laughter. Language is always at the behest of slang. We are soon going to do that to besties. No biggie, as long as we remember who our absolute besties are. 

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Writer by day, an overthinker by night. I let my thoughts flow through my writing. As a definite misfit, I let my words speak louder than my actions. Welcome to my journey of sailing through emotions and experiences, with words as my paddles.

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