Founder of eShe magazine (eshe.in) and the peacebuilding initiative South Asia Union (southasiaunion.com). Features in and as 'The Unsuitable Girl', in episode 1 of 'Love Storiyaan' on Amazon Prime. Email: aekta@eshe.in
For the past couple of days, life has poured on a double dose of work on me. And this, after I grumbled to my God that I had a lot on my plate already. But besides exhaustion, what really bothers me are the sleepless nights. I’ve had these phases several times in my life — … More Enter the demons
My yoga teacher, Krishna, has taught me something more than asanas. A Malayalam speaker, he is not as fluent in English. Besides, he seems to be a reticent personality and is frugal with words. Ever since he started teaching me yoga four months ago, we must have barely spoken a few dozen full sentences to one … More Nonverbal communication
Of late, I have been making conscious changes in my thinking process and ways of responding to situations in my life. Recently, we got into a ‘parking spat’ with a neighbour. Even as the other lady argued aggressively, I found myself completely calm and inwardly focused despite the tense situation. I observed my own heart rate and … More Minding my retorts
My favourite niece got married last night, a culmination of a series of functions that lasted almost a week. In this time, lessons in life peeked out at me from various nooks and corners, especially those in letting go and detachment. We choose our family: Nowhere has this been clearer to me than at this wedding. … More All in a day’s wedding
There is no “right path” or “wrong path” but only the path that you’re on. – Neale Donald Walsch I just realised a couple of days ago that I don’t know too many working moms – and the ones I know are usually those in the government or teaching sector where they get home by … More A path of my own
Someone messaged me yesterday that his guru had warned him, “You are going up now but beware, you will come down soon.” I comforted him that whatever happens is for the best, and that there is no ‘up or down’ really. All evens out in the cycle of life. These events are temporary, anichcha. Our little … More The real ‘up and down’
Last month, my partner moved into the same apartment complex I live, but in the next building so we are sort of half living together. We now do yoga together, have breakfast and dinner together, go for walks in the evening sometimes, and drive to work together. Not surprisingly, there are various raised eyebrows all … More Gossip gossip
Last month, I met a part-time photographer in Whitehorse, Yukon. About 25 years ago, he’d been living in Toronto and going through very difficult times in his life. He decided that he needed to leave the city somehow, but didn’t have a clue where to go. So he opened the map of Canada, closed his … More Fearless in Auroville
Yesterday morning I caught a reflection of the view from my living room window in our showcase glass. Basically, it was an inverted version of a familiar view. On one hand, there was something ‘known’ about it; on the other, it seemed fascinatingly new. I recalled the words of great saints who say this life … More Reflections
G-Talk, weekday afternoon. Typical conversation between parents (well, one of them is only pretending to be a parent) of a Delhi snob-school, spoilt-brat teenager. “She’s given me material off the net and I’m supposed to edit it and make it 10th grade-worthy.” “Leave it, I’ll do it when I get home.” “No, you’ve got another one. … More Homework
This morning, as I lay flat on my back on the yoga mat, my eyes closed, sighing in sweet surrender, I could not help thanking God for the abundance in my life. Things are suddenly at a point that I had visualised several years ago – professionally, personally, spiritually. Certain dreams have been fulfilled – perhaps … More Dream a little, big dream
I take a shower In seconds, like sprouting leaves Drops bloom on the flesh.
The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good. I recently came across this quote and instantly recalled an incident when my partner and I had taken a romantic boat ride on a lake once. The sun was going down and it was just the two … More Treating ’em well
Someone asked me what my religion was. I said my Hindu religion allows me the openness to practice anything I want, and that I am more spiritual than religious. I choose to see divinity in just about everything, the God in the details, the miracles in everyday life. And so on this 10-day trip to … More Everywhere I looked
It was an unusually unlucky day. My flight from Whitehorse to Vancouver was meant to start around 8 am, but because the little airport wasn’t able to handle so many passengers (the entire conference seemed to be leaving at the same time), we were delayed by an hour. As a result, I missed my connecting … More A 12-hour journey into eternity
100 Paths 