Listen, at least once!!

There is someone we all know about, someone who has changed drastically, someone who seems a lot different than before, someone you feel has lost their spark.. You ask them what's wrong and they say it's just routine or exhaustion.. Please give them a nudge, they may have a lot to talk but just can't do it..

Yes, you see them smile, you see them talk, you feel everything is normal but something feels amiss.. They are faking it.. That smile is a fake, that normalcy is fake, that's all a pretence to feel one in the crowd.. They are searching for someone who they can share their burden with, someone to just unload their pain.. But still, inspite of someone coming forward to talk, they shut themselves up.. You think it's such a Paradox, how can someone who wants to talk not do so when someone offers to hear..

But thats how paradoxical Depression makes you behave..It breeds on your negative memories, conquering your conciousness, depriving you of clarity and leaving you alinged with an opaque feeling.. It's like the dementors of Harry Potter series, sucking out your good thoughts.. 

This opaque feeling builds on your thoughts 

exponentially paralysing your thought process resulting into a state of constant unsettlement.. You know it's in your head but you can't get it out.. It shuts you off from the world, makes you feel like a robot doing chores and duties.. You feel numb, lifeless, monotonous.. Gradually making you your own enemy.. 

Next time you see someone having changed drastically, try to talk to them.. In a fast paced life, sparing a few minutes to listen is the biggest gift we can give.. Going for therapy is not something that everyone can do.. But talking to a friend is possible.. They may be rude, turn you down or disown your words. Stick around, they will surely open up..  We can be real friends in their time of despair.. Hear them, nudge them and give them the comfort they require to share their hearts..

Let us decide to be there for someone we know who needs us. Let us phase this monster out.. Let us get the genuine happiness back in the life of our friend.. Let us be a friend before they conspire against themselves!!!

Blog by "thegreatzero" (presently "https://angelicones.blogspot.com/") (Rajakumar Thevar)and "phoenixrisingfromtheash.blogspot.com" (BB)

Maa ka haath ka khaana

 Today while making pasta for my son, seeing his excitement and impatience checking on the progress of the pasta cooking,  it struck me.. Inspite of his love for this dish, when offered similar looking Alfredo sauce pasta (white pasta), he tasted n spat it out at various occasions!!! When in Italy, he was the only one who didn't enjoy/eat pasta when pasta was arranged for the entire group owing to his birthday.. The entire crew from Kerala enjoyed it inspite of being reluctant to try a foreign cuisine whereas the chief guest of the day satisfied himself with the cheese on the pizza instead!! Why?? Pasta being an Italian dish, had the authentic tasting thing there!! It was delicious, to put it in simple terms.. My three year old has helped solve a complicated thought in my head..

 My mummy (MIL)  is an amazing cook, nobody can beat that.. But still, certain dishes I love when it's cooked by my mom.. Not because of the taste, but familiarity.. I have grown up having certain dishes in a certain manner.. That's a signature style of my mom or dad.. If someone else makes the same dish, it'll not taste the same.. I'd prefer the taste I've had all my life over something new..

This simple logic was unearthed by my tiny tot who hasn't even begun talking clear sentences.. He has had pasta made by me much more times than the outside food.. I boil it soft since he's lazy to chew, replace maida with wheat flour, authentic maida pasta with semolina pasta, not adding veggies or chicken since he hates it and on and on..  I make Palak paneer with extra cream because it masks the flavour of spinach since the kid refuses it and that's a hit with him!! In brief, it's custom made for my son, because I know his choices, worry about his health and want to see the satisfaction in his face at the end of the meal..

 That's what all our mothers have been doing for us.. We don't worry whether or not the food retains the authentic taste because we have a more important concern.. Next time when you boast about how amazing cook your mom is, don't forget to acknowledge the preference she's given to your choice!!