Scared to Switch? Don’t be!

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It was a few months ago or maybe over a year when I read about menstrual cups. Initially, there were uncountable questions in my head. 

And there were apprehensions. 

What? How? Why? When? Just like you must be having them. And it is only normal to think of such questions coz we had never heard of them before, let alone anyone talk about it.

But not anymore. I first got to know about it from Shailaja. She wrote an entire post on it and believe me when I read it, I was intrigued… A lot. I then started digging more and more articles and videos related to it. And by the time I was ready to try them, I got pregnant. Months later, there was another video and I was charged again to make the switch. After settling with everything, I finally mustered the courage to order my first cup from Boondh and couldn’t wait to finally try it.

Some of you must be wondering what they are in the first place? Well, the menstrual cup is a type of reusable feminine hygiene product. It is a small, flexible, funnel-shaped cup made of medical grade silicone that accumulates period fluid by being placed inside the vagina. Sterilization of the cup is required during the beginning and the end of the menstrual phase of the menstrual cycle.

The first time I used the cup, it was a bit different. It always takes a little time to adapt yourself with something new. And making a change after being accustomed to something for almost two decades is not easy. But it is not even difficult. Believe me.

The first 2-3 times (in the first cycle), the sight of the blood was a bit scandalous but that feeling went away soon. It is all temporary and doesn’t make a difference at all. 

I did feel there was something inside me initially but that too went away and I realized, it is way more comfortable compared to sanitary pads. You may get used to it with as early as with the second cycle (at least, I did) to the level that you won’t even feel you are having periods. Yes! And I am not exaggerating.

Since the time, I’ve been using them, I am bragging about all the pros of it and not even a single con.

They make those days rash free, you can go in waters, do yoga, run a mile, the cramps are gone and let me not get started with the statistics of the garbage that sanitary pads produce and the amount of them that gets collected and the quantum of how much they harm the environment! In simpler words, menstrual cups are THE BEST THING for the environment! I know when it comes to personal hygiene, thinking of the environment would be the last thing on your mind but when something gets comfortable, there is no harm in thinking either. Also, you don’t need to remove the cup while urinating or excretion.

I’m sure you must have heard of the chemicals and bleaching properties being used in making a sanitary pad and how much it affects our body in the long run. A menstrual cup does no such harm and you can use the cup for 10 + years! Good for both body and environment. Not to mention your pockets as well.

Now that I use it, I only feel why did I wait so long? Why didn’t I switch to it earlier and was punishing myself (and the environment) with the pads?! But I am happy and glad that I made the switch.

The videos on Youtube always come to the rescue. From the process of insertion to maintaining it all clean, they are all there. Just check out a few videos and you will be good to go.  

After using it for some time, I felt the need to write about it and make you guys aware of it.

You can always ask questions or DM if you have doubts about them. I’m sure you have a few! 

Cheers

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Look... they are so many!

Getting back to writing is really tough. Thinking of writing a blogpost and then editing it, finding the right picture and then posting it. It feels way more tedious than it actually is. And I have been opening my laptop so many times, opened Word, thought of writing something, stared at the blank screen and then shut it down. This had been my routine for the past few months. Getting back isn’t easy but it sure is rewarding. It's therapeutic as well and I realize this as I am typing this sentence. When I look back at the month that has gone by, all I want to think about are all the great things that came my way. And so I thought why not make a list of it?! Let’s see what I’ve got: 

1.   Number one to top the list would be the way my baby started laughing at small triggers. Just a small naughty expression and she is all gaga over it. The constant giggling and laughter is nothing but honey to my ears.

2.  Friendships Day. There wasn’t any celebration per se but an outing with your friends with a good food and eventful day is enough to be worthy of it.

3.   Clicking cutest of pictures of my baby!

4.   I left the baby home for the first time and went for an event. I made a few connections and met new people. What I took from that event was lots of confidence and self-realization. Also, I never thought the baby would be able to stay without me for 8 long hours and yet she did! Which also gives the green signal to get back to work asap.

5.  Signing up for an option which might give a new direction to my life. I am super-duper excited to learn this new thing and I hope it falls in place. Touchwood.

6.     Conversation with my best friend for an hour or two… just like old days.

7.     Having my best friend by my side who takes all the possible efforts to ensure I’m fine.

8.     Snapchat videos with my baby.

9.    Materializing the casual discussion into an actual plan with my cousins. Traveling with my Girl tribe will be nothing but full of surprises. Well, this makes me realize, the randomness of discussion is directly proportional to its materialization. So peeps, chuck all the planning and take your random thoughts a tad too serious… you never where you might land up.

10.  Donated to #KeralaFloods and promoted for it on Social Media. It’s always important to do your bit.

11.    Got Rakhi gifts for my siblings and received wonderful gifts too in return.

12.    Made space for a plant in my room.

13.    De-cluttered to some extent.

14.  Had the fruit from the plant whose seed I planted 3 years ago. It was bliss.

15.  Started with the class I signed up for and it is going good so far.

16. Met this new person and I am being really positive after the meeting. Keeping my fingers crossed. For once, I am thinking about myself before doing anything.

17.   Finished reading the book I started long back.

18.  Offered support to my sister and gave wings to her logic and somehow brought the whole family on the same page. *If only I could muster this much courage for myself* (rolling eyes).

19.  Ordering those touch and feel books for my baby. The new additions in her collection were the puppet and finger books. The joy on her face was precious.

20. It was my baby's first Rakhi and the day went well. We went for bowling and games and it was wonderful. I think we should do it more often!

At the end of the month I feel nothing but positive… and hopeful for a better tomorrow.  Do you guys feel the same way? This was my way of getting back to writing and see some light that I was continuously escaping from, from a long time.

Cheers

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10 Things No One Knows About Me

There are certain things that everyone knows about us and then there are the ones which no one knows. People do think they know us in and out but only we know how much truth holds in that statement ;). And so, I decided to make a list of things about me which no one knows. I'm not sure if it's going to be fun but sure wanted to give it a try.

Go ahead and read them all.

1.   I am way too sensitive than anyone will ever know. Even the tiniest of things affect me and yes, I try too hard not to overthink think or expect anything, yet a thousand thoughts refuse to leave my head.

2.   People around me think they know everything about me but there is always something that they don’t know. And that something involves major details of my life :P. So if you think you know everything about me or know me too well, think again!

You think you know all my secrets, ha? :P

3.  My judgment often finds its way when it comes to giving suggestions to others and most of them turn out to be helpful as well. But at the same time, when it comes myself, all my sense of decisiveness goes to Mars I guess. I have no clue about what to do, how to do, should I do it or not and fail to discriminate between what is right and what is wrong. That’s the reason why I feel so miserable at times.

I'm mostly wrong about myself! (Rolling eyes)

4.  No matter how hard I try, I’m not able to market myself well be it about my work or things I do in my personal life. I am never able to show it off or portray about doing it. I strongly feel why do I have to flaunt it or boast it in front of people about the good thing that I did. People will learn about it anyway. I should focus on doing well. 

If only flaunting it off was as easy as flaunting a dress!

5.  I may look a confident, independent girl on the outside but deep down I’m just the opposite. And by opposite I mean, anything but these adjectives (or at least that is how my state of mind is at the moment).

Duh!

6.   People see me as someone who is always surrounded with friends and family, etc. and hence I always have someone to go to every time, (sure, I have people around) yet, I see myself as a lonely person.

That's how it is when I'm stuck with problems

7.  I’ve almost forgotten how to lie. I don’t know if it is a good thing or bad but whatever is there in my heart or whatever little knowledge I have I share it exactly the way it is. No twisting and turning. I’ve forgotten how to manipulate things. Again, wondering if it’s good or bad. Given the times we live in, I feel it’s mostly on the downside.

Yes! That's me at lying

8.  I strictly follow the tit-for-tat principle. I do things the way they are done to me. And I often fail to make the first move. *Rolling eyes*

Tit-for-Tat!

9.  Sometimes, what people think of me means everything to me. I know, it’s not right but that is how it gets so many times.

10.  There used to be a time when I was good at making friendships. People still think I am great with networking, but only I know how terrible I’ve become at making contacts and maintaining them.

Me at making contacts

I don’t know if I should be sharing it all here or not and I also, am aware of the risk of writing it here. But then I feel, this is my blog which is an image of myself and I’m sure all of us have our weaknesses. It's just I chose to write it down here.

And it took a great deal of time to come out with them and share it with everyone.

Care to share what no one knows about you? I’d be happy if you’re doing a post on it. Otherwise too, I’d be glad to know.

Cheers

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Breathe and Smile

 ‘We will welcome the guests with the tilak and maang teeka for the ladies and broach for the gents’,

‘Yes, that will look really nice and new’

‘But didi, it’s a baby shower. Not a wedding function’

‘Let it be, it will look nice’

‘Mummyji, I was thinking to have the badges made like mommy-to-be, daddy-to-be, grandma-to-be, etc. They’re really in these days.’

‘No. I don’t think it’s a good idea. We’ll do the maang teeka thing’

Hearing this, Neeta took a deep breath and let it go with a sigh.

***

‘After checking with everyone, I think 31^st December will be the best date for the baby shower. Moreover, it’s a Sunday so it won’t be a hassle for the outstation guests. We’ve shifted the date so many times… I’m glad it’s fixed now.’

‘Looks good to me’

‘As it is an afternoon function, we will be free by evening. Also, it will be New Year’s Eve, we should plan a small party for our guests. A bonfire, good snacks and a cake at 12 am… wouldn’t it be wonderful?’

And there Neeta stood… flustered with the idea. It will be her 9^th month of pregnancy. It was her baby shower for which everyone was so excited. Except her. She was happy only from the outside.

It will be so much of strain for her. First, to have a function in the afternoon and then another on the same day where she won’t be able to sleep before the clock strikes midnight. This was worrying her more than anything.

‘Mummyji, it will get really stressful for me. Let’s keep the function on any other date. It will be too much on the plate for me having back to back functions with all the guests in the house’

‘I doubt we’ll be able to shift the date. You don’t worry. It won’t be a problem. You can rest. We’ll handle everything. You sleep early, no problem’

‘How can I sleep early with so many guests in the house, mummyji? It will not look nice. Moreover, I don’t want to. I too would want to enjoy with everyone. Won’t it be much more convenient if we shift the dates?’

‘Dates can’t be shifted now. They’re fixed. I’m telling you, don’t worry, everything will be fine’

Yet, once again, her opinion was ignored and the things were carried on according to the whims and fancies of everyone in the family, but her.

Neeta was anyway a bit reluctant towards the idea of celebrating it large. She didn’t want any gathering or guests or celebrations. All she wished for was the safe arrival of her bundle of joy and then throw a party for everyone. Obviously, what she thought never mattered to the family and everyone continued with their party planning.

Just like this, her suggestions and ideas were ignored in every aspect. Be it the food menu, or the venue or the timings or the photographer or the gifts or the preparations and the funny thing is it was her baby shower!

Breathing it all out, she calmed herself out and wore a smile every day, not for anyone else but for her own mental peace and sanity! 

Cheers

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Of random ranting and more…

Of late I’ve been battling with a lot of issues and anxiety that is going inside me. Earlier I blamed it on the time that I’m going through but as the time is passing, I’ve started to realize it is not the time that is to be blamed but me.

It is me because of which I’m unable to deal with things around me.

Since childhood, I’ve hardly been an angry person. I generally don’t take things too seriously and let go of a lot of things. Not because I want to, but because they don’t affect me that much and hence no anger. Yes, there were times when there have been blasts and now when I think of them, here are a few questions and answers that I come to.

Do I use to get angry? No.

Why? Because I used to speak most of the stuff that I felt. Whatever I had in my heart, it was out from my mouth to my friends and that is why all the friendships I’ve had were unstained. Because nothing is inside and everything is outside… crystal clear.

Sure, there were issues with my parents while growing up and that was because I wasn’t vocal about how I felt and hence the ability to not speak my heart out and keeping things inside me led to a lot of frustrations which I couldn’t address and hence the turmoil times.

I’ve always been a chirpy person and I can’t keep quiet for long. Even if I’ve been upset something, that phase didn’t last much because I always speak out to people around me and clear things up and I get back to being me.

But today, as I look back, a lot has changed. I have changed. I am not the same ‘geet’ anymore. I barely speak. I hardly crack jokes. I don’t like sharing too much. The spark that I had seems to fade away. The willingness to know things isn’t there. That care and concern for people around me don't bother me now. And to top it all up, I am more frustrated than ever! Because obviously, I don’t speak much, I don’t bring out my mind out!

Why you wonder? Because, one, I’m not working. And not working means not moving out of the house much and hence no change in the daily routine, no meeting of new people. 

Two, there isn’t anyone around with who I can share my woes and tell them how I feel from inside. Three, because of the self-esteem issues, anything that goes against what I think makes me even more vulnerable. It brings tears to my eyes and the frustration that builds up is at its peak because of the inability to bring out what I have inside, in turn making me more bitter, aggressive and a bit depressed at the same time.

Not speaking up piles a lot of things making it work like a venom on my tongue where without making any rational point, I simply blurt out the thing that pricks me the most.

Also, earlier, if not speaking, I used to write it all out but this time even that is not happening. I don’t feel like. Doing. Anything.

I’ve signed up for a project next month and I am not enthusiastic about it at all. I’m wondering how I will be able to meet up the deadlines and the expectations and hoo-haa that comes with it. I didn’t even feel like signing up for the other things that are in store for next month.

I am not liking the kind of person I am becoming day by day. And I think of the worst repercussions possible!

And what’s even more pathetic is I don’t seem to care. I just want to let it go. Give up. On everything. And run away. From everything. Where there is no one. Not a single soul I know. No contact whatsoever. And I am not in a position to do this. Of course, it’s neither the solution nor this is going to happen! Which makes me even sadder!

P.S: I’ve opened the Word on my laptop zillion time to come up with some creative writing… only to end up ranting about whatever is going on.

P.P.S: This hopefully might clear a bit of the air and I might come up with something better to write.

How has the past few months treated you? Share with me… who knows what may trigger and I might get some inspiration!

Cheers

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Lone in the Herd

We live in times that we scroll through the Whatsapp/Contact list to see who it is we can talk to and yet don’t find a single person to rescue us from the loneliness at that moment… I remember the time, say 6-7 years from now, when Facebook was a rare thing and only “friends” used to be there in the friend list. Whatever you did or shared on Facebook, those friends actually cared and connected through it. It was the time when having mere 20 Likes on a photo was more than enough coz all 20 of them were real likes… Friends with whom we stayed in touch, friends who really mattered to us and whose single ‘Like’ would mean they know how we are doing.

I wonder how times have changed where having 300 likes on a photo from people we barely interact isn’t a big deal… the friend list is huge and yet there is not a single soul with whom we can talk when needed the most. We’re all busy… busy in our lives making money, working our ass off in the offices, having a family to take care of at home. In the middle of all this chaos, friends become some familiar faces we used to know. Those who were best friends are now mere acquaintances and people we hardly thought would make forward in our lives seem to be the only contacts we’re left with.

We’re all grown-ups now, we have ego issues, we have our reasons to not call and in between this we all learn to live without each other, to let go of the relations we never thought we’d ever been able to live without and the worst thing is it doesn’t hurt… it isn’t painful... it’s all numb, Neutral… 

|It doesn’t matter anymore and we hardly care to make the difference, to make the first move, to see the change it might bring because of one small gesture.

Are we really dying inside? Or we’ve just learned to live on the surface and put a smile on our faces for the world to showcase?

How can times change us so much? So much so that NOTHING REALLY MATTERS?!

Cheers

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30 Odd Answers

It’s been over a month, I’ve written anything on my blog and what better way could it be for breaking the writer’s block by taking up this fun exercise. I found this on Parul’s blog and immediately decided to take it up.

Also, what better way could it be to become all chatty and post it here on the blog ;) :P

Read on to find out more!

1.  What did you want to be when you were a kid? A software engineer, though I had no idea what it was. I just liked the word. I also wanted to be a teacher I guess.
2. Which “Friends” character do you relate to the most? Why? None but if we talk about couples, I can relate a bit with Monica and Chandler.
3. Do you like your name? Why? Yes. I love my name. There is a sort of connection I build with people I meet and I guess that’s because of my name.
4. Are you messy or neat? Both. I am really neat at times and beyond messy other times! :P
5. How tall are you? Tall enough to get down those containers or stuff placed at heightened corners of the house.
6. How tall were you when you were 10? I’m not sure I remember that!
7. What is your guilty pleasure? Café Latte with a Chocolate brownie.
8. What are you saving money for right now? I’m saving so that I can give my dream gifts to people I love the most! And on travel as well!
9. How many Pringles can you eat at once? None. I’m not a Pringles fan but I do love Lays (the Blue one), I can have two packets if I’m starving.
10.  Tea or coffee? Without a doubt, Coffee it is!
11. Are you an introvert or an extrovert? I am an extrovert as a person but when it comes to social media and virtual world, I am a big-time introvert!
12. What will be your Halloween costume this year? Never really gave it a thought. I haven’t celebrated it ever but would love to try some scary things sometime.
13. Sweet or salty? Sweet! Always.
14. Favorite social media? Twitter. Actually, I’m not too much fond of any social media. I keep unplugging from time to time.
15. Who is the last person you kissed? If dreams count, it’s Chandler Bing (about last night and it still feels fresh ;))
16. What is your favorite breakfast? A bowl of sprouts, a glass of milk and two bread toast with butter.
17. When is your birthday? October 18
18. When did you start your blog? Back in 2011 but it became an active one in 2015.
19. What is your opinion on the Kardashians? None. It’s indifferent to me.
20. How would you describe your style? Elegant and Classy
21. What color is your hair? Black. With a lot of white strands now (*rolling eyes*)
22. What color socks are you wearing? None. It’s pretty hot here in Agra.
23. What is your dream job? A job that pays me to explore places and do adventures and travel the world.
24. Dogs or cats? Anytime, Dogs!
25. What makes you weird? This eccentric need to do almost everything in life and travel without putting a stop.
26. Celebrity crush? Nikolaj Coster- Waldau a.k.a Jamie Lannister (Game of Thrones)
27. Opinion on cigarettes? They’re bad and I hate them.
28. Do you want/have children? How many? Yes, I want to have them some day.
29. Three favorite boy names? Daanish, Nirvaan, Aadvik
30. Three favorite girl names? Kaira… umm.. not able to think any!

Aren't we all weird in some ways or the other?

It was a fun exercise and you should try it too. Just copy-paste the questions and answer them on your blog and do let me know so that I can give it a read!

Cheers

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The Month that went by... #AtoZReflections

I sense relief within me with a little bit of heavy heart at the same time. The blog hopping, commenting, replying, sharing... it was a phase full of utter madness and it paid off! It always does! And it always leaves you with a sense of pride.

The month was all about managing my time better, the discipline that is required to carry it off and the lessons learned.

As the AtoZ fever was in the air when the year started by, I had made up my mind on participating for the third consecutive year. Though, I did not think anything beyond that.

As February went by, a dear friend was getting all paranoid about the theme and asked me about it at the same time and I was like, dude... it’s Feb! I have a whole month to think and plan and write...

What I did not realize was this month wouldn’t just pass but would run like an Olympic athlete!

Coming up with the theme:

As always, I was confused and finally went with my heart. There was a reason behind choosing the theme I chose.

It often happens when there are certain things that happen around me and I don’t really feel comfortable about it. I am not that articulate when it comes to keeping my perspective in a group (especially family) and that is when I feel the urge to put it somewhere, to show the other side, to think from another angle different from the way everyone has been seeing all their lives, that there is so much more beyond the stereotypes, that whatever everybody does is always for a reason and explaining all of that to a bunch of people who will never come to the point of agreement, it is kind of futile.

It was all these thoughts that inspired me to come up with this theme, where I thought of writing down everything that I think, follow and believe.

I often hear, what I talk is impractical (for example, my stand on divorced women or looking beyond looks for any marriage or having a baby or not is completely one’s choice and the likes), that all of it happens in books, television series or movies. In reality, it is much more complicated. I completely vouch for it being complicated but I also vouch for the fact that it exists, that things are changing around us and that we need to change ourselves if we want the change in our society.

A to Z feelings:

Expressing my thoughts this A to Z Challenge was beyond gratifying. It made me happy because I realized I wasn’t the only one who thinks this way. With like-minded bloggers, I got an immense support and motivation, not to mention wings to my thoughts and confidence to express them loud out there.

The Discipline that came with A to Z:

Initially, I had close to 18 posts scheduled (which is so not me!) and I was doing fine but as they were coming to an end, I was panicking because I was falling out of stories but eventually every day in the evening, I sat down and wrote the post for the next day and scheduled it and started with my blog hopping.

It was the first time I had scheduled these many posts and I was happy that I did. Writing every day became kind of a ritual that I would want to continue with. April is now over and this is just the second blog post this month but I am writing every day without fail. I hope to continue this way.

Lessons Learned:

What I understood this month is when we have a deadline coming up or a challenge that we take up, we make our minds continuously think and ponder over things; we push ourselves (beyond our limits) to the extent that we never do otherwise and feel surprised for the way we perform. I, for one, have countless thoughts in my mind which I feel like writing but I don’t. I just postpone (which I am expert at) and make an excuse to myself. I assume on my own that the topic is not worthy of being written or desirable enough to form a blog post.

But this time, even the slightest or tiniest of the idea took the shape of a complete blog post. It was kind of an eye-opener for me and I’d like to keep my eyes open now.

Contented with the numbers:

I’m not a number person. Yes, I do feel happy when I reach a certain benchmark but I don’t get finicky if I don’t have them. This year, during the A to Z, my blog entered the 6-digit figure and it felt contended and worthy of everything, worthy of investing time in my blog and the peace of mind that comes with it.

Readers Choice:

‘Arranged Marriage’ was one post that caught maximum attention with the highest number of views. Other posts that intrigued the readers and compelled them to think over were Beautiful Bride, Extra Marital Affair, Identity, Quit and Understand.

You can read all the posts here.

Verdict:

All in all, it was fun writing all month and I am happy that I survived!

A big Thank you to everyone who stopped by and encouraged me with their beautiful comments and thank you to the ones who did not stop by (it only pushed me more to improve my content).

So tell me, did you participate this year? How was it? What did you learn? Where did you struggle the most?

Cheers

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