27 Lessons I’ve Learned in 27 Years of Existing

27 lessons I've learned in 27 years of existence.
27 Lessons I’ve Learned in 27 Years of Existing.

What is life if not an accumulation of experiences? And what are experiences if they don’t convert to lessons? Small or big, simple or complex, relatable or vague – here are 27 lessons I’ve learned in 27 years of existing.

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15 Last Minute Christmas Gifts For Men

Christmas Gifts for men
15 Awesome Last Minute Christmas Gifts for Men.

Jesus! Christmas is literally 4 days away! If you count Christmas eve, then 3 days.

How did time fly?

In any case, if you’re freaking over the fact that you haven’t bought the perfect Christmas gift for your man yet – and worst still don’t know what to get – then this list of 15 last minute Christmas gifts for men should help you find something.

Shopping for men is so hard, especially if the man in question is impossibly choosy. So, to save time, I took gift suggestions from actual men about what they’d really like at any age as a Christmas gift and drew up this list.

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Ivory Mist’s Ultimate Guide of Christmas Gift Ideas for Women

Christmas gift ideas for women
Christmas Gift Ideas for Women

It’s December already.

While this time is usually marked by cheer and excitement – this year though, the collective sentiment of the world population is not leaning too freely towards celebratory. It’s not just the fear, but perhaps even the uncertainty.

I get it, because I feel it too.

But if there is one reason to revive the merriment within you – even for just a minute – it is to show your gratitude towards those who stood by you through these tough times. And what better way to show your appreciation than through a Christmas gift?

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Seeing the Unseen Beauty of Monsoon

The raw beauty of monsoon as seen through this black and white picture of A black and white picture of Bombay's rain soaked city skyline.
The beauty of Monsoon as seen through this cloudy skyline of Bombay city.

Come monsoon – every year while city dwellers wait in rapt impatience for the rains to dissipate the summer heat and farmers wait in fertile lands for a richer crop – I alone, wait in silent prayer for autumn’s dryness to disperse monsoon’s dampness.

Against popular opinion – I hate the rains.  I know everyone else has a different perception about the rainy season; one that is equated to the romanticized beauty of monsoon: lush greenery, stormy skies, occasional cloud bursts, precipitated mists, blowing winds etc. But the monsoon I see is a far cry from any of that.

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The Other Side of Positivity and Productivity During a Pandemic

As Told To Us by a Mental Health Professional 
positivity and productivity during a pandemic

When the lockdown period began, I noticed that social media was flooded with posts about ‘staying positive’ and ‘being productive’ while staying at home. From a word here, to a post there – before I knew it – this concept of ‘positivity and productivity during a pandemic‘ snowballed into entire pages, campaigns and challenges! It spread through Instagram and Facebook like wildfire.

When I saw this, my first thought was: sure, this approach could lead to a temporary spike in motivation and optimism, but in other words – it could also be a distraction from allowing us to completely acknowledge and process how immensely challenging this period truly is. And on the days that we potentially struggle to cope with these ‘socially acceptable’ methods, we can end up feeling either guilt or shame – if not both.

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