"You are cute!"

"You are cute! is the comment I often get for my pictures shared on social media. You are beautiful is seldom used," my learned, accomplished soul spoke during a routine well being call. My thinking cap flew from the closet and found its place on top of my freshly washed hair.  Cute! beautiful! exactly what is the difference between the two.This led me to thinking.  

Dear readers,

Close your eyes and think for a moment, persons whom you find cute and persons whom you find beautiful. Were you able to clearly demarcate between two ? Well, if its a yes! then this write up is for you.

Going by Oxford dictionary 

Cute is an adjective - 1. appealing in a pretty or endearing way.

                         2. informal -North American sexually attractive : good looking

Beautiful is also an adjective - pleasing the senses or mind aesthetically.

Let's talk about these terms in context with mortal forms, There are some individuals whom we find cute, whereas some as beautiful. Seldom one uses the word cute and beautiful together (as both are adjectives.)

My thoughts on this are - when I find people (whom I know well) beautiful and they seem to retain their innocence/ people with pure intentions,irrespective of age, I prefer to call them cute. I use this word selectively. On the other hand, any picture/post which pleases my senses/ mind is beautiful. 

So, I use beautiful as a comment generously whereas, cute is reserved for special pictures /posts. Whatever may be the Oxford dictionary definition, cute is definitely for those whom we know well.

I would love to hear your views in comments section.

Love, Juju

(P.S. Coming soon 2nd edition of Momsie Popsie Diary 2.0 

Coming soon Momsie Popsie Diary 4.0

Reach out @ Aanandit Wellness Hub - Re-Wire, Re-Charge, Re-Boot)

Reach the Middle !

Dear readers,

New Year! New Beginnings ! Cheers to Fresh Start and Exciting Possibilities.

Lets make 2025 Extra ordinary together.

North Indian winters is not one of my favourite season. Though, this year it feels different. My monks have chosen their path and are out in the world. Honouring their suggestion, I binge watched many Christmas movies. All movies were rom-com (romantic comedy) with expected twists. The theme centres around living life to the full,  staying connected with family, celebrating small moments, loving, heart breaks, forgiving, let going and giving one self a second chance in love. It seemed like a revision course of everything which we have been taught and seen all our life.

There was one movie which dealt with challenges in a marriage. The protagonist suffers from failed marriage and becomes withdrawn from the world. His mother tries to coax him in giving love a second chance. Not once does she speak about the reasons for her son's divorce. In fact she feels that the divorce came too soon and her son and daughter in-law could have given more time. 

His mother's advise left an impact. She said, "For any relationship to work, be it parent-child, husband-wife or between friends, both parties should give adequate time and try to reach the middle. Once they reach the middle, the relationship survives."

Gautam Buddha believes in following the middle path. In India, we talk about middle class mentality the most. My elder monk believes in living college life in middle space -neither in limelight nor outcast. On a lighter note, during exam vivas, first and the last ones face the toughest questions, the middle one gets seasoned expected questions. Middle gives space and helps define boundaries. In fact, one can explore any domain/dimension, middle is always safe and secure.

As per Dictionary, middle is the point or position at an equal distance from the sides, edges,or ends of some thing.

I am consciously trying to reach the middle in my life spheres which need attention. Pray you identify and reach the middle too!

(Readers discretion is respected and valued.) 

Love, Juju

( P.S. Coming soon 2nd edition of Momsie Popsie Diary 2.0 

Coming soon Momsie Popsie Diary 4.0

Reach out @Aanandit Wellness Hub - Re-Wire, Re-Charge, Re-Boot)

Diva Planet Magazine, August Cover Edition-3

 Dear readers,

Sharing the link of Diva planet magazine, 2023 featuring on cover page and inside first story coverage 

Embracing the Enchanting World of Words with Reemanshu Bansal, Juju’s Pearls, on our August Cover (Edition -3)

Embracing the Enchanting World of Words with Reemanshu Bansal, Juju's Pearls, on our August Cover (Edition -3) - divaplanetmagazine

Click on link to read online.

Love, Juju

(P.S. Coming soon Momsie Popsie Dairy 4.0 

Reach out @ Aanandit Wellness Hub: Re-Wire, Re-Charge, Re-Boot)

Second Umbilical Cord

Dear readers,

I am at an age where I am trying to rediscover myself in many ways, reflecting upon the life lived /time gone by and the life ahead. 

We all know for survival of the newborn the umbilical cord needs to be cut. This cord was the only source of connection between the mother and her child. All throughout nine months, the nutrition and well-being were dependent on these three vessels (two vessel at times). Once the baby is delivered, immediately the cord is clamped and cut. This procedure gives birth to an independent soul.

Parents nurture and raise their child with unconditional love. All this while there is an invisible cord/ connection which connects the parents with their child. The journey from childhood to teenage to young adult seems to happen at a snap of finger. 

Children now young adults start taking charge of their own lives, making their own decisions and so on. The need to seek constant approval from parents start a downhill trend. This period causes lot of inner turmoil in parents especially mothers. As parents they still tend to cling on to memory of their child and yearn to see them coming to them for all their life's challenges. This is the time for them to fly out of the nest into the big world. 

Parents need to be vigilant about this time period in their children's life as their unconditional love and support is needed for the extra push to propel them into their growth trajectory.

This is the time to cut the second umbilical cord. 

I know my timeline. Pray you identify yours.

Love, Juju

(P.S. Coming soon Momsie Popsie Diary 4.0

Reach out @Aanandit Wellness Hub - Re-Wire, Re-Charge, Re-Boot)

In conversation with GOD-Part 1

Dear readers, 

Early morning tea time with Popsie always makes me dwell upon my purpose in life. By the time I take my last sip, I feel enriched with a phenomenal experience. 

Sharing a conversation between two friends about their dreams. Senior Advocate (my Popsie) and his friend ( retired Army officer of highest rank). 

In Part-1, I will share the conversation of Popsie's friend (AO- Army officer) with God. Enjoy the conversation, dwell upon the hidden message. 

AO : God, my time has come. I want to come to your kingdom directly. 

GOD : No, you can't!

AO: But why? I need a direct ticket. 

GOD : My train is already running over load, I need to shift many people to hospitals.

AO: God! I want a direct ticket. Please guide me through. 

GOD smiles : Look, you can't come directly. The first class compartment is almost always overloaded. I need to unload many humans beings to hospitals (coporate and private).

In second class also, the capacity always exceeds leading to off loading in hospitals ( government and small private.) 

Your only chance is in third class compartment. And I know you are a passenger of first class. 

AO persuades, God, there must be some way. Please guide me. 

GOD smiles and continues, Since, you seem to be very keen. I will share my secret route. Sit in the third class compartment without any ticket and any  money. When TC comes for checking, he will pronounce you as a defaulter. He will call the police, case will be registered, referred to Enforcement. Then you will be directly presented before me. That will be your direct ticket.

AO woke up from his sleep, smiled, felt relieved. For now he knew the way. 

The real challenge was how to downgrade oneself from first class to third class. 

This conversation in dream led me to deciphering the anology of first classs, second class, third class and metaphors used. Please share your thoughts in comments section.

To be continued..........

Love Juju 

PIG in your Life!

Hello readers, 

As winters set in, work gets affected and hits an all time low. This gives me an opportunity to delve into my passion and My Mind's Cafe starts brewing fresh ideas. 

One such interesting term I coined is PIG ! 

Everyone must have Pig in their life to able to live a wholesome happy life with a great work life integration. Getting to know your pig helps in discovering oneself. 

I know my PIG . Do you know yours ? 

Hey, wait, I didn't decipher it. It goes like

P- Passion

I - Interest 

G - Goal. 

Waiting to hear about your PIG in comments section.

Love 

Juju 

(Reach out to Aanandit Wellness Hub

 Coming soon Momsie Popsie Diary 4.0)  

It's ok to let it go !

Dear readers, 

We are marching towards the new year. Living by my Momsie's philosophy of "live in the moment", I am trying my best to make the most of each day. Everyday I try to be a better version of myself.

Last evening , I was watching a Christmas movie and was overwhelmed when the protagonist remembers her mother.  Suddenly, my vision blurred due to tears in my eyes. I wept more than the protagonist.

I felt a tap on my shoulder. I was taken aback as i was alone in my space in my home, watching the movie. I looked up and saw my Momsie smile and said, " Raju ! It's ok to let it go! Clinging on to memories is fine, but its important to make new memories too. Enjoy your life and create new memories. Don't hold back. It's ok to let it go." 

Let it go ! what ? my grief ! my memories of my mother! Am I still stuck in the loop of grief -guilt after losing her ! 

Many thoughts started coming, suddenly the mental traffic became chaotic and I felt exhausted. I closed my eyes, remembered her words, " It's ok to let it go!" 

Today morning when I woke up, something has definitely gone as I my heart feels lighter and happier. Hope, you also experience this magical feel. Let go of things which are holding you back from living a fulfilled fun-filled life. Cheers to Christmas spirit.

Love, 

Juju 

(Feel free to reach Aanandit Wellness Hub Coming soon Momsie Popsie Diary 3.0)