Anika Choudhary

I've often heard that life needs a soundtrac—an album, a playlist. Even background noise. But this picture made me wonder if maybe all life needs is the sky, a few trees, and our undivided attention for a moment to take everything in.  When I witnessed this moment myself, I paused. I let myself breathe and gave nature the spotlight. In return, it gave me a stillness I've never known—silent, but alive. Quiet, but full. Such opposites can be overwhelming. But this one was not one of those cases. It was the perfect blend of something I never knew that I needed. There was no rush. No deadlines. No noise. Just light, clouds, and leaves.  And that made me realize: life doesn't need more noise.  Our jagged minds already do enough of that.  Maybe what we need is just a second to recollect. To pause. To breathe.  To remember.

Life feels extremely fast-paced these days— days slip by like moments, and months fly past like seconds.  Unfortunately, time won't slow down for us; it moves at the same steady pace, whether we like it or not.  But there is one thing we can do to feel better: cherish the everyday moments. These days, many find it hard to take out time to relax and rewind— even if they wish they could.  So, instead of trying to find extra time, why not shape the time we already have? Begin enjoying those "boring" daily routines— like savoring the ride home or the trip to the grocery store. Or, when you're out on an evening walk, pause to admire the green grass, the endless sky, and the golden setting sun. 

"The world is always spinning. Everything depends on whether you want to stand still, or spin with it." — Anonymous There is something extraordinarily beautiful hidden behind that thought. The world never stops— not for disappointment, anger, or even grief. Yet, we are still given a choice: to either lose ourselves in that commotion or pause and reflect on how we wish to move forward. Life rarely goes as we imagine. A missed job offer. A grade that feels unfair. A friendship hanging on its last thread. Some battles are loud and obvious, while others are quiet wars we fight in our own heads. But, regardless of the strength of the storm you are caught in, don't run out of hope. Take a deep breath. Step out of the rush and introspect with a clear mind— not to ignore your wounds, but to rediscover yourself beneath them.  There is always something to remain grateful for. A roof over your head. A warm meal. Clean water. Even the device and internet that is allowing ...

"There is nothing confusing in life. Everything is straightforward. Except for life itself. It could grant you the world in one minute and take it away from you the next." —Anonymous This quote is especially true when we think about the deeper meaning of life. Life is like a whirlwind of contrasts—uncertain, full of surprises, and temporary. There is no single correct interpretation of life; people craft their own unique and seamless understandings daily. And each of those meanings contains its own truth.  But one thing often confuses people—including me: how brief and sudden life's connections can be. And despite how short they are, their impact remains as long as we live. They indirectly define our worth and personality to others.  It is uncanny—and often a challenge— to understand it. I have thought about this several times and each time, I arrive at a new perspective. Yet, there is one analogy that remains unchanged:  Life is like a road. Not a spiral. Not...

Have you ever read a mystery book that got deeper and more complex with time? That's what I experienced when I  recently read a book called "The Inheritance Games: The Hawthorne Legacy" which is the second installment to the Inheritance Games series. After reading the first book, authored by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, I was inspired and motivated to read the sequel. Here's some background information from the first book that you need  to understand the second book : The main character, Avery Kylie Grambs, unexpectedly inherits almost all of the wealth owned by the Hawthorne family. She is a smart highschooler who is in legal custody of her half sister as her mother passed away and her father was not connected to her. The Hawthorne family is a well established due to an oil business started by Tobias Hawthorne. The Hawthorne family consists of his children- Zara, Toby and Skye- his grandsons- Nash, Jameson, Grayson, and Xander- and his mother- in- law, Nan. Toby was believe...

Life moves faster than we realise. It can throw us off balance over a sharp turn just when we started cruising on a straight, scenic road. Hence, we have to stay updated with life. We must flow with its current, not drown under it. In fact, it would be much better if we could find a way to stay two steps ahead of it. Wouldn't it be nice to stay free of its unexpected surprises? Conversely, it is pivotal to remember to take it easy sometimes. Our time on Earth may require us to act more quickly and impulsively than we would want, but that does not mean that we have to stay like that forever. Sometimes, it is better to go slow. In order to not drown rapidly in quicksand, we have to remain calm, not chaotic.  However, some things are easier said than done. This is one of them. We cannot always bring such ideologies into practice, because it is not easy. And even accepting that is a huge accomplishment. Its importance may seem odd, but once you reach that realisation, it feels like a h...