|Musings|
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Why it’s time to start living in a bubble
While growing up, we were constantly told to get out of our bubble. There was a big, bad world outside of our protected and cozy (relatively) life. If I was upset, I would think about the hungry, disabled, helpless people around the world who had “real problems.” On a given day, I would either snap out of it or consider myself doomed and forever depressed. When I moved to the US, I prided myself on having lived and grown up on the other side. I had experienced the struggles and reality of growing up in a developing country. I had fierce opinions about women’s safety, having experienced the fear firsthand.…
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How I Went from Loving Carrie Bradshaw to Hating Her
I grew up watching Sex and the City as a teenager. It was this show that made me fall in love with New York City. The city itself was a huge part of the show. Another reason the show drew me in was the friendship between the four main protagonists and the relationship drama. That made me rerun the show countless times through my adulthood. When I started talking about the show with my friends back then, we would wonder who was more of a Carrie, Charlotte, or Miranda. Being naive with a limited worldview, of course neither of us could connect with Samantha. I touted myself as Carrie. Even…
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The Geopolitical Rabbit Holes That Got Me Through 2 a.m. Postpartum Nights
I recently gave birth to my darling baby boy and thus began our first encounter with parenthood. Since he is our first, both my husband and I would jump up at every little noise he made, fearing the worst. For the first few months of parental leave, we slept in shifts. One of us was always awake, feeding him and putting him to sleep on demand. Scheduling would come later—this was our time to bond, support each other, and learn what our tiny human needed. I usually took the late shift, waking up around 2 a.m. and taking over after having a cup of coffee. With prolactin levels being high…
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Duality Of Human Mind – Living in the Gray
As children, we are taught to develop a conscience, which ultimately leads us to view things in black and white. This conscience helps us distinguish right from wrong. However, as we grow, those boundaries blur, and we find ourselves navigating various shades of gray in life. I was raised as a Hindu, and while later learning how Shri Krishna justifies a righteous war to Arjuna in the Bhagavad Gita, my younger self struggled to adjust to this new reality. I was so entrenched in my beliefs that I couldn’t understand why Lord Krishna didn’t marry Ma Radha but instead had 100 wives. To me, that didn’t seem right. I also…
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What Do You Pray For?
For most of my life, I’ve been a believer, experiencing moments and periods of doubt along the way. Ultimately, however, my faith has only grown stronger. While I embrace a spiritual and liberal approach to how individuals practice their faith, I have occasionally questioned certain religious practices, viewing them as challenging to world peace. Still, I believe in one God, respect all religions, and appreciate the goodness they bring to the world. One question that has always lingered in my mind is the concept of selfless love for God. Can one truly pray without asking for anything in return? Being grateful for the good in your life isn’t selfless, and…
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A Silent Mind – Boon or Bane?
Growing up, I found happiness in my imaginary world. These self-created fantasies provided me with moments of positivity and fulfillment. In my mind, I could laugh and crack jokes with friends or people I wished to befriend. I often played the hero, saving others from goons or rescuing them from drowning. Little did I know that this was an escape mechanism. While it may be okay temporarily, it can be a cry for help in the long run. I always had a racing mind. When I shared this with my older cousins, they reassured me that it was normal—that it was human. However, when my racing thoughts began to interfere…
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Reflections: A Decade of Expat Life
This December marks 10 years since I first moved to the United States, and it feels surreal to think about how far I’ve come. I decided to write this blog to share my expat journey, not only as a reflection of my own experiences but also as a resource for anyone who’s considering a similar path. I moved to the US when I was 25—one of the few milestones in my life that didn’t get delayed (haha). My journey began in a small town in Rhode Island, the tiniest state in the country. I was consulting as an IT professional for my company’s largest client, which meant we came in…
