Friendship
True Words and Masks"
"True Words and Masks" Some people have a strange habit—while they speak sweetly to your face, laugh with you, and treat you well, behind your back, they speak ill about you. Their sweet words, their smiles, and their kind actions build trust in your heart. But at the same time, you fail to realize the false pretence behind those sweet words. Those words make you believe in their sincerity, but behind your back, the same people are criticizing you. There is a terrifying contradiction in this behaviour.
By Dipak Pawarabout a year ago in Confessions
"Who Am I?" - The Illusion of Ego
"Who Am I?" - The Illusion of Ego The question, "Who am I?" is a timeless and profound query that every human being contemplates at some point in life. It's not just a philosophical question but a reflection of our innermost thoughts and existence. In seeking its answer, we are often hindered by our ego, a part of our psyche that shrouds our true self in layers of illusion. The ego, in essence, acts as a protective emotional shell, giving us a false sense of identity and importance, making us feel superior to others. But when examined closely, we realise that this notion of "I" is nothing but a mirage, a fleeting concept that does not define our true being. In reality, each of us is a small yet integral part of a vast, interconnected universe.
By Dipak Pawarabout a year ago in Confessions
Even if the World Laughs at Us, a Friend's Hand Should Always Be on Our Back
Even if the World Laughs at Us, a Friend's Hand Should Always Be on Our Back In the grand journey of life, we encounter a myriad of experiences, both sweet and bitter. We achieve success at times, basking in the glory of our hard work, while at other moments, we face the harsh sting of failure. Not every effort we put in yields the expected results, and it is during these moments of failure that society can be the most unforgiving. The people around us often criticise and mock us for our shortcomings, quick to highlight our mistakes and laugh at our misfortunes. Yet, amidst all the criticism and negativity, there is one figure that stands tall above the rest — a true friend who remains steadfast by our side, offering unconditional support and encouragement.
By Dipak Pawarabout a year ago in Confessions
People Aren't Foolish, Just Quiet!
People Aren't Foolish, Just Quiet! Some folks have a peculiar habit of constantly exaggerating their own importance. Their life seems like a never-ending drama where they are always the lead character. Their language is consistently self-centric: "He said that to me," "He does it only because of me," or "If I don't say this, I'll be out of the group." These individuals are always looking for ways to make themselves appear larger than life. Listening to their fabricated stories, people around them get a clear view of their true personality, but no one says anything in response.
By Dipak Pawarabout a year ago in Confessions
"It Takes a Big Heart to Apologize"
"It Takes a Big Heart to Apologize" No matter how much a person learns in life, there are two things that take a long time to master: forgiving others and apologising. For this, one needs a big heart. Apologising means acknowledging one’s mistake or putting one’s pride aside to respect the emotions of the other person, in order to preserve the relationship. Not everyone can do this, because it requires a big heart and, even more, a compassionate heart that understands others’ feelings.
By Dipak Pawarabout a year ago in Confessions
Learn to Make a Living: A Journey Beyond Survival
Learn to Make a Living: A Journey Beyond Survival In a world where the concept of success is often associated with wealth, status, and power, the true essence of making a living goes beyond just earning a paycheck. It’s about discovering a purpose, finding fulfillment, and creating a life that aligns with one's values. To "learn to make a living" is not merely about financial stability; it is a deeper process that involves understanding oneself, embracing struggles, and finding joy in everyday efforts.
By Dipak Pawarabout a year ago in Confessions
Dear Bien
Dear Mazoo, Of course I call you Mazoo because we started calling each other Mazoo and Fazoo when we first we realized we had a mutual favorite movie, Mulan. Dear Bien, this Thanksgiving season marks one decade since we first met and became friends and I want you to know how grateful for that I am.
By Joe Pattersonabout a year ago in Confessions
Accept Me Maybe?
When I was in my twenties, I dated a woman that liked to criticize how I looked, how I acted, the things that I liked to do, and who I surrounded myself with. It was weird. How could someone want to be with you when they didn’t seem to like anything about you? I didn’t really know how to take her judgement back then. I thought that she was right. I figured that I was still young and still had room to grow and she was trying to mold me into what I needed to be in order to have a longterm relationship. I mean, no one is perfect, and it does take two people to make a commitment work. So, after listening to her critiques, I did my best to accommodate her needs. I tried to be more open about where she went, even if it meant that she was going to her ex’s house. I tried to get along with her friends, even the ones that seemed to be addicted to substances that I had never heard of until then. I even tried to fit in with the personalities of the people that she surrounded herself with. It was very uncomfortable. I always felt like I was being judged, and when she lectured me, telling me that I was too standoffish, I felt back, because I didn’t want to make a bad impression on the people that were close to her. I went through about four years of this before I called it quits. I was tired of standing on eggshells. I was tired of not feeling like I could be myself, and I was tired of being criticized for who I was. I wanted to know who I was, and I wanted someone to like me for that. I was tired of people telling me who I needed to be or blatantly misinterpreting what my wants and needs were. I was ready to speak for myself and be who I was without having people who didn’t like that in my circle. So, after breaking up with her, I cleaned up my physical appearance. I wore the clothes that I wanted to. I got my hair done, and I basically cleaned up my outer appearance to what I wanted it to look like. I still wasn’t completely myself after this. I still didn’t know who I was or what I wanted, so I began making new friends and having new experiences. I went out and did things that I hadn’t in the past, like trying improv or driving halfway across the country to see all of the states that I hadn’t before. Then, when I met my soon to be wife, I started to let my guard down a little. She wasn’t like any of the other women that I had dated. She didn’t tell me how to dress or act or who to hang out with. She didn’t restrict my ability to do the activities that I wanted to do. She just let me be myself, and she loved who I was. This was new for me. I wasn’t used to being around a person that fully accepted me for who I was. I didn’t understand that concept as I had never experienced it. It was such a breath of fresh air. After meeting my wife, I was more confident in who I was and I learned more about my wants and needs, because she gave me the room to grow. She allowed me to explore whatever I needed to in order to figure out who I was and who I wanted to be. She supported me on this journey, even when there were barriers, and after being around a person like her, I realized that there were people that I could be around without having to change a thing about mysel
By Nicole Higginbotham-Hogueabout a year ago in Confessions
Beware and Look Around!
Everyone has a bad day. I’ve had my share, but the older that I get, the more that I realize that there is always someone that is facing harder circumstances than I am. For instance, I thought school was pretty hard. I didn’t really fit in, and I didn’t really feel like I was a part of anything. I felt pretty insignificant. Because of this, I had a hard time connecting with other people later on. I was used to being judged, so I instantly figured that everyon that I met was judging me. I was used to being bullied, so I expected it. When I was about nineteen, one of the friends that I did have when I was in high school went to college and got a roommate. My friend wanted me to meet this guy, so I did. The guy that I met was nice. He was different from the guys that I grew up with, and he wasn’t as harsh on others as most people that I knew. This new guy started telling me about how he grew up. He had cerebral palsy, so he had a lot of struggles when he was younger. Mobility was one of them. So, while I was worried about making new friends, he was worried about if he would be able to walk. Then, the new guy told me about how nice everyone was to him in school and about his dreams to be a wrestler. He knew that having cerebral palsy affected the possibility of his dreams and instead of getting all upset about it, he made it work for him. Since he couldn’t wrestle right away, he became an announcer, so he could be a part of the sport that he loved so much. Instead of getting jealous of the other people that were able to participate in the dream sport he so much wanted to be a part of, he became friends with them. He tried not to let his struggles get him down, and he did the best that he could to be a part of the sport that he loved. As I got older, I met several more people just like this guy. I met someone my age that lost his sibling due to addiction. I met a single mother that got pregnant at an early age and had to suffer the loss of the baby’s father. I even followed the story of someone that I went to school with as she suffered a miscarriage. All of these people touched my life in a way. It helped me remember that despite the struggles I was going through, there were other things out there that people were enduring that were just heartbreaking, and knowing that these people were able to get up every day and do what they needed to do, helped give me the motivation to do the same. Life isn’t perfect. We all have struggles, and being there to witness other peoples’ struggles and help them if you can puts life in perspective. There might be a day where everything seems to go wrong and everything seems crazy and chaotic, but if you look to your left or your right, you might realize that someone else is going through a situation that is ten times worse than what you are. At least I did, and that made me more appreciative of my circumstances. I’m thankful that I was born in a country with clean and available water. I’m thankful that I have a right to an education, and I’m thankful that I have the ability to choose who I marry or who my friends are. Some people don’t even get these basic rights.
By Nicole Higginbotham-Hogueabout a year ago in Confessions
"I Am Good if the World is Good"
"I Am Good if the World is Good" The phrase "I am good if the world is good" reflects a universal truth: our actions, attitudes, and behaviours are often influenced by our surroundings. If we find ourselves in a world that is kind, compassionate, and supportive, we are more likely to mirror these qualities. This is a powerful idea rooted in the interconnected nature of human existence, where our individual goodness often reflects the collective goodness we experience. However, the journey to understanding this concept is complex, involving both the warmth we receive and the darkness we face in the world.
By Dipak Pawarabout a year ago in Confessions
On the socioeconomics of being humane
The socioeconomics of humanness lies in the beauty of balancing the aspects of togetherness and isolation. In a world where life coincides with the duality of forces, oscillating between the forces of light and dark, beauty and hate, love and hatred, birth and death, humans are the most endearing and detrimental beings ever to exist. The prowess of intellect and communication, with the stellar mind that created the strides of evolution and lapses of civilization, is undeniably the most striking aspect of what makes humans the most resilient beings of them all.
By Hridya Sharmaabout a year ago in Confessions
