Ishani's Pen

  When do we feel like we have “aged”? Is it when we see a strand of grey hair on our scalp or is it when we start paying taxes? Or is it when we start experiencing back pain? Well, to be honest, in the present era of stress and improper diet, graying of hair, and body pain are not at all considered symptoms of ageing – even 3-4 year old kids are sometimes found to have grey hair and wearing spectacles! But ladies, irrespective our heartfelt desire to stay young, ageing is a natural phenomenon and is a sign of maturity. Unlike our grandmothers or even mothers, who had experienced abundant physical labor and good nutrition, we are not undergoing sufficient physical activity – our hectic and busy schedule being a primary reason for this; they may not be experiencing any tiredness after a whole day work, even at the age of 60, while we feel completely exhausted after a 9-5 job at 30. Though there is no way of reversing the clock, there are drills which can be followed to enjoy the jou...

A very common question that we are asked as kids or perhaps that we too ask kids is “What do you want to be when you grow up?” As a child, I used to be very happy when I was asked this; it seemed more of a flaunting my wish to be a doctor or a teacher or something else (which changed from time to time of course!). The deeper implications of this question never occurred to me at that time. But now if I think deeply, I just wonder “does growing up stop at an age or rather after attaining a certain degree or getting a particular job do we stop growing up?”   It took some time to realize that the definition of a grown up is specific to each individual. My house has a very strong wrought iron gate and it almost impossible for me to pull it shut. A 3-year old boy in my family saw me (a 28 year old doctorate) one day, tugging hard at the gate, in a vain but desperate attempt to close it. He came upto me and said “You will be able to do it when you grow up, not now.” I just came t...