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Dance It Out
Dance is one of the most powerful forms of expression, also serving as a mode of stress alleviation for many, including myself. I started dance, in the form of Mohiniyattam, at the age of 9, under the guidance of my Guru, in Mumbai, India. Mohiniyattam, also spelled Mohiniattam, is one of the eight classical dances of India and it originates from Kerala. It gets its name from the word Mohini – a mythical enchantress avatar of the Hindu god Vishnu, and Attam which means Dance. Mohiniyattam's roots, like all classical Indian dances, are in the Natya Shastra, the ancient Hindu Sanskrit text on...
Quarantine and Kitchen Table
Past sunrise continental breakfast greets marmite and cheese with begging dog each morning by this table Procrastination, chocolate bar I should have done more, I know I am able noon and guilt arrive with table cloth cheese and Marmite tea in glass domestic conversation me, trying to act stable The sun is tired and goes to rest I go to deck the table knife and fork, vork en mes silver pan, soup ladle the day is done, just like that wake tomorrow, repeat this staple
In a crowd of thousands
"In a crowd of thousands" is a line of a song I heard in a musical I recently saw. It made me think just that. I am just one human of the thousands that have recently graduated and are unable to find a job. I certainly did not expect to be in this position back in December, when I graduated a top university with top scores. Young with a lot of dreams, it's a common thing to receive a rude awakening. Suddenly, you are not in school and you cannot control your success like you could control your grades. Suddenly it's all about connections, your own personal branding, and a whole lot of luck...
Who you are
What scares me the most is ourselves— how we treat one another, how we perceive one another, and how we go about this world living as if we are truly different from one another. Many years ago, I found a quote on the cover of a prayer book— the entire world is a narrow bridge. Throughout my life, I have toiled to find meaning in these words, but to no avail. These simple seven words held such complexity that their significance remained elusive, compelling me into a state of frustration. It was only months ago that I discovered there is a second half to that quote— the essential thing is not to...
Child marriage cuts dreams short – the role of education as a game changer
With education comes empowerment. Education changes minds and lives. "My mum often told me to study or else, I’d end up like her. I never really took these things seriously but now as I read about child marriages, I realise what she meant". Child marriage doesn’t just put an end to a girl’s hopes and dreams, it also hampers the efforts taken to end poverty and achieve economic growth and equality. Girls are powerful agents of the socio-economic change. Early marriage creates barriers and transforms the child’s life from playing and studying to dealing with unwanted social responsibilities. The...
bookmark
I have not read a single Harry Potter book in my life. Tried a few times, but turns out - it just isn't my thing. Last Christmas, my aunt bought me the first Harry Potter book. Today, I sat on the sofa and flipped through the book. I realised that I didn't have a bookmark. Whenever I sit to read a book, I always always have a bookmark. Folding the top right corner of the page just is something I don't believe in ! It's like destroying the aesthetic of a book page by page. Well, I ended up drawing a colorful mandala on a plain bookmark. Situations like these - they tell you what is and is not...
Pandora
She hastened to close the “box” but alas the whole content had already escaped but for one thing, which lay at the bottom of the jar.....Hope! While the box served as a prison for the evils that escaped, it thereafter serves as a dwelling for Hope. The moral of Pandora's Box is that unchecked curiosity and disobedience can be dangerous, but hope remains. The image is of a painting called HOPE by George Frederick Watts illustrates a lone blindfolded female sitting on the world, playing a lyre that has only a single string remaining. There is always HOPE in the end dear friends! Be Positive! Be...
5 effective guidelines I am following to keep my remote team connected
For many of us, working remotely along our teams seem to be challenging due to the decrease of physical interactions, availabilities, and mental health issues. However, we must acknowledge that working from home is an opportunity to develop multiple strategies that would strengthen relationships and reinforce the work. It must be stressful to manage an effective communication between your team members and keep them connected. Many may lose motivation, some may be unavailable or overworked. How can I cope with that? Here are 5 guidelines that I am following along my team to stay connected and...
The earth will take a deep breath again
Isolation knocked at our doorsteps, silently letting the chaos take away our loved ones, in a cold whisper that we never heard Time seemed to reach a full stop, after an eternity of chasing after us We stalked those moments that had passed by our helpless eyes and my hungry mind fed on the fear- That now creeps in The fear that this remoteness may envelope me, in a dark blanket And dim our bright eyes of the earth’s beauty In the ethereal paintings made by the sky, and the moonlight illuminating the streets And not to forget, the desolate and ugly that hides in corners within a planet that...
Altruistic Service
I am a member of the "Tibi Rident Foundation" where we seek to train young people in the city of Pereira in an environment of altruistic service, carrying out training in five areas which are the fundamental pillars, which are "Family, Social, Spiritual, Personal and Educational". For society in recent years, indifference towards social or economic classes has increased exponentially, where the neglect of vulnerable communities has been the main reason for the lack of support for them, from the departmental to the national government. For this reason, young people from the city of Pereira...
It's Not Over
In the midst of this pandemic, there have been a few terms passed around the media. The terms "Rebuild" and "Reimagine" are the ideals of what we want to do while shaping the future we want to live once we get through these unprecedented times. In a world so afraid of change, we are being told that it will happen one way or another. The idea that we will not go back to the way things use to be, but to a new normal being sculpted along this journey has divided people based on their feelings and fears. We are taking notes in fields like education, government, and the sciences and learning in...
3D printing in the fight against COVID-19 in Ukraine
Cambodia and the challenges for businesses in the COVID-19 pandemic
The Mask
Wearing a mask has become a sign of utmost empathy one can show to another We do not wear a mask to protect ourselves, but rather to protect others It is an implicit statement of love, not fear I wear my mask to prevent the spread of the virus that can make you sick Not because I think everyone around me has the virus and wants to infect me Not because I am afraid of the virus I wear my mask to comfort you, not to make you feel apprehensive I wear my mask as a solider in this war against a microscopic threat that spares nobody It is armor Six feet apart and a piece of fabric to cover our face...
COVID19: Reality Check for The SDGs
COVID. COVID. COVID. Corona Virus took the world by surprise. Like a trained secret service agent, this virus infiltrated our ranks and has now single-handedly killed hundreds of thousands of our kind, with millions more still within it's grip. However, is there a bright side to this crisis? Definitely! A data breach in a secure network offers a reality check of the company's state of security. Today, Corona Virus is offering us something similar - or better. As bad as it has been, it's not all doom and gloom. Looking on the bright side, one advantage the COVID-19 pandemic has offered the...
A Meal Worth Sharing, But Prohibited | Ramadan
#Ramadan-Stories On Iftar + Ramadan | Nour At the beginning of Ramadan, Iftar starts at 6:43 PM and fasting starts nine hours later at 3:34 AM. Before we get ready to eat Iftar, some of us go to the market to prepare for the cooking. We cook the Iftar meal during the day to enjoy it in the evening once we have completed our fasting. This year celebrating Iftar is very different. These days, Iftar can be difficult because of COVID-19. We have to be safe to ensure that we do not spread the virus to our families because it is an extremely dangerous disease. Typically during Ramadan, you gather...
The Decision to Stay | Italians in Jordan
#COVID-Stories Selene + Mario | Students & Interns | Amman, Jordan What led you to move to Jordan from Italy? S: I moved to Jordan to improve my Arabic and when I saw there was an internship opportunity at the Arabic school, I decided to stay here long term. M: I had a similar experience - after my graduation I wanted to improve my Arabic abroad in an Arabic-speaking country. I have been wanting to study abroad since I started my university studies, and this year that dream came true. Why did you decide to stay in Jordan when borders were closing due to COVID-19? S: In Italy, the situation was...
Not Our Typical Fast | Ramadan
#Ramadan-Stories On Fasting + Ramadan | Khaled Ramadan is a time of special reflection, self-improvement, and heightened devotion and worship. During Ramadan, Muslims are expected to put more effort into following the teachings of Islam, and the fast is one way Muslims come closer to Allah. Fasting as a spiritual act means that every Muslim should focus on getting closer to Allah, study and recite the Koran, and improve allegiance to Allah by giving to charity, practicing generosity in many ways, praying, and seeking forgiveness. On the other hand, fasting as a physical act means that Muslims...