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Do you remember Doraemon? The cartoon where one middle-schooler always cries and a talking raccoon dog comes to its rescue? Yes, that Doraemon. Do you remember the time machine in the drawer? Let's say you have the same time machine. Where and when will you time travel to? To the future at Mars, of course, duh! But magically, the machine malfunctions and you now see Badami's 500 CE to 700 CE. What do you think you will see? Tribes? Kings? Aliens? "Ann, I wanna see the future at Mars." "Hah! No can do- My time machine, my rules." "It's not yours, it's Doraemon." "Oh, shucks... Did I just call myself out? Oop- Please don't take me back to the 22nd century." Badami Caves Alright, moving on- Badami. This historical town is located in the Bagalkot District, North Karnataka, India. Similar to that of Hampi (If you want to know more about Hampi- here's the blog ) the references to Badami can be seen in Hindu mythology - Vatapi and Ilvala were two demon brothers. Vatapi would transform into a goat and Ilvala would cook him and serve it to people, In their stomachs, Vatapi would regenerate and kill from the inside. This was known to Agasthya. When Agasthya ate the cooked goat, he said a mantra that ends up killing Vatapi before he could reform. Due to this legend, Badami is also known as Vatapi and the lake at the Badami caves is known as the Agasthya Lake. Agasthya Lake : During the 540 CE, Badami was founded by Pulakeshin I of the Chalukya dynasty. He chose the location strategically as it was above the land surface and on the mountains, making the place more protected. The Badami Cave temples were thus beautifully carved through the mountains. This was constructed from top to bottom (just like Ellora caves). It comprises four main caves- Cave 1 dedicated to Lord Shiva, Cave 2 and 3 for Lord Vishnu and Cave 4 is known as the Jain cave. The natural beauty of Badami cannot be described in words by someone who studied English for 11 years (me, that's me.) Each carving, each inscription is so minutely detailed it leaves you in awe of their skill. Thousands of travelers visit Badami from all over the world. The world. Yes. Each sculpture has a story to tell. The engraving on the ceiling is not just a design, it tells the different stories of our Indian Epics. When you visit it, make sure to take a tour guide with you, what you thought was ordinary will turn out to be extraordinary. Pattadkal Ooh, looks like the time machine is back on track. But what's this? How did we reach the 7th Century CE at Pattadkal? Well, now that we are here, let's explore. Patta - means Coronation. Coronation is the event when the prince is crowned as the king. And Kal - means stone. So, Pattadkal translates to the place of Coronation. The exact location of the Coronation place is not known yet. It consists of Hindu and Jain temples and is protected by UNESCO. Yes, kids, places in Karnataka are international assets. The moment I entered this place, I was blown away. This place- This place which I just got to know existed- is breathtaking. How is this place so less known?! I could stare at it all day. How did they build this masterpiece in the 7th century? With the flowers, grass, and sky, the monument bloomed out as the most attractive rose in the garden. No joke, take a look: See, it's just so appealing to gaze at! The inscriptions on this majestic monument tell the stories of Ramayana and Mahabharata. Aihole Okay, kids, the time machine seems to be taking time to repair, let's go to the cradle of Hindu rock architecture- Aihole. Okay, so here's the structure of the Indian parliament: And here is the structure of the famous Durga Temple of Aihole: You see the similarities, don't you? Does this mean Aihole copied the Indian parliament? Is that legal? No, the Indian parliament's structure was inspired by the Durga Temple at Aihole. Fun fact, it is named Durga temple not because it is devoted to Goddess Durga but because it is the nearest temple to the fort. You can even see the remains of the fort walls right beside the temple. The surviving monuments date back from the 7th to the 10th century. There are Hindu and Jain temples and a Buddha temple at Aihole. As mentioned earlier, Aihole is known as the cradle of architecture. Why so? The designs at Aihole were kinda like a trial and error. There are monuments of South and North Indian-style temples. Fun fact two, the architecrure style of the Jagannath of Puri temple was also inspired by one of the structures at Aihole. Here's a picture of Jagannath Puri: I do not have a proper picture of the one at Aihole, but just for reference, here it is: Oh, okay, the time machine is finally fixed. And we're back in the present. What did we learn today, kids? The artwork of these beautiful monuments came from bare rocks and mountains. The way they translate sentences to pictures by carving is jaw-dropping. (Yes, I had to Google synonyms of beautiful). These were built in the 7th century CE. A time when technology had not even started. It's insane how much potential and skill were present. These have also gone through several years of wars and destruction, unfortunately. So it becomes a responsibility to preserve them. "But but Ann, I want to go to the future on Mars." Hm, we don't know much about the future of Mars or that of ourselves. But what we do have is history on our planet Earth. Until next time. Signed, Ann.

"Okay kids, pack your things and buckle up. We're going on a road trip. It's gonna get bumpy!" "A road trip? But- but Ann, I have travel sickness. I feel nauseated and sick" "Oh well, that's life, Kid. You're gonna have to do some things which may feel uncomfortable to reach your desired destination." "Wow, Ann, you're soo wise." "Oh, yes. I totally did not steal it from the internet." So... Yes, I'm traveling! And the first stop we make is at Hampi. Hampi? Where's that? Why would I go there? It doesn't sound classy enough. Oh, trust me, Kid, Hampi is a work of art. Hampi. It's a town in North Karnataka, India. It's an old old old village and is even mentioned in the Hindu mythology of Ramayana. How did I feel as soon as we entered this ancient beauty? How did it feel to walk over the land which was once walked on by Lord Rama? Well, I was sleeping when we entered. So, um yeah, I cannot answer that, sorry. But that is not the only history that Hampi holds. It was the capital city of the Vijayanagara Empire, in the 14th century. When the Portuguese were in India, they referred to Hampi as one of the richest and grand cities. Flashbacks of 6th-grade history? Same. But, here's some "class" about this city. Hampi is a UNESCO world heritage site. You guys remember UNESCO, right? The organization that internationally recognizes and protects the art. Yes, Hampi is under that. So the next time you visit it, don't forget to brag about that to your friends. And now, here's our first location in Hampi- The Virupaksha Temple: Now, from the Vijayanagara Empire, an emperor known as Deva Raya II (no, not your Tenali Rama Krishna Deva Raya) built a temple known as the Virupaksha temple, devoted to Lord Shiva. It is the only preserved and maintained temple, the others were destroyed by the Bahmani sultanates. Not going to lie here, this temple was magnificent. As soon as it was in sight, the huge gopura of the temple in the background of the bright blue sky was truly mesmerizing. Here's a picture of it for you: Okay, moving on. The most famous is- Stone Chariot: Do you all know the 50 rupee note? Ever observed the picture present on it? No? You should. That image which looks like a historical monument is the symbol of Hampi. It is the Stone Chariot. It was built by our favorite Tenali Rama's king, Krishnadevaraya. It has been inspired by the Konark Sun Temple of Odisha. Yes, King Krishnadevaraya himself visited the Sun Temple. When I went to see the Chariot, it was during sunset. With its glorious architecture and beauty, the sunset was just a chef's kiss. On the way to the Chariot, we find some remains of a mandapam and a well to cleanse before entering. These are just proofs that Hampi was once a spectacular city with devoted citizens. But unfortunately, with the upbringing of technology (and the struggle for independence) we could have lost its history... But, to be honest, seeing the playful citizens of this town, it has not lost its colors. The lush greenery and lakes are found here, with the locals playing and working. Even though I could not interact with them; it was crystal clear that they cared for humanity and culture. The way they waved at us from the rickshaw; The way their school walls were painted; The way the children helped us with directions. It was unbelievable to me that such towns with such purity exist. And fortunately, with organizations such as UNESCO, and such cities being internationally protected, history is being preserved. There are many untold cities like Hampi. Some of them might be on your way to your hometown or just an hour's drive from your home. I urge you to visit such places. Beaches and high-tech cities are present everywhere, and so are such historical cities. The difference? Everyone knows the high-tech cities, but very few know about the wonders and works of art. See you tomorrow! Wait tomorrow? Yes, we've got another magical place to visit. So now rest and strap up for tomorrow! Signed, Ann.

"Ugh! Finally, we finished the horrendous quadratic equation! I didn't understand what happened in class. I mean, I didn't listen. But jeez, it's over! What's the next class, Ann?" Said my very dear friend Mohana (Yeah, of course, Mohana said it. Not me. I always pay attention) "The following class is known as Value Education, Mohana. Thou shall study the beneficial skill of listening," I replied. "Ew, we're learning about listening. Sounds like nap time for me," commented Mohana. (Yeah, definitely, Mohana commented that. Not me. No, I would never.) Here, Mohana, ironically enough, just mentioned that she did not listen to the math class earlier. When it comes to learning about listening, Mohana still doesn't want to listen. Come to think of it, what is listening? Why is there a 16,000-word Wikipedia page on listening? And why is listening termed a skill? First off, the difference between listening and hearing. People tend to use them synonymously, but in actuality, they are different. When in simple terms, hearing is a subconscious activity, while listening is a conscious process. An example of hearing is when Mohana is just allowing sounds and sentences during math class to flow through her ears. Whereas, listening can be when Sarah is watching anime. She is constantly paying attention to the characters to understand what is happening. That's listening! When you are being attentive and responsive to what you are hearing. When not only your ears but also your brain and nervous system work. Why is listening considered a skill? It sounds simple enough. We listen all the time. However, it is a skill because it holds a lot of power. It is not easy to listen all the time. Yes, listening is a process. It is conscious. This means you should be mentally present and comprehend what is being said to you. One should not underestimate the strength and ability of listening. First off, listening improves memory. It helps you to be more understanding and have better responses. And, most importantly, it makes you look sophisticated and cool! Which makes you feel important. There's a boost to self-confidence. (So, kids, listening is the key to self-confidence. Hence proved!) But, no, seriously, listening has a lot of positive effects. When you're listening and not simply hearing someone, you are much more caring and connected to the person. You understand the point they convey. You're essentially raising your EQ (emotional quotient/intelligence) too. How can you be a better listener? Just three rules: Eye contact, Body language, and don't reply until they are finished. Eye contact is a key factor here. It shows that you are looking at them and they are being listened to. It reassures them (and it makes you look confident). By body language, I mean, not only having a proper posture on your side but also, observing their body language too. Nonverbal communication says a lot about the emotion they are feeling. And now, you'll be a lot more mentally connected with them. And don't talk till done. Let them finish. If you cut them off mid-sentence, there is a high chance they will not finish it at all and not convey their point to you. (I too, need to learn to shut my mouth. Am sorry if I ever cut you off. I'll try not to do that again). So what did we learn here today? One, Mohana doesn't pay attention in math class. Two, Wikipedia writes unnecessarily long pages about listening. Three, listening is key to self-confidence. So Mohana, when you want to learn something, be attentive, have eye contact, do not doodle in a book, and use your brain to decipher the sounds that you hear. Let us all be more attentive and support Mohana to listen better. Next time and every time from the next time, whenever someone has something to say, use your ears AND your brain. Signed, Ann

'A wistful or excessively sentimental yearning for return to or of some past period or irrecoverable condition,' Says Google. 'Homesickness,' Says Thesaurus. 'Future,' Says Dua Lipa. 'I hate school and want to time travel to the summer of 2014,' Say I. "Ann, what are you trying to say?" "Nostalgia" "Nose-Tal-Ghee-Ya? "No, it's: Now-Stal-Jia" .... Yeah, English is a funny language. Hm, Nostalgia. It is a beautiful feeling. This feeling brings a teary eye while reminiscing with the smiles on our faces. This feeling brings a massive wave of memories about the past while wishing to vanish from the present. This feeling is a piece of art that reappeared to me recently; in the form of an ice gola. Ahh, an ice gola. October has started; welcoming the cold and the runny noses. But ironically, the ice gola took me back to April. The summers spent at Hubli. It would be bright and sunny. The sky was always in a light shade of blue. The trees were greener than ever. There would be a buzz in the homes while the streets were quiet. On those streets, the vendors would walk house to house with a ringing bell "tan tan tan", my cousins would run down for the third time that day. "I want orange and khala khatta." "I want the green color." We would all circle around to see the ice go into plastic glasses and gaze at the colored syrups being drizzled on them, hoping to be the first ones to receive their snowball. We would all go running back top to watch another movie, but all the adults had already changed the channel to the news and were talking about mythology again. So we would go to the room to make chits for another game of Treasure Hunt. Me fighting with everyone on my team about where should we hide our "Treasure" - the long-lost Cadbury Gems. While losing and being teased, our neighbor would come in, and she'd join us for the next game of hide and seek. All the hiders raced towards the balcony and kitchen. "Everyone come now! Ajji made vadas!" And before we found out who won the third game of carrom, we'd rush to the kitchen to be the first to sit next to Ajja to eat our vadas. "Anu, did you pray to God this evening? Where is your Vibhuthi?" as I slowly crept the God's room. Soon enough, all of them would be annoyed with me bugging them to take me to the park. "Anu, it is the 5th time today we are going to the park!" But I would continue being adamant and get my eldest cousin to take me there only to find the others running to join us. The brothers would push us sisters on the swing to see who would go the farthest. We would try and get the mangoes from the trees down. Sometimes we would climb the trees and my brother would end up breaking his leg. "Kho!" I would soon be learning my favorite games - kho-kho and lagoori. Having running races where I always came first (from the last). Finally, going back home to eat ice cream and count who got the most choco-chips. At 10 PM, Ajja would threaten us "If you don't sleep now, Ramgundadi will come." So, being obedient kids that we were, we would all go to the hall and tell ourselves that we will not sleep and have a night out and play truth or dare. Which was never a success because my second sister and I would have slept within an hour. The same fun and games would continue every single day. All these happy memories came back to me in a second when I ate that ice gola. I wanted to be able to count choco chips with them again... Or catch hailstones when it rained... Perhaps, having my sisters drape in a dupatta and act as teachers again... Will my cousins bring me flowers on their cycles again...? Yes, they will. (I know to blackmail them if they don't). But you know what I can also do? Make new memories with them! Force them to take me to the parks again. Have a different cloud to walk on while going back to the old clouds. Every single time I am on one of the clouds, there is a strange sense of calmness with true smiles. That is the feeling of Nostalgia. So, which cloud do you love to be on? What are those memories that always transform your face into smiles? Who are those people with whom you want to create those moments again? What is your 'ice gola'? Go back to the child in you, reconnect with it and have it know that its memories are back to life! Signed, Ann. P.S: Writing this blog made me realize that I should learn more synonyms for memories. And apparently, 'anamnesis' is a synonym for memory. Well, as I said, English is a funny language.

Population. People. Personalities. Past. Present. Puture. Polysaccharide. Pulmonary. Potassium. Physics. "Ann... Are you okay? What happened to you?" "Oh, just got carried away. Trying to find words that start with P." "Puture? Really? What on Earth is that?" "It's um... Future, but with a P..." sigh As of today, there are 7.97 billion people on our planet Earth. A total of about 105 billion people have lived on the planet Earth. About 130 to 140 million people are born each year on planet Earth. Okay, I am aware, that you want to get carried away with the numbers and eventually end up in a cycle of thoughts on existentialism. But press the pause button on that; Because there is something else I'd like to share with you. There are around 8 billion humans, which means 8 billion different types of personalities and 8 billion opinions, and 8 billion stories. Let's say you know about 1000 of these people. Which makes up 0.0000125% of the total people. Of those 1000 people, you know 500 of them personally. As in, you know their name and occupation without having to check them on Instagram all the time. And out of them you are in touch with 50 people every week. My question to you is, do you really know them? No, I am not trying to question your social skills. Instead, how much of them do you really and truly know? Do you know how they are where they are? Do you know the number of thorns they trampled on? Do you know how much rain and rainbows they have seen? You see, there are thousands of people around you. Everyone has a different background, separate experiences, and different stories. And each one of those stories is fascinating. Why? Because each person takes things their own way. Even if everyone were to undergo the same situation, they would all come out with different outcomes. That's how unique people are. It is not about how the pattern looks like, it is about how the pattern was woven. These people- There are flaws to them as much as there is beauty in them. Each of those flaws and each piece of that beauty has a lot to say and teach. All you need to do is learn from it. It is so simple to do so. Talk to them, share those stories and listen. This is also a place where Quality > Quantity. It is not a race on how many awards you win or how many you lost, it is more about how it was fought and all the build up that went into that. You do not have to talk to a 1000 Elon Musks, just talk to 1 person you see everyday. Everyone knows the story of Elon Musk, no one knows the story of the John that smiles at you from his shop when you return home. Very recently, I was at an event. It was in a small room. There were about 30 people. None of them were Elon musks, so it was so effortless to assume that each one of those 30 people lived the same old boring life as I did. But if I had left that room without getting to know them, then I would have never discovered that there were some incredible Johns within those four walls. Some were stuck in very recent wars. While some others, had wars among the people they grew up with and everyone became winners because of their failures. So just imagine- If there were phenomenal human beings in that small room, then just know many marvelous people are living in one neighborhood? It is just so simple to ignore those people and dislike those people, but you will have no clue how many dislikes they had to ignore to stand up on their feet. There is sooo much more to people than what they let out. All I ask you to do is - Talk to that one person who you always wanted to and talk to that one person who you never wanted to talk to. By that, I do not mean a "Hey, how are you?", but rather I mean- Get to know their tale. See how they grew up so that you can grow up again and again. Listen to those stories. Maybe, the girl with whom you sit every day on the bus but never had a single conversation with, was once a popular singer who is now trying to hide from the world. "Ann, that only happens in movies." You may never know; Unless you talk to them. People are unimaginable and you will not know that until their heart reaches yours. How would that happen? Just get your larynx to do its work. What? What is a larynx? Maybe you should use it next to find out ;) I ask you again, how many of that 0.0000125% of the people do you really know? Don't tell me, find out for yourself when you talk to them.

Today is the 10th of September. Does anyone know the significance of this day? ... Anyone? Need a hint? Today was marked as a day by the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) to spread awareness about a sensitive issue in 2003. So..- Billy raises hand "Yes, Billy?" "Can I go to bathwoom" "Sigh... Yes... Billy..." Okay, back to topic- Today is September 10th. It is also known as World Suicide Prevention Day. No, don't flinch, don't get all uncomfortable. It is becoming normal. Yes, the most unfortunate thing humans can do to themselves turns out to be normal and common. Don't believe me? Let's get into the statistics. Statistical Facts- World: In 2019 alone, 750,000+ deaths occurred due to suicide, all around the world. You can check this link out - https://ourworldindata.org/suicide - It shows you the graph of death rates from 1990 to 2019 from each country. In almost all countries, deaths due to suicide have come up at the top. Also according to WHO (World Health Organization), for every one suicide there are 20 more who strongly think about it. Now that it is clear, suicide is, sadly, turning out to be a recurring event. And in my opinion, it must be normalised to talk about it and more importantly about its prevention. It is necessary to spread awareness. This is real, and this is happening. No one must be under so much pressure that it leads to such tragic events. Mental health should be accessible to all. Professional help should be available to all. And, on the brighter side, thee industries are growing. Statistical Facts- India: Now, I'd like to show you another image- The following piece of news was taken from the Times Of India, August 30, 2022: The above data shows a comparison between the suicide rates pre and post-pandemic - i.e, 2019 and 2021- in India. The points from it that stood out to me were- -According to NCRB- National Crime Records Bureau, a total of 1.64 Lakh (164,000) Indians committed suicide in 2021. This is an 18% rise from 2019. -Of these people, we observe that 27% more students took their own lives in 2021 from 2019. (I repeat, this is not the only fact mentioned, but it is one that stood out to me) Being a student myself, it was devastating to find out that more and more youths - who are considered as the building blocks of a nation - decided that they shouldn't exist anymore. And as per Wikipedia, "At least one student commits suicide every hour in India." Now, these are in the official records. What about unofficial? About- Creating Hope Through Action: Suicide rates are increasing by the hour, and it becomes crucial to throw light on the prevention of it. We cannot shy away from it for long. If you are struggling or anyone you know is struggling with mental health, please reach out to personal or professional help. The theme for World Suicide Prevention Day from 2021 to 2023, as given by the World Health Organization is "Creating Hope Through Action"- if you're interested you can see their official website https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-suicide-prevention-day/2022 Now, What can you do to contribute? Let the people around you and yourself know that there is hope. Encourage them and yourself. Try to show them and yourself the joy of living. Give them and yourself a helping hand to stand up. Speak up about problems. Let them and yourself know that you care and that we all have support. Lend a shoulder to lean on. Help out if you can. Let everyone breathe. And why should you contribute? Because no one in the world possesses a magic wand that can vanish the problems of the world. What is that? You don't believe me? Go on, knock on every single door in the world and ask every single person in the world. No one has it. So, when one person makes even the slightest contribution to change the life of at least one person, be it themself, a loved one, or a stranger. They add up. And with a population of about 8 billion, when each one does their part, these summations will further contribute towards reducing these rates. Also, you do not have to go looking for a magic wand or doing something huge. Just talk to people. Share your ups and downs. Be there for one another. Spread awareness and spread positivity. So, take a moment to help one another, and encourage one another. After all, humanity helps humanity. If we don't do it, who will? Every Life Counts I would want to conclude this blog with a few overused sentences. But, please, do not simply skim through them. Give them meaning. Read the sentences by giving life to each word. Give these words the value they have- -Suicide is not an option. -There is light, there is hope and there is support. -You matter. You are unique. No one in the world has the beauty you do. The world would hate to miss out on that. Take care of yourself, you shining gem. Oh and look, Billy is back from the bathroom. Let us all tell Billy the importance of today and the importance of life, shall we? If you or anyone you know needs help, kindly seek out to professional help. Help is available - at https://blog.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines/ Signed, Ann.

When I was in the first grade, my brother told me: "Children don't watch cartoons after the 4th grade." And I believed it at that time (because I didn't know about fact-checking). I remember thinking "If I do not cease watching cartoons at this moment, then it will indicate that thyself will continue being a junior which further means that I shall never transition into an adult." Yup, the exact words of a 9-year-old. And now that I am in the 11th grade, it must mean that I stopped watching cartoons- Nope! I still watch them. I've always loved cartoons and I still do! And no, I am not talking about the all-famous Japanese Anime. Sarah: Wh- WHOT! Ann! You haven't seen anime?! The most outstanding animation style with suspenseful stories and handsome fictional characters? Uhm... No... please don't come for me I do want to watch it sometime, however. But me knowing me I know that I am going to be overly hooked on it and thereby leaving my grades to suffer... Yeah, a topic for another time :') Anyways, I recently stumbled across the land of animation. More specifically, youtube animators. The idea of telling regular old stories through images moving at 24 frames per second is extremely fascinating to me. There are so many skills to acquire from this land. One can learn storytelling, drawing, entertainment creation, video editing, comedy, and research, and I could go on and on. Animation is something I've been wanting to learn ever since I was introduced to it. Telling that I am interested in would be an understatement. I am obsessed with it. The downside? I am not good at drawing - my mum can vouch for that - However, it is something I am willing to learn and be better at simply because I want to. Occassionally, I just draw the same picture over and over again trying to go one step forward each time. And it is not impossible to do so because according to the internet, on an average, it takes up to 6 months to learn a skill. Not master at, but learn. When you are willing to put your mind and heart into something, be it just for 30 minutes a day or a week. You can do it. Anyone can do it. All it takes is some planning and effort from your side. Besides, if you want to, if you genuinely want to learn something, it makes it simpler. It can be math (although I don't know why you'd want to learn math), football, music, cooking, painting, or anything! The world has thousands to offer- and I know that there is that one piece of the offer that always sparks a light in your heart! It excites you. And you want to learn it. So, take some time, and bring in some love and passion for that spark! You may fail at times in the journey, but when the passion sticks through, you will get progressively and positively better :) I think my parents put it the best - Whenever you learn something new, you create dots. And as you start connecting them, you'll observe a beautiful pattern. Have been wanting to learn pottery but never got a chance? Here is a teeny tiny annoying reminder for you to do so. So go on, create a new dot! Let me know which pattern you see when you join it. Now, I'll go and obsess over Jaiden Animations videos (and fail at drawing). Signed, Ann.

Literature. Ahh, Literature. It's a beautiful world of its own. And the beauty of this spectacular world has been displayed through great works like "War and Peace" by Leo Tolstoy, "Romeo and Juliet" by Shakespeare, "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost, "The Great Gatsby" by Scott Fitzgerald, and countless more. Now, have I read all of these? Nah. But you know what got me into reading? Harry Potter? Lord of the Rings? Nope, it was my 1st grade English textbook. However, here's the book series that gets me to read - The Diary of a Wimpy kid. awkward silence Yes, I am aware of books with greater values and much more beautiful narrating with moving stories and stunning writing. But hear me out- It's just the simplicity of the book that I love. It is about the day-to-day life of a middle schooler. It is fun to see the cluttered days of Greg Heffley. The way Jeff Kinney (the author) has presented the protagonist's life is hilarious, chaotic, and simple, and gives me a laugh. It is my getaway from my troubles (Yes, Karen, even a teenager has worries). This young boy has his troubles with being "visible" and being "cool." We all know how awkward and clumsy our middle school years are. And reliving them through the main character takes me back to the sillier and simpler days. He, too, like me, has unrealistic fantasies (like his world is a TV show and the people he interacts with are actors) and bad decisions. It is just about the ordinary life that makes it so relatable. Such as the extra caring nature of his mother. The annoyance he feels from his siblings. The childish behavior of his best friend, Rowley. The laziness of waking up in the morning. The error of him thinking that wearing a pizza box for boots is creative. Eugh, Yikes! Ah, we've all done something stupid in thought that it was "hip" while in reality, it is just... not... And we just look back at those moments with the most cringiest face possible. I am aware that some people make that face at the fact that they used to read Wimpy Kid once before. That is okay, I do not want you to like what I like. But each book of this series is a reminder for me to take a step back. To have a laugh. To reconnect with the craziest child in me. To be a little informal. We all have that one thing that brings out a genuine smile. Be it watching that one movie, coloring that one picture, or singing that one song. It's okay to fall back onto them once in a while. It helps you to loosen up and breathe. Do not suppress the activity that gives you the freedom you desire. It is alright to run back to it. It gives you the strength to stand up. So go back to your 'Wimpy Kid'. It is in the little things that happiness is found. Take a moment to do what keeps you in touch with the beautiful smile you have! Signed, Ann.

"Strong winds blew everywhere, and the grass was obligated to bend along the direction of the wind. The grass always wondered why the oak tree standing next to it never followed with the wind. The grass, suggesting the oak tree "Sway as the wind dances." The oak tree, however, would not listen. Sooner or later, the oak tree would collapse. The winds current were too strong." That was a story I read in a magazine called Giant Wheel as a child. (You can check a similar story on youtube - https://youtu.be/LuU_VHSfrAE - if you are interested). It is a story that is supposed to teach life lessons and values to children. But, hey, do not underestimate the meaning of such stories. It carries great significance. How, might you ask? Let us look at it in two different ways, each from different angles: The first and the most popular being- The oak tree was arrogant and was never humble. It did not do as the situation came and created a disturbance. Opposed to this, we can also derive that the oak tree was confident and stood its ground. Until its last breath, it remained strong to face the challenges and stand up straight. Though it was uprooted, it never gave up. Now, coming to the grass or the reeds- They went with the flow of life. They bent themselves to adjust to every kind of situation. They were able to adapt to the change. They were flexible. Then again, viewing it from a different eye, we can say the grass survived only by showing itself down. It did not stand up nor strongly believe in itself. It might have undermined its strength. Okay, I know what you're thinking- Ann, this is silly! Why would you even break down a kids' story it is not a Shakespeare's poem. That is true. But I've always been taught that small stories teach big lessons. Besides, would you not want to learn from a simple story than from war or peace or love, which remains a mystery every time? But through this blog, I am not trying to find the exact meaning of the story, but I am trying to show the power of perspective. Perspective matters. The point of view matters. How you look at things and in what way can change a lot of things. As we saw, there were two ways (or more from your pov ;)) of decoding the oak tree's behavior. One being pretentious and the other being strong-minded. So every time life throws you lemons (make lemonade jk) do not jump to conclusions straight away. Look both ways (or the numerous different ways!) Recently, I was asked a question- Would you want to know what others are thinking about you? Take your time to answer it now. I want you to look in the different ways possible, each with its own core reason. One that might pop up in your mind is "Yes, I want to know what others think about me. I want to know if they like me." or "No, what if they hate me? I'll be hurt unnecessarily." How about- "Yes, I want to know what others are thinking about me so I can improve myself." Or "Yes, because I will know what I am doing wrong and hence will be able to correct myself." Or "No, if they have anything to say, they can speak their mind to me." Or "No, I want to be able to talk for myself nor do I not want others' approval for what I do." All of them are not the same thing. The reason behind each answer shows a different path. How do you see it? (Let me know!) You can even use perspective to get out of the dark, view the dark as just an obstacle, or even turn the darkness into light. I urge you to broaden your mind and look at things a little differently. It might seem useless at the beginning. But trust me, having different perspectives and having comparisons of different points of view leads to better decision-making, and stronger opinions and you will have the chance to see the world uniquely. Let me know how would you observe the oak tree and the reeds. I would love to see your viewpoint. Signed, Ann.