Tuesday, July 22, 2025

Letting Go, Letting Love In



Dear Love,

I am sorry that you have not been able to flow freely.

I am sorry you have been stuck beneath my anger, fear, and pain.


Please forgive me for holding you back…

For burying you under emotions that were once trying to protect me.


I thank you for being patient with me.

I thank you for gently dissolving these layers now.


I love you.

I welcome you.

I am ready to let you flow freely through my body, my heart, and my life.


🌸 I choose love. I choose peace. I choose freedom.

Saturday, July 19, 2025

The Intentional Plate: Building Healthy Habits as a Family

 How I’m Cultivating Healthy Eating Habits in My Kids – My Ongoing Experiment 🌱

Over the past few months, I’ve consciously worked on improving food habits at home, especially for my kids. Here’s what has helped me—and I hope it helps you too. This post captures our real journey with simple strategies and consistent routines that are working well for us.




💡 Mindset & Intentionality

  • Start with yourself. Kids mirror your eating habits. I began by upgrading my own choices.

  • Set clear, non-negotiable food rules.

    • Snacks = fruits. No chips or biscuits stocked at home.

    • “No food should be left in the plate.” Whether it’s a favorite or not, everything served must be finished—this builds respect for food.

  • Affirm your intention daily. I now write: “I ensure seeds, proteins, and millets in my family’s diet.” It keeps me aligned.


🗣 Talk, Include & Inspire

  • Talk about how food affects brain and body—they’re more receptive than we think.

  • Ask people they admire (like a sports teacher or grandparent) to talk about eating right.

  • Offer healthy food when they’re most hungry—they’ll try it without resistance.

  • Involve them in meal planning—but within your healthy options only. Let them choose the frequency: once a week, twice a week, daily, or fortnightly.

  • Create a weekly meal planner. It sets clear expectations, brings consistency, and reduces decision fatigue.


🛒 Smart Planning & Easy Swaps

Weekend prep has become my secret weapon to staying consistent and stress-free through the week. I now:

  • Roast ingredients like sooji, daliya, seeds, and makhana

  • Make oat powder, prepare ragi ladoos, and ready dosa/idli/chilla batter

  • We buy vegetables once a week and fruits twice a week, so everything remains fresh and handy

  • I keep healthy ingredients visible in the kitchen—they naturally get used more

  • Soaking exercise before sleeping: Daily soak chia seeds, badam, dates, and sprouts for our breakfast; rajma and chola as and when required

Some effective swaps:

  • Ketchup → fresh coconut chutney (with diced coconut always ready) + dhaniya chutney

  • Sugar → khand

  • Mayonnaise → hung curd for spreads and dips


🍽 Our Set Dinner Options

To maintain balance without overthinking, I created a go-to list of healthy dinner choices we rotate weekly:

  1. Vegetable daliya (our wholesome daily staple)

  2. Ragi dosa

  3. Sooji uttapam

  4. Oats chilla

  5. Ragi idli

  6. Moong dal chilla

  7. Oats pancake

  8. Masala idli

  9. Healthy vegetable roll

  10. Upma

✨ Bonus meals like sandwich, pasta, or roti pizza are reserved for once a month or two—treats, not regulars.

🍛 Sample Lunch Plate Combos

  1. Moong dal, palak paneer, jhingi

  2. Rajma, aaloo curry, bhindi

  3. Hara moong dal, paneer, lauki

  4. Chana dal, aaloo-parwal, jhingi

  5. Chola, paneer, lauki

  6. Moong dal, aaloo-pumpkin mix, soya badi

  7. Dosa with Sambhar Chutney


🥗 Food Habits That Are Working for Us

  • Chips → crunchy makhana or homemade popcorn

  • Sugary snacks → ragi ladoos post swimming

  • Packaged cereals → morning smoothie
    (½ glass milk, 1 banana, 2 spoons sattu, 2 dates, chia + pumpkin seeds)

  • Lunch → reduced rice, increased veggies
    (Cucumber & beet before, curd/buttermilk after)
    Typical lunch plate: 1 dal, 1 paneer or aloo curry, 1 green vegetable

  • Flaxseed powder → added to atta

  • Homemade chutneys instead of packaged sauces



💛 Family Effort Makes the Difference

I’m still learning and experimenting, but small shifts are creating big changes. The kids are adapting, and I feel more in control and creative as a parent.

💛 A big part of this journey has been my husband’s support and guidance. From helping with planning to motivating consistently, his partnership has made the process smoother, lighter, and more enjoyable.


Let’s raise happy, healthy eaters—one conscious meal at a time!

Tuesday, July 1, 2025

🌱 My Green New Beginning 🌱


Today, I welcomed life into my home —

Tulsi, Kari Patta, Snake Plant, Spider Plant, Snow White, and Hibiscus.
Their presence is a promise of healing, hope, and harmony.

Every leaf is a gentle reminder:
🌿 To grow, no matter how small the step.
🌿 To breathe deeply and stay rooted.
🌿 To bloom, in my own time and space.

I am happy. I am grateful. I am growing. 💚

Friday, May 5, 2023

Magical March

 


March is a magical month. Every day, I see trees shedding their leaves while new ones grow quickly. Similarly, I am shedding the leaves of my anger, jealousy, hatred, guilt, greed, possessiveness, lust, and ego. I can see the new leaves of happiness, peace, love, devotion, gratitude, kindness, compassion, acceptance, and wisdom growing within me. These new leaves are enveloping me in their arms and nourishing my body, senses, mind, intellect, and soul with the best.

Thank you Dear Magical March !!

Nidhi

Thursday, April 27, 2023

OM

OM is often associated with the concept of Shivshakti, which represents the union of the divine masculine (Shiva) and feminine (Shakti) energies. Here are some ways in which OM signifies Shivshakti:

1. Two syllables: OM is composed of two syllables, "A" and "U," which represent Shiva and Shakti respectively. The third syllable, "M," represents the union of the two energies.

2. Symbolic representation: The shape of OM is also believed to represent the union of Shiva and Shakti. The lower curve of the symbol represents the feminine energy of Shakti, while the upper curve represents the masculine energy of Shiva. The dot or bindu at the top represents the unity of the two energies.

3. Sound vibration: Chanting OM produces a vibration in the body that is said to activate the Kundalini energy, which is associated with Shakti. The sound of OM is believed to help awaken and balance the feminine energy within us, allowing it to merge with the masculine energy.

4. Spiritual practice: Chanting OM is often used as a spiritual practice to connect with the divine energies of Shiva and Shakti. It is believed to help us tap into our inner power and creativity, and to promote spiritual growth and transformation.


OM is mentioned in many Upanishads, which are ancient texts of Hindu philosophy. Here are some of the different ways OM is defined and its significance in 10 different Upanishads:

1. Chandogya Upanishad: OM represents the whole universe and everything in it. It is the essence of all that is and all that will be.

2. Brihadaranyaka Upanishad: OM represents the three states of consciousness: waking, dreaming, and deep sleep. It is the sound of the universe and the source of all other sounds.

3. Katha Upanishad: OM represents the Self and the Supreme Brahman. It is the sound of the eternal, unchanging reality that underlies all appearances.

4. Mundaka Upanishad: OM represents the highest knowledge and the goal of spiritual practice. It is the sound of the Absolute Truth that transcends all dualities.

5. Mandukya Upanishad: OM represents the entire range of human consciousness, from the waking state to the state of pure consciousness. It is the sound of the ultimate reality that is beyond all words and concepts.

6. Prashna Upanishad: OM represents the three levels of reality: the physical world, the world of the mind, and the world of the spirit. It is the sound of the divine consciousness that pervades all levels of reality.

7. Taittiriya Upanishad: OM represents the three elements of the universe: fire, the sun, and the moon. It is the sound of the divine energy that sustains all creation.

8. Aitareya Upanishad: OM represents the three qualities of nature: sattva (purity), rajas (activity), and tamas (inertia). It is the sound of the ultimate reality that transcends all qualities.

9. Shvetashvatara Upanishad: OM represents the divine power that creates, sustains, and destroys the universe. It is the sound of the ultimate reality that is beyond all limitations.

10. Isa Upanishad: OM represents the divine presence that pervades all creation. It is the sound of the ultimate reality that is both immanent and transcendent.


 It is believed to have several benefits for the body and mind. Here are some ways chanting OM can affect our body:


Reduces Stress: Chanting OM has a calming effect on the mind and can reduce stress and anxiety. It helps to slow down the breath and lower blood pressure, which in turn helps to relax the body.


Improves Concentration: Chanting OM helps to focus the mind and improve concentration. It is often used as a meditation technique to quiet the mind and bring about a sense of inner peace and clarity.


Enhances Immune Function: Some studies have shown that chanting OM can stimulate the production of nitric oxide in the body, which is known to have immune-enhancing properties.


Balances the Nervous System: Chanting OM can have a balancing effect on the nervous system, particularly the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for the "rest and digest" response. This can help to reduce tension in the body and promote relaxation.


Improves Respiratory Function: Chanting OM involves deep breathing, which can help to improve respiratory function and increase oxygenation of the body.


Boosts Mood: Chanting OM can also have a mood-boosting effect, releasing endorphins in the brain that promote feelings of well-being and happiness.


In summary, chanting OM can have a positive impact on the body by reducing stress, improving concentration, enhancing immune function, balancing the nervous system, improving respiratory function, and boosting mood. It is a simple and effective practice that can be easily incorporated into one's daily routine to promote overall health and well-being.



Note: I have used CHATGPT to extract this information seeking answers to my questions. 


Tuesday, April 25, 2023

Lily Learns to Forgive !!

Once upon a time, there was a little girl named Lily. She was a happy and carefree child who loved playing with her dolls and spending time with her friends.


One day, Lily's friend Emma came over to play. They had a great time together until Emma accidentally broke one of Lily's favorite toys. Lily was very upset and angry with Emma. She didn't want to play with her anymore and told Emma to leave.


The next day, Lily's mom sat her down and talked to her about forgiveness. She explained that it's important to forgive people when they make mistakes, and that everyone makes mistakes sometimes.


At first, Lily was hesitant. She didn't want to forgive Emma for breaking her toy. But then, her mom helped her understand that holding onto anger and resentment would only make her feel worse. Lily thought about it and decided to try forgiving Emma.


So, Lily went to Emma's house and apologized for being angry with her. She told Emma that she forgave her for breaking her toy, and they hugged and made up.


From that day on, Lily learned that forgiveness was a powerful tool that could help her let go of negative feelings and build stronger relationships with her friends. She still felt sad about her toy, but she also felt happy knowing that she and Emma were still friends.