My life, My thoughts

  A Father’s Fight: Light Through the Shadows of Bipolar Disorder For most of the world, time flows in days, months, and years. But for me — a father — the passage of time has been marked by the rise and fall of my daughter’s mood swings, her tears, her silence, her unpredictable outbursts, and the long nights where sleep was a distant memory. It has now been over nine years since we began the painful journey of managing her bipolar disorder, and each moment has left its mark on my soul. Our path began like many others — with hope. Doctors prescribed medications like Olanzapine, Aripiprazole, Lurasidone, and Lumateperone, all in the belief that the right combination would restore my daughter’s balance. Among them, Flunil (Fluoxetine) stood out as a miracle. It lifted her from the depths of despair and gave her moments of peace. But last year, everything fell apart. Influenced by voices on social media warning of side effects, my daughter — already fragile — refused to take Fl...

  A Melody from the Past It was the year 1972 when I joined a public sector bank as a humble clerk, full of dreams and determination. Among the new faces, one stood out — Neelakandhan from Shoranur. A soft-spoken man with a heart that beat for music, just like mine. It didn’t take long for us to become close friends. Our bond was not just forged by work, but by the ragas and rhythms that filled our hearts during quiet moments. We grew in our careers — I took the officer’s path earlier, and he followed soon after. Life, as it often does, led us down different roads. Time passed, and the melodies of our friendship were buried under files, postings, family, and responsibilities. We eventually retired, each settling into the silence that follows a lifetime of service. Then, on a quiet night, something unexpected happened. He came to me — in a dream. There he was, just as I remembered — gentle eyes, a warm smile, and that same spark of music in his soul. We sat together, like old...

  The Silent Struggle of a Caring Parent Life as a parent of a child with bipolar disorder is filled with moments of hope, despair, and unyielding love. Among the many chapters of my journey, there was a time when Fluoxetine brought a noticeable calm to my daughter’s life. It lifted the weight of depression from her days, and for a while, I could breathe easier, watching her live with a sense of balance. But one morning, that comfort slipped away. With fear in her eyes and concern in her voice, she refused to take Fluoxetine anymore, worried that so many medicines might harm her body. As a father, I understood her fears, but I also knew the value this medicine had in keeping her stable. Fluoxetine, available only in capsule form, gave me no option to mask its intake with tea or food, as I had managed with other tablets. My search for a tablet version across pharmacies and online portals ended in disappointment. The absence of this single medicine, unfortunately, led to a recu...

The Melody of Rain: A Soulful Embrace of the Rainy Season There is something eternally magical about the sound of rain. As the first drops fall gently upon the sheet-covered terrace, a musical rhythm begins—soft, soothing, and timeless. It is not just water touching metal; it is nature composing a lullaby. That gentle pitter-patter of raindrops carries me away from the present moment and takes me back in time—back to the innocence of school days. I remember walking briskly under an umbrella, the sky grey and moody above, the streets glistening below. A heavy school bag clung to my shoulder, filled with books that often ended up slightly damp despite my best efforts. My uniform would be partially wet, my shoes soaked, but my heart? Oh, my heart was light, happy, and thrilled by the freshness of the world around me. That was the magic of rain—it turned a daily routine into a cherished memory. The rainy season brings a divine transformation to nature. The parched earth drinks deeply...

  🌧️ Whispers from the Sky 🌧️ — A Poem on the Rainy Season Raindrops fall like silver pearls, From clouds that dance and softly swirl, They kiss the earth with tender grace, And leave a smile on nature’s face. The thirsty soil begins to sing, As joy flows in on heaven’s wing, Leaves glisten bright in emerald hue, Bathed in drops of morning dew. The rooftops echo with their song, A lullaby that's sweet and strong, Children laugh in puddled streets, As skies and earth in rhythm meet. The parched old trees begin to sway, In tune with winds that pass their way, And rivers rise with sparkling pride, As monsoon dreams come true worldwide. A peacock cries in bold delight, A farmer prays with all his might, The world reborn in green and grey, As rain rewrites the end of May. O Rain, you fall so soft, so high, A blessing sent from weeping sky, You bring to hearts a gentle balm, A timeless peace, a sacred calm. So let it pour, this wondrous art, That soaks the...

  Marvels of Nature For two long decades, we watched the skies with hope — clouds drifted, but seldom poured. June would arrive with our reservoirs only half full, and hearts heavy with silent prayers for rain. We lived through seasons of longing — for water to quench the thirst of our lands, for crops to bloom, for rivers to sing once more. But this year, nature smiled upon us. Even before May had drawn its curtains, raindrops began to dance upon our soil. By the end of June, our reservoirs brimmed with joy, reflecting not just water — but hope, abundance, and renewal. The skies opened wide, blessing us with rainfall beyond expectation. Fields have awakened with green dreams, promising a harvest generous and golden. With full rivers powering our hydroelectric stations, light now shines brighter in every home. With granaries filling up, inflation bows before the bounty of nature. Indeed, this season is a gentle reminder — that when nature blesses, she does ...

  “A Life Woven with Pain and Patience” At 75, when most seek peace, I live in the shadow of a storm that never fully passes. My life—disciplined, determined, and built with the grit of a self-made man—is now quietly overwhelmed by a pain no wealth or wisdom can soothe. Born with a physical disability in my left leg due to polio, I never let fate define me. I fought for every opportunity—wrote exams, took rejections in stride, and rose with sheer willpower. I served in a public sector bank, climbed the ladder without shortcuts, lived within my means, and retired with dignity. I built my life brick by brick, saving every rupee, staying away from extravagance, and never asking for more than I needed. But life, cruel in its irony, reserved its most brutal challenge for my twilight years—my daughter’s long, relentless battle with bipolar disorder. A condition so unpredictable, it tears through our days with sudden panic episodes, emotional avalanches, and long hours of mental angu...

Title: The Uncertain Tapestry of Life: Lessons from a Tragedy What is the meaning of life? This eternal question echoes louder whenever we are faced with tragedy — unexpected, uninvited, and beyond human control. We plan, we dream, we struggle, and yet, in a single moment, everything can change. The recent London-bound aircraft disaster stands as a chilling reminder of how fragile and uncertain human life truly is. Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft burst into flames and crashed onto the roof of a medical college hostel building. In a matter of seconds, over 260 lives were lost — including many young medical students who were having food inside their hostel. The pain and vacuum left in the hearts of their families is beyond description. These were sons and daughters who had secured admission to medical college after years of hard work, relentless study, prayers, and sacrifice. Their dreams, and those of their families, were turned to ashes in a single moment. Only one person surv...

  Title: Kerala’s Golden Obsession: A Changing Tradition in the Face of Rising Costs Kerala, the land of lush greenery, literacy, and cultural heritage, is also famously known for something less talked about in academic circles — its deep-rooted obsession with gold. For generations, gold has been more than just a metal in Kerala; it has symbolized wealth, pride, social status, and above all, the value of a bride in matrimonial alliances. Traditionally, the worth of a bride was measured by the amount of gold she adorned on her wedding day. This unwritten societal norm was accepted across communities, cutting across religion and caste lines. A bride gleaming with sovereigns of gold ornaments was seen as a symbol of the family’s prosperity and generosity. The more gold presented, the higher the respect commanded in society. Jewellery shops flourished, and Kerala soon became home to the largest number of gold retailers in India — a status symbol deeply entrenched in its culture. H...

 You've hit on one of the most challenging aspects of caring for someone with bipolar disorder: anosognosia, which is a lack of insight into one's own illness. When combined with manic or hypomanic symptoms, this denial can lead to explosive arguments, refusal of medication, and a feeling of powerlessness   * Anosognosia (Lack of Insight): This is a neurological symptom of bipolar disorder itself, not simply stubbornness. During manic or hypomanic episodes, the brain's ability to accurately perceive one's own state can be impaired. They genuinely believe they are fine, highly functional, or even exceptionally gifted.  * Euphoria of Mania/Hypomania: These states can feel incredibly good – heightened energy, creativity, confidence, decreased need for sleep. Why would anyone want to give that up for "normalcy" or "boring" medication?  * Side Effects of Medication: Even when insight is present, medication side effects (sedation, weight gain, dulling of e...

 The march of progress, a relentless tide shaping human civilization, has always been a double-edged sword. For millennia, the rhythm of life was deeply intertwined with intergenerational learning and inherited vocations. The farmer's son tilled the soil, the weaver's daughter spun the yarn, and the carpenter's apprentice learned the scent of sawdust and the grain of wood. This seamless transmission of knowledge and skill fostered stable communities, a clear sense of purpose, and a predictable trajectory for most lives. Life, as the prompt eloquently states, "went on smoothly as ever." However, the advent of industrialization and then the digital age began to disrupt this ancient equilibrium. We witnessed the gradual decline of many traditional crafts as machines took over repetitive tasks, leading to shifts in employment and the emergence of new industries. Yet, this transformation, while significant, pales in comparison to the seismic shifts anticipated with the...

  From Hand to Machine: The Changing Landscape of Human Work There was a time — not too long ago — when life flowed like a calm river, steady and purposeful. Children inherited the craft and calling of their parents. The son of a farmer became a farmer, and the daughter of a weaver learnt to weave. Professions were more than a means of survival — they were identities rooted in skill, community, and continuity. In every corner of society, hands shaped the world. Farmers tilled the earth with devotion; carpenters crafted homes with patience; masons laid bricks with love. Barbers, weavers, milkmen, traders, and cloth washers were indispensable threads in the social fabric. Traditional healers, Ayurvedic doctors, cooks, artists, dancers, and singers preserved culture and served communities. Life was simple, yet rich — full of tangible work, human interaction, and mutual dependence. Then came the age of technology. Machines became faster, sharper, and more precise. Tasks that once ...