Mitra Malani

Imagine this: it's been a long, exhausting day. You’re finally in bed, cocooned in your blanket, about to drift off when suddenly— beep beep beep . The home alarm screeches, jolting you awake. Someone has triggered the motion sensor. Your heart races as your brain processes the situation: burglars.   Adrenaline courses through your veins. Your heart pounds, your pupils dilate, and your senses sharpen as your body enters full fight-or-flight mode. You quietly tiptoe downstairs, hyper-aware of every creak in the floorboards. Your body’s response is incredible—a primal, powerful system designed to keep you alive.   But here’s the twist:  what if your internal alarm system never turned off?      Alarmed Much? The fight-or-flight response is life-saving, no doubt. From avoiding car accidents to surviving surgeries, this system ensures we live to fight another day. The problem arises when our internal fire alarm goes off all the time.   Think ...

Bachpan se, I have always been a very social, extroverted guy. I loved hanging around with people, spending time with them, and enjoying their company. It didn’t matter who I was with; I simply enjoyed it. As I grew up, I naturally became a charmer. I loved people, and they loved me back. In school, I was the heartthrob, the hero. From juniors to seniors, everyone knew and adored Mitra. I felt on top of the world, basking in the recognition every 13-year-old dreams of. And then, one day, everything changed. I still remember the date: 28 December 2019. That day, I won 11 medals—4 golds, 5 silvers, and 2 bronze—at the school’s sports day. Everyone, from teachers to friends, was jubilant. I was officially the school’s hero. Standing on the stage, my eyes searched for my parents. They were proud, their eyes filled with happy tears. But behind those teary eyes, I saw the gears shifting in their minds. Their supercomputer had started analysing something, and I knew I wouldn’t like the outcom...

I know you already know this, but…  gratitude grounds us.   I know you already know this, but…  gratitude rewires our brain.    I know you already know this, but…  gratitude amplifies joy.    I know you already know this, but…  gratitude builds bridges.   I know you already know this, but…  gratitude is a rebellion.   As Chartered Psychologist Dr. Julie Smith writes in her book  Open When : " Gratitude as a practice is often dismissed as too simple or insignificant. But it was as easy… there would be much less bitterness and resentment to witness… In the lowest moments, there is always something to be grateful for, but finding it can be difficult. "   Yup… alright… got it… But what am I grateful for?     An Action Epic   The border is quiet, a deceptive calm. Then, without warning— an insult , a breach  occurs. T he alarm blares, shaking the foundation of  the  fortress. An invader has cr...