Mitra Malani

Remember when life itself was the adventure? When every sunrise felt like a fresh canvas, every gust of wind carried a new secret, and the simplest things—a butterfly resting on your hand, the crunch of leaves under your feet—felt magical? And then, somewhere along the way, a tiny screen took over. A notification ping, a quick scroll, a mindless tap. Bit by bit, reality lost its spark. And before we knew it, we weren’t just using screens—we were using them to escape life. Escape life. Let that sink in for a moment. Life, the very thing poets romanticise, travellers chase, and philosophers spend lifetimes trying to understand, and here we are... running away from it? Why? Because it’s too mundane? Too unpredictable? Too real? The irony is that we aren’t escaping into something better. We’re escaping into an endless loop of curated highlights, pointless arguments, and 10-second dopamine hits. And yet, we call it entertainment, relaxation, even self-care. Let’s face it: Technology isn...

Remember when life felt like magic? When waking up in the morning didn’t feel like an obligation but an invitation? As children, we existed in a world where every smile was a gift, every moment was an adventure, and the universe felt like a kind friend, constantly nudging us toward joy. We didn’t count how much we gave or worried about how much we received—we simply existed in a state of boundless wonder.   And then, adulthood happened. Slowly, subtly, we stopped reaching out to life with open hands and started clutching onto it with clenched fists. The world taught us that things aren’t given; they’re earned. That trust must be calculated, not unconditional. That survival depends on taking, not sharing. We shifted from being givers to becoming takers, more focused on not losing than on truly living. But what if we got it all wrong? What if fulfilment isn’t about what we can accumulate but how much we can give? Not in grand, theatrical gestures but in the small, effortless acts tha...

Are We Enjoying Life the Wrong Way? So many times, people say,  “Enjoy your life while you’re in school or college. After that, it’s just work, work, work.” I’ve heard this countless times, and every time, I wonder—doesn’t this go against what our ancient wisdom teaches us? Our scriptures divide life into distinct phases, each with a purpose. The first phase,  Brahmacharya Ashram , was meant for learning, discipline, and self-development. It wasn’t just about textbooks; it was about training the mind, body, and spirit with unwavering focus. Students were expected to immerse themselves completely, cultivating the kind of dedication that shapes character. Yet today, we are told to  “enjoy” these formative years , as if they were an extended vacation—before the so-called “real world” takes over. But if we only chase short-term pleasures, where does that leave us? The Cost of ‘Just Enjoying Life’ Modern life tells us,  “If something isn’t instantly fun, drop it.”  W...