More than a thing

It is a strange world with strange people. On one hand there are strides been made to get equal rights to everyone while on the other, it is no big deal to discriminate. From denying accessibility to the disabled to refusing families to adopt, discriminations are everywhere, hidden from plain sight. In some cases, it may be difficult to decide which party to support but on others it would be crystal clear.
Human Rights are not things or the ability to get things or services. Rights are the necessities to lead a respectable life. Basic human rights not just for the privileged. They are for each and every individual by virtue of being born as a human. They came as a result of struggle of hundreds and thousands of people over the decades and centuries. They are not to be held at the whims and fancies of the few. Rather they should be cherished and protected for every single small man. Denying those rights should not be an option for anyone. Also making a mockery of the equality rights should not be allowed.
It is a strange world with strange people. On one hand there are protections for every walking creature while on the other, survival may be difficult for the poor man. It is a truly strange world.

The perfect house

The perfect house. An ideal place where everything seems magical. We run around looking for a perfect place to live. Everybody has different concepts of how and what they want in their house. Number of rooms, garage, garden, location, everything is a criteria when buying a house but these do not make a house home. The truth is that the perfect house doesn't require any of these physical features to make it a perfect abode. An ideal house is the one which is full of memories, often the very first childhood memories. It is a place where a child first identities that it is his home. It can have broken staircase or small rooms or not enough space for anything. It can be old or messy or airy. Nothing matters. It is a place which is home in the mind of a child who grows up looking for it. It is a place of emotions whether or not it has any physical wealth or not. It is a place of dreams and hopes and aspirations. A place like none other. Because it is not a physical place but the feelings and memories linked with it.

Postpartum depression

Postpartum depression is a common problem which is sadly ignored in a number of communities. Even though it is not talked much, it is very common and can span days to months in a woman's life. Low self esteem arising from physical changes to hormonal changes, not having support while taking care of the baby, lacking someone to talk to or simply being overwhelmed by the work and responsibility can play the culprit. It is important that the family and friends pay attention to the needs of the new mother, help her cope with the changes in her life and where necessary provide her with counselling or medical support to overcome her feelings.

Banning the plastics

The environmental degradation is caused both the insensitive extraction and misuse of natural resources along with the dumping of harmful substances in the nature. Banning of single use plastics such as straws or disposable utensils that cannot be reused or recycled but instead end up in landfills or pollute the water bodies can help to a large extent protect the environment from their harmful effects. Reusable cutlery, biodegradable alternatives or just recyclables are the way to mitigate the harms caused by the plastics.
Another source of problem are the paper products that cannot be reused or recycled. These include bathroom rolls. Instead of cutting down forests to manufacture the toilet paper, companies should try to find recycled paper alternatives that would cause less environmental damage. Another alternative to the indiscriminate paper use would be the use of bidet system which uses water for cleansing purposes and does not cause the cutting down of forests.
It is important that single use products is reduced and replaced by recyclables or biodegradable in order to ensure that the earth is not filled up with harmful, green house producing materials. Instead, making a collective informed lifestyle change in order to protect the environment is the need of the hour.

The smaller man

In every land, there is a group of individuals who lack the voice. They may be religious, linguistic or cultural minorities. They may be politically silent group. They may be women, children, old, handicapped or refugees. These are the people who require protection from various agencies who try to take away their rights.
International law aims to protect the rights and freedoms of all individuals. However, these laws may sometimes be misused to persecute those who are minorities or political opponents. Instead of protecting the rights of the weaker sections of the society, the laws may be used to persecute them instead. In democracies, it appears that the will of the majority is what is ruling there nations and the laws appear to be favourable only to the majority. Sometimes, this leads to the notion that the laws are bad. But that is not the case. Purpose of law is to create a stable society and creating peaceful and secure environment. While it may seem that in protecting the greatest good of the greatest number, the smaller individual is getting crushed but the truth is that it is this smaller man who is the beneficiary, whose good has to be protected. It is the duty of the nations to protect the rights of the minorities and ensure that their voices are heard. It is important that the laws are not misused and the principles of natural justice are always protected.
Every individual counts and it is the collective duty of societies and nations to ensure that the smaller man is heard. His rights are not compromised and his life is not sacrificed.

Earth insensitivity

While the environmental degradation and climate change are a reality staring at one and all, the insensitivity towards the same is also apparent. From the climate change deniers in the US to the companies producing CFCs in China, the disregard for the environmental issues is the blatant truth showing how little people care about the planet they live on. Consumerism and profit chasing the main issues that do not let companies and individuals care about the basic issues plaguing our planet. Sustainable development is the need of the hour but even though nations sign agreements, in reality they do very little in practice. Deforestation, using fossil fuels, burning of wastes are some of the common practices that are leading to the climate change with the net result that the planet is going to see a mass extinction of the species. Consumerism is the driving force behind the economy and it is the main force causing environmental degradation. It requires a collective action to stop the race and think about the planet which is everyone's responsibility to preserve. It will require not just the public opinion but also the political will to stop the disregard for the environment and build a healthy community.

Mental health

An individual's health comprises not only of his physical well being but also his mental well being. However, unfortunately, the issues related to the mental health are more often than not, ignored by not only the person but by the society at large. Every individual faces ups and downs in his life, however, not everyone is able to cope as well with them. The ability to handle the difficult phases in one's life depends upon how mentally prepared he is for them and hw resilient he is. The resilience comes from the conscious effort to make a positive change in one's life. It is easy to sit down and succumb to depression but at the same time with a little help from friends and family, it is equally possible to use those challenges as a stepping stone and moving forwards. Dealing with the issues of mental health start with recognising them. Without acknowledging the fact that one has mental issues, one cannot really cope with them. The second step comes with seeking help. Help need not be professional help, rather, it can be a little time spent with close family and friends and discussing the issues. On the other hand, it can also be a moment of self reflection and understanding the problems and trying to figure out the solutions. However, at the same time, one should not shy away from seeking professional help and the aid of medication and therapy. Building resilience is not easy. However, by taking small steps at a time and being ready to plunge into the unknown, one can actually change one's mindset and move towards a more healthy and fulfilling life. Mental and physical well being go hand in hand and making small lifestyle changes can also bring about a positive change in one's mental well-being. Being ready to accept challenges, seeking help whenever necessary and most importantly, recognising every single issue that is causing worry goes a long way towards ensuring a healthy mental outlook.