How love, patience and gentleness can soften even the deepest, oldest fears…!!!

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When Fear Finally Loosens Its Grip !!!

We all carry our past like a long shadow- following us, shaping us, sometimes even speaking for us.
But a shadow is not skin.
A memory is not identity.
And the ways we once survived are not the limits of who we can become.

This is a story of someone who forgot that. Until someone reminded her gently. Here it goes…

Sanjana had built a quiet, steady life for herself. Work. A small rented apartment. A balcony full of plants she talked to more than people.

It was enough. Or at least, that’s what she told herself.

She didn’t hate marriage or relationships.She just didn’t trust it.

Reason- Growing up in a home where love was a wound, not a warmth, does something to a child. Her parents didn’t fight daily-they fought in cycles. Explosions then silence.Apologies then distance. Promises then disappointment.

By the time she turned twelve, she had learned a heartbreaking truth- some houses have walls, but no refuge.

As she grew older, the idea of marriage didn’t scare her as much as the idea of repeating the story she had escaped. No she wasn’t cynical. She was just cautious. And caution, repeated long enough, becomes identity.

Then Vikram joined her team.

He wasn’t the kind of man who filled a room- he softened it. He spoke slowly, as if words deserved respect. He listened the way people do when they genuinely care.

There was a gentleness in him that felt like truth- and truth can be terrifying when you have spent your whole life expecting the ground to crack beneath you.

Without trying, he began to understand her in ways she didn’t expect.

The way she held her mug with both hands, as if warmth made her feel safer. How she always chose the corner seat in meetings, back to the wall, eyes on every exit. How cloudy days made her quieter, like the sky pulled old memories forward.

He sensed the parts of her she thought she hid well- the caution in her smile, the breath before vulnerability, the stiffness in her shoulders whenever marriage jokes floated around.

He didn’t ask why.
He didn’t push.
He didn’t try to fix her.

He simply stayed- consistent, steady, unthreatening.

And in the slow way real things happen,Sanjana began to like him.
Quietly.
Unwillingly.
Honestly.

She didn’t fall for him- there was no dramatic plunge.
She simply…softened.

She waited for his “Good morning.” She laughed without checking who was watching. She listened for his footsteps in the corridor.

But liking someone is one thing.
Believing your future won’t repeat your — that is an entirely different battle.

And it was a battle she fought quietly inside her chest.

One evening, as they walked toward the parking lot, the sky soft behind them, Vikram stopped.

He looked at her- not intensely, not dramatically but with a sincerity that went straight to her heartbeat and said-

“Sanjana…I don’t want to assume anything. But I care for you. More than I have said. And if you ever feel the same, I’d like to live my life with you.”

Simple words.
Gentle tone.
And her world tilted.

Not with joy.But with fear disguised as logic.

Her mind didn’t let her hear him. It let her hear echoes-

What if he changes?
What if I choose wrong?
What if love runs out?
What if I end up like them?

Sometimes the heart isn’t afraid of love at all- it’s afraid of reliving a story it never agreed to.

Fear is clever. It knows how to mimic wisdom.

“I need time”- she whispered.

Vikram nodded- not hurt, not impatient. Just respectful.

But in his eyes, she saw something she wasn’t ready for-

“Hope” And hope is terrifying when you have only ever known survival.

She went home with a heaviness she couldn’t explain.Sitting by her window, staring at the skyline, she felt split into two versions of herself-

One who wanted to run.
One who wanted to stay.

Then her phone buzzed.

A message from him- “No rush. No pressure. Some stories need slower chapters.”

She read it three times.

Not because it was poetic-but because it was safe.

For the first time, she realized-She wasn’t scared of Vikram.
She was scared of her memories. Of repeating a hurt she didn’t choose. Of stepping into something she had never seen succeed.

Then another thought arrived- quiet, almost shy-

What if love isn’t a trap?
What if love can be a soft landing?

The right person doesn’t erase your fears, they help you loosen your grip on them.

Here is the truth we lose in the noise of old fear-

We mistake our wounds for our worth.
We mistake trauma for temperament.
We mistake our guardrails for identity.

But the past is only proof that we lived through something-not proof that we must keep living the same way.

We get to outgrow the beliefs born in dark rooms.
We get to leave behind the versions of ourselves built for survival, not joy.

We get to choose again.

Sanjana closed her eyes and took a long, steady breath.

Nothing magical happened. No sudden courage.No dramatic transformation.

Just a small shift.

A loosening. A softening. Like a locked door quietly clicking open from the inside.

Maybe she wasn’t ready to say yes today.

But for the first time in her life, she wasn’t saying no out of fear.
And sometimes, that alone is the beginning of a whole new life.

“Healing begins the moment we stop letting old wounds choose our future.”

Yes… the ground may feel safe, but real living begins when we dare to lift our eyes.

Every story that shaped us can be thanked, honoured and then gently laid down.

If today feels heavy, let this hold you !!!

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Maybe life fell apart when you least expected it. Maybe a loss came too suddenly, a goodbye, a moment that split your world in two. Maybe your heart feels like a house no one visits anymore. The world keeps moving, and you feel as if you’re standing still, aching, unseen, unsure.

So let this land on your heart like a warm hug- you’re still here.
And that’s not small, that’s sacred.

Life breaks things. But God doesn’t walk away from broken things. He draws near. He sits with you in the silence, in the heaviness, in the dark. He places His hand gently on your back and says, “I’m not leaving. Not now. Not ever.”

You don’t have to be strong. You don’t have to explain. He already knows. And still, He stays.

You were never meant to carry this alone.You were meant to be comforted, to be held, to be reminded that even now “especially now” you are loved beyond measure.

One day, slowly, something inside you will rise again- its voice as gentle as love itself-
“You’re not lost. You’re safe. Come home to yourself- you were & are never alone.”
That’s how peace returns, not all at once, but softly, like love remembering where you live.

Until then… rest. Cry. Let the tears fall.
Call someone who loves you simply for existing.
Let yourself be human.

This is not the end of your story.
It’s just the part where heaven holds you a little closer, kisses your forehead and says,
“When you’re ready, we’ll walk again… together.”

Sending you a hug , woven from light and love, reaching straight to your soul.…because even if the world feels far, love is near. And I’m holding you there gently…~Latika Teotia

Perhaps Even God Is Still Figuring It Out – And I’m Still Waiting for Wisdom (That Never Downloaded)

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By age 13, I was absolutely sure of one thing- everyone older than me had life all sorted. College-goers? Oh, they definitely knew what they wanted and what their purpose was. Married people? Must be walking encyclopedias of emotional wisdom. And mothers? Don’t even get me started. I truly believed that anyone who could manage a child, run a home and handle a pressure cooker at the same time had to be operating with NASA-level intelligence.

But then I grew up. And turns out… it’s not quite like that.

By college, I was no clearer than a foggy windshield during monsoon season. I waited for enlightenment like one waits for a delayed train-standing at the station of life with a hopeful heart. Marriage came and brought its own syllabus of confusion. Motherhood???  Ohh yes. The time when you realize that even the child you gave birth to is now smarter than you, especially in settings, software and shortcuts.

Still, I waited. Because surely, once I hit 50, the Wisdom Fairy would descend, toss me a USB stick loaded with Life 101 and whisper, “Update complete.” Alas. I’m now 61. And guess what? Still clueless. Possibly even more clueless- just with added aches & pains.

I used to look up to my mother like she was born with a compass in her brain. Never missed a beat. She could fold a saree with her eyes closed, balance a budget without blinking, remember the entire grocery list without writing a word and serve the yummiest dishes without ever opening a cookbook. But maybe, just maybe, she was faking it, too. Maybe she also stood in front of the fridge some nights and whispered- “What on earth do they mean by ‘Eat before expiry’ when life itself comes with no such label?”

Now when I look at toddlers, I think- wow, they really know what they want. iPad, lollipop, which channel to watch, which cartoon series they’re hooked on and even which song is their absolute jam. No confusion there. And teenagers? Their fingers fly across screens like concert pianists on energy drinks. They speak fluent Techlish. They multitask while multitasking. They don’t even say “I don’t know” anymore. They say- “Let me Google that.”

I mean, look at the evidence. We have mosquitoes- but no real way to stop them from treating us like an open buffet.We send satellites to Mars, yet can’t find our own glasses (which are often on our head). Despite all these technological revolutions, we’re still clueless when it comes to everyday stuff- like how to fix a mood swing, how to stop tears that come out of nowhere, how to fall asleep when your brain suddenly decides it’s time to review every decision you’ve made since 1983. We’ve got smart TVs, smart fridges, smart phones… but no real clue how to switch off our overthinking.

Maybe, just maybe, The Creator is still experimenting. Still beta testing Earth. Perhaps the Big Bang was just a sneeze and the universe is still expanding because no one remembered to hit the stop button. Maybe heaven’s just a cosmic Helpdesk where even angels occasionally turn to one another and ask- “Wait… was free will part of the original plan or an accidental download?”

There’s some strange comfort in that thought.

If the Almighty is still in awe of His own inventions, still spinning galaxies like a child twirling a globe- just to see where the finger lands- then maybe I can forgive myself for not knowing how to properly use half the features on my phone or half the rules of life.

Because here’s the fun, dear reader:

Nobody has it figured out. They’re just better at nodding wisely while Googling quietly.

So cheers to lifelong confusion, to learning and unlearning, to being 60 and still wondering what you’ll be when you grow up. If God’s still wondering what to do with Jupiter’s 79 moons, I think we’re in fine company…~ Latika Teotia

Trust Through Trials !!!

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There is no weight too heavy for God to lift, no dream too distant for Him to bring to life. There is no chain too strong that He cannot break, no rift too deep that He cannot mend and no wound too raw that He cannot heal. He sees the longings you whisper in silence, the burdens you carry in the quiet hours, and the needs that leave your heart aching. Place it all at His feet-your hopes, your hurts and your hidden fears and trust that the One who shaped the stars can surely take care of you…~Latika Teotia

Unapologetically Aligned-Choosing Health as an Act of Self-Respect !!!

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There comes a time when you stop explaining yourself for choosing what nourishes your body, calms your mind, and protects your peace.

Eating clean, sleeping early, saying no to chaos, skipping the late-night scroll, or turning down that second glass of wine-these aren’t trends. These are sacred acts of self-respect.

Let people call it boring, obsessive, or too disciplined. You know what it really is? It’s alignment. It’s choosing a life where your energy feels whole and your mind feels clear. You’re not trying to impress; you’re trying to heal, grow, and show up fully.

You don’t owe anyone an explanation for wanting to feel good in your own skin.

“Honor the life within you. Make choices that water your roots, not just please the crowd.”

Stay kind, but stay firm. You’re allowed to protect your light… ~Latika Teotia

Dream Beyond Limits !!!

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Life isn’t a checklist of what’s practical. It’s a canvas, wide and waiting. Don’t hold back by asking if something is realistic or possible. Imagine life as a place where you can wish for anything, without fear, without hesitation.

“Dreams are whispers from your soul.
Paint them boldly, nurture them tenderly,
and trust they will find their way into the light.”

Each dream you carry is a color, a note, a spark.
Feed it with love, faith, and patience.
At first, it may be invisible, like music unheard or paintings unseen.
But quietly, it begins to take form, filling your world with beauty you once only imagined.

Don’t be afraid if it takes time.Every masterpiece begins as a single brushstroke.Believe in your dreams.  The universe is ready to meet you halfway…~Latika Teotia

Dancing With Uncertainty !!!

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There was a time when life felt predictable, jobs were steady, love felt lasting, health was taken for granted. But life, in its quiet wisdom, reminds us- change is the only constant.

“The winds will shift, the ground may sway,
but the soul that bends with grace never breaks.”

Uncertainty is not here to punish us. It is here to shape us, to make us softer in spirit yet stronger in heart. As women, we often carry dreams for many- our families, our homes, our futures. It’s natural to long for safety and stability. Yet real strength lies not in clinging, but in learning to flow.

Trust yourself. Build your life on faith, not fear. Let adaptability, courage, and hope be your companions.In a world that is always changing, the bravest thing you can do is keep moving with love…~Latika Teotia

“In The Waiting, There Is Light”

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When life places you at a crossroads, when the waters rise too high for you to stay afloat, when loss leaves your world quiet and empty, whether it’s the loss of a loved one, the end of a relationship, a job you gave your all to, or the kind of heartbreak that doesn’t even have a name ,

I want you to know this- I’m so deeply sorry your heart had to carry so much. I wish I could rewrite the chapters that hurt you. But even though I can’t, I hope you remember: you are still here.And as long as you are here, there is still space for light to find you. There are still sunrises waiting to greet you, hands waiting to hold yours, new laughter waiting to echo in the walls around you.

You are not broken, dear one ,you are becoming. The world has not moved on without you; it is waiting patiently for the day you return to yourself. That day will come. And when it does, you will see- you were never meant to remain lost, but to bloom, brighter than before…~Latika Teotia

Mercy Over Judgment !!!

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As we journey through life, we may come across individuals going through difficult times who fail to appreciate the goodness around them. Let us pray they find strength, hope, and the silver lining in their struggles. May they find peace in their hearts and be surrounded by love and support… ~Latika Teotia