This Is Not The Time To Inspire !!! Let them be. Let them feel.Let them ache…

You’ve probably noticed it too. These days, it’s somehow become fashionable to have a spiritual vocabulary. Everywhere you turn, someone is talking about acceptance, forgiveness, healing, following your heart and of course, the reigning queen of all modern advice- mindfulness.

It’s on your feed, in your inbox, printed on eco-friendly notebooks. There’s always someone- young, radiant, vaguely enlightened-looking, sitting cross-legged, sipping a hazelnut latte or some cruelty-free kombucha, gently reminding the world to “just let go.” They say it like it’s the easiest thing in the world. As if letting go is as simple as unfollowing a brand you’ve outgrown.

And I don’t mean to sound unkind, really. It’s not their fault, not entirely. But I do wonder, often out loud, sometimes to myself, sometimes into a coffee mughow do they know what they’re talking about?

What exactly are they letting go of? A delayed Amazon order?
A slightly off-season Maldives vacation? The emotional burden of their oat milk not frothing properly? Because when you scratch the surface and not even too deeply, you find that a lot of this wisdom is floating. Untethered. It hasn’t been earned in the tough phase. It’s been collected. Quoted. Brushed in sepia filters and posted in soft, breathy tones.

And that’s where it begins to itch a little. Not because they’re talking.But because they’re preaching.

How do they understand the ache of standing in a long, sweaty bus queue every morning, wondering if you’ll even make it to work on time, because the boss doesn’t care, but your child’s school fee is due next week?

How do they understand what it feels like to love writing, painting, acting, or music, but to shelve those passions each day just to earn a living? Because passion needs paint. And paint needs money. How do you talk about dreams when, for so many, survival is the only goal?

The truth is- they don’t know. And honestly, that’s okay.
Until they start preaching.

Because let’s be real, for some of these so-called “privileged preachers,” hardship looks like this-

The car AC isn’t cooling properly because, heavens, the humidity is above 60%. Their tailor didn’t get the exact shade of mint green they envisioned for their Maldives vacation kaftan.
They’re emotionally distressed because their favourite sushi place in London was fully booked on a Friday night. And then there’s the full-blown existential crisis because their connecting flight got delayed and they nearly missed their spa-like Ayurvedic retreat in Sri Lanka, the one meant to ‘cleanse’ and ‘heal’ them from the trauma of…well, air travel, apparently.

Yet here they are- broadcasting advice about resilience. Forgive- they say. Surrender. Move on. All while sipping ginger turmeric shots and talking about ‘holding space’ from the comfort of plush rugs and ergonomic bean bags.

But real people, millions of them, carry bruises that don’t heal with affirmations. Real people live with heartbreak, rejection, betrayal, unspoken sacrifices and invisible weights. They don’t get the luxury of pausing life to heal. They have to carry on, because someone has to pay the bills, run the house or hold the family together.

So when someone tells you they’re sad, broken, grieving, angry, confused-
Don’t offer a quote from your sun-kissed yoga retreat.
Don’t silence them with a polished monologue.
Don’t condemn their feelings as if they’re an inconvenience to your curated calm.

Let them be. Let them feel. Let them rage. Let them ache. Let them curl up in bed. Because healing doesn’t start with advice.
It starts with being heard.

So here’s a humble request-If you haven’t walked through the fire, maybe don’t try to write the survival manual. Or at the very least- speak with humility. Be a listener, not a lecturer. Be a witness, not a performance. Be human, not a hashtag.

Because empathy isn’t spoken. It’s lived…~Latika Teotia

Dear Papa- A Letter To My Father !

Dear Papa,

Now, when I sit quietly and look back, my heart overflows.

I feel so incredibly blessed that you were my father- so forward-thinking, so quietly strong, so deeply kind. In a time when most daughters were still being told to stay quiet and small, you gave me the wings to fly. Imagine, Papa… 1964 and you never once made me feel like I was “just a girl.” You never treated your daughter any different from your sons. There were no lines, no labels, no “this is not for you.” There was only love. Only freedom. And trust.

You gave us all the same freedom to run, to fall, to try, to speak up- to be.

I played basketball when few girls did. I explored every silly idea that popped into my head. I made mistakes- oh, so sooo many-  and not once did you scold me into silence. You never said, “I told you so.” Instead, you stood by with that quiet smile and let me learn. You let me grow. You let me become.

Papa, you made space for my voice before I even knew how to use it. You listened. You let me disagree. You taught me that love doesn’t control- it trusts.

It’s because of you that I am the mother I am today. Because of you, I know that raising a child isn’t about molding them- it’s about holding them gently as they unfold into who they are meant to be. You were my greatest teacher. Not with lectures -but with life. With how you lived, how you loved, how you simply showed up.

You never gave up on me, even during the rough patches- those times I didn’t even believe in myself. And because of that, I never give up on my children either.

When Apoorva was born with cerebral palsy, I didn’t collapse under the weight of why us? I didn’t let pity pull me down. I remembered you. Your strength. Your steady faith. I took it as a challenge- a chance to give her the same kind of love and belief you once gave me. Not a single day did I let her feel less. Not once did I let the world’s opinions become her limits. And maybe that’s why she shines today- confident, capable, with a master’s degree and a heart full of fire. She is not our weakness, Papa-  she is our light.

And Aman-  oh, our brave boy- when he met with that terrifying accident at six, when doctors spoke in hushed voices about ruptured organs (pancreas and intestines)  and the uncertainty ahead, I held on to the faith I saw in you all my life. I chose hope. I chose belief. And today, he runs marathons with the same fierce spirit I once saw in your eyes. I see you in him. I see you in both of them.

You’re not gone, Papa. Not really. You are woven into every strength I carry, every word of encouragement I give, every time I hold space for my children to simply be. You are still teaching me- quietly, invisibly- just like you always did.

You were and will always be, my hero. My guide. My soft place to fall. In a world that’s always rushing, you were stillness. In a world that judged, you understood. In a world full of noise, you heard me.

I miss you every single day. Sometimes the ache is so quiet, it catches me off guard- like a whisper in the wind or the way the sun filters through the trees. But I smile too, because I know – you’re still here. In my heart. In my children. In every choice I make with love.

Thank you, Papa… for everything. For being you.

With all the love in the world,
Your daughter

~Latika Teotia

Where Dandelions Dance !!!

Once lived Mira, a sculptor who believed the world could be chiseled into perfection and so could the choreography of daily life. She aligned her brushes by size, wore spotless white, and believed life would be beautiful and peace would arrive when everything was flawless.

But nothing ever truly was. Her neighbor laughed too loud. Her brother forgot birthdays. Even her heart skipped beats without asking.

One day, her masterpiece, a statue titled Flawless Humanity, cracked during a storm. Mira sat beside the pieces, tools in hand, but didn’t move. For the first time, she simply watched the break, the silence, the wild, messy garden she’d always tried to tame. And something shifted.

She didn’t fix the statue. She filled the crack with gold, wore color again, laughed without flinching, listened without judgment. She stopped trying to fix people and started understanding them.

In that quiet acceptance, peace finally arrived,not polished, but soft, warm, and alive.

She never sculpted again, but she grew a garden. A wild, uneven one where everything had a place.
Flaws included.
Laughter included.

Dandelions especially. Perfection retired the day Mira met a dandelion and it blew her mind.Turns out, wild things don’t queue up, they dance…~LatikaTeotia

All Of Us Need Mercy Everyday !!!

Some people may become negative due to difficult experiences. Our kind presence can create a safe, non-judgmental space where they can begin to heal. By offering support and encouragement, we can help them shift towards a positive outlook and grow towards a brighter future. Your support can breathe life into someone’s world. A little support can go a long way in someone’s life… ~Latika Teotia

The Echo Of Life !!!

Life is a beautiful journey filled with many different aspects, including our relationships, self-perception, and values. It’s about cultivating trust, happiness, and compassion while standing up for our loved ones. Overcoming negative emotions like jealousy and ignorance is challenging, but building confidence and staying true to our values can help us grow. Ultimately, life is about making positive choices that impact others and leave a lasting legacy of love, kindness, and compassion. By using our time and talents to make a difference, we can create a fulfilling life for ourselves and those around us. Let’s embrace life’s beauty and strive to create meaningful connections and experiences that uplift and inspire us all… ~Latika Teotia

Be Loving !!!

In 2022, let’s try to give another chance to those who had knowingly or unknowingly put us off. Maybe, their intentions were not wrong and perhaps we reacted hastily and harshly by showing them the door. We all need another chance of acceptance and togetherness… ~Latika Teotia

Be kind !!!

We all should try our best to be kind and compassionate towards others no matter how different or weird their views or actions may seem. We must remember  that no one is perfect; everyone makes mistakes.~Latika Teotia

Love,love and love !!!

“When you take time and look lovingly at everyone your perspective changes for the better and brings peace in its wake.” Life is a blessing for those who love easily.~Latika Teotia

You can enjoy a living only by how much you give !!!

“Giving is a game in which everybody wins.”Why I say this is because when you do something nice or help someone unconditionally, the brain is flooded with serotonin ,the feel good chemical that helps to energize you. That’s why you feel happy when you share your gifts.If you notice the successful people are the ones who share their gifts without holding  them back. By sharing with their colleagues,they create a powerful network of people who trust and support them.  I won’t be wrong in saying that you can enjoy a living only by how much you give. So beautifully written by Harold Abbott~

“Do something for somebody gladly;
It will sweeten your every care.
In sharing the sorrows of others,
Your own are less hard to bear.”

~Latika Teotia