Sorry I’m Not Sorry Anymore !!!

It didn’t happen like in the movies. No storm, no haunting piano music, not even a dramatic sigh. Just me sitting with a lukewarm cup of chai that I’d reheated twice and still hadn’t sipped, staring blankly at a message blinking on my phone  “Beta, we’re expecting you at the family dinner. Don’t be late. It’s important.”

Important.

That word. Everyone throws it around like a rock into your pond of peace. Birthdays, pujas, surprise parties, even the neighbour’s cat’s funeral, everything becomes “important.”

But no one ever asks, “Important for whom?”

I looked at my calendar.( If it were a person, I’d block it) Full. Every hour blocked like a prison cell.

Some meetings had red stars. Others had reminders, warnings, emojis.

One even had ‘CRUCIAL-DO NOT CANCEL’  in all caps possibly in blood.

I cancelled it. Just like that.

And felt this strange, almost illegal calm spreading in my chest, like someone had finally found the mute button on my life.

That was the day I stopped being nice.

I didn’t go to the family dinner. They were stunned.
I didn’t concoct ten delicate excuses like migraine or  ran out of petrol while on foot.
I simply said “I won’t be able to make it.”
No explanation.
No apology.
And here’s the scandal- ‘I survived.

I didn’t throw a party I had half-planned. I didn’t offer my guest room to that cousin who always walks in with a suitcase and criticism. I said, Sorry, I won’t be able to host this time. And lived.

When my kids began throwing tantrums like they were auditioning for a drama school, I didn’t bribe them with screen time or guilt. I drew a line. A calm, firm one. And when they yelled, We’ll go to Dadi’s house!  I said, Okay. Just text me when you reach. They stayed.

One friend-lovely, exhausting-kept mistaking my silence for consent.. Always late, always interrupting, always unloading. That day, I said-

You know, I don’t appreciate being talked over like that. Silence. Sweet, awkward silence.

It felt like fresh air in a room that had smelled like expired apologies since 2014.

At home, I was taking care of a sick relative. Day in, day out. A full-time nurse, unpaid, untrained and quietly crumbling. One evening, while crushing yet another tablet with the back of a spoon, I realized, I was falling apart so someone else could stay stitched. The next day, I hired help. Professional. Kind. Trained. I sat alone that evening and cried, not out of guilt, but relief.

It wasn’t a selfish revolution. It was a gentle reclaiming.

Of breath. Of peace. Of a version of me who wasn’t always smiling through clenched teeth, sprinkling glitter over burnout.

Because let’s face it, if pleasing people burned calories, some of us would’ve evaporated by now.

We are not honeycombs. We are not built to keep dripping sweetness just because it’s expected.

We’re not cruel when we say no.
We’re not mean when we choose peace.
We’re not selfish when we rest.

We’re just… finally listening. To ourselves. The same self that spent years learning to ignore its own needs for the sake of decorum, duty and drama.

The truth is, you can take care of others and yourself, but not when you’re empty. Not when you’re dry. And certainly not when you are faking fine.

So pause. Refuse. Cancel. Speak. Rest. Reheat your chai and actually drink it this time.

And one day, without realizing it, you’ll lie down, guilt-free, on a bed that smells like freshly washed sheets and you’ll sleep. Deeply. Kindly. As if the world didn’t need fixing tonight.

Because it doesn’t.

And neither do you.

And yes, you will live to tell the tale… ~Latika Teotia

Practice Self-Love !!!

My wish for you is that in 2022 may you start loving yourself so much that in turn you attract abundant love- as love is the panacea for all our ailments. Love heals, restores, unites, binds and conquers all… ~Latika Teotia

Prayer For Caretakers !!!

Filled with tons of love, I am sending virtual hugs to all those who are “the Caretakers”. I absolutely understand and can relate that how difficult it becomes at times to remain positive, hopeful, compassionate and kind, because of excessive stress, overwork, low energy level, tiredness, overconcern, etc. In such situation, to raise the vibrations, we should practice gratitude, mindfulness, meditation, reciting mantras/ affirmations or cleansing.  In short, we have to raise our vibrations to bring back the positive energy and loving vibes.

Right now, I am praying that you feel the warmth of God’s embrace and experience His peace… ~Latika Teotia

De-Stress and Avoid Distress !!!

It’s a known fact that, try as we might, we can’t please everyone. So instead of taking avoidable stress, we should just do our bit without expecting anything in return and focus more on nurturing those relationships which respect our being.~Latika Teotia

My ‘yes’ is very very exclusive !!!

Saying yes comes very easily to me and, more often than not, I get into situations that could have been avoided by using the magical two letter word, ‘NO’. Then I sit back and regret having said yes to something which is guaranteed to take away my peace of mind. So, enough of pandering to others, enough of indulging those who do not help me grow enough of saying ‘yes’ to those who are not good for my well being. I have consciously decided to be very very choosy about saying yes. I will say yes to my happiness, peace and growth. My ‘yes’ will also be given to those who inspire me and who motivate me to reach higher.  ~Latika Teotia

Create ME time and make self care your main priority !!!

More often than not we forget to give time to ourselves; we are so caught up in our daily lives that we ignore our wants, desires and wishes. Don’t lose your identity in this busy world; don’t give false promises to yourself saying that you will live it up once you have reached a certain level. Don’t put your career ahead of yourself otherwise you will either break down or burn out. Take time off for yourself and the right time to do that is NOW. Self care is just as important, if not more, as your career goals. You can do justice to your daily life, your career, your ambitions and your dreams provided you are well and alive. So now on create the ME time, nourish your soul and make self care your main concern. ~Latika Teotia

Say ‘YES’ to your soul and ‘NO’ to limitations !!!

Most of us have grown up in an environment where there were too many ‘No’s and limitations. We, therefore, get moulded to living within the confines of these self made boundaries where our world has been shrunk. Fulfilling our innermost desires makes us feel guilty and we are forever in this denial mode- perhaps a fallout of our childhood when lots of things were beyond our reach. It’s high time that we got rid of this habit and start living for our soul. Break free and follow your heart; live those dreams which you so desperately want to live. After all we have only one life and it’s our duty to do justice to ourselves too. Fulfilling desires and living the life we want is not a crime. So spread your wings and live for your own self. It’s your life and you deserve the best without any limits.~Latika Teotia

Treat yourself well !!!

Your partner too becomes conscious of his/ her way of treating you when you start paying attention to yourself. Treat yourself well (and others will treat you with care) !!! ~Latika Teotia