When I was a kid, 
I wanted nothing more than 
to be an adult. 

The ones who could 
travel when they wanted, 
spend money as
they wanted,
an adult who was able to 
express openly, 
someone who could wear their heart on their sleeve,
someone who wasn't afraid to be seen,
an adult who could just be. 

But what I didn’t know is what it’d bring with it. 
The quiet realization of the heaviness 
that envelopes you, 
the friends you lose as your grow, 
the feelings you learn to keep to yourself, 
the masks - the sheer number of masks 
the one carries with them at all times, 
the tiredness of thinking 
for oneself, 
for one’s life,
of the wasted potential, 
of the late nights. 

No one tells you that it’s work to figure it out.
No one tells you,
being an adult is a lot about choosing. 
Choosing 
who you want to be,
your people,
your work,
your boundaries,
what you allow, 
who you let keep
and who you let go.

And all the times when you've got to 
‘BE AN ADULT!’ 
It’s tiring. 

It’s tiring. 
It eats into my bones 
and makes my heart hollow. 
It kneads unhappiness into my skin,
And all i want now,
is to be childlike again. 

I want to be okay with my feelings,
want to own my time, 
want to really let my curiosity take over,
want to explore what my complete potential could be. 

And on those days, 
the adult in me tells me to be ADULT, 
to look at the rock of responsibilities 
that I’ve to push up the mountain of 
an unknown future. 

So maybe,
one day, 
the adult version of me would sit with the kid version and maybe,
maybe
they’ll have mercy on my heart, 
maybe, they’ll allow me to be both. 

And no, 
I don’t know where to put this grief. 

They said it’ll get lighter with time, 
that it’ll get better,
that it’ll be easier to carry it. 

But it’s not. 
It becomes heavier with every breath, 
with every moment I try to live life
it starts weighing heavier. 
Every time I forget about it, 
every time I try to move beyond it,
every time I try to share it,
it pulls me into itself, 
with my skin and heart feeling numb. 
It burns me, 
it makes me want to curl into a rock under my covers. 

I have allowed grief in as a friend too, 
but it’s overstaying it’s welcome. 
The house haunts me as it sits on the couch, 
the smoke of it haven’t in my lungs, 
and I’m unable to breathe. 

So no, 
I don’t know where to keep this grief 
that’s eating into the very soul of my happiness,
that doesn’t seem to allow me to live, 
that doesn’t allow me 
to be me.

And when your heart breaks, 
I hope you allow it. 

I hope you allow the grief 
to run through your body, 
to let that ringing in your ears shut the world off, 
that you allow yourself to slow down,
to go silent, 
to stop listening to your favorite music,
to stop being yourself. 

I hope when your heart breaks, 
you allow yourself to break apart, 
slowly and then all at once. 
That you allow for your feelings to overwhelm you, 
that you face the hopelessness,  
that you look at the sky and scream,
I hope that you sit and cry. 

I hope when your heart breaks, 
you give yourself permission to feel,
permission to break down, 
permission to say you’re hurt. 

And once you’re done, 
once you’ve let the hurt make its way, 
I hope you allow the light in. 
I hope you let your heart smile, 
that you let the universe show you that that was the way in. 

I hope,
I hope that your heart never breaks. 

And what do you do
when your heart breaks open? 

Do you collect the pieces 
and put it back together 
with tears blinding you? 

Do you watch the pieces 
play a short movie
of all the memories 
coming out of them? 

Do you freeze
and let the pieces of your heart be, 
waiting and giving it time? 

Well, they do say time heals..
But right now, all of this pain scrapes under my skin. 

So what do you do with the pieces of your heart?
I see mine on the ground, 
burning with feelings, 
with memories,
with regrets,
with hope. 

I hope
that these pieces will guide me,   
that it will tell me 
what to do with this hurt, 
because no one else is.
No one else is telling me 
what to make of these pieces..

So I sit with them in the quiet,
let them sting,
let them bleed,
let them cut, 
until the hurt loosens its grip
and leaves enough space 
so I can breathe again.

And as my final act of revenge
I’ll let go of you.

I’ll let my heart rip off my body 
and I’ll throw it so far away that no human can touch it again.
I’ll let every single memory 
wash off with betrayal that you brought upon. 
I’ll scrub it off my skin
my mind 
my heart. 

I’ll burn down 
every single memory that I called happiness 
and let it burn me too.

Because I know now, 
I know now that people know what they’re doing to you and still go ahead and do it all because they’re selfish. 
They know. 
They always know.

As my final act of revenge, 
I’ll allow myself to hate you. 
I’ll allow
myself 
to 
hate you. 

They say what doesn't kill you
only makes you stronger. 
No it doesn’t! 
It just doesn’t. 

It makes me exhausted.
It makes me tired. 
It makes me want to scream at the world. 
It makes me want to crawl 
under a blanket that’ll 
wrap itself around my neck
and legs. 

It makes my heart seem 
like an asteroid floating in space 
looking for a grounding. 
Aimless. 
With craters. 
Breaking into pieces that it sheds away 
as it floats away. 

What doesn’t kill you, 
makes your heart build its walls up again, 
makes you wary of the world, 
makes your senses get back 
in survival mode. 

What doesn’t kill you, 
takes it time to chip away 
at that light inside of you, 
at that heart of yours. 

If only 
If only it made me stronger. 
If only. 

I have this short guide that I carry 
with me at all times. 
It’s on 
How To Tell Your Heart To Shut Up! 

Over the years I’ve realised 
that my heart wants it all. 
It wants care,
it wants friendships that make my soul breathe, 
it wants love that expands it, 
affection, 
nurturing, 
laughter till my stomach hurts, 
and all that expands its boundaries. 

It pulls me 
in directions that are beyond me.

Over the years, 
my heart has been a constant shadow. 
Or that’s how I saw it. 
I saw it as demanding, 
as someone who was wanting more 
than one should, 
someone who wanted to dream beyond what was allowed, 
who should know boundaries.
A heart that wanted it all. 

But
I’ve been careful you see. 
Letting the heart do what it wants 
sometimes has left me at a loss. 
A loss of
words 
of people 
of situations 
of my own self. 

And hence, whenever my heart has asked for something, 
I told it to 
SHUT UP. 

I’ve told it to behave, 
to know its place, 
to know that it might be too much for the world.

And then one day 
as if a deep longing came floating up 
on the surface after a deep slumber underwater,

I decided to burn the guide down. 

So now
I’ll rewrite the boundaries, 
go beyond measured care, 
explore love fiercely, 
and live my friendships freely. 

I’ll allow love to enter, 
for it to heal, 
for my heart to be able to breathe. 
And if it gets hurt, 
I know I’ll always be there for it. 

So if you too have a guide
that is telling your heart to be quieter,
mellower,
to know its place,
shall we burn it together? 

What does it mean to be content?

Is it the feeling of warmth that moves
through my body when a friend hugs me and just holds me?
Is it when I see my dog getting zoomies?
Is it when I know that my work has gotten someone nearer to their goals?
Is it when I’ve moved closer to my own goals?
Is it a child holding my hand?
Or me sitting and doing nothing, just being?

What is the significance of it all?

The significance of sharing?
Of being vulnerable
Of a desire to love someone
And be loved?
What is it?
What is this day in and day out living?
How will I know?

Maybe I won’t.

And until then,
I’ll live with the significance of the small things maybe.

The significance
of seeing a flower in the wild,
of a friend really seeing me and hearing all my questions and worries with no judgement,
of seeing a human pet an animal,
of the ever evolving friendships in life,
of allowing myself to rest,
of travel,
of reading books written by people across the world,
of noticing.

I don’t know the significance of me.

But I know the significance of life through the people around me,
through love,
through all that’s there to question and explore.

I’ll know.
I’ll know.

writers write
about things they care,
things that abhor them,
things they have
learnt
lived
created
experienced
love
and left.

writers write
consistently,
daily, filling in the pages leaving gaping voids
of reflection and clarity.
writers write.

and i wish i could.

i write only to escape feeling,
when i want to let words flow
because i can’t
process them,
create sentences of them,
explain the feeling,
or how it binds me.
i write only when i can’t tell you what is really happening.

i wish i wrote more,
wrote daily,
wrote beautifully,
wrote about happy things,
wrote simply,
wrote what resonated,
i wish i wrote more.

i wish i could be a writer,
because when i do write,
it lifts this heaviness off my soul.
i wish, i could be a ‘writer’.

no response.

i called out again.
and again. and again.
but there was no answer.

my heart felt empty.
there was a void that felt
as if all of my being was
being dragged into a black hole.
inescapable.

i asked
love, are you lost?
have you too lost your way to me?
are you somewhere where your heart hurts?
where its probably dark
and you can’t see my hand reaching out to you?
love, are you lost?

love, didn’t reply.

it was silent.
and i believed, that maybe,
maybe love lost its way to me.
that i wasn’t the one it felt coming to.

i looked at my hands,
the kindle i was holding
and the words that seemed to blur away.

i finished my cup of coffee,
looked again at stories getting weaved
in a new place
with strangers who felt like characters in my story,
and love being the lost protagonist.

as i stepped out,
a dog came up to me.
brown, black patches below his eyes,
and a wagging tail that could
storm up tornadoes.
and as i sat with the dog at the
foot of the cafe building,
petting his head and him allowing me to,
i felt warm.
tears streamed down my face and i said,
well, here you here.
love
had finally arrived.

in that moment i realized
that it wasn’t love that was lost,
but the meaning that i had attached to it.

it was love
when a friend sent me voice note
telling me about all the things they loved about me,
when a stranger passed a smile at me,
when someone sent me their favorite song
or when someone went on a walk with me just because i wanted to.

it was love when a friend got me a postcard
from their travel,
or when a cousin rang me up just because.
it was love when i chose to be kind to myself
when i made a mistake.
love was there all along :’)

so here i am,
telling myself again that
love exists
since i had forgotten and had been asking myself for a few days,
love, are you lost?

i learn through story-telling, words, writing, doodling and creative outlets that help me remember pockets of information in a way i can make it a part of me for longer.

i started keeping a diary for the first time in school. i was in grade 5 or 6 when i started writing how i felt about school, friends, family, anything and everything under the sun.

the ritual continued for years.
until it didn’t.

first things first.
i was introduced to journaling from my mum and brother. they were the ones who used to write and i followed suit.

and i am grateful to my mum and my brother who always made me feel safe about my feelings that i wrote down. each one of us had our own diaries and hence it was an unspoken rule that we did not touch each other’s diary. ever.

and that’s how i thought the world worked. that each person respected one’s personal belongings, space, information and just what they held close to them.

in the second year of my college, i moved from the hostel to a flat, sharing it with two more great friends. it felt so easy staying with them, good laughter, time went flying with them and no grocery fights i kept hearing from other hostel mates.

each day when i used to come back home, i took some time to write down in my journal. writing helped me process what had happened during the day, figure out what my thoughts could not, come up with new ideas for theatre and find solace in my own company.

i kept my diary in a very particular place. i am a person of habit.

but when day when i came back, it wasn’t in the same place. it had moved by a few inches but i knew. i asked my flatmates who were then home if anyone had gone into my room and they said that my then theatre president had.

have you ever felt yourself freeze? the moment you hear the blood travelling through your very body and you know, that this is the moment when things will change for you?

for the first time i felt betrayal. i couldn’t imagine for the life of me what was the need to read someone’s journal, the need to search for it or the need to act like they had.

no one had taught me how people might read someone else’s personal journal. no one had told me that there is something called invading someone’s private space without their knowledge. no one had told me.

that was the last time that i wrote something without the fear of someone reading my personal journal.

even today when i write something in my journal, there is a subconscious fear that what if someone reads what i really feel, what if someone gets to know that i have shadows too, what if someone gets to see parts of me that i want to keep for me, what if…

it has been 10 years to that day.

i hope
that you write without fear
that you write for you
you create and keep parts of you for you
that spaces keep coming up that help you
that you write bravely,
that your words feel like home,
you protect what’s yours,
that safe spaces find you.

and i say to myself:

i hope
that you find peace in your words,
that you write with honesty,
you create with freedom and joy,
that spaces welcome you where you are seen.

to the person who read my journal, i want to hate you but i can’t. you brought me closer to my writing. you made me realise how much i value my own space and that i will always honor my space as well as that of another.

grateful to parts of me that did not give up on writing for myself :’)

to the one reading this, i hope you too see parts of yourself today that didn’t give up on what you wanted to do, learn or know.

until next time,
D

That was the year when I first heard about Sanaya. It had been my training period with Teach For India as a Fellow and we heard about stories.

Stories of change
Of hope
Of courage
Of student voices
Of what leadership can look like
And what we could create of it all.

That was the year when I heard stories about Sanaya.

It 2024.

I am still in awe of what Sanaya stands for, is currently doing and wants to explore. Every time she puts out a new post, I know I am in for inspiration :)

Hear from Sanaya about her journey, her motivation and what she envisions for the students she is currently working with.

1. How would you describe the work that you do?

I have spent the last 15 years immersed in exploring how to unleash the fullest potential of students. I now support organizations to grow their students into impactful leaders and compelling advocates for change.

I am on a mission to bring student voice and perspective to spaces they have historically been missing from, because we cannot build an equitable world without young people and adults working in authentic partnership to create a positive change together.

2. How do you bring student voices into global equity conversations? Can you share a specific instance where this made a tangible impact?

We need to shake the foundations of the historical intersection of voice and power, and through that change who writes history. So a core area of focus is not just supporting students to lead change in their schools and communities, but amplifying their work so others can be inspired and learn from them. We have had students speak at the United Nations on several occasions, students speak on panels, write blogs and opinion articles, and so much more.

One example is of our student who participated in an inter-generational co-action summit hosted by Big Change and Salzburg Global Seminars alongside multiple organizations, where they designed a guide for sharing power across generations and uniting youth and adults to work together to transform education. This was launched at UNGA 2023, and is now being used by countries and organizations across the globe to guide their work with youth.

3. If someone wants to start working with students or the ed sector, 2 things they should know are:

a) The results you achieve depend a lot on how much you believe in your students' potential. Students, like most people, tend to rise or fall to the level we expect of them. So, your belief will often define their ceiling

b) Sometimes, students won't believe in themselves. In those moments they will challenge your belief in them and even your belief in yourself. But it is precisely in those moments that your belief matters the most.

4. 3 insights you gained working with students:

I've learned three important things from working with many students and adults.

i) First, people often think students will be leaders in the future, but I believe that students are already leaders today. They can see their problems, think of solutions, and take action.

ii) Second, to help others believe that students are leaders of today, we don't need to lecture them. We just need to share with them stories of students acting like leaders today.

iii) Third, the best way to share these stories is to get the students to share them themselves. I have seen that when students find their voice, adults find their belief.

4. How do you balance your personal interests with your work?

Honestly, I find my work deeply interesting! I also have the privilege of working at Teach For All which is an incredible organization that supports me to bring my whole self to work, and creates ample time to step away, refresh and come back stronger.

I love nature and the outdoors, and am a certified SCUBA diver. I spend a lot of my free time bird watching, diving, going on long walks, exploring remote beaches, and just immersing myself in nature.

5. One thing you definitely see yourself doing 5 years down the line:

I’m not sure what form it might take, but I see myself continuing to grow the leadership and amplify the voices of youth.

6. If you could change one thing about your professional journey, what would it be, and why?

I grew the most when I had a wonderful teacher, manager, or mentor who believed in me AND challenged me. If I could change one thing, I would more actively seek out these kinds of people throughout my journey and spend as much time as possible with them.

7. If someone wants to start working with students or the education sector, 2 things they should know are:

a) The results you achieve depend a lot on how much you believe in your students' potential. Students, like most people, tend to rise or fall to the level we expect of them. So, your belief will often define their ceiling

b) Sometimes, students won't believe in themselves. In those moments they will challenge your belief in them and even your belief in yourself. But it is precisely in those moments that your belief matters the most.

8. Advice you would you give to women who aspire to lead large, diverse teams is:

Something I learnt from attempting to always work in partnership with my students instead of for them, is that I don’t have all the answers, and I don’t need to have all the answers.

As Mary Barra says, “It’s okay to admit what you don’t know. It’s okay to ask for help. And it’s more than okay to listen to the people you lead – in fact, it’s essential.”

Sanaya is pure inspiration. I’ve been so moved by her work, and if her journey resonates with you too, you can connect with her here.

If there’s someone who has uplifted or motivated you, take a moment today to reach out and share your appreciation!

Stay tuned for more incredible micro-interviews featuring trailblazers like Sanaya.

Until next time,
Divyangna

The first person to hold your hand in nursery class, the one who you shared your lunch with, the one who you’d travel to and from school with and would want to sit next to when the teacher said, ‘Today you can sit with anyone you want!’. And you’d know exactly who you wanted to sit next to.

Growing up, I was majorly part of two groups. One started off fairly young. A large group of friends in school who would sit in the school playground and eat together.

But once puberty hit, things started changing.

Who I wanted to hang out with, how the teacher perceived them, how I felt around them, did I really want to be friends with them, this was the first time I thought about my friendship in detail.

When puberty hit me, that was the first time I saw friendships in a new light.

I became a part of another group, quite naturally tbh. And I was part of this group till my school ended (grade 12). The group of friends I have had the most fun with, visited the principal’s office with (more times than I would have wanted), the ones I have danced my heart out with, the ones I have cried with, laughed till my stomach ached and more.

They were my people. And that’s what I believed then. I wanted to belong, I wanted to feel I was a part of something, and this group was the one that made me feel that way.

But then, school got over. And it all changed. For me.

My brother always says, ‘College were the best years of my life’, and I can’t relate. I can’t relate to the emotion, to the depth, to the college friendships because it feels empty.

In college I was an introvert, to an extent that even I didn’t know was possible. The only medium I communicated was through theatre. The plays I wrote, the dialogues I delivered, the roles I played, the direction I did. Writing was a medium of expression. The only one.

I lived in a hostel for the first time in college (one year only though). I saw people celebrate you for your wins, late night conversations, people helping me excel in my exams because they genuinely wanted me to, people who cared for my well-being and then there were also some I wish I had never met.

I did not understand bullying then. I didn’t understand the forms it takes, the ways people dominate in situations, the way you lose control; all in the name of people looking out for you as seniors. I wish some had come up to me and said, you really don’t have to take any of this BS.

I wish one of my friends, seniors, teachers or just about anyone had taken a stand and said, you know what Divyangna, you’re better off alone than be surrounded by such people.

The three years left me confused on what friendships really mean?

Are friends the ones where you hang out, travel new places with, explore new food, spaces, ideas or it is something else?

I realize now that that was the stage where I had not clearly defined what friendships could look like, for me. Or how do I want to have people in life?

What prompted me to write this, I will never know.
But now, now I now what friendships genuinely mean to me:

1. It’s when one of my first managers, while I was working in Bombay at age 19, got me food every single dayyy for two years because he knew I hated cooking. Till date he says he would have adopted me and I love him for it. He is Bombay in essence for me.

   

2. When one of my closest friends from the same office cheers me up from Bombay whenever I publish a new article or write something. She will respond to my stories, write me an email, send me a gift all the way just because.

3. When a friend staying up in the mountains comes over just so that he can listen to what is happening in my life. We don’t talk everyday, but he is one of the most wonderful people in my life.

4. Friendship for me is when people notice the little details.
   i) A friend whom I met in Chandigarh once knew I absolutely loved chocolates and sweets. And when he came to pick me, he SO manyy of them that I almost cried of happiness!
   ii) A friend who knows I love tea got some from Darjeeling, just because and sent it through post
   iii) One time I told a friend I love flowers and the next thing I know, there was a bunch of them at my doorstep

5. It’s when a friend, who’s home I was visiting the first time to stay for a couple of days, made us both a cup of tea the first thing in the morning (and they don’t drink it every day)

6. It’s when your friends celebrate New Years with you because they know you are far from home and miss your family

   

7. It’s when one of my friend gives me the space to reflect and be on my own, knowing that everyday message is not a sign of friendship.

8. It’s when some of your friends show up at your doorstep with a tub of ice cream and to talk

9. When someone asks you ‘How you have been?’ and that’s what they really want to know

And the list genuinely goes on and on.

In my late 20s, and now 30, I have seen my friendships evolve. They have moved away from just the know how to having a group of people who celebrate you for who you are, who see you even when you don’t want to be found, who cheer for you, who love you for you. Not for the work you do, not for how you look, who you are with, or just about anything.

They just love you.

And in their presence you feel free. You feel free to be yourself, to share your ideas and thoughts, to have space to question and at times even call each other out for BS. The people who I feel most ‘me’ around now, I instantly know they are my people.

I am writing this more for myself and I am so grateful that you are reading this right now. You here, you make me feel seen through my writing and that’s wayyy more than I could have asked for.

If you have a friend(s) [which I am absolutely sure YOU DO], send them a meme, a reel or a message to tell them you love them. They might know it, but you telling them will bring a smile on both of your faces.

Until next time.

D

Meet Abhisha! In an attempt to share stories of some remarkable women through micro-interiews, I had the opportunity to connect with her on a deeper lever and know about her journey.

She is a remarkable individual who beautifully bridges the worlds of psychological research and poetry. At first glance, these fields might seem worlds apart, but Abhisha demonstrates how they can intertwine to create powerful change.

She uses her research on health, gender, and climate action as a foundation for her poetry, making complex ideas accessible and engaging for diverse audiences.

Her journey, from performing at iconic venues in Delhi to ghostwriting for healthcare leaders, shows how creativity can enhance and amplify academic work. Abhisha’s approach not only enriches our understanding but also inspires us to see connections where we might not have looked before.

I’m excited for you to get to know Abhisha and her innovative work. I believe her story will offer you fresh perspectives and spark new ideas.

1. How do you envision bridging the gap between poetry and psychological research? Can you give an example of how these fields intersect in your work?

Well, firstly, not a lot of people know such a gap exists. In fact, only a handful of people know that while poetry and psychological research are yards away on the surface, they do share a meeting place deep down.

I think the first step to bridge such a gap is to identify it. For most people, poetry and research have nothing to do with each other. However, it is only when you dig deeper that you realize that poetry can be used as qualitative data, and findings of psychological research papers can be translated into poems to make them accessible for a wider audience, beyond the scientific community.

For example, Whenever I read a compelling research paper, say, on gender discrimination, I write a poem. This poem can be later put to use for science communication. Performing similar poems on social concerns at stages and auditoriums across Delhi (e.g. at IIT Delhi, LSR, SRCC, Piano Man Jazz Club, Delhi Haat, Pragati Maidan etc.) helps me disseminate my ideas and solutions to audiences with diverse experiences.

2. How did it feel when you stepped on stage the first time to perform? How is it different now? 

I cannot explain such a feeling in words, but let me try.

Whether I talk about my first time on the stage or my 51st, I have loved the way everything feels around me—the air, the energy, the surface of the wooden stage under my feet, and the eyes of my audience like stars twinning in the heart of a black sky. Of course, so many things have changed with time.

When I first stepped on stage, I was as nervous as it is humanly possible to be. I shivered like it was the end of the world. Perhaps, it really was. Because the moment I stood on the stage and grabbed all the limelight, my world changed. I became more confident. I became more comfortable, in my words, yes. But also, in my own skin, with my vulnerabilities, awkward pauses between sentences so I can breathe, and my story.

3. If you could go back in time, what is the one thing you would say to your younger self?

If I could go back in time, I would tell my younger self that I am amazing. I am amazing just the way I am. I don't need to fit in. I don't need to know every pop culture reference. I don't need to stop wearing dresses, bikinis, skirts, and sleeveless tops because I look a little fat in them. I don't need to tie my hair as tightly as a rope. I don't need to score 100/100 in all my subjects. I don't need to miss out on partying, dancing, and traveling. I don't need to choose this or that.

I don't NEED to do anything. I don't NEED to be anything. I have my permission to just, be.

4. Is a mentor necessary for someone building their career or wanting to learn? What has been your experience?

Definitely not necessary. But helpful? A lot. I don’t think I would have reached where I am today if I didn’t have the mentors I’ve had. My experience with mentors has been incredible. From having mentors in poetry and research to mentoring students myself, I have felt a full circle.

5. What is the one thing you do for yourself every day to show up fulfilled and energised in the world?

I appreciate myself. Every single day. I remind myself that I am amazing. I remind myself my goals, and that I am capable to work towards them. But yes, I don't think anything has to be done everyday. Every single day. How boring would such a life be? But if I were to say something that I do for myself every single day, it is that I give myself the permission to be.

I appreciate myself for my achievements. But also for my failure.

How fun are failures, really? You didn't get what you were expected, yes. I understand how much that can hurt. But you got something different. Something unexpected, and something better — a cheat sheet/ life lesson about what not to do next.

6. What are some challenges you've faced in merging art and academia?

The first challenge has always been internal. Is it even important? Art is creative, subjective, and sometimes, even bizarre. Academia is supposed to be structured, objective, and systematic, and sometimes, even mundane. That's what I was told when I first learned about research. But that's the biggest challenge. Almost every culture produces art.

Art is one of the best mediums to bring social change. And isn't that also the goal of an applied research? Merging art with academia by bringing interdisciplinary scholars and artists under the same roof, metaphorical or even physical, can lead to the social change both the stakeholders aspire to make. And even if one doesn't, and even if one creates art and conducts studies for the sake of it, bringing these two fields closer can lead to more creative ideas and innovations.

7. Three insights that you have gained from ghostwriting are:

1. Ghostwriting teaches you the art of detachment.

2. Writing for someone else requires an excellent, and sometimes, humanly tough, amount of empathy. You literally wear someone else's shoes when you write for your clients.

3. Ghostwriting can be life-changing. Money wise, yes. Life-lesson wise, double yes.

8. One thing you definitely see yourself doing 5 years down the line:

Doing what I love doing, no matter whatever it is 5 years later :)

9. The advice you would give to young women who aspire to combine multiple passions in their careers is: 

Being a woman is tough. Biologically, socially, emotionally, and in every other way. And of course, being a woman with talents and desires that aren't normative is tougher. So, the first advice I'd give to young women who aspire to combine their passions in their careers is: Take three deep breaths. Pause. Reflect. Introspect.

Give yourself enough time to unlearn so many things you've been told about yourself because you are of a particular gender, a particular age, socio-economic status or culture. And once you do unlearn, open your arms. Open your arms for opportunities. Opportunities that will soon tell you what you are truly passion about. Listen to them. Opportunities and lessons, not random people around you. That's just noise. And once you do listen to opportunities and lessons you learn from experiencing them, start listening to yourself.

And once you do, whether it be combining your passions in your career or anything else, you'd be so amazing!

Abhisha is sunshine. I loved getting to know her and if you loved her journey, you can reach out to her here.

If there’s someone who has inspired your journey, do reach out to them today and expresss itt! Stay tuned for more micro-interviews with some amazing individuals :)

Until next time,
Divyangna

This is the advice I was given by my teachers, friends and mum. And for most part of it, it is true. BUT,

I am SO glad that I let go of that advice when I first interacted with Christina on LinkedIn. We have never met each other in person, we don’t know about each other’s personal life, we didn’t know about each other’s existence a few months ago!! But it all changed when we talked the first time by sheer chance.

It’s strange how sometimes strangers in your life become your biggest support and Christina is one of the women who has made me feel seen, who inspires me with her work and of course, her beautiful smile!

Yep, that’s her there.

In today’s series of Women Who Inspire, meet Christina!

She is a distinguished life and business coach, specializing in one-on-one sessions that drive personal and professional growth. By harnessing the transformative power of coaching, she helps individuals and businesses unlock their full potential and achieve their goals.

Over months, I have been in awe of the way Christina inspires people, the way she supports with kindness and share ways to explore one’s potential while being kind to them.

Below is the transcript of my interview with her. I am confident that her journey will ignite a passion within you, leaving you truly inspired.

1) How would you describe the work that you do and about yourself in 2-4 sentences?

I am a life and business coach, working 1:1 with business to grow personally and Professionally with the power of coaching! we all have so many potential we just need to unlock them!

2) What led you to transition from graphic design to coaching, and what has been the most fulfilling aspect of this journey?

oh love this question.

Coaching is so fulfilling for me, every single time we finish a session with my coachees (aka clients) I have the same feeling, as we have achieved so much in just one session! as to what led the transition, was the universe! ;)

I was always into personal development and I met my teachers as a designer who understood the mindset and in one day I gained a new client and started a new certification! and 3 years later I am coaching internationally, no longer a designer and fully aligned with everything I do!

3) If you could go back in time, what is the one thing you would say to your younger self?

Everything you do always pays off! Every experience, every failure, every "bad" etc make you who you are, your values, your skills, and even the persons you meet!

4) Who is the one person who has been your inspiration lately?

Honestly it is not one personal but an entire support group, my family, my friends, my accountability partners, my clients, my coaches and teacher! and my passion for growth!

5) The one most common barriers your clients face is: 

That is exactly the magic, none of my coachees now, have the same struggle, but they have the same win through our session, discovered who they really are and aligned their business and actions around it! (we usually don't know who we really are)

6) If you could go back and relive one day of your life, which one would it be and why?

Oh, that question made me think (thank you).

I am so grateful for everything in my life that I can't say or choose just one day!

I also believe that we have grown so much now that will be feeling different!

7) What is a common misconception about your profession, and how do you address or overcome it?

There are many types of coaches. What I do is educating and sharing value on what coaching I am offering and how powerful is!

The coaching that is devoted on powerful questions as we are so unique, the coaching that is around mindset, action, growth, I am just there to support you, listen you, ask the right questions, empower you, offer you accountability and a space of being really YOU!

8) What is the one thing you do for yourself every day to show up fulfilled and energised in the world? 

Take care of me, with power routines and acknowledging my capacity!!!

9) What are your personal and professional goals for the future, and how are you working towards them?

personally, is continue enjoying my lovely family, continuing travel and creating amazing moments together with friends! professionally I am already working on more ways to support more business owners to thrive! Like training, building new collaborations and a new coaching program that we currently open the waitlist!

10) The advice would you give to women who aspire to balance life and business successfully is:

balance is a dance between 2! is not 50 - 50! example: if you overwork one day the other day balance it with taking care of YOU first and spending time on what matters in your personal life!

Taking care of you is your 1st priority otherwise you can not take care of your family, business and everything you work hard to achieve! and actually, change "hard" with "efficient"!

With that being said, it is very important to know your capacity when you are more productive and adjust your schedule around it!

Christina’s journey is nothing short of inspiring.

You might not know Christina personally yet, but if her story resonates with you or if you’d like to show your support, drop a comment below and give her a shout-out.

For more uplifting stories and micro-interviews, join us here and become part of a community where women empower each other.

Follow Christina’s amazing journey and know more about her.

If someone’s journey has touched you today, take a moment to send them a message. Sometimes, a simple note is all it takes to remind someone they are truly appreciated.

Until next time,
D

As I am getting introduced to more and more women daily, I am inspired by:

→ the innovative ways they are redefining leadership
→ their impactful approaches to leading organizations
→ the boundaries they are establishing for their own well-being
→ the path they are forging for more women and individuals
→ the unique ways they are defining their work and personal identity

they are superstars!

"Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you."

— Oprah Winfrey

In my new series, "Women Who Inspire: Micro-Interview," I had the chance to interview some of the most amazing women.

And after weeks of work, I am thrilled to present brief, yet powerful, written interviews with extraordinary women who inspire countless individuals in their professional and personal lives.

These women leave me in awe with their achievements and the way they ignite passion in others. Their ability to inspire is truly commendable.

In our first interview of the series, meet Nikita Singh.

She is a visionary author and founder who empowers early-stage startups to thrive through organic marketing and strategic growth, all while mentoring kids and inspiring change with her poetic creativity.

Below is the transcript of my interview with her. I am confident that her journey will ignite a passion within you, leaving you truly inspired.

1) How would you describe the work that you do and about yourself in 2-4 sentences?

I help early stage startups build brands through organic marketing by being strategic partners in growth.

I am an author, change maker and founder who believed in building a purpose driven world one step at a time. I write poem, mentor kids, market brand and lead the world.

2) What inspired you to become a changemaker, and what has been your most rewarding experience so far?

I have always see so many things around through my education, travel, support of my family and the creative field that I am in and I have always wanted to build the space where changes come through. A lot of time we leave by saying, this is a mindset and hard or one person can not change it.

But I think this is what inspired all life, the will to try and take that step. And there have been so many moments of joy but mentoring a class 12th student through claylab and then seeing him as an independent adult going to Azem Premji University on full scholarship has been the best expereience and feeling. And not to forget, Aam Pannaa Creations is and will always be most rewarding no matter what hurdles come.

3) If you could go back in time, what is the one thing you would say to your younger self?

I would always want to be beyond being a kid who took steps but waited for right time to speak about only if they succeeded. I know if taking steps is important to be the changemaker and that realisation has taken me a long way.

4) The one unique challenge that early-stage startups face in marketing, according to you, is: 

Understanding what they need at this stage and ads is not the way to go. There is a lack of knowledge at the end. And it is not important unless it is adding to revenue directly.

5) 1 thing you do for yourself every day to show up fulfilled and energised in the world is:

I talk to my family who define my journey, support me with motivation and experience and define how women should have wings and should not be stopped.

6) 3 insights you gained after starting Aam Pannaa Creations:

It would be hard to sum up in 3 insight but the key ones are:

1. Marketing is a really confused and cluttered space where most of the people do not understand what and why of it. In all this, it is the process that matters at the end rather than end result. If your end result is the key of client, it is not worth it.

2. Your team is your asset. No change can happen if you do not provide the team the right space to learn and grow. Working on right people with right mindset is important. But remember if money is the only motivator for your team, its a bad deal.

3. Being a change maker comes with a lot of responsibility of building a purpose driven brand. There is always a need for content consumption, networking and staying right at the top things. As much as your passion drives you, more so is your will to everyday stand up, drive the day and build in your challenges is important. Documentation of challenges is more important than wins, that is what makes you grow and sail.

7) What is your approach to crafting brands that ignite meaningful conversations, and can you give an example?

My key is the strategy.

People often talk about consistency and content a lot but I would say I believe in building the purpose through strategic storytelling. You already have so much to share, your proud market fit is ok but being a founder market fit is important and then documenting. AI has given us lot of ease but it still can not strategise what is the brand need.

I sit with my clients, get a questionnare filled that makes them reflect back and pause and then move on to suggesting the immediate platforms to be on. From there on I define a plan with a monthly in mind, weekly targets and topics and finally moods you want to project. In all this what is important is that I make sure what are the inspirations of a brand and its team.

8) What is your vision for the future of your ventures, and what milestones are you aiming for next?

I am aiming to build a brand that becomes strategic partners in growth for all brands and help amplify the impact that they create globally.

We want to bring in the right strategy and tools to build through the power of organic marketing. After building the Virtual CMO and making it to MIcrosoft Startups Founders Hub and buildspace, I want to take it globally . I want to have the first set of 1000 customers and reach as many markets possible.

Additionally, aiming at US programs like Y Combinators, VCs in the US market and various fellowship. We also want to move to southeast asian market and build for them. The biggest win for us would be when this Virtual CMO and the purpose driven brand becomes a global solution talked about, used and paid for.

9) 1 thing you definitely see yourself doing 5 years down the line:

Building a purpose driven world through my organisation and spreading it through the creativity of my words and poetry.

10) If you could go back in time and relive one day, which one would it be? Why?

I believe I want to live days with my grandparents because that is when I heard stories, I saw the will to lead and got a family that believed in me and my passion. I got stories that shared all around and I knew what it meant for women to lead and create the change.

11) The advice you would give to women who aspire to become changemakers and impact creators is:

I have always believed in "be the change, to see the change". However tough or complicated it might be , be confidence, believe in yourself and take the first step.

A lot of times you will feel alone, a lot of times pushed back but there is no bigger regret than trying. Secondly, collaborate than compete, where ever you need help just ask for without feeling worthless.

And finally document your journey all through, let people know who you are, how you build and how you can lead the change. You are an inspiration.

Phew. I have goosebumps just sharing her journey.

You might not know Nikita personally, but if you would want to share something with her or give her a shout-out, do share in the comments below :)

For more stories and micro-interviews, join me here.
Follow Nikita’s journey here.

If you come across someone who inspires you, take a minute today and send them a message. That’s all it takes to let someone know they are loved.

Until next time,
D

If friendships have taught me
one thing, it is this,
that I am enough,
that I matter,
that I am seen and heard.

My friendships have been the building blocks that helped me move mountains that I thought I could never do alone. They inspired me to create art.

My friendships are art.

But every once in a while,
you make mistakes.
And when you do,
you can hear your heart rip open.
The memories pouring out,
the art work put together over years
coming off as it gets washed by
a river of hopelessness.

You watch yourself numb
and stuck, asking,
where did you go wrong?
Did you trust the wrong people?
Did you love less?
Was there something that was
right in front of your eyes but you missed it.
Did you
Did you?
Did you?!

Breakup with a friend hurts more
because
of the inside jokes,
the shared laughter,
the knowing of what makes them smile
even on the days they don’t want to.
They know exactly what you will
say in a situation,
and will also shamelessly share a meme related to it.
They know where you hurt the most
and know what can make that hurt better.

Breakup with a friend hurts more because they your chosen family.

A family that you knew
would stick through the end,
a family that is happy to see you grow,
that will call you out on your bullshit,
one that will laugh when you crack the
lamest jokes (sometimes),
the same family that you knew you were safe with,
just not anymore.
Sometimes,
You’ve got to make a choice.

Sometimes, you have you choose YOU.

And I hope that on the
days that you choose yourself,
you know,
that you are enough :’)

Have you ever gone through a breakup in friendship? What is the one thing it taught you?

Do share it below or DM me. Who knows there is someone out there wanting to hear just the words that you have to say :)

Until next time,
Divyangna

‘What do you want to be
when you grow up?’

asked the teacher.
This girl here,
did not have an answer.
The teacher would ask again
Do you want to be a
Doctor?
Engineer?
Physicist?
Teacher?
Lawyer?
What do you want to be?

And this girl here,
did not have an answer.
The teacher would take her silence
as a sign of ‘not knowing’.
Not knowing her goals,
not knowing what she wanted to be,
not knowing what she could be.

The teacher would sigh,
loud,
letting the girl know
that being ‘aimless’ was not good.

And so the girl believed that maybe, she really did not know.
Maybe her aim should be: find an aim.

So she thought deep and hard.
She kept pondering
reading about different things,
learning about different subjects,
but alas, there was none.

10 years go by.

One day the girl is sitting in her college auditorium
thinking about an idea she got during one of her
theater practices.
She sat
and wrote
and scribbled
and scratched
and had multiple cups of tea.
Then she read what she had written
to herself,
her peers,
her theater director,
her teachers,
and then to 500+ people who filled an auditorium.

The girl finally realised
who she wanted to be.

She wanted to be everyone and everything.

She wanted to be kind like her mother,
ambitious like her teacher,
she wanted to be driven like her college president,
and loved like her best friend.
She wanted to be creative like her director,
fun like her college’s canteen owner,
warm like her professor
and curious like her roommate.

She finally found her aim:

She wanted to be all of them.

And so, she became a storyteller.

Thank you for reading this piece that has been close to my heart. I remember my interviews where when asked, ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’, I had to rack my brains. I still do.

But there’s one thing I know. Even in 5 years, I would still be writing, for myself- my stories, memories, ideas, thoughts, about my people and about my hopes.

What about you? What did you want to be as a kid?

Do let me know below so I can marvel with you on the childlike wonder we all inherit and have :)

Love,
D

“What if no one else likes the idea?”

It’s been 8+ years since then and I can still feel the sensation in my body, the constriction in my throat and the regret, warm and moving through me.

It’s been quite a journey since.

There have been multiple situations, places and rooms exactly like the one above that made me think: What makes me stop from sharing an idea or a thought? Where does this doubt come from?

The above image by Might Could Studios is something that I came across when I googled imposter syndrome. And it hits the nail. I have 10+ years of work experience now and there are still days when I question is it all good enough? Do I know enough? Will it ever be enough?

And then one day I told myself: ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

Of course there would always be things that you and I don’t know of. But what matters is our choice.

'It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities'

– Dumbledore in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

As I sat with my imposter syndrome even as I am writing this, I looked at her and told her, it’s okay to feel like that, but' we’ve got this.

I choose to
trust myself
go beyond that feeling
to trust in my experiences
to believe in people who believe in me
and to be okay with the discomfort of whatever comes up.

To strengthen my own belief, I looked for instances where I went beyond that feeling of doubt and believed in myself.

Here are 5 instances/images where I knew what I was doing:

I am sum of my experiences, hours of me investing in myself, honing my skills and learning. I am more than my imposter syndrome. And these instances are a reminder from me, to me to keep believing in myself and people around me.

1) Creating a 12-module ‘Brand Growth and Marketing Course’ for professionals and students

2) Hosting one of my first workshops on design and content

3) Holding a space with an organization’s team on communications and branding during a team retreat.

4) Holding space for and managing a group of 10-12 individuals during a rural immersion program in the remotest villages of Kutch.

I have been part of the core of this particular program for years now, but well, this was and is my favorite group of people :)

5) This is the most recent one. Coaching individuals on content and managing shoots.

Today, wherever you are, however your day might pan out, give yourself credit for all the journeys you traveled to be where you are today!

There are people around us we don’t even realize feel this way. All it takes is a smile, a message, a nod, you telling them that you like what they are doing and you are proud. Tell more people in your life that you are proud of them. Tell that to the person you see in the mirror too.

If you had to think about the one moment that made you proud of yourself, what would that moment be?

For me today, it was making myself a cup of tea and sitting down to write this.

Share your moment below or on a DM with me and let’s inspire each other to be more than our imposter syndrome :’)

Until next time,
Divyangna

Waft of morning tea, sound of peacocks and peahens, birds pecking on our front window, and sound of my mum’s voice. I like the rhythm of our house. And I love having my first cup of tea with her before she leaves for her school.

When I come here, the house molds me into its rhythm. I let it.

Yesterday, while I was on a walk in the park right in front of our house, it hit me. I don’t know much about mum. Yes, she’s the one person whom I’ve known the longest in my life, but what do I know about her goals or things she dreamed of? Are there things she regrets, like I do? Do I assume things about her or do I actually know her?

I don’t.

Once back home, I asked her if she would give me an interview.

It sounded professional and she had never given one. The idea excited us both.

This writing is an outcome of that interview. Her permission was taken to post this out plus for the picture of her you see below taken around 25 years back. She looks like a diva. Always has.

When I was done with the interview, I was almost in tears.

I realized that there’s so much to her than I see in parts. Parts that I choose to witness now.

Here are 10 questions I asked her:

1) What is the best part about being the age that you are?

What I have learnt about myself now, I never did before. I can see my own qualities and capabilities now more than ever.

2) Favorite childhood memory?

I won a dance competition when I was 8 years old. At the award ceremony, the dance competition authorities clicked my picture and hung my photograph up on the wall of the auditorium.

3) 3 things you want to do in the upcoming years?

i) I want to go for Vipassana where I am in silence and not around any distraction for 10 days

ii) I want to protect my own peace more fiercely

iii) I want to build tree houses and shelters for birds and dogs where they are taken care of and loved

Add one more: I want to explore knowing myself more deeply now.

4) 1 thing you regret doing:

I wish I had spent more time with my kids and my mother 10-15 years back.

I was trying to run the house as a single mother, teaching kids at school, taking tuitions, kids’ homework, house work and then just sleeping barely to sustain. I wish I had more hours. I wish I had more time.

5) 1 thing you don’t regret doing:

When I was young and earning, I gave away money to any relative friend who asked for it. I had gone through hardships in my own life and I knew how being bound by it felt. Hence, I gave it away often.

There were times when I was cheated or my trust in people was broken. But it’s okay. I feel that that money had to go to them.

6) What’s the one thing you love about your current job?

I love the space where my current school is. Though it’s about 20kms where I live, the entire route is lined by trees, I hear birds during the school time, there is a forest area nearby and its quite harmonious. The time passes by when I am there.

7) What is one thing in your daily routine that brings you joy?

Feeding the dogs in our society and the birds in our backyard brings me joy.

Also, my dance classes.

8) One thing you would tell your younger 20-year old self if you met her?

Study more. Learn more. Explore more.

Do that Masters and let your brain lead the way for better decision-making.

9) Is there a skill that you want or wanted to learn?

I always wanted to learn cricket. But since I was a girl, my family did not allow.

Now, I want to unlearn quite some things.

10) What is the one thing you love about yourself?

I have a lot of empathy and love in my heart for each and every person in my life. I can’t see anyone in pain. If I can’t do something about something, I do make sure to ask for help so that it reaches the person or animal in time.

My friend,
I have an ask.

Even if you take nothing from this writing today or if you’ve just skimmed through it, just take one question, one thought or one idea and spend time with your mum or ask her one of these questions if you can.

I have seen my mum just as that, my mum.

Sometimes I fail to realize she’s an individual, her own person. I do hope moments come in life where I keep coming back to this awareness and building on it :’)

If you could add question #11 here to know about your mum, what would it be? If you are comfortable sharing, do write it in the comments below.

Until next time.

Divyangna