Living well
The article “The way to wellness” (July 13) came like a fresh breeze on a lazy sunday morning. It reminds us that there is much more to life than just making money. Everyone likes earning more, but are not able to accept the “free gift” that comes along with it — stress!
When life hits hard, we blame our destiny, often forgetting that we ourselves are the ones who create it. This article teaches us to take charge of our lives, to stay calm and optimistic through all the whirlwinds that life brings with it and most importantly, it reminds us that life is to live!
Aparna Pai
Email
The article is an excellent piece, to be read by all. It is written in a simple language with ready-made prescriptions to suit the moderns and the traditionals alike.We have forgotten simplicity and acquired the habit of making things complicated. The article gives out the essence of Vedic knowledge with excellent narratives. Lifestyles incorporating the steps to wellness can transform people’s physical and mental health.
Dr. A.R.K. Pillai
Mumbai
With reference to the article “The way to wellness”, it is quite true that “nobody is responsible for the quality of your life except yourself”. And nobody would have a different opinion when the writer says “Your life is measured by the breath you take”. Making a conscious decision is also not difficult, but putting it into practice is the hurdle. Well, I find that it is not easy to practise what you preach or what you know is correct and rewarding. How does one impose a time table on oneself? Some say it all depends on one’s attitude. Even if you have the right attitude, how do you discipline yourself to implement it practically? May be an article on this would help.
R.K. Kuzhikatt
Thrissur
Need for solutions
With regard to the article “Journey to the streets” by Harsh Mander (July 13), the author has succeeded in presenting a poignant picture of the poor, the destitute and the homeless. Forced to make the road pavements, the dividers etc. their abodes, devoid of bare essentials, occasionally run over by a reckless speeding vehicle or traumatised by the vagaries of weather in the form of a heat wave or piercing cold or torrential rains, they lead a life of meagreness. With a steady influx of migrants, our already congested cities can never accommodate let alone sustain all those thronging it for a livelihood. The short term answer lies in community shelters funded by the public exchequer or philanthropists and long term initiative would be a pragmatic revival of the declining rural i.e. the agrarian economy, thus stemming migration.
Tessy Ann Mathew,
Bangalore
Harsh Mander’s portrayal of the pavement dwellers was quite poignant but, unfortunately, he has failed to offer any solution to this problem which should be dealt with immediately if we wish to be known as a civilised nation.
Anil K. Joshi,
Ranikhet
Sad and inspirational
I felt sad on reading the article “Saved by his Memoirs”. With a ‘homicidal’ father and a ‘suicidal’ mother; circumstances turning him into a vagabond, drunkard, drug-addict, sex-seller and what-not, the trauma experienced by him is beyond comprehension.
But contrary to that dysfunctional aspect of his life, his taste literary pursuits is quite admirable, especially considering that countless others have chosen the easy way out through suicide. His success as a writer may be surprising at first but the surprise doesn’t last too long when one realises that he must have developed a great sense of humour and satire to keep him going through the hard times.
His tale has inspired me and youngsters who feel they have failed so far in life should take great heart from him.
M.K. Narayanan,
Chennai
I would like to get in touch with Augesten Burroughs, to empathise with him. He need not “wake up in a sweat” if he has been: 1) stoically rehabilitated;
2) the rebellious child. We all have faced: 1) unaffectionate, unkind parents; 2) child abuse; 3) come out of harsh up-bringing leading to a drug inclination, if not, face a burn-out early in life. Like him we are all good-looking people.
Nileema Pereira,
Email
We’ve got a fan
What is it about The Sunday Magazine and The Literary review that gets to your soul? The first thing I need to see is the newspaper and Sunday editions are like ice-cream treats a child looks forward to. I settle down with a steaming cuppa. I find Sadaf Siddique with her very special brand of humour very refreshing on a Sunday. I never read the articles right away. I scan the pages eagerly to see who has dished up what for my very own reading pleasure and actually read it the next day or the next. But today I broke the tradition. I was so pleased to see my favourite author — Paulo Coelho — in there and devoured that piece right away and the review of Anita Nair’s book by Pradeep Sebastian. It felt so good to know that I share the same feelings as her about old bookstores and about being a reader above everything else.
Sheela Nandini,
Hyderabad
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