Some years feel like storms. This one feels like standing under a sky full of swords—each one glinting, dangling, humming with possibility and threat. And yet we still show up to work, swipe our cards, sit at our desks, smile at Teams calls, and hope we’re not next – the hanging sword of layoffs. It…
Tag: mental health
Seven-Year Itch
Seven years – that’s 2,555 days of love, arguments, laughter, silence, shared meals, cancelled trips, long hugs, and the eternal “what should we watch tonight?” question. They say the seven-year itch makes couples restless, but honestly, if that’s true, we’ve been scratching that itch since year one – sometimes gently, sometimes like two cats tangled…
Maybe You Just Need to Smile
I am living my life one day at a time. Some days are heavy, some days are lighter, but most days feel like I am just trying to survive. I wake up with the weight of thoughts I can’t always explain. I feel lost most of the time, searching for a path that seems invisible….
112 Is Not 911 – A Cry for Help, and a System That Fails You
Last Saturday morning, I thought I was going to lose my father. He’s been bedridden for a year now, slowly slipping into the fog of Alzheimer’s. That morning, he started gasping for air. My mother panicked. So did I. In that moment of desperation, I did what we’re told to do in emergencies – I…
NUMB
There’s something creepy crawling inside me.No, it’s not a ghost. It’s worse.It’s slowly eating away at my emotions, empathy, and will to feel.I think it started small – a moment here, a moment there.A forgotten phone call. A hug that didn’t land. A message left on read. And now?I feel… NOTHING.Yes, I’m NUMB. No, I’m…
I Am a Hugger
Hugs are so underrated. Not the polite, half-hearted ones. I’m talking about those tight, real hugs- where your arms wrap around someone, and for a few seconds, both of you forget everything else. The noise fades. The chaos pauses. And all that remains is warmth. Yes, I am a hugger. Always have been. Even when…
I’m toxic. Period!
The past year has been nothing short of a whirlwind. It’s been a year of deep reflection, painful realizations, and, surprisingly, growth. As I write this, I want to make one thing clear: this is my side of the story. Not the absolute truth, but my truth – a story of love, labels, and letting…
All of Us Strangers
The idea of six degrees of separation is enchanting. This thought suggests any two people in the world are connected through just six acquaintances. It suggests that the world may feel vast. Still, we’re only a few handshakes away from one another. Yet, within this comforting notion lies a quiet question: what about the people…
A Table for One
My heart is yellow,The thoughts are deep,A table for one,Is all I need. The world spins fast,It voices loud,But here I sit,Away from the crowd. No masks to wear,No roles to play,Just me, myself,At the end of the day. This quiet moment,So rare, so true,A space to breathe,The life renew. It’s not escape,It’s a loving…
Embracing Bad Luck: The Art of Pivoting
I once caught a line from a movie that really stuck with me: “It’s one of the benefits of bad luck. It teaches you to pivot.” There’s definitely some truth there. Life can throw us off track, and sometimes it feels like it does so over and over again. As a middle-aged Indian gay man,…
ANKUR MONDAL 