Let’s face it. The world is revolving. Times are changing. Fast food joints are slowly depleting. Healthy food joins are quickly exploding. People are getting healthier. They hit the gym, reduce their carbs, start stir-frying instead of deep-frying their food. I gotta say, it’s impressive. People have started becoming more concerned about health, looking good and fitness. I mean, look at what everyone eats now! Quinoa, red rice, wheat bread, unsalted butter, agave, organic cookies and what not. Go on instagram and be completely piled up in health accounts, diet food recipes, rock-hard abs and motivational quotes.
I recently joined the crew by purchasing quinoa rice, which I have to admit, is pretty good. Keeps you full for couple hours before you crave for a snack (and I’m pretty sure apples are more popular than cookies as an option). There’s a whole load of organic food as well, organic vegetables, cookies, flour and loads more.
I was recently in the organic section of the supermarket when I met a mom with her infant, a 4 year-old boy with the cutest eyes! I picked up my usual stash and got into a conversation with her, who asked me about my food options. After what seemed like a short conversation, she mentioned that she does not feed her son with any sugar. I mean, literally. No candies, no chocolates, no sugary cereals like koko krunch, no chocolate-strawberry milk, no ice-cream, zilch. She feeds him with vegetables, fruits (limited to low-sugar ones too), homemade juices and beat this: no carbs too. No rice, no bread, no pasta. As a replacement, the kid eats quinoa or red rice.
I left the place feeling…sad. I remember as a kid, I needed a reward for every time my lunch had greens in it. Broccoli and rice, and a small bar of chocolate after. If I had my fish n peas, I’d be allowed a small candy. I’m sure everyone had a similar experience as a kid. And I think we turned out okay.
What I have seen recently, is that, people tend to overdo it. Sure, you wanna be skinny like a stick and healthy as an Olympic athlete, whatever works for you. But stealing that wondrous opportunity from your kid to truly be a kid, is not fair. Every child deserves to walk in a candy store and feel like heaven. They learn to be appreciative when they wait for an ice-cream truck which finally came after a very green lunch. What happens when you take it all away from them? They grow up and splurge on lots of cake in a friend’s birthday party with the reason “I’m not allowed to have sugar at home. Please don’t tell mom”.
Putting an extremely strong whip around your kid is dangerous. Remember what happens to a horse when it is held so tightly. Loosen up a little and he runs away. Hold the horse loosely from the beginning and it stays with you throughout.
I remember the best part of my childhood. Coming home from school and having a sip of coke from my dad. But when I’ve had too much sugar that day, I’d come and say, “I had my share today. Tomorrow is good”.
I’m out, folks. Let your kid live on the edge a little, yes?
Sunday, June 30, 2013
Thursday, June 20, 2013
An Eye-Opener (Hopefully) about God, Religion and the like
A dinner date with the fiancé led to a very intriguing and controversial discussion about religion, God, spirituality and loads more. Good to know that we both ended up in the same page but the conversation did not leave my mind until I knew I just had to blog it out!
Now before I proceed, I must clarify that first, I believe in God. I don’t really see Him as a third person, I see Him more as a part of one’s soul you carry forward in your life. Also, I believe in the formation of religions. It teaches us to be more tolerant towards people’s beliefs, makes us appreciate our diversity and often takes its place as a basic foundation in our lives, which optimizes your choices and your values. I am a proud Hindu and even though I don’t necessarily follow Mondays, Thursdays rule all the time, I pray and I am thankful for His blessings every waking minute of my life.
Okayyyy so enough about me in person! It all started when we read a few statuses in Facebook, quoting the Bible and the Koran. Sure, believing’s cool. Sure, you’re free to post anything you want in your social network; after all it’s your page. But, I guess some people do not know yet the limit of which those statuses are still acceptable.
Up to a certain point, posting something as “personal” as your choice of religion in a “social” network does not see to tick for me. Especially those statements about the “best religion”. I mean, c’mon, is there such a thing as the best religion??? We live in the 21st century, where we are taught and encouraged to understand, appreciate and love the fact that we are different. Claiming a religion or belief is the best certainly does not seem equivalent to tolerating others’ belief, does it? How small-minded can people be when they claim that “My God is the best? Or “claiming _______________ religion can ensure a one-way ticket to heaven!” My question is, have they died before? Have they met Him? Are they assured in any way? Pffffttttttt!
What’s ever more delusional is when people start pulling others towards entering their religion. Back to square one, whatever happened to loving others unconditionally? Are there really such people still who think like “I would prefer if we were of the same religion!” in this ever-improving world? Sad.
I am truly fortunate to have been brought up in a very open-minded house. My family does have the culture of being vegetarian every Monday. We follow it consistently when we are home for our meals. However, we were never enforced to follow it begrudgingly. Whenever there came a time when a yummy chicken sandwich appeared in front of our eyes, we could have it without needing to feel guilty. In that way, we grew up respecting our parents who taught us that as long as we are good human beings, as long as we respect people around us, as long as we don’t lie, as long as we don’t talk ill of others, what we eat do not actually matter / classify as “good” or “bad”.
Speaking about “good” and “bad”, I go back to question, who classifies things and actions into “good” and “bad”? Human, yes? And aren’t we entitled to conduct wrongdoings? Isn’t there such a thing we all know as human error? I believe so. Therefore, when someone looks me in the eye and asks me “aren’t you fasting for prayers today? Ckckckckckck so bad!” I wanna tell them, “excuse me, who died and made you God? How do you come to a conclusion that me eating as per normal as “bad”? Why do you assume that because I am not following rituals, I am a non-believer? Suddenly, I am the instant criminal. Those who judge people like that, aren’t they the ones who must be taught a lesson or two? Aren’t they the one who appear as the goody-two-shoes physically and mentally judgmental?
Questions, questions, never-ending. It disheartens me to see people who are still thinking in an extremely orthodox manner despite the fact that we are trying to understand our differences, and even more, learning and succeeding to love them.
My blog nowadays seem to rant more than express. but in a way, doesn’t ranting help “express” disappointments? ;)
Any thoughts?
Now before I proceed, I must clarify that first, I believe in God. I don’t really see Him as a third person, I see Him more as a part of one’s soul you carry forward in your life. Also, I believe in the formation of religions. It teaches us to be more tolerant towards people’s beliefs, makes us appreciate our diversity and often takes its place as a basic foundation in our lives, which optimizes your choices and your values. I am a proud Hindu and even though I don’t necessarily follow Mondays, Thursdays rule all the time, I pray and I am thankful for His blessings every waking minute of my life.
Okayyyy so enough about me in person! It all started when we read a few statuses in Facebook, quoting the Bible and the Koran. Sure, believing’s cool. Sure, you’re free to post anything you want in your social network; after all it’s your page. But, I guess some people do not know yet the limit of which those statuses are still acceptable.
Up to a certain point, posting something as “personal” as your choice of religion in a “social” network does not see to tick for me. Especially those statements about the “best religion”. I mean, c’mon, is there such a thing as the best religion??? We live in the 21st century, where we are taught and encouraged to understand, appreciate and love the fact that we are different. Claiming a religion or belief is the best certainly does not seem equivalent to tolerating others’ belief, does it? How small-minded can people be when they claim that “My God is the best? Or “claiming _______________ religion can ensure a one-way ticket to heaven!” My question is, have they died before? Have they met Him? Are they assured in any way? Pffffttttttt!
What’s ever more delusional is when people start pulling others towards entering their religion. Back to square one, whatever happened to loving others unconditionally? Are there really such people still who think like “I would prefer if we were of the same religion!” in this ever-improving world? Sad.
I am truly fortunate to have been brought up in a very open-minded house. My family does have the culture of being vegetarian every Monday. We follow it consistently when we are home for our meals. However, we were never enforced to follow it begrudgingly. Whenever there came a time when a yummy chicken sandwich appeared in front of our eyes, we could have it without needing to feel guilty. In that way, we grew up respecting our parents who taught us that as long as we are good human beings, as long as we respect people around us, as long as we don’t lie, as long as we don’t talk ill of others, what we eat do not actually matter / classify as “good” or “bad”.
Speaking about “good” and “bad”, I go back to question, who classifies things and actions into “good” and “bad”? Human, yes? And aren’t we entitled to conduct wrongdoings? Isn’t there such a thing we all know as human error? I believe so. Therefore, when someone looks me in the eye and asks me “aren’t you fasting for prayers today? Ckckckckckck so bad!” I wanna tell them, “excuse me, who died and made you God? How do you come to a conclusion that me eating as per normal as “bad”? Why do you assume that because I am not following rituals, I am a non-believer? Suddenly, I am the instant criminal. Those who judge people like that, aren’t they the ones who must be taught a lesson or two? Aren’t they the one who appear as the goody-two-shoes physically and mentally judgmental?
Questions, questions, never-ending. It disheartens me to see people who are still thinking in an extremely orthodox manner despite the fact that we are trying to understand our differences, and even more, learning and succeeding to love them.
My blog nowadays seem to rant more than express. but in a way, doesn’t ranting help “express” disappointments? ;)
Any thoughts?
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