Newerways

  The lemon tree in my backyard was bursting with flowers; we were expecting a good harvest this year. A thunderstorm struck that evening.    In the morning, I found the drain clogged with flower petals, leaves, twigs, and shattered hopes of a bountiful harvest. There was mud everywhere. Neither a shelter nor a form of life was visible in the vicinity.  The shades of mud, though captivating, did not evoke the response nature does. There was a rumbling, and the earth metres away from where I stood caved in. I shrieked. I had experienced an earthquake in my dream. Perturbed as I was, the view outside the window was of little consolation. I could hear the rustling of tree leaves. I saw green stains of algal growth on the exterior walls of neighbours. All seemed as it was to be. A feeling of impending gloom had stayed behind. The thought of making a pivot had often crossed my mind; to start all over again had pushed it away. The idea of walking the road less tr...

Getting up from the chair I was sitting on for hours writing, I sighed and stretched myself holding my back. I needed relief. Nothing unusual for many of us, retracing our steps to think about it, is it good? The modern lifestyle we pursue may be the beginning of an end. Fast-paced lives, cutthroat competition, deadlines, and the struggle for survival leave us little time to invest in health. Here, we delve into some areas which impact our lives and health. Sedentary lifestyles. Modern living is making a notable shift to sedentary habits. The rise in desk jobs and the screen times with our gadgets now threaten the quality of life. Obesity, a primary consequence of our inactivity, promotes diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Diet and nutrition. Our diet has shifted from whole grains, fruits, and vegetables to that of processed foods- highly salty and sugary diets. We eat fast food with no nutritional value and a lack of satiety. Malnutrition and overnutrition both come with a price: ...

1988: I became what I am, a dentist, an unusual choice several years ago.  Life took turns. Years later, I decided to make a pivot. This time again, I had an unusual choice in Medical Writing. Medical writing has always been the domain of celebrity academicians. Today, an emerging breed of unconventional writers is poised to make a significant impact on the medical world. In my class, I realised I was twice the age of my peers and the only one with adult kids. Education knows no bounds and no age; I steered forward, aware that changing careers at my age could be challenging.  I struggled with most things that youngsters do so quickly. Soon, I realised I could do things at my own pace. While walking down the road to a career in medical writing, I picked up some pearls of wisdom. They hold for pivot makers as much as for the new entrants. Take time to think. Be friends with time. Initially, I felt a resistance to change, both consciously and ...

As a new entrant to the content creation market, I was relentlessly searching for jobs in writing. It was an aha moment. I was selected to write a test assignment, a video script that was for one of the well-known educators in the online world.  My script had to bring out the essence of effective communication. I brainstormed for ideas. And since it was my first experience, I was falling short in everything.  I whipped up all my resources and Googled, scoffing at the idea of writing a video script on communication for a master communicator. It was not an easy task. Nevertheless, I tried and came up with a story that remains close to my heart for being the first of its kind. Prompted by the twists in Chinese whisper, I co-related it with the modern generation. Here goes the story that you can smile about or empathise with. A couple decided to meet at 10.00 the next day for coffee. The boy reached the coffee shop the next morning, but the girl did not. He waited and ...