Rekha's Ramblings

 Gratitude. What are you grateful for today? Last year, a dear friend gifted me a tiny baby fiddle leaf fig . It was small, fragile, almost unsure of itself. My firstborn helped me plant it last June. We pressed the soil down gently, watered it carefully, and placed it near the light — hopeful . Just when I thought it had settled in and taken root, it was attacked by mealy bugs. I did what most of us do these days — I asked Google. The responses were mixed. Some said, “Just toss it. Not worth the trouble.” Others said, “If you treat it carefully, it can survive.” Isn’t that true about so many things in life? My firstborn came to the rescue again. He brought neem oil. We treated the leaves patiently, one by one. It took time. It took consistency. It took care. But slowly, the plant revived. I could have thrown it away. It would have been easier. But it only needed TLC — tender loving care. Today, when I look at that fiddle leaf fig, taller and stronger, it brings me immense ...

Was My Childhood Really Better? Over Christmas break, I was talking to my daughter about my childhood. Like many parents, I found myself saying what we often say: “ Our childhood was better. We didn’t have much, but we were content.” She listened. Then she gently asked, “ Maybe for you, Mom. But what about others in your society? Did they have the freedom to express themselves?” Her question stayed with me. I grew up in a tiny village outside Mumbai in the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s. We didn’t have much by today’s standards. No television. No refrigerator. Not even 24/7 electricity. We ate mostly what we grew—rice, vegetables, fruit. I breathed clean air. I walked freely through fields and dusty roads without fear. I was surrounded by an abundance of greenery, nature. And I don't have any pictures from my childhood.  But the truth is— I was privileged. Not in the way one would think, no , not money or wealth. My first privilege was my parents. They were loving, present, and dete...

Yesterday, I ran into someone at the gym. They asked how I’ve been and mentioned they don’t see me around much anymore. I smiled, because the truth is simple: I’ve started enjoying my own company. I do my own things now. I walk by myself when I want to. I move at my own pace. But I didn’t get here overnight. After years of trying to fit in—and being deeply hurt by a friendship that once meant the world to me—I have become more cautious about who I let into my life. My peace matters to me deeply, and I’m sure it matters just as much to others. Now I understand something clearly: I was never meant to fit in. With age, I’ve also come to realize that friendships evolve. What once formed easily now asks for something deeper. Time feels more precious. There is no longer room for drama or fake energy. I understand now that not every friendship is meant to last forever, and that doesn’t mean it failed. Sometimes, it simply means we grew in different directions. I will always cherish the good t...

And just like that , my chapter as a “ Band Mom ” has come to an end. 🎶 They may continue to play in other ways (and I truly hope they do), but our marching band journey is now officially over. And oh, what a journey it has been. I am a self-proclaimed Band Mom, inside and out. All three of my children were in band, and two continued on to perform with their college marching bands. Yes… very proud mom moment! After-school activities were all new to me. I didn’t have access to extracurriculars when or where I grew up. But when my firstborn was in 8th grade, I watched his future high school band perform at a community event—and it was love at first sight.     So when he joined marching band as a freshman, I jumped in wholeheartedly, even with two little ones still in elementary school. I volunteered every chance I got—and the younger two came with me everywhere. It was no surprise that, when their turn came, they joined band too. One of them even served as Drum Major for...

As the year draws to a close, I find myself doing what I always do this time of year—pausing, reflecting about my blessings, losses; thinking about who stood by me, who drifted away, and what personal changes I can make as I step into a new year. Every story, every moment—happy or sad—has taught me something valuable. The year didn’t begin gently. It started with hurt, sadness, and the loss of a friendship of several years. It left a dull ache, one that wouldn't go away no matter how hard I tried. Yet, this same year also surprised me with immense joy as the months unfolded. January brought healing in unexpected ways. I traveled back home to India and spent precious time with my father, my sisters, and my family. Visiting the tea gardens of Kerala was the highlight of that trip. Standing there, surrounded by green hills and calm skies, I felt something settle inside me. It was exactly what my soul needed. February brought a dream come true. I stayed at The Taj Hotel in Mumb...

We  are  almost at the end of the year. A new year is only a couple of weeks away. It’s that time when we reflect, make new resolutions, and consciously cut away our losses,  what no longer serves us—especially what has cost us our peace of mind. This year, I was deeply affected by something we now casually call  ghosting . Ghosting , simply put, is when someone cuts off all communication without explanation. No conversation. No closure. No acknowledgment. Just silence. I was at the receiving end of this phenomenon, I was a  ghostee .   The  ghoste r   was someone I have known for years,  someone who had seen me at my  lowest, someone who claimed to know me, my soft spots, my struggles. Accepting that truth was incredibly hard. I felt a tremendous amount of sadness. One day we were talking for hours, and the very next day, they were gone. I found myself questioning everything. Were we  ever even friends? Was any of it real? The...

What Is Your Take on Ghosting? One day someone is part of your everyday life—your messages, your memories, your routines. And then one day… they’re gone. No explanation. No goodbye. Just silence. That silence has a name: ghosting . I have complicated feelings about ghosting. On one hand, I don’t believe I have intentionally ghosted anyone. On the other, I’ve been ghosted more times than I can count—by people I once called family, by best friends, by relationships I thought were safe. Ghosting, simply put, is when someone cuts off all communication without explanation. No conversation. No closure. No acknowledgment. Just silence. And that silence? It’s loud. When you’re being ghosted, the hardest part is not even knowing it’s happening at first.  Messages go unanswered.  Calls are ignored.  You replay conversations in your head, wondering what you said wrong, what you missed, what changed.  That confusion is often more painful than the loss itself. I want to say this ...