MindVerse: nurturing souls through words

Today was one of those deeply reflective days when I paused and asked myself why being left out still stings at 40, and how much of that ache comes from the way we were shaped as children. There’s a strange heaviness that sits in the chest when you feel left out, even as an adult who pays bills, manages a home, raises a child, and solves “real” problems every day. It often arrives quietly: a plan you weren’t included in a group chat that moved on without you a gathering you only found out about later. And suddenly, even at 40, the same familiar ache returns. An ache we thought we outgrew. An ache we were told to ignore. For the longest time, I believed something was wrong with me for feeling this way. But the more I understand psychology and human behavior, and the more I look back at how we were raised, the more I realize the story is bigger than just one moment of being excluded. It’s about conditioning. It’s about childhood. And it’s about the things no one ever taught us. Why it st...

  Every year when Navratri begins, I feel an inner shift. It’s not just the rituals, the fasting, or the devotion, it’s almost like being given nine gentle reminders to pause and look inward. Each form of Maa Durga holds up a mirror, showing us qualities that are not only divine but also deeply human, qualities that, when embraced, can guide us towards better mental health. Here’s how the nine forms of the Goddess connect with our well-being, and what we can all take away from them: Day 1: Shailaputri – The Mountain Daughter Shailaputri is the first form of Durga, born as the daughter of the Himalayas . She rides a bull and carries a trident, symbolizing strength and resilience. ✨ Lesson for us: Just like the mountains remain unmoved in storms, our mental health depends on grounding ourselves. Practices like mindful breathing , steady routines, or simply walking barefoot on grass can give us the steadiness to face life’s challenges. Day 2: Brahmacharini – Devotion and Disciplin...

 May 2025. I walked across the stage, heart pounding and eyes welling up, to receive my PhD in Epidemiology. After ten long years, I wasn’t just a graduate, I was a warrior, a mother, a wife, a full-time professional, and now, a doctor of philosophy. Yes, ten years. This wasn’t your traditional academic timeline. It was a marathon, a part-time PhD done alongside a full-time job and a full-time life. And at 43, with my 8-year-old daughter cheering me on and my husband proudly holding the camera, I felt something that’s hard to describe, an overwhelming mix of exhaustion, joy, relief, and above all, pride. Here are the lessons I learned through this extraordinary journey, lessons I hope will inspire anyone walking their own long, winding road toward a dream. Sometimes the Plan Will Break, But You Don’t Have To In 2015, I began my PhD at Indiana University with stars in my eyes and a scholarship to back it. I had already earned my MPH there the year before and had a couple...

  Today, I sat down to write this article because my heart feels unusually heavy, weighed down by a deep-seated anxiety triggered by an endless stream of alarming news. Wildfires consuming forests, volcanic eruptions displacing communities, earthquakes shaking the foundations of lives built over decades, tragic plane crashes, and heartbreaking images of wars displacing millions, each headline adds another layer of unease. This heaviness extends into economic uncertainty. Friends, family, and colleagues grapple with job losses driven by recession, geopolitical tensions, and a technological wave, artificial intelligence, that promises incredible innovation yet disrupts traditional employment models. Every day, another crisis headline emerges, fueling our collective anxiety. Compounding these challenges is the rapid spread of misinformation in our hyper-connected digital age. Social media amplifies both genuine news and baseless rumors at lightning speed. Astrology influencers confide...

  A Crisis of Uncertainty, Not Purpose   Right now, it’s hard not to feel discouraged. Across the U.S., public health departments are facing shrinking budgets, hiring freezes, and painful layoffs. I’ve seen friends and colleagues, some of the most dedicated professionals I know, lose their positions. I’ve felt the stress ripple through my own work as an epidemiologist and public health consultant. For many of us, especially those who gave everything during the COVID-19 response, this feels like a harsh and confusing reward. But as painful as this moment is, it’s not a signal that public health is failing. It’s a signal that public health is evolving. We've Been Here Before: A History of Grit and Ingenuity Public health has never had it easy. When Dr. John Snow traced a cholera outbreak in 1854 to a single water pump in London, he had no lab, no funding, and no real institutional support. What he did have was curiosity, data, and a deep concern for his community. From t...

In today's hectic world, where productivity is often glorified and celebrated, it's easy to get caught up in the constant pursuit of doing more, achieving more, and being more. Like many others, I too found myself entangled in this web of productivity, until it began to take a toll on my mental well-being. However, through my personal journey, I have come to realize the importance of prioritizing mental health over productivity. In this article, I want to share my experiences and shed light on the significance of taking breaks, embracing stillness, and nurturing our mental health. The Pressure to Be Productive:  From a young age, society conditions us to believe that our worth is tied to our productivity and achievements. We are constantly bombarded with messages that emphasize the need to be busy, efficient, and constantly working towards our goals. Moreover,  in today's digital age, our lives are intertwined with technology. We have become reliant on gadgets a...