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  • Success in Life: What Really Matters?

    Success in Life: What Really Matters?

    What’s something you’ve done that your past self would be proud of?

    What If We’re Already Successful In Life?

    Today’s prompt got me thinking about what success in life really means. And honestly, I wasn’t sure where to begin.

    What’s something you’ve done that your past self would be proud of?

    I do have an achievement I’m proud of. When I was beginning the second chapter of my career, I won the Best Documentation Award at a college fashion show. It felt wonderful! Starting afresh and discovering that you can still surprise yourself is quite a feeling.

    But does success always have to come with an award, a certificate, or a grand announcement?

    Apparently, life has performance reviews too. And nobody even tells us the marking scheme! 😂

    What about the day your child looks at you and says, “Mumma, you’re the best”?

    What about having a husband who is always ready to bring happiness into your life, or friends who can turn an ordinary day into a memorable one with nothing more than laughter and silly conversations?

    What about family members who stand by us, celebrate our little victories, and make life’s difficult moments a little easier?

    And what about those days when life throws an unexpected challenge our way, but we somehow find the courage to pick ourselves up and move forward?

    There are no trophies for these things. Yet, they make our lives richer in ways no certificate can measure.

    Success in Life Is More Than Achievements

    I’ve realised that success doesn’t always mean reaching the highest position, earning the most money, or becoming someone the world admires.

    Of course, dreams matter. Achievements matter. We should celebrate the things we work hard for. But we can aspire for more without overlooking the beauty of what we already have.

    Sometimes, success is learning something new. Sometimes, it’s finding the courage to begin again. And sometimes, it’s simply sitting with a cup of coffee, laughing with your favourite people, and thinking, Life is good.

    No big announcement. No motivational music playing in the background. Just a happy heart!

    Perhaps my younger self would be proud of the award I won. But I hope she’d also be happy to see that I’m still learning, creating, dreaming, and finding joy in the little things.

    And if someone introduces a Best at Enjoying Life Award, please let me know. I might have a chance! 😂

    Because here’s what I believe: success isn’t just about how high we climb; it’s also about how happily we live along the way.

    We don’t have to wait until we’ve achieved something extraordinary to feel proud of ourselves. Our lives are happening right now, in the relationships we nurture, the challenges we overcome, the dreams we pursue, and the little moments we sometimes forget to appreciate.

    Maybe the real question isn’t just whether our past selves would be proud of us.

    Maybe it’s whether our present selves are making time to enjoy the life we’ve worked so hard to build.

    And perhaps, years from now, we’ll look back at this very chapter and smile, realising that we had more success in life and more to be proud of than we ever imagined.

    Now, I’d Love to Hear From You! ❤️

    What’s something you’ve done that your past self would be proud of?

    Was it an achievement, a difficult phase you overcame, a dream you pursued, or the beautiful life you’ve built with your family and friends?

    Share your story in the comments. Let’s remind one another that success comes in many forms, and every meaningful little victory deserves to be celebrated.

    And if this post made you smile, share it with someone who needs a gentle reminder that they’re doing better than they think.

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    Until The Next Whisper,

    —Rajeshwari 🧿💕

    © Nihshabd | The Silent Stories That Speak to the Soul. All Rights Reserved. 

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    READ MORE : Work-Life Balance, Homemaker Edition

    Low Likes, High Life

  • Digital Fashion Illustration: My Creative Journey

    Digital Fashion Illustration: My Creative Journey

    What’s the best online course you’ve ever taken?

    What’s the best online course you’ve ever taken?

    Digital fashion illustration is the best online course I’ve ever taken. 🎨 I have always loved fashion, colours, and the magic of turning an idea into something beautiful.

    Why I Love Digital Fashion Illustration

    I have always loved fashion, colours, and the magic of turning an idea into something beautiful. But learning digital fashion illustration online took that love to another level.

    There is something incredibly satisfying about starting with a blank canvas and watching an outfit take shape, one stroke at a time. A few lines become a silhouette, colours bring it to life, and suddenly, an idea that existed only in your imagination is right there on your screen. That is the beauty of digital fashion design.

    The Joy of Learning Fashion Illustration Online

    What I loved most about learning online was the freedom to learn at my own pace. I could pause, practise, make mistakes, try again, and slowly improve my skills without the pressure of keeping up with an entire classroom. An online fashion illustration course made learning a creative skill more flexible and enjoyable.

    Learning, Practising, and Growing Creatively

    Of course, learning a new skill isn’t always easy. There are moments when a design refuses to look the way you imagined it. But every little improvement makes you want to try again. And that feeling when you finally get something right? Absolutely worth it!

    For me, this course was more than just learning to use digital tools. It was about discovering new possibilities for my creativity and giving my love for fashion a new direction. Fashion illustration allowed me to explore my ideas and express them in a completely new way.

    A little red, a little gold, and a whole lot of dreams woven into every detail. ❤️✨

    It’s Never Too Late to Follow Your Passion

    Today, digital fashion illustration is one of the creative skills I truly enjoy. It reminds me that we don’t have to stop learning just because we have already travelled a long way in life. Sometimes, learning digital fashion design opens a door we didn’t even know existed.

    My biggest takeaway? It’s never too late to learn something that makes your heart happy.

    What’s the Best Online Course You’ve Ever Taken?

    Now, I would love to know about you!

    What’s the best online course you’ve ever taken? Was it something that helped your career, introduced you to a new hobby, or simply taught you something fascinating?

    Tell me in the comments. Who knows? Your answer might inspire someone to begin their own learning journey! 💙

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    Until The Next Whisper,

    —Rajeshwari 🧿💕

    © Nihshabd | The Silent Stories That Speak to the Soul. All Rights Reserved.

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    READ MORE : I Don’t Talk Online. I Leave Traces.

    How Do You Build Loyal Subscribers?

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  • Sudha Murty: The Kind of Woman Who Inspires You to Dream

    Sudha Murty: The Kind of Woman Who Inspires You to Dream

    Which celebrity would you love to meet, and what would you talk about?

    If I could meet one celebrity, I would choose Sudha Murty. And no, I wouldn’t begin by asking about her favourite book or the secret behind her simple sarees. Although, let’s be honest, that question might sneak in eventually! 😂

    What inspires me about her is the beauty she finds in ordinary things and the values she represents. Some people impress you during an interview; others stay with you long after the screen goes dark. She belongs to the second category for me.

    1. Sudha Murty Inspiration: A Love That Grows Deeper

    What touches me about Sudha Murty’s love story is how she believed in Narayana Murthy and stood by him when success was still uncertain.

    To me, real love isn’t about posting pictures and declaring #CoupleGoals. (A good picture never hurt anyone, though! 😂) It’s about standing together when life gets difficult, respecting each other’s dreams and discovering new reasons to admire one another.

    Anyone can celebrate your success. But having someone believe in you while you’re still finding your way? That’s a different kind of beautiful. ❤️

    2. Sudha Murty Children’s Books: Little Stories, Lasting Lessons

    Her children’s books inspire me because stories can teach kindness and courage without sounding like a school textbook that has learnt to talk!

    I dream of writing children’s books myself, filled with imagination, lovable characters and a little mischief. I’d love to ask Sudha ji how she creates stories that entertain children while leaving a meaningful lesson behind.

    If one of my stories makes a child kinder, braver or more curious, I’d consider that a wonderful achievement.

    3. Sudha Murty on Women Empowerment

    Women remember everyone’s needs, favourite meals and missing socks. But ask them what they want, and even Google might struggle to find an answer! 😂

    I would love to discuss how women can care for their families without putting their own dreams aside, and how we can celebrate one another without comparison or judgement.

    A woman shouldn’t have to choose between a loving heart and a life of her own. She deserves both.

    A Conversation to Remember

    Meeting Sudha Murty would mean more to me than meeting a celebrity. I’d want to leave with fresh inspiration for my writing, a deeper appreciation of enduring love and the courage to keep pursuing my dreams.

    Which celebrity would you love to meet, and what would you talk about? Tell me in the comments!

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    Until The Next Whisper,

    —Rajeshwari 🧿💕

    © Nihshabd | The Silent Stories That Speak to the Soul. All Rights Reserved.

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    READ MORE : Authors I Would Love to Have Dinner With | Nihshabd

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  • Good Person Qualities: Kindness & Humour🤍

    Good Person Qualities: Kindness & Humour🤍

    What does it mean to be a good person?

    Are We Really as Good as We Think? 

    Good person qualities aren’t just about being kind, telling the truth or helping someone in need. They also include resisting the urge to give a piece of your mind to someone who has been testing your patience since breakfast! 😂

    Being a good person sounds easy enough. Be kind, help others and behave like a saint. Simple, right? Until someone borrows money and conveniently forgets to return it, or texts “Can I ask you something?” and disappears for three business days! 😏

    Suddenly, your inner angel and inner devil are holding an emergency meeting, and neither seems willing to leave.

    So, what does being a good person really mean? Let’s find out, with a dash of sarcasm and absolutely no moral science examination!

    Good Person Qualities Begin with Kindness

    Kindness is one of the most important good person qualities. It means treating people with respect, helping when you can and remembering that everyone has feelings.

    You don’t have to donate a fortune or save the entire planet before breakfast. Sometimes, listening without interrupting, offering a genuine compliment or simply being patient can make someone’s day better.

    And please remember, kindness doesn’t require a social media announcement. You can do a good deed without posting a photograph, adding an inspirational caption and waiting for the applause! 😂

    Honesty Is a Quality of a Good Person

    Being honest doesn’t mean saying everything that comes into your head and calling it “brutal honesty.”

    There is a difference between telling the truth and using the truth as a weapon. You can be honest without being hurtful, direct without being rude, and truthful without making someone question every life decision they’ve ever made.

    A genuinely good person accepts mistakes, apologises when necessary and doesn’t blame the entire population for their own bad decisions.

    Yes, even grown-ups need character development!

    Good Person Qualities Include Self-Respect

    Here’s something important: being good doesn’t mean being available to everyone, all the time.

    You can say no without writing a five-paragraph explanation. You can protect your peace without feeling guilty. You can forgive someone without giving them another opportunity to repeat the same nonsense.

    Being kind doesn’t mean becoming a permanent doormat with excellent manners.

    If someone mistakes your kindness for weakness, you don’t have to prove your goodness by tolerating everything. Boundaries are healthy, and self-respect matters.

    Remember, you are a human being, not a 24-hour customer care service for the entire world! 😜

    A Good Person Doesn’t Have to Be Perfect

    Nobody gets everything right. We lose our temper, misunderstand people, make silly decisions and sometimes say things we wish we could pull back into our mouths.

    The important thing is what we do afterwards.

    Do we learn from our mistakes? Do we try to understand another person’s perspective? Can we admit when we’re wrong without preparing a PowerPoint presentation explaining why everyone else is responsible?

    Good people aren’t perfect people. They’re people who are willing to reflect, improve and try again.

    And occasionally, they manage to keep a sarcastic reply inside their heads. That deserves a little celebration! 😂

    Good Person Qualities: Kindness Without People-Pleasing

    You don’t have to be everyone’s favourite person to be a good person.

    Some people won’t like you even if you bring them tea, remember their birthday and help them move house. That’s life. You cannot control everyone’s opinion, and frankly, trying to do so sounds exhausting.

    Be kind, but be wise. Help others, but don’t abandon yourself. Respect people, but remember that your own needs matter too.

    You can wish someone well from a distance. You can disagree without being disrespectful. And you can choose peace without accepting every invitation to unnecessary drama.

    After all, even a box of chocolates has one flavour nobody wants! 🍫😂

    Your Turn! 💬

    Now, let’s talk!

    What qualities do you think make someone a good person? Is it kindness, honesty, loyalty, a good sense of humour or the ability to stay calm when life behaves like an irritating relative at a family gathering?

    Have you ever been too nice to someone who took your kindness for granted? Or have you learned that saying “no” can sometimes be the kindest thing you do for yourself?

    Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments. I’d love to know what goodness means to you. Your story might make someone smile, think differently or feel a little less alone.

    If this post made you laugh, nod in agreement or think of someone who could benefit from a gentle reminder about basic human decency, share it with them. No names necessary. We’re keeping things kind here! 😉

    And if you enjoy these little conversations about life, laughter and everything in between, explore more stories and reflections here on Nihshabd.

    Because life is complicated enough. We might as well be good to one another while we’re figuring it out. ❤️

    Until The Next Whisper,

    —Rajeshwari 🧿💕

    © Nihshabd | The Silent Stories That Speak to the Soul. All Rights Reserved.

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    READ MORE : People Pleasing: The Trouble with Being Too Agreeable

  • My Travel Bucket List: Exploring India By Road! 🇮🇳🚗

    My Travel Bucket List: Exploring India By Road! 🇮🇳🚗

    What’s a country that’s at the top of your bucket list?

    If you ask me which country is at the top of my bucket list, my answer might disappoint all those fancy international travel brochures.

    India. Yes, India. And preferably by road! 😃

    Why rush to tick off countries when my own country still has so many beautiful corners waiting to be explored? My India travel bucket list is far from complete, and honestly, India seems to have no intention of making it easy for me!

    Kashmir’s breathtaking valleys, Kerala’s dreamy backwaters, Gujarat’s colourful culture, the mysterious charm of the Northeast, and the turquoise waters of Lakshadweep — so many places, so little time!

    Some cities have already been my home, some I’ve explored as a tourist, and others are still waiting patiently on my travel wishlist. I intend to get to them eventually. No promises about the timeline, though. Life has its own itinerary, and it rarely asks for my approval!

    My ideal trip? A long road journey with beautiful landscapes rolling past the windows, unexpected stops, local delicacies that make me forget every diet plan I ever considered, and a little shopping along the way. 😜

    And honestly, have you seen the sheer variety India has to offer? Snow-covered mountains, golden deserts, lush green forests, sunny beaches, ancient forts, magnificent temples, colourful festivals, and charming little towns with stories waiting to be discovered.

    Then comes the food! Kolkata’s kathi rolls, Hyderabad’s biryani, Mumbai’s street food, Gujarat’s farsan, and South India’s crispy dosas. Every region brings something different to the table, quite literally! And shopping? Let’s just say I might return with wonderful memories, but my luggage could need some extra space. 😂

    And when the road ends? Well, there’s always a flight! I’m adventurous, not unreasonable.

    Travel: Exploring the Beauty of India

    Of course, international trips are welcome too. I’m not going to turn down a passport stamp! But for now, my heart has plenty of unfinished travel plans right here in India.

    My dream is to explore India, one road trip at a time — with a curious heart, a hungry stomach, comfortable shoes, and enough luggage to suggest that I’m relocating permanently. 😂

    Because travelling, for me, isn’t just about reaching a destination. It’s about the stories collected along the way, the unexpected discoveries, the flavours that linger in my memory, and those beautiful views that make me forget to check my phone.

    From scenic road trips to hidden gems waiting to be discovered, there’s always something new around the next bend. Honestly, how can one ever run out of places to explore in a country as beautiful and diverse as India? ❤️🦋

    So, while I’m still figuring out which part of India to explore next, one thing is certain: my travel bucket list is long enough to keep me happily occupied for years!

    Tell me, what’s at the top of your travel bucket list? And if it’s India, which place would you send me to first? ❤️

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    Until The Next Whisper,

    —Rajeshwari 🧿💕

    © Nihshabd | The Silent Stories That Speak to the Soul. All Rights Reserved.

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    READ MORE : Local Food While Travelling in India: The Best Food Memories

    How to Meet New People While Travelling: Just Smile

  • SEO and Me: A Complicated Relationship with Google! 😂

    SEO and Me: A Complicated Relationship with Google! 😂

    What are your strategies for SEO?

    My SEO Strategy: Flirting with Google Without Losing My Self-Respect! 😂

    Let’s be honest. SEO is a little like dating.

    You write something heartfelt, put your soul into it, dress it up with a beautiful title, and wait for someone to notice. And then… nothing. Absolutely nothing.

    Google is giving you the silent treatment, your traffic is playing hide-and-seek, and your carefully written blog post is sitting somewhere on the internet, wondering what it did wrong. 😂

    Welcome to blogging!

    So, what are my strategies for SEO? Well, I have a few tricks up my sleeve. And no, bribing Google with filter coffee hasn’t worked. Yet. ☕😜

    1. Write for humans. Optimise for search engines.

    My first rule is simple: write something worth reading.

    I want my readers to laugh, think, feel something, or occasionally question their life choices. I don’t want them to feel as if they’re reading a dictionary that swallowed a marketing manual.

    Keywords are important, of course. But if I have to squeeze the phrase “best life lessons for women” into every second sentence, my article will sound less like writing and more like a hostage situation.

    2. Keywords are guests, not the entire wedding party.

    I use relevant keywords in my title, introduction, headings, URL and meta description wherever they fit naturally.

    The trick is to help search engines understand what my post is about without making my readers wonder whether I’ve forgotten how ordinary English works.

    Keyword stuffing? No, thank you. My blog is not a suitcase I’m trying to close by sitting on it.

    3. Yoast SEO is my adviser, not my boss.

    Yoast gives me useful suggestions about readability, keyphrases, internal links and meta descriptions. I listen, make improvements, and try to keep those little SEO lights happy.

    But if a plugin tells me to rewrite a heartfelt paragraph until it sounds like a washing machine manual, I’m going to exercise my right to disagree.

    A green light is lovely. A human voice is lovelier.

    4. Internal links: Don’t let your blog posts live like strangers.

    I connect related articles, poems and stories on my blog, Nihshabd.

    If someone enjoys one post, I’d love for them to discover another. Think of internal linking as introducing your guests to each other at a party instead of letting everyone stand awkwardly near the snacks.

    It also helps search engines discover and understand related content on my website.

    5. Give every post a little digital housekeeping.

    Descriptive titles, meaningful headings, readable URLs, useful meta descriptions, properly sized images with descriptive alt text, and a mobile-friendly website all matter.

    I also submit my sitemap through Google Search Console and keep an eye on indexing and search performance.

    Because publishing a blog post without checking whether Google can find it is a little like opening a beautiful boutique in the middle of a forest and forgetting to put up a road sign.

    6. Pinterest and social media are my wingmen.

    I share my posts on Pinterest and Instagram to help them reach readers who might enjoy them.

    Social media can bring visitors, introduce new people to my writing, and help my content find an audience beyond my little corner of the internet.

    But I remind myself that a thousand impressions are not the same as a thousand loyal readers. I’d rather have people who genuinely connect with my words than numbers that look impressive in a screenshot.

    7. Originality is my secret ingredient.

    I write about life, women, emotions, everyday absurdities, personal growth, and those little moments that deserve more attention than they usually get.

    I want my writing to sound like me.

    Because the internet already has enough articles saying the same thing in seventeen different ways. I’d rather add a little honesty, humour and personality to the conversation.

    Google’s own guidance emphasises helpful, reliable, people-first content. And honestly, that sounds like a sensible relationship policy.

    8. Patience. The most annoying SEO strategy of all.

    This is the part nobody wants to hear.

    SEO takes time. New content may take time to be discovered, indexed and ranked. Good writing alone cannot guarantee traffic, and a perfectly optimised post doesn’t come with a first-page guarantee.

    I check Google Search Console, look at impressions and clicks, investigate indexing issues, and improve my content when needed.

    Do I sometimes wonder why Google has discovered a million things but not my carefully written article?

    Absolutely.

    Do I occasionally stare at my analytics as if the numbers might improve out of sheer embarrassment?

    Also absolutely. 😂

    But I’m learning that SEO is not just about getting noticed. It’s about helping the right readers find something genuinely worth their time.

    My final SEO strategy?

    Write with heart. Optimise with common sense. Link thoughtfully. Learn from the data. Keep improving. And never let an SEO plugin convince you that your personality is a technical error.

    Because at the end of the day, I don’t just want Google to find my blog.

    I want someone to find my words, stay a little longer, smile, think, and perhaps return tomorrow.

    And if Google would kindly stop playing hard to get in the meantime, that would be wonderful. 😜

    What about you? What’s your SEO strategy? Are you and Google in a healthy relationship, or are you still waiting for it to text you back? 😂

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    Until The Next Whisper,

    —Rajeshwari 🧿💕

    © Nihshabd | The Silent Stories That Speak to the Soul. All Rights Reserved.

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    READ MORE : Side Hustle Ideas I’d Actually Enjoy Doing 😂

    My Screen Time Finally Grew Up 

  • People Pleasing: The Trouble with Being Too Agreeable

    People Pleasing: The Trouble with Being Too Agreeable

    What’s one thing you know now that would have saved your younger self a lot of pain?

    View all responses

    The Trouble with Being a Little Too Agreeable 😂

    People pleasing is one habit I wish I’d understood better when I was younger. Saying yes to everyone sounds harmless until you become the unofficial manager of a department you never applied to join. 😂

    Daily Writing Prompt: What’s one thing you know now that would have saved your younger self a lot of pain?

    Before we begin, a small request: please don’t bring up my past just to sprinkle some extra salt on old wounds. I’ve already paid the tuition fees for those life lessons, and trust me, the course wasn’t cheap! 😪😂 Let the syllabus remain closed!

    People Pleasing: The Trouble with Always Saying Yes

    If there’s one thing I wish my younger self had known, it’s that saying yes to everyone can sometimes mean saying no to yourself.

    Every “Yes, no problem!” comes with the risk of becoming a permanent job description.

    You agree to do one little thing, and before you know it, you’re the unofficial manager of a department you never applied to join. No salary, no promotion, not even a thank-you note sometimes. Just unlimited responsibilities and the occasional “You don’t mind, do you?”

    Oh, the things we do to maintain our excellent reputation as the person who never says no! 😂

    The worst part? I still haven’t learnt my lesson.

    Even today, before saying no, I mentally prepare for the other person’s disappointment, rehearse explanations they haven’t asked for, and occasionally say yes just to avoid making things awkward.

    Apparently, my mouth has a faster response time than my brain. My brain is still reviewing the request while my mouth has already signed the contract.

    People Pleasing and the Fear of Disappointing Others

    And God forbid someone should feel bad! What if they misunderstand me? What if they think I’ve changed? What if they’re upset with me?

    Meanwhile, I’m sitting there feeling exhausted over a commitment I voluntarily agreed to, wondering why my life suddenly resembles a customer care department that never closes.

    Honestly, I deserve a customer satisfaction award. The only dissatisfied customer, however, is me. 😂

    Perhaps this is one thing I wish my younger self had known: people change, and so do you.

    The things you once did without a second thought may eventually feel like obligations you can no longer carry so easily. Your priorities change. Your energy changes. Even your understanding of what it means to be a good person changes.

    And that’s okay.

    People Pleasing: You Cannot Control Everything

    You cannot control how people react, what they think of you, or whether everyone approves of your decisions.

    You can explain yourself with the precision of a lawyer presenting a case in the Supreme Court, and someone might still misunderstand you.

    Congratulations! You’ve just wasted three hours preparing a defence for a crime you didn’t commit. 😂

    I wish I had understood earlier that saying no doesn’t automatically make you rude, selfish, or a terrible human being.

    Sometimes, it simply means you have other things to do. Sometimes, it means you’re tired. And sometimes, it means you’d genuinely prefer to sit quietly with a cup of coffee rather than add another item to your never-ending to-do list.

    A revolutionary concept, I know!

    Learning to Say No Without Feeling Guilty

    Old habits are stubborn little creatures, especially the ones people have grown accustomed to.

    When you’ve always been the person who agrees, even a perfectly reasonable no can feel like a shocking plot twist.

    And perhaps that’s the hardest part—not learning to say no, but accepting that someone might not like the new version of you.

    Still, I have a soft spot for my younger self, who said yes so easily.

    She wasn’t foolish. She was trying to be considerate, to be helpful, and to make things easier for everyone around her. She just hadn’t figured out that she was allowed to include herself in that everyone.

    I wouldn’t scold her for it. I’d probably give her a hug, offer her a cup of coffee, and gently suggest that the next time someone asks for a favour, she try saying, “Let me think about it.”

    Baby steps. We’re not performing miracles here. 😂

    And if I ever master this skill, please don’t expect an announcement. I’ll be too busy learning how to say no to the people asking me to explain why I’ve suddenly learnt to say no.

    Some habits are hard to break. Especially the ones that come with excellent customer service, a generous heart, and absolutely no cancellation policy. 😂🤍

    P.S. If you’re reading this and thinking of asking me for a favour, please allow me at least three to five business days to consult my brain before my mouth responds.

    Let’s Talk! 💬

    Are you also someone who says yes before your brain has had a chance to review the terms and conditions? 😂

    Have you ever agreed to do something and immediately regretted it?

    Tell me in the comments. Let’s see how many of us are running an unpaid customer care department without even knowing it!

    And if this made you smile, share it with someone who needs a gentle reminder that saying no doesn’t make them a bad person. 🦋🤍

    Until The Next Whisper,

    —Rajeshwari 🧿💕

    © Nihshabd | The Silent Stories That Speak to the Soul. All Rights Reserved.

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    READ MORE : Dear 100-Year-Old Me, Did We Finally Become Her?

    Dear Teenage Me

  • Weirdest Movie I’ve Ever Watched: 15 Minutes In! | Nihshabd

    Weirdest Movie I’ve Ever Watched: 15 Minutes In! | Nihshabd

    Daily writing prompt
    What’s the weirdest movie you’ve ever watched?
    View all responses

    The Weirdest Movie I Watched: Within just 15 minutes, and My Brain Said Goodbye! 😂

    The weirdest movie I’ve ever watched left me wondering what on earth was going on! 😂 I started watching it because I genuinely liked the heroine’s acting. Fifteen minutes later, my brain was ready to say goodbye!

    The story revolves mainly around a newly married couple. An arranged marriage, a husband and wife trying to navigate life together, and a whole lot of behaviour that had me wondering whether I had accidentally entered a parallel universe.

    But the plot? The behaviour? The whole atmosphere?

    Kuch toh gadbad hai, Daya! 😂

    The characters seemed to be operating by a completely different set of rules. Their reactions were bizarre, the situations were strange, and I kept waiting for something to make sense.

    Was this experimental cinema? Was there some deeper meaning I wasn’t getting? Or had logic simply decided to take a vacation without informing anyone?

    I genuinely couldn’t figure it out.

    And before anyone asks, yes, I know that unusual films can be brilliant. I enjoy stories that are different and unpredictable. But there’s a difference between being intrigued by a movie and sitting there thinking, Bhai, yeh chal kya raha hai? 😂

    After fifteen minutes, my patience packed its bags and left. I switched it off.

    Perhaps the movie gets better later. Perhaps there’s a brilliant explanation waiting in the second half. Unfortunately, my curiosity wasn’t strong enough to survive the first fifteen minutes.

    My evening was too precious to spend decoding what felt like a very strange experiment in human behaviour.

    Some movies deserve a standing ovation. Others deserve a remote control and an early exit.

    This one got the remote control.

    Now, Can You Guess the Movie? 🎬

    I’m keeping the name a secret. Let’s see who can crack this cinematic mystery!

    Here are your clues:

    • Clue 1: I started watching it because I genuinely like the heroine’s acting.
    • Clue 2: The story revolves mainly around a newly married couple and their rather unusual married life.
    • Clue 3: An arranged marriage, an awkward husband, an unhappy wife, and some seriously bizarre behaviour.
    • Clue 4: Within 15 minutes, I was wondering whether I was watching a movie or witnessing a collective breakdown of logic! 😂

    So, can you guess which movie it is?

    Drop your answers in the comments. No Googling, please! Let your filmi instincts do the work. 😜

    What’s the Weirdest Movie You’ve Ever Watched? 🎬

    And tell me, what’s the weirdest movie you’ve ever watched? The one that made you stare at the screen and wonder, “What on earth is happening here?”

    I’m waiting to hear your stories. Who knows? Maybe your weirdest movie will make my fifteen-minute experience look perfectly normal!

    Special Mention: The featured image is inspired by scenes I came across on social media, which made the dark comedy look interesting. The actual experience? A different story altogether! 😂

    Disclaimer: I watched fifteen minutes, so this is my personal experience, not a review of the entire film.

    Until The Next Whisper,

    —Rajeshwari 🧿💕

    © NihshabdThe Silent Stories That Speak to the Soul. All Rights Reserved. 

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    READ MORE :The Movie That Made Me Cry Wasn’t a Movie After All 😂

  • Morning Routine: Between To-Do Lists and Little Joys | Nihshabd

    Morning Routine: Between To-Do Lists and Little Joys | Nihshabd

    Tell us about your morning routine.

    View all responses

    My Morning Routine: A Little Bit of Everything, and a Little Bit of Me

    My morning routine doesn’t come with a snooze button for responsibilities. Monday or Sunday, the day begins, and apparently, the universe expects me to show up. 😂

    But somewhere between the sunrise and my first cup of coffee, I often catch myself doing something wonderfully unproductive: simply enjoying the moment.

    The sky turns beautiful, the morning light sneaks through the window, and for a few minutes, the world seems to have nowhere urgent to be. If it rains, the little girl inside me wants to fold a paper boat and set it sailing. No deadlines, no destinations, just a boat, a puddle and an imagination that doesn’t need Wi-Fi.

    Of course, I am also an adult. So the paper boat has to compete with a rather impressive list of responsibilities. Childhood was so much simpler. We could spend an entire afternoon making a boat out of paper. Now we need to schedule the nostalgia! 😄

    Healthy Morning Habits: Taking Care of Myself

    My morning routine also includes a little exercise and my homemade wellness potion: ajwain, jeera, saunf, methi, black pepper, ginger and lemon, all boiled together. It’s my way of reminding myself that looking after my health cannot always be postponed until a more convenient day.

    We make time for so many things and people; surely, our own well-being deserves a place on that list, too.

    This is something my mother-in-law taught me, and it’s a lesson I’ve come to value more with time: taking care of ourselves shouldn’t always come last. ❤️

    Then there’s my creative mind, which apparently has no concept of office hours. A thought for a blog post pops up while I’m doing something else. I rush to note it down before it disappears into the mysterious black hole where forgotten ideas live. An illustration starts taking shape in my head, and somewhere in between, a very practical question interrupts the artist in me: What on earth am I cooking today?

    Creativity is wonderful, but apparently, it doesn’t exempt anyone from deciding what’s for lunch. 😂

    Finding Peace in My Morning Routine

    After the school rush and seeing my husband off to work, I finally get a little time for myself. Pooja, meditation, and a few moments of quiet. No elaborate plans to transform my life before breakfast. Just a little pause to breathe, gather my thoughts and feel grounded before the day unfolds.

    I’ve come to appreciate these little rituals. Exercise reminds me to care for my body. Meditation gives my mind room to breathe. Writing and illustration allow me to explore the thoughts and ideas that make me feel like myself. And those quiet moments in between remind me that I am more than the things I do for everyone else.

    Perhaps that’s the secret I’ve been discovering in my ordinary mornings: a full life doesn’t have to mean a life lived in a hurry.

    Finding Joy in Everyday Life

    We often imagine that happiness will arrive when the work is finished, the house is in order, the responsibilities are taken care of and we finally have some free time.

    But have you noticed how the to-do list seems to reproduce when nobody is watching? Finish one task, and two more appear. It’s practically performing mitosis! 🤣

    If we keep waiting for everything to be done before we allow ourselves to enjoy life, we might spend a very long time waiting.

    My morning routine reminds me to find little pockets of happiness right in the middle of everyday life. To notice a beautiful sunrise even when the day is busy. To follow a creative thought instead of dismissing it as something I can do later. To make room for healthy habits, quiet moments and the occasional ridiculous idea involving a paper boat.

    Because life isn’t happening after the responsibilities are over. It’s happening while we’re living through them.

    And maybe we don’t need a completely different life to feel happier. Maybe we need to pay a little more attention to the life we already have.

    Maybe a beautiful life isn’t one where we have nothing to do. Maybe it’s one where, amid everything we have to do, we still find things that make us feel alive.

    And tomorrow morning, if you happen to see a paper boat floating in a puddle, don’t judge the adult who made it.

    She might simply have remembered how to be happy without a reason. ☀️❤️

    ❤️ A Little Question for You 🦋

    What makes your mornings special? Is it that first cup of coffee, a quiet moment to yourself, the sunrise outside your window, or something entirely unexpected?

    Tell me in the comments. I’d love to know about the little things that make your ordinary days beautiful.

    And if this post reminded you to slow down and enjoy life’s little moments, share it with someone who might need that reminder, too.

    Until The Next Whisper,

    —Rajeshwari 🧿💕

    © NihshabdThe Silent Stories That Speak to the Soul. All Rights Reserved. 

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    READ MORE : How to Make Time for Self-Care When Life Gets Busy,

    Learning to Dance with the Waves

  • How to Meet New People While Travelling: Just Smile

    How to Meet New People While Travelling: Just Smile

    What’s the best way to meet new people while traveling?

    View all responses

    What’s the best way to meet new people while travelling?

    I have a very simple theory.

    Smile.

    Yes, that’s my entire strategy. No networking skills, no carefully rehearsed conversation starters, no “How to make friends while travelling” Google search. 😄

    My Very Complicated Travel Strategy 😄

    Although, being an introvert, I do need a little courage before I actually use this strategy.

    Put me in a new place, surrounded by people I don’t know, and suddenly my mind becomes extremely busy.

    Should I say hello?

    Will they think I’m being too friendly?

    What if they don’t respond?

    And then my brain helpfully adds:

    Maybe just look at your phone. That’s socially acceptable.

    How I Meet New People While Travelling

    But I’ve noticed that a smile makes the first step much easier.

    I smile at the person sitting beside me, someone I meet at a café, another traveller looking at the same view, or even a stranger whose eyes happen to meet mine.

    And quite often, they smile back.

    That little exchange changes something.

    There is suddenly a tiny bit of familiarity between two people who knew absolutely nothing about each other five seconds ago.

    Sometimes it becomes a conversation.

    Sometimes it becomes a recommendation for a lovely little place.

    Sometimes it becomes a shared laugh.

    And sometimes… it remains just a smile.

    That’s okay too.

    You Never Know Where It Might Lead

    I don’t think travelling is about coming home with twenty new friends. I’m not running a friendship collection centre. 😂

    For me, it’s about those unexpected little connections that make a journey feel more human.

    A smile doesn’t ask questions. It doesn’t expect anything. It simply makes the other person feel a little more comfortable.

    And perhaps that matters when you’re somewhere unfamiliar.

    Because when everything around you is new, a little warmth feels strangely familiar.

    So, if you ask me how to meet new people while travelling, I’d say:

    Don’t try too hard to meet people.

    Look up from your phone.

    Make eye contact.

    Smile.

    Let the moment decide what happens next.

    Maybe nothing will happen.

    Maybe you’ll have a two-minute conversation.

    Maybe you’ll meet someone whose story stays with you long after the trip.

    That’s the fun of it.

    You never know what a tiny smile might start.

    And honestly, for an introvert, that’s about as adventurous as socialising gets. 😄❤️

    What about you?

    When you’re travelling, are you the one who happily starts a conversation with strangers, or do you also need a little courage—and perhaps a smile—to break the ice? 😄

    Tell me in the comments: what’s your favourite way to meet new people while travelling?

    .

    Until The Next Whisper,

    —Rajeshwari 🧿💕

    © NihshabdThe Silent Stories That Speak to the Soul. All Rights Reserved. 

    .

    READ MORE :  Best Local Food While Travelling in India, The One I’d Ride Through Life With 🐎