Saturday 28 August 2021

Swavlamban Ka Mahatva - Self-Reliance Can Change Your Life

Patricia Sampson, the CEO of The Sampson Group Inc. and a renowned speaker once said, "Self-reliance is the only road to true freedom and being one's own person is the best reward."  

This statement got me thinking what exactly self-reliance is? Is it the lack of belief in one’s own abilities or our dependence on others we can’t tackle what’s required of us to live independently in the world. Growing up in a time of abundance of information easily accessible through internet, I read a few scholar articles and even watched some YouTube videos to properly understand if a low sense of self-reliance can really wreak havoc to a persons' life and how can a self-sufficient person impact his life positively.

Finding me so absorbed in an intriguing topic, mom too joined me in the mission and made me watch a cute animated story in Hindi on #SwavlambanKaMatatva to understand the concept of being competent and confident enough to handle essential chores on our own. 
She further guided me that it should be one of the first skills for each of us to learn to be responsible for our actions. There is no harm in seeking advice from parents, elders, peers or friends; but this behaviour should not turn into a classic symptom of dependent mindset. 

After a lush productive dialogue, what I understood is that Self-reliance is the foundation for independence on personal level. It does not mean that you dismiss everyone else and only listen to yourself. It shouldn't lead to becoming a self-oriented person either. 

It is also not about doing everything yourself or being financially independent. But it’s certainly making your best effort for shouldering every hardship you face. 

I personally feel if you're an independent person, you get that courage to stand up for what you believe despite knowing that it may not be well-received. But once you adapt to this perspective, you don't easily surrender to obstructions that might limit your growth and success.
PC: deepstash.com
Some might argue that being self-sustained might not come naturally to everyone, but remember it can definitely be developed with consistent practice. Self-dependence, whether physical or emotional, can be learnt or taught starting from the early growing years of a person's life. 

It is a characteristic strength and can help get ourselves through the difficult situations without whining about how unfair life is. 

Having stated how self-dependence is a boon for personal growth, it's vital to discuss the importance of Swavlamban in a broader perspective i.e. for a nation. For a developing country like India, self-reliance came as a buzzword when PM Modi stressed upon his vision of #AtmaNirbharBharat for the first time in his speech.  

As a nation that is committed to expand its horizon in terms of economy, the version of self-reliance does not imply isolationism and inward-orientation, but reducing country’s dependence on other nations. Building an independent national economy for India means building an economy which is free from dependence on other countries and stands on its own feet. An economy which serves one's own
people and grows on the strength of the resources of one's own country and by the efforts of
one's own people can only be considered a self-reliant economy. 
अंत में, मैं कहूंगा कि आत्मसम्मान स्वावलम्बन के साथ आता है  और मनुष्य अपने आत्मसम्मान से ही निर्मित होता है | जैसा वो विश्वास करता है, वैसा वह बन जाता है। याद रखिए - समस्त सफलताएँ स्वावलम्बन की नींव पर आधारित होती हैं। 
-
Shamit Saini 
Class X

Thursday 19 August 2021

How to do Footspa At Home - Affordable Solution for Beautiful Feet

With monsoon in full swing, our skincare and hair care regime change to meet the requirements of changing weather. But many people don't pay heed to their foot care regime despite knowing that our feet are frequently exposed to rains and muddy water during monsoon, thus are prone to develop infections, allergies and itchy skin. In my opinion, a foot spa is a fantastic option for days when your feet are fatigued, uncomfortable, and seeking for relief.

After a long tiring week at work, when you plan to pamper yourself with a relaxing and rejuvenating 'Me' time over the weekend, a foot spa can genuinely be therapeutic in many ways. Not just that it relieves achy muscles and improves blood circulation, but can effectively reduce anxiety and depression leading to an eased state of mind.

For past few years, it's been customary for me to book an appointment at my favourite salon and give my feet an intense foot spa experience once every two weeks. But during this deadly pandemic restrictions, I've conveniently switched to at-home foot care routine because neither had I wanted to miss the pleasure nor I wanted to neglect the health of my feet that take me many a miles.

Fret not! This mini foot spa from Deyga that I indulge in at home doesn't require a range of professional equipment, but some basic household stuff, a few fine quality foot care products and your precious time.

Begin with soaking your feet up to ankles in a plastic tub filled with warm water for almost 10-15 mins. Though plain water is just fine, but I like adding a handful of Epsom salt or Sea salt whatever is available with me. Its strong antibacterial and antifungal properties is great to reduce inflammation.

Once your feet feel tender, it is time for some exfoliation! One can either use a homemade foot scrub by blending ingredients suitable to their skin type or can go for a store-bought foot scrub. Earlier I used to use a mixture of half cup of fine sugar and a few drops of coconut oil that was the handiest remedy made of easily available kitchen ingredients. But currently I'm using Deyga Mini Foot Spa Combo which is one of the most recommended foot care products in India.
This combo is the best foot care products in India and has got an aromatic foot scrub made of granulated sugar, coconut oil and mint essential oil. Rubbing it on feet is circular motion efficaciously removes dead skin. Make sure to be gentle in your strokes and not being harsh on your skin. Just remember one tip at this point! Focus the exfoliation on your heels and use pumice stone because our heels tend to be the most calloused. Remember - flaunting crack-free feet is every girl's dream.
Post exfoliation, rinse and pat dry your feet. Afterwards, follow up with a massage your favourite foot cream. You might find a mixture of honey and coconut milk quite moisturising. But for people with extremely dry skin type like mine, I would recommend considering a foot butter. A foot butter is a thicker version of a cream that creates a barrier on the skin to seal in moisture for longer. Deyga foot butter made of many luxurious hydrating ingredients will leave you in for a sweet treat. Seal in the moisturiser on those soft feet by putting on a pair of cotton socks overnight or as long as it feels comfortable.

So, enjoying a mini foot spa from time to time at the comfort of your home works wonder during the rainy season and all the year long. Your crack free feet are going to thank you.



Wednesday 4 August 2021

Authentic Artisanal Products for All Your Needs ft. iTokri

For the true-blue online shoppers like me, whose days are not complete without purchasing quality stuff every alternate day, this writeup is worth your time. A few days ago, I chanced upon this e-store called iTokri and the catchphrase एक दाम की दुकान literally took me down the memory lane when I used to stroll through the markets and this tagline would be seen labeled on the cash counters of most shops. 

As the landing page of the portal gave quite a refreshing and inviting feel with vibrant colors, I was literally fascinated to take a halt and explore what all this portal sells. It was quite obvious from the categories listed on the top that the portal has a deep rooted connect with rich Indian culture. 

iTokri.com hosts a HUGE assortment of products ranging from clothing, accessories, jewellery, paintings, stationery, toys, beddings, festive gift packs and much more. All this stuff is not just the ordinary commercial products as sold in markets, but these are finest handcrafted products. You'll be captivated how each of the products reflects the arduous work of Indian artisans. 
I need to confess here that it wasn't an easy job deciding on what to buy and what not. I was adequately tempted to order saree for mum, bag for sis and stationery for my little one; but ended up ordering a few lovely cotton fabric pieces to get some stylish kurtis made for my summer wardrobe. 💓    

While placing an order, I found the page navigation quite smooth. The product search using keywords works easy too. You would find links to subcategories of specific product range for quick access. I applied a gift card code plus made partial payment via net banking and it was absolutely hassle-free. The order confirmation, shipping details were updated via email and SMS for keeping a track of my order. 

The order got delivered in the committed time packed in a recyclable box without any plastic bags or bubble wraps. The ordered fabrics were accompanied with a plantable pen and a cute handwritten note. 🖊  Kudos to the sustainable packaging and thought behind it.

I had ordered three different varieties of fabrics i.e. Prewashed Jacquard Cotton, Sanganeri Printed Cotton and Prewashed South cotton fabric with border. All the fabrics I received are truly superior in quality and are reasonably priced. I'm quite gratified with my shopping experience.
iTokri has established a fine balance between financial sustainability with aesthetic and an ethical basis. They promote fair-trade, boost a passion for beauty, encourage innovation and entrepreneurship without causing ecological issues. They have brought together many innovative design and craft businesses in India who needed a logistic center and have set up this store that understands Indian shopping sensibilities. 
Now it is your chance to explore this vibrant world of handmade handloom products online and do your bit to pass on this legacy the next generation.


Monday 2 August 2021

All About Women Hair Wigs

"Good hair day make me feel like I can rule the world." - I bet most women would relate to this thought. A woman’s hair is the most noticeable part of her beauty. It not just enhances her personality, but boosts her self-esteem too. Those shiny tresses set the tone for entire look of a woman. It’s no wonder that women consider their hair as their 'crowning glory'.  On the other hand, when a woman’s hair is getting thin, frizzy, dry, turning grey, it seriously affects her self-esteem. In fact many women feel that a bad hair day equals a bad day. But then, if someone is facing constant hair issues and is feeling traumatic about the same, they must consider investing in a good quality wig as a quick fix.

If you're wondering what kind of wigs should you go for and would they look n feel natural, my answer is a big Yes! These days markets are flooded with beautiful, comfortable and realistic looking wigs than ever before. There is plenty of variety to choose from depending on the area of concern. 

Women who want to conceal a receding hairline as well as cover more serious hair loss may go for human hair wigs. These are made of real, natural human hair, so they look and behave just like your own real hair. Most of these wigs can be styled, colored and trimmed to give the desired look to the wearer. What I like the most about human hair wigs is the fact that they can be worn for many days without having to be removed. These wigs might be expensive for your budget once, but that's worth it considering the real-looking appearance and longevity of the product. Those who're keen to try human hair wigs are advised to take care of their wigs as they do for their real hair. These wigs should be shampooed and conditioned regularly to prevent loss of their natural luster.

Synthetic hair wigs are made of man-made fibers which are much more durable than human hair, hence make these wigs low-maintenance products. Most of the synthetic wigs come pre-styled and have the ability to hold & retain that style in every condition. Now this can be a con for those who love styling their hair differently every day. Usually you can’t change style of synthetic wigs. Only the high quality synthetic wigs can be styled using heat styling tools, that too with lot of effort. But what I personally feel is that these wigs, which are affordable as well as easy to maintain, are actually quite glamorous, trendy and cute wigs that allow the wearer to experiment with her looks in vivid colors. Probably that's the reason synthetic wigs are popular with many young girls these days.
Other than full coverage wigs, the hair extensions, hair toppers and hair pieces are voguish detachable accessories that can be effectively used either to enhance hair length, to give volume to hair, to cover up partial baldness etc. They might be glue-taped or clip-on, so choose as per your convenience. 
Before you make up your mind to buy yourself a hair wig, give a careful thought to different factors involved i.e. type, color, quality, post-care, etc. Once you singled out right product, you'll never have a bad hair day.