If we were to name any one thing or precisely one habit which is present in the major portion of people in our society, it would be the habit of overthinking. It is also called as rumination, which means thinking obsessively about a particular thought or theme that in turn interfere with the other forms of the mental activity. It is a common feature of the “obsessive compulsive disorder” and “generalized anxiety disorder”. It means that when we dwell ourselves repetitively over the same thought and the same situation over and over unless it causes anxiousness.

It is often said that when a person overthinks, he is unable to concentrate on anything be it studies or anything of relevance. His focus is not present there and this is because that thought occupies his mind so strongly that he is unable to think anything else. He is so delved in that situation that even if he tries to come out from that very place, it will worsen the situation.

The official mark of the overthinking is that it is unproductive. It is nowhere useful in building any personality trait or behavior. It just strangles the current personality of the person involving so many disorders. It just disturbs the mental functioning of the person. Thinking over the same decision and situation for hours and hours by ignoring the sleep and missing on the deadline is not something construction to a person’s life. It is not same as the stress and worry because that lasts for a short span of time but overthinking makes a person feel stuck where he is unable to act or take up any action. It is really very unhealthy for an individual.

The root cause for overthinking is that we try everything to be perfect. We want that everything to be in our full control because that is what will make us confident. And for that we analyze everything so deeply that it captures our whole mind. It occupies its place so effectively that there is no place for some other thought. It is also ironic that after overthinking we are unable to take up any action regarding that. Whenever a solution pops up, another worry question comes in the mind and the cycle continues. Later, we end up doing nothing.

All this while overthinking is considered as bad, unhealthy and much more but the question which pops up in everybody’s mind after reading it is, Is it a disorder? The answer is Yes. It is a mental disorder. It is associated with other mental health conditions like:
a) Depression
b) Anxiety Disorders
c) Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
d) Post traumatic Stress Disorder

Lastly, I want to conclude with my opinion that overthinking destroys our mental health. It also disturbs a person emotionally. In a nutshell, it creates a situation of imbalance in the body which can take a good amount to recover. So, to keep away from this kind of disorder, the individual should be always ready to challenge his thoughts. The reaction should be so strong that whenever any thought or situation tries to capture his mind or make him anxious, the person is ready to challenge it.

None of the stress relieving activities will help you if you aren’t taking care of yourself.No meditation or yoga is going to get you the adequate sleep.The term self care describes a conscious act of a person in order to promote their mental, physical and emotional health.There are many forms of self care.It could be going out to get some fresh air or it could be about getting yourself enough and adequate sleep.

Unfortunately self care is considered as a luxury and not a priority by many bacuse of which they are left with the feeling of overwhelm and left inequitable to handle life challenges.Its important to make sure you are caring about yourself rightly and in every domain so that you also care for your mind, body and spirit.

Importance of Self Care:

• Reduces anxiety and depression
• reduces stress
• Improves Resilience
• Improving happiness
• Increasing energy
• Strengthens interpersonal relationships

According to WHO self care comes above everything else as it can help promote better mental and emotional health and help people cope better with illness.

Different types of Self-care:

Self care isn’t always about finding ways to relax. It is about finding the right way to care for your mental, physical, spiritual, emotional and social spectrum.In order to care for each of the above it is important to find a balance that can help you dress each of these areas. Sometimes you may need more self care in one area to find relief in another.

1. PHYSICAL SELF-CARE: Your body needs a strong connection between your mind and body to function efficiently in its physical aspect. When you care for your body you’ll feel better too. Physical self care involves how much sleep one gets, how much physical activity one does and how well one cares for their physical needs.
2. SOCIAL SELF-CARE: In todays busy world its difficult to make time for friends and its easier to neglect your relationships which at the end of the day makes you feel like yourself. Close connections are important for your well being.The best way to keep the connections are to work on them and put in time and efforts.
3. MENTAL SELF-CARE:The way you think fills your mind with negative or positive energy which leads to your psychological well being which is as important as your physical well being. You mind find reading books or watching movies something that fuels your mind.Practicing self compassion and acceptance will help you live better with your psychological aspect of life.
4. SPIRITUAL SELF-CARE: When a lifestyle includes religious or spiritual practices it makes life healthier. Nurturing your spirit however doesn’t have to involve religion.It can involve anything that helps you develop a deeper sense of meaning and understanding or connection with the universe which is good for our lifestyle.
5. EMOTIONAL SELF-CARE:It is important to have healthy coping mechanism to your emotional feelings. Whether you talk to a close friend or your partner it helps you to process your emotions.Its important to incorporate emotional self care into your life. Emotional self care includes activities that help you acknowledge and express your feelings regularly and safely.

Therefore,I conclude by saying that self care in itself is the greatest form of care that people of todays generation more precisely need to take care of.

Women’s empowerment or female empowerment in its literal meaning can be said as the promotion of the women’s sense of self worth, confidence to believe in their own choices and decisions and paving the way for them to bring a social change for themselves and others also. In a nutshell, it talks about the restoration of the women’s confidence which they have lost from centuries of suppression.

Today, this topic is not merely a topic to consider but also has become a significant topic for the discussion in various fields be it economics or human resources. It has occupied its place in the global movement also and the manner in which it is gaining momentum, it will not be wrong to interpret that it will reach new heights in the coming years.

But despite its development and the progress, women and girls are still facing problems, precisely discrimination and violence, wherever they go. The notion of suppression is still imbibed in the minds of the suppressors and they are unable to accept a women’s viewpoint or opinion. They are unable to digest that a woman can also present some idea or thought which can prove to be constructive or productive in any area of life. Sometimes they do, but that is very few in number and what really this society wants is full credit and recognition.

There are many kinds of empowerment like economic empowerment, political empowerment, digital skills enhance political empowerment, cultural empowerment and so on. The basic thing which is present everywhere is that women should be given importance. They should be treated as equals and no one has the right to discriminate against them from any aspect in any phase of their life. And for this two methods which were taken into the consideration by the feminists are:
a) Raising Consciousness: To fight for the rights, one has to know what his/her rights are. It is the stepping stone. With this approach, feminists try to raise consciousness of women present out there that it is their right to be treated as equals. It is not a privilege that can only be enjoyed by few. If they are denied, they should fight for that. Not only that, its relation with the political and economical issues should also be taken into account apart from the personal struggles. Awareness of the root cause of their problems will initiate the need to be empowered.
b) Building Relationships with the women participants and their external oppressors: According to the scholars, bridging the gap between the relationships will reduce the power gap which is already prevailing in the society. The balance between the relationships is very important.

But still there are barriers present in women’s empowerment and equality because of the existent cultural norms prevailing in the society. Many of them have become accustomed to it. They have accepted the fact that they are lesser than men and happy with that only. And many men also don’t want to break or disrupt the already formed social structure. They themselves have accepted the societal norms and further inculcate in others also.

Lastly, I want to conclude with the fact that the movement of women empowerment still has to go on. It is not a project which can be achieved in 10-15 years. It will not stop unless this society change its mindset and changing of the mindset will take time. In this, the education and internet has to play a very important role in imparting consciousness and making them aware of the fact that women are equal as men’s. Nothing less and Nothing more.

If someone wants to obtain any skill or any certificate he or she often tends to take a test which shows if he or she is least bit eligible to proceed with it. What if there was a test of practical life which could tell us how good we are with our responsibilities and the challenges that come our way. What if this way we could give our best shot at a meaningful life?

Lets focus on a few aspects which would help us live life better and to its fullest :

• Though life is unpredictable, planning is always a good idea: Carrying an umbrella won’t prevent the storm from happening but it’ll reduce the consequences anyway. Nobody can predict the future, none of us.Everyday brings in so many experiences and events which we face which can be made easier to handle with the help of planning.It helps you bear the consequences headstrong.
• Great Friendships enhances the quality: Good friends always enhance the quality of your life. There are certain people who join for a certain time only which makes them temporary In our journey while some join us for an entire lifetime. Deep and long lasting friendships take a long time to develop. Invest in a few, you don’t need a lot. This is one of the cases where quality is over quantity.

• Healthy Relationships make life richer: As for romantic interests, it’s okay to acknowledge that not all relationships will last, but it is wise to try to make them as healthy and as free from conflict as possible.When in a relationship, you’ll spend a lot of time with your partner. How much you enjoy that time will depend a great deal on your attitude, expectations and actions.Just like friendships, romantic relationships also require work to maintain. And they are a team effort. You must be willing to contribute an equal amount to your partner.Eventually, you may find a life partner. Even when you do, don’t neglect to keep putting in the effort.

• Core values should be known and valued: Like they say,”When you don’t stand for anything, you fall for everything”. Our values are what make us stand for the right.Life gets complicated at times and some decisions carry emotional baggage. It’s easier to take such decisions when you know whats important to you.Once you settle for whats important to you, you can confront things better.
• Life is better when you invest in your health : Unlike the several materialistic things lying around you which have a quick replacement your body needs maintenance and can’t be replaced with anything else.So learn to do things which will help keep your body in better conditions. Practice habits that lead to a better life for a longer and most importantly healthier life.

• You always have a choice: One common mistake we all make it assuming that we don’t have a choice whereas there’s always a choice. One should always do what he wants to instead of doing something else because he or she thought they didn’t have a choice. If made a wrong choice, no worries, follow the next best step after that.
• Unhealthy relationships also make your life unhealthy: Toxins are poisonous. So are toxic people. They will sap your energy, discourage you, frustrate you, and in a myriad of ways, make your life more difficult.Avoid them if you can. If it’s impossible to avoid them, figure out how to mitigate their destructive potential.
• Failure is your teacher, not you enemy: Failures are inevitable. Big failures and small failures. Failure is a valuable teacher but you must be a willing and a teachable student. Its said that the only thing more painful than learning from experience is not learning from your experience.
• The art of saying NO: Through the journey of life you will figure out there are people who will be controlling or manipulativeandf influence you towards their agenda. Never let such people succeed in their agenda. Always know your way out by telling no. Its very important for you too learn to do what you want to instead of somebody else controlling it.
• This too shall pass: On your journey there will be times when your life won’t turn out to be the way you imagined it. You have to get through that part of life as well like you do for the others.Don’t focus too much on your circumstances. Don’t spend too much time thinking about how good things used to be. Learn to accept what you cannot change.Say, “It’ll be okay, just not today.”

Enough has been written and spoken about financial independence especially with reference to women in the last two decades. But what does financial independence for women mean? It is subjective and can mean different things to different women. For a working woman, it may mean being able to make her own financial decisions or being able to sustain herself financially. For a homemaker, it may mean being able to spend money whenever she wants or being able to sustain herself during emergencies. 

a basic level, financial independence makes women feel more secure and respected irrespective of their socio-economic background. This automatically has a relay effect not just on women but their families, society, and the country at large. More financially independent women mean a more progressive society that is healthier

When women work, not only do they become financially independent, they have a huge influence on the larger society and the nation. Their income contributes to the family income. The family lifestyle, savings, children’s education, old-age funds, all get positively impacted. Cash in hand and hence buying capacity improves thereby impacting the economy. The impact of increasing participation of women workforce on the GDP is well documented. When the GDP of the country improves, it is not only the women who benefit, the whole nation benefits and all those naysayers who say women should stay at home also benefit.

Here’s why every woman needs to be financially independent, married or not –

1️⃣To Pre-empt emergencies: 

Every family needs to be prepared for a contingency. Layoffs are more frequent, jobs aren’t super secure and neither is life. If the husband is the sole bread earner, with the wife and kids being dependent on him, then there is reason to worry for the family. Panic tends to ensue in the time the man finds a new job. With most families running the risk of multiple EMIs, it makes sense for the lady of the house to also hold down a job.

2️⃣To meet the rising cost of living:

 Inflation, as we all know, has risen noticeably in the last few decades. To own a decent home, send your kids to a good school and live an above average standard of living has become very high. Hence, 2-income households certainly fare better. Women who are financially independent can not only contribute to the everyday expenses of the household, but also help to meet the family’s financial goals.

3️⃣To feel responsible and boost morale:

 Financially independent people are capable of taking their own decisions and don’t have to depend on anybody. This increases their self-respect and makes them more confident to face any kind of situations in life. Many women from conservative backgrounds with dreams and aspirations depend on their partners or parents for their fulfilment. Being financially independent, will enable them to self-sufficiently fulfil their wishes – enhance their skill-sets, go for a trip with friends, or even buying things that they want and so on.

4️⃣To stop feeling dependent

: No one should have to tolerate domestic violence or abuse, much less because they’re financially dependent on their partners. Therefore, it is extremely important that every woman becomes financially independent so that they never have to feel helpless in life.

To be a role-model: A woman who can support the needs of the family financially, socially, emotionally and so on is a role model for her children to show them that gender bias is created by the society and doesn’t mean anything when a woman is strong, confident and sure of herself. The children learn from what they see. If kids see that their mothers are financially independent, they will also understand the value of money and be inspired to be self-sufficient in life when they grow up.

In the end ,Every woman is a human being first, with the right to choose her own path, with the right to express what she wants to do, and go after it without hesitation, without the fear of being judged, without the hindrances of what society believes she must do. There are no right or wrong answers except for what are her aspirations, and what she wants to achieve in life, And she is answerable to no one but herself!

It is extremely important for all women – be it married, single, separated, widowed or divorced to be financially independent. However, it is important not to financial independence with financial security. A monthly pay cheque in your bank account alone cannot render you capable of meeting all of your financial goals. It is how you plan and manage your finances which will result in fruition of goals later in life.

Sir Andrew Motion, known for his narrative poetry is an English poet novelist and a biographer. He served as the Poet Laureate of England from 1999 to 2009. The “Last Call” is a short poem about the thoughts of a person who is at the edge of death. In a humourous way he thinks about his situation. Usually death is presented in a dark or melancholic manner. But here the narrator accepts death in a more positive light.

As the title implies, death, the last call comes to the narrator. Death is personified as “he” and the narrator,l says that he calls him to “come near”. Here, the narrator decides to answer the call of death with pity. But later the poet finds that death loves him. So then the poet reciprocates the love and he loves death back. Thud there is a constant love for each other and he embraces death.

The omnipresence of death is represented by the poet. Everyone knows that death is inevitable. Death is a companion for everyone from birth itself. Every living being are gradually moving towards death in their life. So this awareness about the omnipresence and inevitability of death is the reason for the poet’s acceptance of death. The transformation from pity to genuine love is the result of this belief that death is one’s constant companion. Thus in the short, humoristic way poet represents the notion of death. Death is presented in a more light, positive way by Andrew Motion.

Ted Hughes popularly known as animal poet portrays animal as better than humans. He has love and devotion for nature as well as animals. He believes that animals do not live under the fear of morality. Even though the themes of Hughes’ poetry is nature and animals, he do not romanticize them. But for Hughes poetry is a “journey into the inner universe” and “an exploration of the genuine self”.

In this 1959 poem “View of a Pig”, Hughes represents the pig through which he implies human characteristics. The pig mentioned in the poem is not just dead, but “too dead”, “less than lifeless”. The pig is referred to as’it’ in a cold way. The vast sized pig lie its “eyes closed” , and “it was like a sack of wheat”. Even though the narrator observes pig for a long time, he doesn’t feel pity for dead pig. He is frustrated, by thinking that how this pig could be moved. In the lines “the gadh in its throat was shocking”, is the first indication of the cause of its death. But that was shocking, not pathetic. The eating habit of the pig is mentioned as “they eat cinders, dead cats”. For a long time the narrator stared at the pig without feeling any remorse.

While analysing in a postmodern context, the themes of passivity, alienation and the lack of humanity of the post war era can be found in the observer’s behaviour. The poem can be also analysed in the finality of death. Hughes merely depicts the weight of the pig like “sack of wheat” to show that there is no life, only the body is left. The animal slaughter and industrial farming and also the cruelty of human beings can also be found in the poem.

To begin with, it will not be wrong to say that generation gap is now placed equivalent to the communication gap. It is so called because the younger ones are not able to freely express themselves to the elder ones. There are many reasons for that but the main and foremost reason is that they feel the elder ones will not understand. They will not obviously consider their point of view and what will finally happen is the judgement taking place. They will be judged and that fear of being judged stops them from sharing anything with their elder ones. Apart from being judged, one another fear is also present of being punished. It is a true fact because there are parents present out there who punish their children when their child shares anything with them. They are punished for their acts as well as for their thoughts. This is the reason that children from the very initial stage of their life stops sharing anything with their parents or elder ones.

Further, when these children become youth they are faced with numerous problems and there is no one out there who can guide them or give any advice. In their childhood, they stopped sharing their thoughts with their parents and now this has become their habit. In normal case, this habit would not pose as much problem as in the cases when there is a conflict between a parent and a child. It will bring sourness in their relationship when communication will not happen.

Often, then the youth face the major problem. The problem where they are neither considered old enough to take up all the responsibilities nor too young to be pampered like a child. There exists a strong dilemma in which they have to juggle and make a place for themselves, take their own decisions whether it be personal or social.

This leads to the change in their temperament. It starts rising high often. They become frustrated. In some cases, youths become silent and in some cases they become very arrogant and rude. Their indiscipline is quite evident in their acts or actions.

Lastly, I want to conclude with my opinion that habit of sharing and communicating is very important from the very initial stage of one’s life. If one will not communicate their thoughts, opinions and ideas with their elder ones or parents, they will not be shown the right thing to do. In a nutshell, they will not be guided and shown the right path. This communication will further solve their problems in the future or at best pave the way to come out from the problem. Better communication will lead to better understanding. The parents will understand that what their child is facing. They can assure them regarding that. And so less and less pressure will be taken by the today’s youth. It will help them making their own place.

 Many congratulations to all the people of Meghalaya on the golden jubilee celebration of the statehood! Today, I applaud everyone who has contributed to the building and development of Meghalaya. Some of the great personalities who raised their voice for Meghalaya’s statehood 50 years ago are present at the ceremony. I salute them too!

Friends,

I have had the privilege of visiting Meghalaya many times. I had come to Shillong to attend the North Eastern Council meet for the first time when you gave me the opportunity to serve as the Prime Minister. It was an unforgettable experience as a Prime Minister to participate in this event in Shillong after a gap of three-four decades. I am glad that the people of Meghalaya have strengthened their identity of being close to nature in the last 50 years. Meghalaya is becoming an attractive place for the country and the world for its beautiful waterfalls, for its clean and serene environment and for connecting with your unique tradition.

Meghalaya has given the message of nature and progress, conservation and eco-sustainability to the world. Our brothers and sisters from Khasi, Garo and Jaintia communities deserve special appreciation for this. These communities have encouraged life in harmony with nature and have also contributed appreciably in enriching art and music. The tradition of Whistling Village i.e., Kongthong village encourages our eternal sense of connection to the roots. Every village in Meghalaya has a rich tradition of choirs.

This land is full of talented artists. The Shillong Chamber Choir has given a new identity and new height to this tradition. Along with art, the talent of the youth of Meghalaya has been strengthening the pride of the country in sports as well. When India is on its way to becoming a major power in sports, the country has high hopes from Meghalaya’s rich sports culture. While the sisters of Meghalaya have revived the art of bamboo and cane weaving, the hardworking farmers here are cementing Meghalaya’s identity as an organic state. The cultivation of golden spice and Lakadong turmeric is now famous all over the world.

Friends,

The Central Government has sincerely tried to accelerate the development journey of Meghalaya in the last seven years. The central government is fully committed especially to better road, rail and air connectivity. Work is being done on a priority basis for ensuring new markets for the local organic products in the country and abroad. Under the leadership of young Chief Minister Conrad Sangma ji, efforts are being made to ensure central schemes for the masses at a fast pace. Meghalaya has benefited greatly from programs like the PM Gramin Sadak Yojana and the National Livelihood Mission. The number of households receiving tap water in Meghalaya has increased to 33 percent due to the Jal Jeevan Mission, whereas it was just one percent of the households (getting tap water) two-three years ago till 2019. When the country is moving towards using drone technology on a large scale for the delivery of public facilities, Meghalaya has become one of the first states in the country to deliver corona vaccines through drones. This is a picture of a changing Meghalaya.

Brothers and sisters,

Meghalaya has achieved a lot, but it still has a lot to achieve. Apart from tourism and organic farming, efforts are also needed for the development of new sectors in Meghalaya. I am with you for all your efforts. We will work together to achieve the goals you have set for this decade. Best wishes to all of you!

Thank you, Khublei Shibun, Mithla

Jai Hind!

Family is one of the greatest gift and blessing from the Lord. Without family you can not feel love, care , satisfaction and happiness. They are the most treasured blessing that no one can take away from us. It is also like a fragile thing you consider as the most precious gem in your whole life.

Family is a basic unit in the society traditionally consisting of parents and children. It does not need to be blood related in order to be a family. Family is home, they are the ones who gives you unconditional love. They are the people who comforts you towards difficulties in life. The ones who I can count on in times of love problem. Family, the people whom I call my world, my world because they are the people who guides me taught me how to walk and talk

My family has always supported me without any claim, from the moral teachings to love and support. For me, my family is like a strong pillar on which I can rely blindly whenever I need support. My family is always there to inspire and support me to overcome all life challenges and accomplish things. A relation is a unique kind of love that gives you all the lessons you need to live a healthy lifestyle.

WHY FAMILY IS IMPORTANT?

Families are wealth, which not everyone is lucky enough to have. Sometimes, those who have don’t value this gift. Families are important because they assist in our development. They grow us all into a full-fledged human with individual identity. They always offer us a sense of comfort and a safe place to flourish within. We learn to socialize and develop our intellect through our families. Studies demonstrate that people who live with their families tend to be happier than those who live alone. In times of trouble, they serve as your pillar.

When the entire world questions you, families are the only ones who believe in you. Similarly, they ‘re the first to cheer you up when you’re down and out. Having a supportive family by your side is a great blessing. In ups and downs, my family has always been at my side. They taught me how to be a better human being. I will be grateful to my family forever for what they did to me. Without them, I can’t imagine my life. They are my first instructors and friends.

Families are the pillars of strength because they give us the courage to face the world. They are always there when we need them. Even in the loneliest of times, families make us feel better.

Most of us teenagers, having mistakes of not giving valuable or importance to our family.Sometimes we get mad at ththem.for some reasons, but we should always put in our mind that life is too short and family is very precious.

Let me add again a special word about family .Our family is the most precious things we have. The friends we have today may not be our friends in the future ,but our family? They will always be our family that will always be there for us during ups and downs and love us no matter what .

The value of family is priceless , no one could ever buy them and it cannot be described by a single word.

Before I end this speech, I would like you to reflect on this quotation

“FAMILY IS NOT THE IMPORTANT THING ,THEY ARE EVERYTHING “