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BY KARISHMA

We are often told that life is like a mountain cliff. And in such times we are expected to keep up the pace. But nobody tells you what to do when a rolling stone is coming towards you or when your legs start shaking and you are tired of walking. At that point of time the idea of looking on the bright side of life seems a difficult task.

We all face moments where life feels like it is falling apart. For a very long time, I thought and was taught that being strong meant to stay and keep enduring the pain. But a few years ago, I realized that true strength is actually knowing when to walk away. I reached a point where I had to choose between staying in chaos or rescuing my own peace and safeguarding the people I love. I chose peace. It wasn't an easy exit nor a quick fix but was the first day of my real life. Five years have passed since I walked away and started over. The road wasn't paved nor was it easy but it led me back to myself. The journey hasn't been a movie style success story, it's been a long, quiet walk through the dark to find the light.

If you are struggling, feeling judged, or wondering whether you'll ever feel okay or find your way again, I want to share how I found the strength to restart and how you can too:

To survive the seasons of our lives, we need more than just a smile, we need a shift in our perception. We need to wear our “PINK-TINTED GLASSES”. This does not mean we will be ignoring the darkness but it means having the courage to look for the light when everyone else expects you to stay in the shadows.

2. Facing the Real battles: Society often thinks starting over or leaving a toxic situation is the easy way out. They don't see the financial stress, the sleepless nights or the heartbreaks. Choosing a hopeful mindset is a battle. It takes more courage to be solution oriented than to stay stuck in a miserable loop. By choosing to see these challenges as lessons you transform from a victim of circumstances into a master of resilience. You are not running away but you are standing for your peace.

3. Starving the “Chai Pakoda” gossip: In every neighborhood, society or may be a work place people treat you as a topic of gossip. When my world was falling apart it was heartbreaking to realize that for some people my pain was just a “chai-pakoda” talk. While I was losing sleep and fighting for my life, others were casually discussing my choices as if they were watching a TV show. I had to realize that people gossip because they haven't lived through your pain. Their judgment is a reflection of them, not you. So, don't let someone who hasn't walked in your shoes tell you how to tie your laces. Their talks end when the tea is finished but your life is yours forever. Put on those glasses and blur out the background noise. You don't owe an explanation to those who only want to taste your sorrow. The gossip will move on to someone else but the peace will remain. When we focus on our own gratitude and growth, the opinions of others lose their power to hurt you.

4. Tuning into your Inner “Dhun”: Healing is a choice you make every single morning. Some days I felt strong and other days I felt the weight of everything I had been through. Both days are okay as long as you keep moving forward you are winning. When the external world was getting too loud filled with whispers, judgment and uninvited advice I focused on finding my internal “Dhun”. This is not about escaping but it's about reconnecting. It can be through silence of meditation, healing power of music, standing under the open sky or feeling the earth beneath your feet strips away the pathetic thoughts helping you realize how small those voices are compared to your own strength.

Life will always bring problems that no book can prepare you for but these challenges are exactly what polish your glasses. It is like seeing a tree that stands tall in winters knowing that your Basant is not just a possibility but a promise.

If you are reading this while you are in the middle of a strom please listen: You are not wrong for choosing your peace or safeguarding your loved ones. People will judge you, people will talk and the road will be lonely sometimes but five years from now you will look back and thank the version of you that was brave enough to leave. Be unapologetically proud of who you are.

As you move forward into your new life, keep your glasses on but know that they aren't just “pink”. They are Glasses of Strength allowing you to see beyond the shadows of disgrace and weight of grief. They are Glasses of Resilience helping you spot the path forward when the road is hidden and they are the Glasses of Growth reminding you every tear you shed was watering the seeds of your own Basant. It's time to walk with grace and lead your own world.