Somewhere Between a Messy Bun, Bare Feet, and a Cotton Saree, I Found Happiness

For years, I thought I wasn’t enough.
Not loud, not dramatic, just… quietly not enough.

I doubted myself in ways no one could see.
I measured my worth by what I did, what I achieved, how others saw me.
I thought if I worked harder, proved myself more, maybe one day I’d feel complete.
But it never worked that way.

The more I tried to fill myself from outside, the emptier I felt inside.

Somewhere along the way, something changed.
Not all at once. Not suddenly.

I started noticing the small, messy parts of myself and… letting them be.
My hair tied up in a bun, a cotton saree I throw on without thinking, the kitchen in chaos while I cook, even the pores on my face—something I used to hide—now I see them, and somehow, they feel like me.

Foundation can stay in the drawer.
Now, I catch myself looking at my bare face, and it feels… enough.
Actually, it feels like joy.

I love walking barefoot, feeling the ground under my feet.
I notice the way I talk, and sometimes I even find it attractive.

I notice the way I smile, the way others smile around me.
But I don’t want to be the reason for anyone else’s smile anymore.
I don’t want to perform, to please, to earn that warmth.

I find joy in little things.
Turning on lamps when it’s dark, seeing my living room all decked up, making tea for myself and my parents—three cups on a tray—and suddenly the world feels full.

I love letting my thoughts settle, not spiral.
I love this quiet love I feel for myself… what a feeling.
The way I sit. The way I hold myself.
The quiet confidence I never knew I had.

It feels like a colour is emerging in me, one I didn’t even know existed.

I do things I used to be scared of.
Being alone. Just with myself.
I make time for it. I choose it.

The more happiness I find inside, the more I can give.
I don’t give to be filled anymore.
I give because I already am.

Maybe feeling complete isn’t about becoming someone else.
Maybe it’s about finally being at home in yourself.

खुद से मुलाक़ात हो गई है आजकल,
पहचान के लिए अब आईना नहीं चाहिए।

Pouring My Heart into Climate News in a World Obsessed with Views

In the last two years, my journey has taken a tumultuous turn. I transitioned from being an anchor and journalist to trying to carve out a space as a content creator, all while clinging desperately to my identity as a journalist. I am Navya Singh, a climate action journalist on a mission to bring out news that matters. In a world brimming with issues, climate change often slips into the background. That’s why it demands your attention.

I’ve poured countless hours into scripts, spending days crafting videos that barely reach a few thousand views. The satisfaction of wholeheartedly working on a story is often overshadowed by the realization that others are publishing content with millions of views.

This struggle has deeply affected me. I’ve battled sleepless nights, lost my appetite, and faced relentless headaches and delayed periods. Creating a niche with content you truly believe in is not easy, especially when it’s dismissed as a ‘far-fetched concept.’

There are days when I embrace the struggle and find a sense of triumph. But there are also days when I feel completely lost and heartbroken. The emotional toll is heavy, and some days, the weight feels unbearable.

Despite these challenges, I hold on to hope because when you make a choice for yourself, you have to follow through—for yourself! At News With Navya, each day brings a fresh sense of purpose as I amplify voices that deserve to be heard. Though I encounter obstacles, my dedication to impactful journalism and climate action stands firm.

The Weight Within

As I write these words, a weight settles in my chest, and my throat feels parched. Lately, I’ve been openly grappling with thoughts on self, work, and life. Some days, my heart swells with self-appreciation, leaving little room for external validation. Yet on others, a void opens up, questioning my purpose, my mission, my very identity. Recently, I’ve felt a sense of stagnation creeping in. It’s as though I’m gasping for air, struggling to move or even utter a sound. Though my hands are free and my limbs unbound, it feels as if my strength is being slowly drained away.

I yearn to progress, to thrive, yet something seems to hold me back. Is it the fear of failure, or the nagging doubt of being “worthy enough”?

What does one do on such days? I’ve heard assurances that they shall pass, that every end marks a new beginning, and every night yields to dawn. But what if the days remain as gloomy as the night? For so long, I’ve been the one encouraging those around me to push harder, to strive for excellence, to never relent unless they absolutely must. Yet, what has drained me of my own vigor?

I write this while awaiting clearer skies. I can no longer romanticize gloomy days and cups of coffee.

I’m confident that I’m meant for more than the ordinary, and every day, I commit myself to delivering nothing short of what I believe I can and should achieve.

दिल ना उम्मीद तो नहीं नाकाम ही तो है,

लंबी है ग़म की शाम मगर शाम ही तो है

Though I can be hard on myself, I recognize that the challenges I face are common, and solutions are within reach. Here are some strategies you may find helpful:

Recognise and accept that it’s normal to experience fluctuations in motivation and clarity. Allow yourself to embrace both the highs and lows of your journey.
Make time for introspection and journaling. Writing down my thoughts often brings clarity and solutions.
Reconnect with your values and long-term goals. Clarify what truly matters to you in life and work.
Always be your biggest cheerleader! Celebrate your progress along the way, no matter how small.
Always reach out to friends, family or your partner for support and talk about how you feel. I feel incredibly lucky to have a supportive circle of people who genuinely believe in me and stand by my side UNCONDITIONALLY. They are my harshest critics and my strongest supporters.
Make your physical, emotional, and mental well-being a priority. Engage in activities that rejuvenate your energy and bring you joy, whether it’s exercising, pursuing hobbies, taking long drives, or anything else that resonates with you. For me, cooking is one of those activities.
Embrace the fact that uncertainty is a natural aspect of growth and change. Rather than waiting for absolute clarity, take action based on the information and intuition available to you in the present moment. I’m ready to finally launch the show I’ve been putting off for so long.
In the end, remember that meaningful progress often takes time. Stay committed to your goals, even when faced with setbacks or challenges.

क्यों डरे जिंदगी में क्या होगा, कुछ न होगा तो तजुर्बा होगा

Start Your Journey!

Do you believe in yourself when you say “everything will be okay”?

I have spent years trying to distract myself and blindly believe that one day-I’ll be okay. I knew there would be a day when I would no longer be able to fool myself.

I am a committed, loving daughter to my parents and a dedicated and passionate working professional. I am also a work in progress like all of us are.

I find excuses to show more love when I see that I am deprived of the same. I find reasons to work more when I can sense a mental breakdown. I go out of my way and do more for people I love because I think a part of me heals that way. For the longest time, I thought I had cracked the formula to fix myself.

If you’re reading this and you’re a young adult or someone with decades of life experience, I just want to tell you- We are all looking for answers, but we can never find it in others.

Understand what it is that you’re willing to give to others, and then give it to yourself FIRST. No, I am not talking about going on solo dates or movie nights. That is a choice. I am talking about realizing that THIS LIFE IS YOURS.

As humans, we are dependent on others for companionship and emotional needs. But what we forget is what we are left with when all of that is snatched away from us.

You can be married, living with your family, living alone-but you cannot stop living with yourself.

Talk to yourself, understand what works for you and what doesn’t. Know yourself, not through others’ eyes but your own emotions, your own journey and aspirations.

Build a relationship with yourself. It can be a work in progress for years, but there is nothing like accepting and loving yourself. It has to start with you first and then with someone else.

My journey of getting to know myself started very recently and it feels like there is so much to know and fall in love with.

I hope you start your journey soon! See you on the way.

I chose to be a Journalist, not an Employee

One leg on the bed, another on the floor as I decide between attending the meeting and making breakfast. You cannot skip either of them, can you? But you can survive on a cup of coffee and some cookies as your boss is all riled up in search of ‘NEWS’.

Journalism, they say, isn’t an easy profession. But is the responsibility difficult? Or people who have shouldered them?

I remember struggling to wake up every morning and replacing the cup of coffee that I finished at 3 am with another one at 8 am. Trust me, it was never by choice.

I realized I was adding one extra spoon of coffee with every passing month but nothing could freshen me up.

NEWS NEWS NEWS! CRIME, CASTE, HEALTH, POLITICS, EDUCATION, SO MUCH!

Something I stepped into ‘to increase my horizon’, managed to trap me and put me in a cocoon. I realized I had lost the ability to question, comprehend and realize what I was doing because of the idea of “just get done with it”.

3 stories in a day, 2 in the pipeline, 4 in my head, 3 in my boss’ notes. But what took away the limelight was that one story by someone else that missed my attention.

At first, I thought it was very normal for my mind to be ‘preoccupied’ until I understood that all my thoughts that probably were never executed, came in the way of others. What was alarming is that there were no personal-professional boundaries.

I remember writing a story I strongly felt was crucial for people to know. I researched well and was eager to read it myself. But did I write it well? No.

I also remember not eating well that afternoon. I remember standing in the kitchen with my laptop on the fridge as I ‘HAD TO’ submit the story.

Something that gave me immense learning, suddenly became a piece of submission. It lost its essence and clearly did not indicate my effort.

Juggling between ‘did I put sugar in my coffee’ and ‘how will I submit this by 3pm’, I saw my passion for journalism take a backseat. I had become an employee, not a reporter.

And one day, I chose the balance. I chose to pursue my passion and not a job.

I chose to live for my stories and what drives me and not a monthly salary (it’s often ‘pocket money’ in this profession)

Do I have a plan? No.

But I do have time. To work, plan, think and reflect on all of them.

It’s not good money but I feel a lot closer to my passion.

The idea was always to give people ‘news that deserves their attention’. It couldn’t have been possible if I lost mine.

When Life Is Everything Within The Four Walls

As we are in the middle of a health crisis, this blog feels like reading a book by people who braved wars, bloodshed, deaths and so much more. The only difference is that this time, I am a part of the chaos.

May 8, 2021, two years into the Coronavirus pandemic.

Crores of people infected with a deadly virus, lakhs in hospitals, some lost their loved ones, others fearing for their lives or their close ones.

As I write this blog at 11:56 PM, I can hear an ambulance on the road near my house. Somehow it did not block my chain of thoughts because it has become normal.

Now when I hear an ambulance, it is not just a siren. I do a silent prayer hoping whoever is in the ambulance has the strength to fight.

The situation right now is devastating. I have seen the most insensitive become considerate.

I am not writing this piece to give you information about the virus. You already have enough of it, or maybe more. Some on your TV screens, others on your phone.

I am penning down my thoughts only because I know that these words will not just resonate with me in future but everybody else who reads them.

Many of us have read about the ongoing crisis, others have experienced and some have been bringing us information from ground zero. But what is that one thing that binds all of us together? UNCERTAINTY.

While I do enjoy surprises and I am thrilled to see what life has in store for me, I have been extremely uncomfortable with the uncertainty of my survival or the basic things that once constituted my day in a normal world.

Last I went to see a friend was in April 2021. Didn’t know I wouldn’t be able to do that for long.

Last I saw a movie in a theatre was in 2020. Didn’t know I wouldn’t be able to do that for long.

Last I went to a restaurant to eat was when I randomly dressed up without a mask and stepped out of my house with only my wallet. Didn’t know I would be stuck to Instagram to cook all that I love to eat.

Life has become uncertain.

One day it is someone you last met in 2014 testing positive, the other day, you know someone next door passed away due to the infection.

While this may not have affected all of us, it definitely has changed the way we look at life. My 10 year plans have now been pushed 20 years ahead. I do not know when I will see my friends, family, colleagues again.

While on one hand, we are bored of the pandemic figures, the fear of losing our loved ones is grappling us everyday.

Life isn’t smooth, I was told, but watching it come to a standstill has shaken me.

There was a time I was scared if I would be able to match the pace of my changing life. And now? I want to live two days in one. I want to do things that take me away from this world that has stopped and shut itself.

We are living in a world where we are confined within four walls for years so as to escape one day. If this is life, what would it be to not live?

As I write down these thoughts, I hope all of us have the strength to fight this crisis and emerge stronger! Stay safe!

Can You Escape The Social Chaos?

I wake up on a sunday with my phone under my pillow. I can hear birds chirping around me but I woke up to vibrations of notifications, messages and updates.

The next thing I know, I am scrolling through all the data, pictures, election results, political fights, breakups, memes while I am in the washroom.

That is how my day begins.

I switch between platforms as I grab my first bite. I cannot lift my head up to see if I am eating alone or with someone. This bombardment of data does create an existential crisis.

I can see my virtual friends using more and more filters, using captions that can change the way their life is perceived or put up stories about things they had no part to play in, but definitely creating an impact on other’s minds who see them as this ‘socially acceptable person’ or someone with a complete life.

I can see how people whom I spoke to last week about their breakup were up and uploading images till 3am last night.

What do you understand of this?

We, as humans, have started looking at social media as some sort of a pacifier. It is like a space full of self doubt, low confidence, low esteem and also the same place where you feel you will heal yourself because it has so much to offer.

The next thing I know, I am reading about elections in the United States. Donald Trump’s comments on Joe Biden. Protests, mass demonstrations, vaccines for coronavirus, wildfires. There is so much to grab at once.

All the thoughts that I should have on a day with no laptop on my lap are washed away as some companies wish to divert my mind to what is happening near the white house or maybe why my ex put up a picture with another girl.

The number of hours I am spending on my screen is helping someone in the US mint money or even win elections.

This is a trap!

All that was created to connect us and eradicate a digital divide has created chaos!

Our thoughts, actions, reactions and decisions, all are determined and controlled by someone who feels he has the responsibility to calm down this mess.

Someone sitting behind super computers now knows my next action, my next click and how much time will I be looking at a cute dog video on Facebook. Does this not scare you?

This space wasn’t created by those who knew about mental health, addictions and the cost of giving up everything for a shallow virtual world. It was created by people who wished to bring technology in our lives in an attempt to replace the functioning of our brains with some artificial intelligence that they thought was a better substitute.

What you saw as a well connected network is now a fight. A fight to survive amid these radiations, fake news, manipulated information and excessive data.

It is evening and a post that I had put up on how increasing screen time is harmful for humans has 288 likes. It was 261 at 3:35 pm and 275 at 3:38 pm.

I want acceptance for what I just preached to the world on a platform that I criticise for snatching away my quality time. This trap has no escape.

Life On First Floor

Today evening, I was on call with someone who has been a very active part of my daily schedule

We had a very random conversation, where I mentioned how I have been stuck on the first floor since last two months and how badly I miss the usual things..

Roads, traffic, trees, vehicles and so much more

That is when I realised how this life
From this elevated view has so much to offer
Things I kept neglecting
While I was waiting for normalcy to return

As i stood in the balcony,
I realised how this world had come to a standstill

My evenings are usually spent walking in the balcony,
Sipping my coffee
Talking to people who have now started to relate to how the view from my house looks like

Everyday I learn something new about humans
As i stand in the balcony and look around

I see families walking in the garden area
Strolling at a distance, people discuss issues that they usually didn’t, back when everyone was in a hurry

Today, I noticed how every household had a different story to tell
Each window had a different reality to show

Sounds of couples yelling at each other
Voices of children crying and fighting

I am sure there were happy moments too, when everyone gathered together
For meals and movies together

While I was noticing all this
I saw my aunt
Struggling to prepare snacks at a time when she usually read or watched something alone

I see how she is happy to see her kids and the family around her
And also how she misses stepping out of the kitchen at times, unlike these days when her only getaway is changing the song on carvaan in the kitchen

My uncle is working from home, like the most of us
And has been trying to recreate his office space each day

While we talk about how adjustments come with age

I see my grandfather
Hesitating to come out of his room in the evening
When he sees everyone moving around and doing their things

In the middle of all this what struck my eye was how people are not used to being around each other

It’s surprising how we commit to spend lives with others
Vow to be with them all our lives
And times like these, where we can only be around our people have become ‘difficult’ and ‘confining’ for us, in a place we call ‘home’

Does this signify that even though we call ourselves part of a ‘society’
We still haven’t learnt to live together or share spaces?

We have been so busy in our schedules
That our presence, if more than usual, in our own homes
Has made many other members uncomfortable

WRITING: ART OR SOLACE?

There will always be a feeling associated with everything you do. There will always be a part of you that you lose or sometimes even find in everything you do. The kind of music you listen to, the kind of movies you choose to watch, the kind of activities that you like, all these choices make who you are. They define you.

To me, more than anything else, writing has successfully shaped who I am today. Whatever I write has an opinion of my own, a thought of my own and somewhere also reflects my experiences. Many a times, I feel whatever I write won’t do justice to what has been in my head for so long, but such pieces often give voices to someone else who has been through the same and was unable to express it all this while. It is beautiful to know when your words become someone else’s thoughts and unknowingly shape their experiences.

Writing might have started out as something I did for myself. But seeing the impact it has on people, how it helps them learn, grow and solve the mysteries of their life, I now want to write to fulfill that purpose. Many a times, what I write might be something very simple for me but not for a reader. There will be one person who can associate with all my words very well and see a reflection of their lives in those words. It is beautiful when they appreciate my writings and also share a sense of relief thinking that there is someone sharing the same thoughts as they do.

To me, writing will always be something extremely sacred and precious because it provides me with a space to be transparent, honest and confident. It makes sure I vent out everything that I have inside me. It helps me simplify all that I fail to understand in this chaotic world. It makes me realize what my responsibilities are and what I can do with them and it is great for others to read it and practice them.

I have been able to write more lately, because I gather encouragement from how much people resonate to what I write. Now, when I have a blog and I put up writings for the world to read, it is not just a learning experience for the readers but for me as well. At the end of every post of mine, I have a stand and an opinion of my own on anything that I write.

The power of word is immense. It can build your thoughts and also destroy them. Words have now become containers for me.They are now empowered to carry my feelings and emotions.

We all have a world which is in a mess, trapped inside us. To get rid of that, we need something that sets us free. Today when I am tensed about getting a job, scoring decent grades in college and so much more, the only thing that keeps me going is writing. To me, this blog or any sheet of paper that I write on, has become a very comfortable place where I can think, feel and express what I want to. I have faith in my writing and that helps me share my feelings fearlessly. This sense of belongingness that I share with writing is beautiful.

I urge everybody to begin with writing the most honest thing you can and see what it leads to. Let words make your head a little less unpleasant. Whatever you write will always remain with someone, no matter how long it has been. Whenever you finish writing anything, you will find a new perception to this life and that is how you grow. There will always be a small change that you will contribute to with your writing. It might sometimes be restricted to just an individual, or sometimes even a revolution. Whatever you’re doing, wherever you are, you will always have a story to tell and something to share. Never keep it inside you. Your words have power, use them to make others powerful.

STOP BEING HARSH ON YOURSELF

If today, I ask you, what is that one thing in life
That one thing right now that you want
That you wish to have
Right at this moment
Be it a fancy car
Or better income
Or love etc
What would it be?
And how would you go about finding it?

We’re all humans here, fighting for survival
Giving up on something, to achieve something else
We’re always in search for something we lost on our way or something we aspire to have
But the question is, how do we get it?

“Hey! How are you? I’m fine”
This is what our day starts with and sadly, also ends with
But hold on a second, are you really fine? Are you really doing okay?
Are you happy with that failed marriage of yours? Or that job of yours? Or your salary? Or giving up on your dreams?
We often say we’re fine
And we’re okay
But the point is. Whom do we say that to?
The person in front of us?
Or ourselves?
We’ve somewhere taught ourselves how to give up on things
We’ve somewhere told ourselves that we’ll be fine without a few things in life
“My girlfriend won’t understand, it’s okay let it be”
“My boss won’t get it, it’s okay let it be”
We’re just trying to get used to this process of torturing ourselves

BREAKTHROUGH!!!!
Only when you know you’re fat, you hit the gym
Only when you know you’re lonely, you meet people
Understand what’s inside you
Who else will?
Find a solution
Don’t let yourself give up on things
Don’t let yourself suffer
You have all the solutions
Don’t swipe your internal snooze alarm and ignore what you need and what you desire
Work towards it!
Don’t teach yourself how to stay without something
Rather, prepare yourself to achieve everything that you’ve ever wanted
Human body has the ability to tell us what it needs right at that moment
Hungry? Needs food
Thirsty? Needs water
What about when you feel dissatisfied? That’s a signal too!
Don’t ignore it.
It isn’t the end of everything! It’s the need for you to explore, to live and to discover!
It’s important to feel uncomfortable
It’s important to get out of that comforter early in the morning and take out time for something you love
That is how your soul grows!