The Soft Life Manifesto: A New Year Resolution for Gentle, Intentional Living

In a world that moves faster than our hearts can keep up, the soft life is the gentle pause we’ve been longing for.

It’s a return to a rhythm we lost somewhere along the noise of everyday hustle, a reminder that life was never meant to feel like a race.

Soft living invites us to breathe deeper, move slower, and honor the moments that make us feel whole. It’s not about perfection or productivity, but about choosing peace, presence, and a kinder way of being.

In choosing softness, we choose ourselves again, a personal New Year’s resolution for a calmer, more intentional life.

The Soft Life Manifesto

I choose a life that feels gentle.

A life where my peace matters more than my pace.

Where rest is not a reward, but a right.

Where my heart is listened to, not rushed.

I choose mornings that begin with intention,

days filled with presence,

and nights that end in calm.

I choose boundaries that protect me,

relationships that nourish me,

and routines that don’t drain me.

I choose to idealize the small things,

to slow down when life gets loud,

to breathe deeply when the world demands urgency.

I choose softness;

not as an escape,

but as an energetic transition.

This is my soft life.

Gentle. Quiet. Full.

And finally, mine.

Soft living is the art of slowing down enough to hear your own heart again. We once lived softly, without even trying. Now, in the noise of today’s hush hush, softness feels like a rebellion, a way of returning home to ourselves. It is not about escaping responsibilities; it’s about choosing yourself, choosing calm, choosing a rhythm that doesn’t break your spirit. 

So let us all breathe again. 

Let life unfold gently. 

Let us stop rushing through moments that deserve to be felt, a collective new year resolution worth keeping.

The Power of Nine: A Navratri Awakening poem on Maa Durga's Nine Forms

Navratri is more than a festival; it’s a journey inward. Across nine sacred nights, we worship nine forms of Maa Durga, each representing a unique energy, a distinct lesson, and a path to spiritual awakening.

As lamps are lit, prayers rise, and hearts come alive with devotion, the festival invites us not just to celebrate but to reflect, to learn, and to transform.

This poem, The Power of Nine: A Navratri Awakening, is a tribute to the divine feminine in all her forms and within us. Through these verses, we explore the symbolic meaning behind each day and each avatar of the Goddess, awakening the soul’s path through the light of devotion.

The Power of Nine

Nine days of light, the soul’s pure flight,

Through veils of dark, into sacred night.

Nine flames arise in the temple's glow,

As whispers of truth through silence flow.

Nine forms She takes, the cosmic queen,

From Shailputri’s strength to Siddhidatri’s sheen.

Each day a mirror, each form a guide,

A lesson wrapped in the mother's pride.

One — Maa Shailputri teaches us how to begin,

With rooted strength deep from within.

Two — With Maa Brahmacharini's grace we find,

Discipline sharpens the wandering mind.

Three — Maa Chandraghanta, fierce yet fair,

Shows courage blooms through daily prayer.

Four — Maa Kushmanda’s fire ignites the core,

Creation begins at the spirit’s door.

Five — Maa Skandamata, the mother divine,

Reminds us of love — the eternal sign.

Six — Maa Katyayani roars with power,

Justice awakens in the destined hour.

Seven — Maa Kalaratri, dark and deep,

Guides us through the nights we weep.

Eight — Maa Mahagauri brings back the light,

Cleansed by trials, we shine bright.

Nine — Maa Siddhidatri, the gift of grace,

Shows us God in every face.

Nine steps of soul, nine sacred ways,

Nine inner wars, nine nights ablaze.

Navratri ends, but She remains,

In every heartbeat, in joy and pains.

For those who seek, the path is thine,

Lit forever by the power of Nine.

As the echoes of dhol and aarti fade and the final diya flickers, Navratri leaves behind more than memories, it leaves us awakened. Each form of Maa Durga is not just a divine figure to be worshipped but a symbol of the power within us: to rise, to heal, to protect, and to love.

May we carry forward the strength of Maa Shailputri, the wisdom of Brahmacharini mata, the courage of Maa Chandraghanta, and the grace of Maa Siddhidatri into every moment of our lives.

Because true Navratri isn't just in the nine nights of devotion, it's in every day we choose to live with light.

What did this Navratri teach you?

Which form of Maa Durga resonates most deeply with your journey this year?

I’d love to hear your reflections, share them in the comments below!

If this poem touched your heart, do share it with someone who could use a little divine inspiration today. Let’s spread the light of Maa Durga far and wide.

Don’t forget to subscribe/follow for more poems, short stories and mindful musings.

Wishing you strength, peace, and the eternal guidance of the Power of Nine.

Top 5 Indian Platforms Selling Eco-Friendly Ganesh Idols Online

 It’s that time of the year again when the air fills with devotion and the streets echo with chants of “Ganapati Bappa Morya!” A festival we wait for all year long, Ganesh Chaturthi is about reliving childhood memories of bustling pandals, fresh modaks from the kitchen, and the joy of bringing home a clay idol with music and laughter.

While growing up, our house was located near one of the biggest Ganesh pandals in Hyderabad. The lane beside our house often became a landmark, popularly called Bada Ganesh. Bada Ganesh. A towering 40-foot idol of Lord Ganesh mesmerized us each year. We eagerly awaited the theme reveal of that pandal, which always became a hot topic of discussion among friends and neighbors. From space to Y2K, from movie themes to the Ramayana, we witnessed them all.

 

Book Review: Many Ramayanas, Many Lessons by Anand Neelakantan

 The Ramayana is an epic and a timeless guide that imparts wisdom at every turn, helping us navigate life's complexities. It offers profound insights into diverse situations, teaching us how to make righteous choices and emerge with a sense of fulfillment. And it is also true that one has read and viewed various versions of the Ramayana. If you are wondering why there are various versions with varied perspectives when the tale was simple, then you will find the answers in the book Many Ramayanas, Many Lessons by Anand Neelakantan.