#CelebrateingtheRainbow at the workplace – share your stories of Pride!
She did a quick calculation to determine that this would suffice for everyone to get a share of the appealing ice-cream which was waiting to be relished.
The atmosphere was abuzz with the boisterous banter between them. They giggled. They crackled. They chortled. They rolled. She hurtled around the park tickling the other kids, while trying to escape their tickles.
All of a sudden, her eyes fell on an ice-cream vendor stationed across the street. She had a sore throat. Monsoons had kicked in and the season change also brought with it different kinds of viruses in a package deal. She wondered – to have or not to have?
She decided to follow her heart even though she knew she would get chided at home for doing this. She had some cash and a few coins in her tiny wallet. She did a quick calculation to determine that this would suffice for everyone to get a share of the appealing ice-cream which was waiting to be relished. Holding hands, they all elatedly walked up to the vendor and requested for different flavours – Mango Dolly, Strawberry and Chocolate Cone – with animated gestures.
As they licked and smacked their lips, satisfaction flashed spontaneously on their gleeful faces. The ice-cream did not just satiate their stomachs but was all over their noses, mouths and cheeks; even staining their clothes. But, above everything, it filled up their hearts.
As soon as they turned around to return to the park next to their housing society, it started drizzling. The minuscule droplets of water soon transfigured into a heavy downpour and they began to scuttle away to avoid being completely drenched. But, she had something else in mind. She jumped in a puddle of muddy water and splashed it on one of the kids. He returned the gesture and soon the entire gang was jumping. They were soaked in rainwater and mud. They were soaked in the carefree happiness of childhood.
Soon, they could hear the voices. It was time. Some of the mothers were calling out to the kids from the balconies, firmly asking them to come back home soon. A few were down with umbrellas which would serve no purpose anymore. There was an urgent call for her too which she had anticipated.
“Naina, Mom is home. Come back fast. You had said fifteen minutes; it is almost an hour now.”
As everyone entered the apartment lift, Naina bid them Good-Bye. She proceeded to take the staircase because she wanted to make the most of these moments. After all, in a few seconds, she would be back to donning the other facets of her life – the corporate go-getter, the doting mother, the caring wife, and the compassionate daughter-in-law. While setting foot inside her home, she bid one last Good-Bye – to the child within her, promising to meet her again soon.
Image source: shutterstock
Multiple award winning blogger, influencer, author, multi-faceted entrepreneur, creative writing mentor, choreographer, social activist and a wanderer at heart read more...
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What lessons will we learn from the wrestlers' protest? Will the young girls have the courage to speak up against evil after they hear the deafening silence of support for the Betis?
On the 28th of May, Indian wrestlers Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat, Sangeeta Phogat, Bajrang Punia and others were forcibly evicted from their protest site at Jantar Mantar. They were arrested, and severe charges were slapped against them.
Newspapers, that a few years ago, had carried photographs of these wrestlers proudly holding their medals draped in the Indian flag, were now splashed with photographs of these wrestlers being forcibly dragged into police buses. The wrestlers were protesting against Brij Bhushan Singh, an MP and president of the Wrestling Foundation of India, accusing him of sexual misconduct.
A similar case of molestation rocked US gymnastics a few years ago, where Larry Nassar, the team doctor, was accused and finally convicted of sexual abuse. The victims included Olympic medallist Simone Biles. During the trial, several lapses by the USAG and MSU in investigating the accusations came in front.
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Joining the marketing team as a graphic designer, I was initially apprehensive about how my colleagues would react to my gender identity. But to my surprise, the atmosphere was welcoming and respectful from day one. My supervisor, Sarah, introduced me as a valuable member of the team, emphasizing my skills and contributions rather than focusing on my gender identity. This simple act set the tone for my experience in the workplace.
As I settled into my role, I discovered that my colleagues went out of their way to make me feel comfortable and included. They consistently used my correct name and pronouns, creating an environment where I could be authentically me. Being an introvert, making friends wasn’t always easy for me, but within this workplace, I found a supportive community that embraced me for who I truly am. The workplace became a haven where I could escape the stresses of my personal life and focus on my professional growth.
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