Building A Home Within

Life can be messy. 

There’s noise everywhere—work pressure, family responsibilities, endless news, expectations at home and workplace, and notifications. And while we often dream of escaping to a quiet place or hiding under a blanket, the truth is: the world outside will always have some chaos, and we cannot often find a hiding place.

That’s why it’s so important to build a home inside yourself; a place where you feel safe, steady, and at peace, no matter what’s happening around you.

This inner home is where you can go when you’re tired and need to catch your breath. It’s where you find guidance when you feel confused. It’s the space where you can be yourself without judgment, without the need to please anyone.

How do you build it?

• Start small. Sit quietly for a few minutes every day. Just be in silence.

• Find your own ritual—maybe it’s journaling, meditating, praying, or simply listening to your favorite calming music. Do it regularly; it becomes like coming back home.

• Let go of what weighs you down. Grudges, regrets, and constant comparisons clutter your inner space. You don’t need to carry it all. How to do that? Talk to your mentor/someone you respect and love. Read good books.

• Be kind to yourself. Talk to yourself the way you would comfort your best friend. Your inner home should feel warm, not critical. How do you do that? Note down affirmations that work for you and practice saying them.

• Protect your peace. Pay attention to what drains you—too much news, endless scrolling, toxic conversations. Close that door.

How do you enter this space when life feels too much?

Pause. Take a slow breath. Picture yourself stepping into a quiet room inside your heart—a place filled with warmth and light. Nobody can disturb you there. Over time, you’ll know this space is always open for you.

The world may not calm down. But you can.

When you build a home within, life’s storms don’t shake you as much—they just pass by.

Maybe it’s time to start building yours today.

Self Esteem: Believe In Your Own Worth

Self-esteem: Is it about thinking you’re better than everyone else? No! It’s about knowing you matter and living in a way that reflects that truth. When your self-esteem is strong, you don’t need constant approval, and life feels more meaningful. But building it takes some practice.

Here are a few ways to nurture your self-esteem:

• Let the world know why you are here – and do it with passion. Everyone has a purpose. Don’t hide your gifts or ideas; share them with all your heart.

• Spend time with supportive people. Be with those who cheer you on and remind you of your strengths, not those who constantly pull you down.

• See mistakes as lessons, not failures. Every stumble is just practice for walking better next time.

• Know what you can change – and what you cannot. Focus your energy on what’s in your control and make peace with what isn’t.

• Be helpful and kind. When you make a difference in someone else’s life, you also remind yourself that you matter.

• Set expectations that make sense. Don’t demand perfection; aim for progress.

• Take time to explore yourself. What do you enjoy? What makes you come alive? The more you know yourself, the more confident you feel.

• Stop comparing yourself to others. Everyone has a different story and timeline. Your journey is your own.

And remember—you don’t have to do this alone. Ask for support when you need it. Talk to friends, mentors, or professionals who can guide you. Reaching out is not weakness; it’s wisdom.

Self-esteem grows when you treat yourself with the same care you’d offer a loved one. Start today. The world needs you exactly as you are.

You! little girl

Today
I am lost in the lovely childhood I had,

Sincere, innocent little girl,
Unconditionally loved by parents, brother, sister, grandparents, uncle and aunts.

I am getting reminded of
Dad making a hot Horlicks/Bournvita drink if I was awake for a long time studying.
And keeping the blanket spread on the bed, so that I don't put that effort of opening the blanket when I come to bed tired after my studies.
Who encouraged me to learn hockey, encourage for morning jogging, yoga classes, learning shlokas, playing TT and always advised me to "be purposeful"
Who would sacrifice his small comforts to see me comfortable.

Who would be careful with his words to me so that they do not hurt me or hurt my self-esteem.
Who wanted to see a healthy, positive, energetic daughter.

Mom who would wake up really early to make me healthy chappatis
And hot hot sabjis so that I have healthy food before leaving for a day's work.
Encouraging and supporting me in all the good decisions I take
Ready to fight with the world for my sake
Taught me Hanuman Chalisa and Reiki
Guided me to depend on the divine for guidance
Preaches what she practices; sticks to discipline and advises me the same
Always ready with practical solutions for any small problem of mine, she gets to know.

And now as they age
I am nowhere near for their support
for tied up in my own life am I

And then my heart sinks,
"That's how life is for all
Only thing you can do Oh! little girl
Shield them with prayers
And most important
BE RIGHTEOUS FOR YOUR PRAYERS TO BE POWERFUL AND EFFECTIVE"


-Ramani Kasturi

Desire

I count myself among the lucky ones who had a truly beautiful childhood—loving, caring parents who instilled good values and gave me a safe, comfortable, and protective upbringing. And of course, the countless happy moments with my brother and sister… (even now I wonder how they ever tolerated me! I must have been as crazy as one could possibly be!)

It was Dad who first introduced us to the joy of reading newspapers. Oh, how eagerly we waited for the Sunday crossword puzzles! Solving them and sending in the answers meant a prize arriving at our doorstep—a brand-new Amar Chitra Katha! Each one transported us to a whole new dream world.

Today, I’m reminded of one particular Amar Chitra Katha: Buddha.
I had loved the story of how Lord Buddha left behind everything and everyone to discover the Truth. The book had this line: “And then Buddha saw the light, and He realized the Truth—that desire is the cause of suffering.”

I remember how I pondered over those words the entire day…and every time I reread that Amar Chitra Katha, their meaning tugged at something deep within me. I didn’t fully understand it back then, but the words stayed lodged in my heart.

Now, when I read the same statement, I truly realize how profound those words are. I feel grateful to Dad for encouraging us to solve crosswords and read books that shaped our minds.

Coming back to the idea of desire: why do we constantly want one thing or another?
Is it attachment? Is it to reinforce the sense of “me”?
And why do attachments arise?
As long as we identify ourselves with the body (this body-bound sense of self), attachment to the world naturally follows.

So how does one move beyond this identification with the body?

(Theoretically, I get it. Experientially, zero! And that’s probably my cue to stop talking any further!)

Next time you are sad, check which desire has not been fulfilled and drop that desire :-)
Be happy always dear ones

-Ramani

What is making you insecure?

I live in a flat, and each morning when I pull open my window curtain, I notice the lights in the house opposite are still switched on.

The first thought that flashes through my mind is: What a waste of electricity! (The whole residential society has tight security)

Someone must have left it on while going away on vacation, hoping it would keep thieves away.

People’s insecurity can be such a big problem. Also, our society's failure for someone to feel insecure. In the land of Shani Shingnapur, where houses have no doors, where faith in the supreme is very strong, shows how strong faith in the divine can erase insecurities.

Whenever someone shouts at me or shows anger, I realize it’s usually because they feel insecure within themselves.

It seems hard for people to sit in silence, and often it’s because they are uneasy with themselves.

So much of the violence we see in the world stems from this same insecurity.

If we could learn to be our own best friend, insecurity would fade away, and the world would have far fewer problems.

So please, spend time with yourself. Love yourself.

If you do not spend time with yourself, you are missing meeting an important person

 - Swami Vivekananda.

Love yourself and be secure

- Ramani Kasturi

Sukh Karta Dukh Harta

Ganesha!
He will be the topic of my very first blog.
Writing after such a long, long time… I just hope I find the flow of expression again.
Ganesha, the remover of obstacles, please clear away all the unnecessary thoughts from Ramani’s mind and grant her wisdom. And yes, please do show yourself to me!

I’ve always felt a special connection with Ganesha.

1. He reminds me of my little sister, Sivi.
   His form takes me back to those days when Sivi and I would visit the Ganesha pandals in Pune—both in our colony and the nearby ones.

2. He reminds me of Daddy too.
   I have a beautiful orange Ganesha from him, which I treasure dearly. Daddy also taught me the shloka Mudakaratha Modakam, and every Ganesh Chaturthi, we make sure to sit together and sing it. Daddy, I love him for all the initiatives and efforts he painstakingly took to guide us and continue guiding us. (He honestly deserves a separate blog on the lessons I’ve learned from him.)
   I’ve seen people focusing more on the prasad offered to Ganesha rather than the prayers themselves. And each time, I silently thank Dad and mom, for teaching us the importance of prayer and self-control and correct perspective towards each festival.

   This same shloka I chanted in a Sanskrit recitation competition when I was in 5th grade and won first prize. The prize itself didn’t matter much. What’s still vivid in my memory is one of the strictest teachers in our school, Jaya Madam, giving me a warm, affectionate hug after I finished chanting.

3. Ganesha reminds me of my mom's large-heartedness
   I remember joining my classmates for a night-long walk across Pune, visiting pandals during Ganesh Chaturthi. Mom, she made tea for all of us… around 20 people… late at night, without even knowing in advance that I’d be bringing such a big group home! She welcomed everyone without a word of complaint. Many times, I strongly feel, it’s her simplicity, her unselfish love that still protects me to this day.

4. He also reminds me of my classmate Surekha Tilekar and the teaching of our class teacher
   Once, Surekha brought a beautiful Ganesha idol to our class. We were in 8th grade. Teacher made all of us clean the class, and educated us to maintain the sanctity of Ganesha; no shoes in the class allowed and performing aarti.

5. Sai Baba once appeared to me in a dream as Ganesha’s pujari.

6. Living in Pune and not admiring Ganesha is impossible.
   Every year, a week before Ganesh Chaturthi, newspapers would publish creative advertisements and articles showcasing unique representations of the Lord. I used to be in awe! I still remember being a little schoolgirl, cutting out those creative images and making a file of them.

7. And finally, a memory that always makes me smile:
   One of our lab peons once brought a Ganesha idol into the lab, invited all the students and faculty, and sang the aarti as “Sukh Harta and Dukh Karta.” I just couldn’t control my laughter. (Oh, that used to be one of my biggest problems—uncontrollable laughter at the wrong moments! Thankfully, it’s getting better with age.)

“Sukh Karta Dukh Harta.”

"Darshan maatre manna kaamana poorthi". Yes!

Ramani