House wife, home maker, mother, stay-at-home wives / mothers; you may choose to address them in different ways, but what cannot be ignored is a very simple fact - instead of a regular, mundane 9 to 5 job, she does the "when I open my eyes, till I close my eyes" job. Housework is one department which often goes unappreciated. No one notices when the homemaker does it, but everyone notices or rather, ends up realising their folly, when she is unable to do the same (especially when she is sick). Being a son, living in a house with two other men (my brother and father, respectively), I have grown up admiring the only woman in my house, who chose to spend her life as a home maker - My Mom. 

Currently, we are all going through a very tough time, and have been confined to the four walls of our respective houses. The entire nation has come to a standstill after the major outburst of Corona Virus. Ever since the lockdown has been announced, almost every company has been asked to follow the work from home mode of delivering and managing work schedules. Needless to say, this breakdown has impacted many people in various ways. Introverts are living their ultimate dream (kind of, no offence), as they don't need social environment anymore, while Extroverts are dying for social interaction and moving out of their homes. It's been almost 10 days, and we feel things around us have changed a lot. Some feel lost in their own homes, literally find ways to kill boredom, some choose to laze around and crib about the current circumstances. (yeah, despite my partner constantly telling me to avoid this, I've been through situations where I have cribbed and even accepted the situation, with the will to fight through it). 

At the same time, many of us have figured out new ways to kill this boredom. While some continue to work hard, some have dedicated extra time to their hobbies, others are re-discovering their passion. Social media is packed with hidden master chefs displaying their new cooking skills and experiments, and some are, well, still fighting against the odds. However, this is just the tip of an iceberg. We still have a long way to go. 

Just as I was carefully analysing the situation, an important thought crossed my mind, and struck me hard. My mom came up and I began noticing her routine. I carefully observed how she was taking care of all the small things. At the same time, she was also dealing with our random food cravings, irritation, talks on boredom among others. All this, while maintaining family balance and looking after every individual. Won't deny that we have proactively lend a helping hand, but nothing can match up to her skills. Yes, my mother is a house wife, or rather - a homemaker, by choice.  And while we crib about our work from home routine, stay-at-home mothers like her have a work from home every single day. Beat that, will ya? 

So many of us, including myself, have been cribbing about the lockdown and work from home since more than a week. But, they have been doing it since the day they chose this role and began looking after the family. It hit me that when all of us leave for work, Mom spends almost half the day alone, facing that same horrible boredom. No one to talk to, except a few phone calls here and there, and maybe a trip to the bazaar, for groceries and essentials. She gets everything together at home, while waiting for us to get back, enjoy dinner together and once again, get busy in the ever churning wheel of life. 

Every single stay-at-home mom, whose efforts often go unnoticed and unappreciated, deserve a real round of applause for their selfless efforts. Time and again, every Mother (including mine and even those, who choose to balance work with their home commitments) have proved that none of what we do at our workplace, would be possible without their effort. She is not just a housewife - she is the real hero of every family. Without her, it just wouldn't feel like home. 

A massive respect to their efforts, dedication, and selfless support (Remember, stay-at-home mothers don't even get paid to do all this). How about we go out and thank our mothers, wives and partners with a hug and some love? And remember, while you continue to work from home (or even otherwise), take some time out to appreciate them with a kind gesture. 

I took the step and appreciated the hero in my life. Now, it's your turn!

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You can share some love with your parents, siblings, friends, a little kid living next door or even an elderly woman spotted outside a temple. A simple smile, exchange of loving words can really make someone's day. And no, it is not just restricted to humans. Go ahead and spend a fun day with your pet, or lovingly hug a stray dog after feeding him/her some biscuits. In fact, it can even be your favorite items ranging from bags, books, shoes to the best of apparel in your wardrobe. Keeping them in good condition is also a way of loving the stuff that you call your own and while shopping, you end up buying only the things that you love (unless you are someone who follows trends religiously). 

And then, of course, you need to love yourself. Because even at a time when no one's there for you, you can look into the mirror and say, "Main apni favorite hoon." So, you see, love has no boundaries, really.

Speaking of love, the word is actually quite apt for this collaboration, because everything available on India Circus spells 'Pure Love'. Visit their website and get ready to fall in love with every single piece of apparel, accessories, stationary and home decor items. Their fun, stylish and colorful prints are hard to miss. Its a lot like love at first sight. If you set your eyes on any of India Circus' beautiful products, chances are that you might not want to leave the web-store without placing an order. One look at this Elephant Bath bag and I knew I had to order it. As for the pink ballet flats, they make for a versatile pair that can go well with a variety of looks, ranging from ethnic, classic, casual to bohemian. My work buddies - I am talking about the iPad and iPhone - couldn't have asked for better sleeves and cases. While the India Circus chromatic reminiscence phone case shows off my love for cinema very well, the melange of different hues on the colourful streamer iPad sleeve adds more joy to my email replying hours. Clearly, there is a lot to love here.

I am guessing the folks at India Circus also agree with my mantra of loving yourself. So much, that this Valentine's eve, they are offering assured gifts on purchase to all the singletons out there. See, being single ain't all that bad, after all. You can indulge in some retail therapy and tell yourself, "I am who I am and I love being me." They also have an exclusive curated section, where special curated products by India Circus Design Director, Krsna Mehta, can be purchased. There is something for everyone, so don't hesitate to fill your cart with multiple goodies for your loved ones (and maybe, acquaintances or strangers too). Here's to love, and the lovely burst of colours in India Circus products! Keep spreading the joy.

Outfit Details

Grey Tee - Marks and Spencer

Asymmetrical Skirt and Gold neck piece - Forever 21

Watch - Tommy Hilfiger

Pink ballet flats, Bag and iPad sleeve - (All) India Circus

Photos by: Team Dancebee

Love,

The Dancebee

One certainly cannot stop admiring the way Deepika Padukone honestly voices out her opinion. Uninhibited, frank and courageous; the actress never takes a step back. Having interviewed her, I can vouch for the fact that she is one of the very few actresses who doesn't make a fuss about every little thing and dares to tackle each question with an intelligent response. In the past, be it while dealing with messy questions posed by certain media members or giving it back to those who try to unnecessarily target her, Padukone has won accolades for putting up a brave front and dealing with such obstacles in her own style. She is not afraid to come out of the closet and deal with such circumstances like just another girl. And her recent revelation not just shows her courage, but also makes us realize that she is indeed an epitome of girl power.

Photo Credit: Filmfare

In a recent first person interview to Hindustan Times, Padukone confessed that behind all the hard work and moments of sweeping away awards last year, she suffered from depression and anxiety; two words that most people dread. I am quite sure that most individuals, who are crushed in this fast paced life and everyday routine, are suffering or have dealt with symptoms of depression in the past. But, we live in a society that will label you faster than they can perhaps boil a vessel full of water. So, they just learn to join hands with silence and not utter a word. Forget even trying to talk to a friend, family member or even a counselor.

"In early 2014, while I was being appreciated for my work, one morning, I woke up feeling different. A day earlier, I had fainted due to exhaustion; it was all downhill from there. I felt a strange emptiness in my stomach. I thought it was stress, so I tried to distract myself by focusing on work, and surrounding myself with people, which helped for a while. But the nagging feeling didn't go away. My breath was shallow, I suffered from lack of concentration and I broke down often."

While she thought it might just be a passing phase, she admits that things began to get worse. All this at a time when Padukone was basking the in the glory of four consecutive successes in a year and shooting for Farah Khan's Happy New Year. It was only after a chat with her mother and an emotional breakdown that she went ahead and met a psychologist, only to realize that she was suffering from anxiety and depression. After being a little reluctant to opt for medication, Padukone learned to deal with her condition and admits that things are much better today. After a two month break, she got back to work and began shooting for her next, Piku, helmed by Shoojit Sircar. Sometime later, a friend of the actress committed suicide due to depression and that's when Padukone decided to discuss this issue in public.

"There is shame and stigma attached to talking about depression. In fact, one in every four people suffer from anxiety and depression. The World Health Organisation has stated that this will be the most widespread epidemic in the next few years. We talk about all kinds of aliments, but this is probably one of the deadliest mental disorders. Nothing, including life, makes sense to people suffering from it. Overcoming it has made me a stronger person and I now value my life much more. Accepting it and speaking about it has liberated me. I have stopped taking medication, and I hope my example will help people reach out for help.  I feel that at times, the patient just wants to talk, and isn’t seeking advice. But, well-wishers saying things like, ‘Don’t worry, it will all be alright,’ might be detrimental." 

The reason why I can't stop lauding Padukone is that being an icon to many, especially young girls and boys in the country, it takes guts and real courage for someone to fight against this issue and talk about her own experience at the same time. Yes, depression is a reality and if we keep shying away from it, things will never change. Maybe after taking a cue from her confession, youngsters who look up to her may just muster up the courage to admit what they have been going through. Like Padukone stated, it is not always about beauty, plush homes and the best of cars. It is about mental health. Maybe after reading about her experience, families of those suffering may just learn to come out and support the patient. Because they really need you.



Keeping all this in mind, the actress is working on an awareness campaign, along with her team, which will be revealed soon. We are quite sure Padukone's campaign will help several patients break the ice and talk about their problems, without worrying about the social stigma.

As for Padukone, I just have one thing to say,
More power to you, girl. Bravo!

Love,
The Dancebee