Tuesdays with Morrie - Mitch Albom - Book Review

        Some books land in our hands just like that. While searching the library shelves for a book, this showed up. There was some connection I had with the title, and I ended up taking it up for a read.

        Mitch Albom is a busy man who is extremely successful in his career and life. One day he happens to see one of his old professors, Morrie, on TV. The person is suffering from ALS. Mitch pays him a visit and reconnects with him. Morrie ends up sharing life lessons with Mitch that he records in this book for all to benefit from.

        To start with, a good and fairly engaging read. I expected something different when starting the book but ended up with a different perspective on the same. The lessons from Morrie hold prominence very much to this day. These conversations pull at our hearts at various instances, and we could not help but feel happy for Morrie himself. The underlying thought of Morrie is to love each other, and the book emphasises prioritising love nd kindness above everything else. This might mean a lot in these times when many people find time a valuable thing. The warmth and chemistry between Mitch and Morrie keeps the conversations lively and us invested in the book. The book is also written in a clear way to connect everyone to this.

        A quick but invaluable book that will strike a chord with the readers. The love radiated from Morrie is reflected throughout the book, which is passed on to the readers. End up with a smile on your face as you celebrate the life of Morrie with this book.

Five Survive - Holly Jackson - Book Review

                                     

           An interesting storyline is always hard to resist. As I was walking down the street, looking at the roadside bookshop, this book cover caught my attention, and the blurb made me pick it up.

           Six friends are on their way to a vacation in an RV. What starts as a fun ride quickly goes out of hand as they make a wrong turn and end up stranded in a desolate place. Someone shoots out the tyres, and with no mobile coverage, they must survive the night. The sniper is there to take one of them out and has no plans to back down until it is done. Who is the sniper after? What inner demons of theirs will surface? Will they escape safely? forms the rest of the story.

         This is an interesting premise with a lot of potential. For the most part, the book was interesting enough. The storyline was make-or-break, where it could have gone either way on many levels. But the author kept us engaged throughout most of the book. There were places where the situation became redundant and tiring. But it was for a shorter time period. The writing was simple but engaging. I also liked how the book jumped right into the story without wasting much time. There were a couple of back-and-forths, but that did not affect the pacing. There were a couple of red herrings as well - some hits and some misses. Most of the characterisations were good and intriguing, while one or two irritated me.

         In short, an interesting book which did a pretty neat job. Those who love thrillers might like the book. Personally, a decent enough book where the goods outweigh the bads.

Summer, Fireworks and My Corpse - Otsuichi - Book Review

 

When I was looking for a quick read, I was reminded of Otsuichi for no particular reason. I had enjoyed two of his books. This search led me to this book, and the name of the book gave the vibe that it is going to be a typical Otsuichi read.

The story is about a girl named 'Satsuki' and her friends. Satsuki, a girl from rural Japan, recently died as she fell from a tree. The story proceeds to move ahead through the POV of Satsuki's spirit, who realises it was not a freak accident, but was pushed to death. The story proceeds with the spirit of Satsuki following the perpetrators as they try to dispose the corpse and escape without any trace of the crime leading to them. 

Like my two previous Otsuichi reads, this one also did not disappoint. Right from the first page, it was an engaging read. The POV of spirit was the main hook for me in this story. Many emotions, like rage, jealousy, manipulation, and love, drive the story. There are quite a few logical mistakes. But that can be overlooked with the flow of the story. The handful of characters - Satsuki, her friend, along with her brother, the mothers of the kids, the random policemen, and the old men were all well written. It was interesting to see how easily people can be manipulated. The translator has done a good job in keeping the pace and style of the original story intact and keeping us on the edge till the end. There was no visible violence or gore, but the story did make me uncomfortable in certain parts. Like in 'Goth', the chapters gel with one another very well, making the read quick. 

To sum it up, a quick but exciting read. Readers of the mystery and thriller genres will definitely enjoy the book. I have always been a big fan of Japanese mysteries, and this one is no exception.

Check out my reviews on other Otsuichi books below 

Goth - GOTH

Zoo - ZOO

The Tenant - Freida McFadden - Book Review

 

        It's been quite a while since I went to the library. During this visit, I was going through a couple of blurbs, and this one caught my attention. This was an author I had not read in a while, and I chose the book to see how it would turn out.

        Blake is working as the VP of a big company. He and his fiancée, Krista, live in an uptown house. One day, Blake is accused of fraudulent activity at the office and is immediately fired. Tight on cash and down payments, they decide to rent out a portion of the house. Enter Whitney Cross as the tenant. She seemed likeable at first. As days go by, Blake is at loggerheads with Whitney, blaming her for doing things to sabotage his life and marriage. Is the tenant really what Blake claims to be? Is it all a part of his imagination? Is his life with Krista going to be sabotaged? forms the remaining story.

        The story sounds interesting to start with, and ends the same way too. The way both unfolded was very engaging. The problem lies in between. The portions where Whitney comes in were downright irritating. I guess the character and interaction were written that way, and to make us feel the same. But it irritated me to the point that I felt like stopping the read. The intent might be right, but I guess it was a bit self-damaging, according to me. The tropes used here are mostly the usual ones that the author had employed previously. This made the story predictable. But the suspense saved the day by breaking it when it was getting too monotonous. The characters are well-written, and the backstory that came in the movie was interesting. In the novels of Freida McFadden that I have read, it is always through the eyes of the female characters. But here, the story is told mostly from the POV of Blake. The story proceeds through small chapters, making the read a quick one.

        To sum it up, a potentially engaging story marred by a slow, irritable slump in the middle making it an average experience. The usual tropes and the midway mishap might have played spoilsport until the suspense and the aftermath saved the day for this novel. 

The Homeowners Association - Blair Daniels - Book Review

 

            The name 'Blair Daniels' always invokes a sense of curiosity in me. This is mainly due to the quirky story plots and super creepy book covers. So, when I saw the notification on this book, I went for it with some basic expectations. Let's see if the book fulfils them!

            Piper and her family move from the big city to a villa in a town, which is part of a gated community. Once they move in, she finds the community odd. There are seldom people moving outside, everything looks too perfect. More importantly, there is a large binder of really strange rules that are set by the HOA. No lights after 9 PM, garbage out by the previous night, any vacations should be approved by the HOA, and no noise in the house, etc. Really strange, right! Failure to comply can result in some bad reprimands. Soon, the family realises not everything is fine as it seems. Is there something deeper in the gated community? Will they be safe? forms the rest of the story.

            First of all, an interesting premise! There were some interesting characters, and the language was fairly simple and engaging. The settings had good potential for an exciting, urban horror story. However, I felt that the potential was cut short by a rushed second half. Towards the end, the story picks up too much pace, and the ending felt forced. The story could have been explored more. It was like expecting a novel, but getting a novella. The unravelling and the small backstory happened towards the end. While it had the potential to be developed into something interesting, the abrupt way the story shifted was a big letdown for me.

           In short, a potentially good read let down by a rushed ending. I did enjoy the way things were played out until it reached that part.

A Head Full Of Ghosts - Paul Tremblay - Book Review

                                   

                Horror has always been my go-to genre when it comes to reading, and exploring different authors is a fun way for me to do it. That helps me de-stress. I had heard the name 'Paul Tremblay' many times and thought I would start with this book that I picked up.

             The Barretts are a typical New England suburban family. While John, the father, loses his job, the elder daughter, Marjorie, starts showing signs of mental illness. John starts becoming religious, and he believes that Marjorie is possessed. As they encounter financial problems, the Barretts get into an agreement with a TV company to document and relay it as a reality show and tragedy strikes. What transpired forms the story through the eyes of Merry, the youngest daughter.

             To start with, an interesting premise at hand. The story is a mish-mash of 'The Exorcist' meets 'Paranormal Activity'. The story confused me at first, and it took 5 or 6 pages for the tempo to set in. The characters are well written, especially the relationship between the two sisters. This book seems like a homage to horror movies with references like The Yellow Wallpaper, The Exorcist, Poltergeist, The Possession, Paranormal Activity, etc. The story talks about the importance of mental health and how it was mistook as possession. The story described in the words of a small kid makes us see the story from a different angle. There is a sense of ambiguity due to this. The book can be creepy. The ending was totally unexpected, and it was quite a shocker for me. 

             To sum it all up, a good read that can give quite a scary experience. This does not come near a Stephen King experience for me, but still an engaging read. 

Random Ramblings #15 - Saying Goodbyes

 

Do goodbyes at workplaces really come from the heart?

There was a send-off at the office where I worked some years back. The person was quitting the company for better opportunities. After exchanging goodbyes, I came home and sat down pondering on the goodbyes that happen in the workplace.

Do the goodbyes that happen at the workplace always come from the heart? Most goodbyes in front of a team at the workplace often happen half-heartedly. It totally depends on the connections that a person builds at his/her workplace and the experiences they faced there. There can be genuine bonds that last for a longer time, but the goodbyes that I have seen have been just an eye wash many times. The toxic work environment in some places can be a major reason for such a reaction. The second one is the way people expect things to happen for them, and how it turns out, actually.

Goodbyes need not be a big party, parting gifts or name-sake speeches. A well-meaning handshake, a wholesome hug or a small heartfelt note of gratitude goes a long way with parties. What do you think? Have your goodbyes at workplaces been from your heart?

Strange Pictures - Uketsu - Book Review

                                       

                The name 'Puskin Vertigo' pulled me into this book as I was browsing the shelves at the library. An interesting book cover and an interesting preface made me pick this book as my next read. How did it turn out to be? Let's check out.

                A college student starts checking out a now-defunct blog where a pregnant woman's sketches create a bizarre undertow. There is a child's picture of home, which has a more sinister meaning. Then, we have the sketches made by an artist before he was found murdered. As we read on, we try to unravel the meanings of these strange pictures to get to the bottom of it.

                This is an interesting premise. When I started reading, it seemed so normal and strange. As the story progressed to the next chapter and picture, I was confused by the ambiguity it was creating. I was under the impression that all these stories were standalone ones. But on reading on, I was able to see the connections. Nevertheless, I was hooked from that point, and the suspense was well maintained by Uketsu. Even though the perpetrator was no surprise, it is the backstory and the nature of unravelling that kept me on the edge. The ending of the story was well written - like closing a full circle. As usual, getting familiar with the names took some time. The translator has done a good job of maintaining the story's crux and excitement. The writing was simple enough, and the characters were well-written, even though they were confusing at first.

                In short, an interesting story with a strange start, but it turned out to be a great read. Pushkin Vertigo does another good job bringing such good reads to the forefront. 

Ghost 19 - Simone St. James - Book Review

 

                There I was hunting for stories to read when I came across the blurb for the book. It did sound interesting on a surface level, and the book is a novella, which promised a quick read. Therefore, I ended up reading the book. How did it turn out?

                Ginette Cox, an ex-actress, is advised by her doctor to move away from the city to a quiet town to cool her nerves. As she moves into a house, she spends her time watching her neighbours, which turns into an obsession. When she tries to leave the house to go out, she realises the truth. The house refuses to let her leave. Is it a figment of her imagination, or is the house haunted? This forms the rest of the novella. 

                This interesting premise is what attracted me to the story. As I mentioned, being a novella, it was a quick read. It did start creepily, but the essence was not maintained throughout. There were a couple of Alfred Hitchcock's 'Rear Window' moments here and there. The writing was simple and fairly engaging. At one point in time, the story starts to turn predictable, which is a damper, as it was a quick one. The unfolding of events also seems rushed. The characters, except for Ginette, lack depth. 

                In short, a quick-read novella that might not fully cater to the taste of horror or mystery genre fans. Nevertheless, this can be a decent one-time read.

Random Ramblings # 14 - The Ritual of Reading

 

Do you like reading? Well, I do. That is one activity that I do all the time. Like any reader, I have my rituals and practices related to reading.

First things first. I prefer physical books. The touch, smell, ruffling of pages, and colourful book covers invoke an unspoken bliss. I am very particular about where I sit and read, and I position specific chairs in almost every room - a rocking chair near my bookshelf, a jhula in another, a round bamboo chair in yet another room. These are more than just simple chairs. They are my reading mates. Now, to the eatables that go with an excellent reading experience: a big cup of piping hot coffee/a big cup of buttermilk/lime juice with a bowl full of peanuts. While such a practice sounds silly, it is not for people like me. And timings. I wake up at 4 in the morning just to read.

Curling up with a book creates a safe space I can crawl into. This provides a support system for me and sets up a meditative space. Importantly, this provides a place to unload my stress levels. While turning towards a creative corner, these small things trigger some spark inside me. I get a sense of positivity to spend the rest of the day that a book spreads into me.

Reading is not just the consumption of words. It involves a ritual that provides a sense of familiarity and love to readers. For an introverted person like me, sitting on a rocking chair, reading books & sipping coffee is a regimen that I religiously follow to keep my life on track. This works! What about you? Do you have any such reading rituals?

The Resting Place - Camilla Sten - Book Review

 

                Last week, while browsing the internet for some book recommendations, I came across this book by Camilla Sten. I was very much impressed by her first book, 'The Lost Village', and so decided to give this book a try.

                Eleanor suffers from prosopagnosia - a medical condition where the person is unable to identify human faces. As she reaches her grandmother Vivianne's home to meet her over dinner, she finds her murdered, and the killer walks past. Eleanor is unable to identify the killer. A lawyer calls and informs about a home that Vivianne has left her. She, her boyfriend, the lawyer, and her aunt visit the house to seek answers. With the killer still on the loose and the house holding some dark secrets, will Eleanor be able to get to the bottom of these forms the rest of the story.

                The first thing that captured my attention was the condition of Eleanor, which can be a perfect setting for a great story. I expected the story to move in that way. But when they arrive at the house, and the story tended to travel in two different timelines, there was a sense of amiss. On a positive note, the read was mostly engaging. The language was simple enough, and it kept us reading forward without many glitches. Yet, I did not get any edge-of-the-seat experience. The characters were portrayed well but carried a sense of mystery till the very end. As in many similar novels, I felt that the portions leading to the climax were stretched, and I was able to decipher the plot except for the last twist. Recently, I have this feeling that stories that carry multiple timelines in parallel tend to get stretched unnecessarily. The claustrophobic, isolated setting helped the story to a certain extent. Mental health was discussed superficially at times. There was a sense of wasted oppurtunity throughout the read, and that gets played in the back of our minds as we read the book. I think the first book might have set the expectation level at a higher level.

                Overall, a decent one-time read, which might not fully entice thrill seekers. The medical condition could have been effectively used in favour of the book. That, along with a toned-down pre-climax, could have given us a much more satisfying read.

Check out the review of other books by Camilla Sten.

The Lost Village - A Novel

A Master of Djinn - P. Djeli Clark - Book Review

 

                I was browsing for books of the fantasy genre when I came across this book. The name Djinn sparked interest, and I ended up selecting this as my next read.

            Egypt is a place in its fullest glory where djinns and people coexist. Fatma is a brilliant young woman who works for the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities. A mass murder happens that involves some prominent people, and it is attributed to Al-Jahiz, a famous mystic who lived many years back and transformed Egypt into what it is at present. All hell breaks loose when a person claiming to be Al-Jahiz appears out of nowhere, spreading discord. He can control the Djinns like Al-Jahiz claimed to. Fatma, along with her team, should race against time to get to the bottom of what ensues. 

            The first thing that caught my attention was the whole setting of the story. Most of the fantasy books I have read are set in an English background with ghouls, monsters, ogres, etc. This book has an Arabic backdrop that piqued my interest from the start. The book starts with a bit of excitement, which tames down as it goes, maintaining the pace as the world is built around us. Halfway into the book, it surprisingly picks up pace and keeps us well excited all the way. The book is a surprise drift away from pine forests and Gothic castles to deserts and palaces. There are a lot of things talked about in the book - feminism, women's suffrage, war, economic marginalisation of society, etc. I liked how that dived down to the djinn community as well. The pacing was apt, like I said. But the climax felt a bit dragging and preachy. The writing style was simple enough, with a lot of Arabic words being used. The characters were interestingly written (human, Djinn and Angels). Every character had their own shades, which they carried around perfectly. I realized that two novellas precede the book, which I have not read. But it did not hamper the reading experience anywhere.

            In short, a wonderfully written fantasy novel set in the Arabian lands. It will be a welcome change for fantasy lovers. And, if this develops as a series, I would certainly be interested to read more.

Random Ramblings # 13 - The Secret Lives of Books

 

During this weekend, I was simply sitting in my favourite rocking chair, gazing at my bookshelves and talking to my books. It is a pastime that I find fulfilling. Suddenly, an interesting thought struck me. What if these books could talk?

What would the books on the shelves be talking about? What thoughts would have been running through their pages?
Here are some of my interesting thoughts.

1. They might be bragging about their genre. While horror books seek to thrill and scare people, mystery books might be happy to keep the readers on their toes. Self-help books might be proud to create an impact in their readers' lives, whereas cookbooks seek pleasure in bringing happiness to it's readers through food experiences. There might be genres that are jealous of the other ones.
2. There might be books complaining about how people treat them. While some take great care while handling books, some people do not got at respecting books. Such books might be complaining about the dog-ear marks, torn pages and moth-eaten parts.
3. Imagine a library at night. The books come to life and talk to each other through the ruffling of pages. They share the experiences they had throughout the day and the different types of people they encountered all day long.
4. I am a big fan of history books. I would love it if these books could talk to me and indulge me with a walk in time, taking me deep into the annals of how the civilizations shaped up.
5. The physical books on my shelf and my Kindle are holding a debate at night after I sleep. They might be pointing out each other's pros and cons. What would be the outcome? Are they going to fight it out or reach an understanding?
6. I would love it if the book could pull me into its pages and make me a character of the novel. It could be exciting, scary, funny, or sad. Imagine the multitude of emotions it can provide you with or indulge you in.

Books are constant companions, who, if properly taken care of, can be your friend throughout. Do you take time to converse with them? If they could speak, what would you be talking to them about?

Random Ramblings # 12 - The Dance of Shadows

 

As I sat by the window gazing into oblivion, I could see the sunshine spreading over the world around like waves. The trees and plants in the garden bask in the light, dancing to the gentle breeze. As the sun continued its journey, I noticed the shadows dancing in accordance with the path of the sun. That caught my attention. Shadows!

Have you noticed how the shadows move around you throughout the day? From early morning to noon till evening, we see shadows acquiring different textures and lengths. From soft and smooth shapes, they acquire sharper edges at noon. Towards evening, they seem to acquire a slight golden hue at the edges. Throughout the day, they seem to dance around everything from people to animals, towering buildings to small stones. The silhouettes and patterns that they create fascinate me every time I look at them.

Have you found shadows interesting? Shadows are largely neglected by people except while looking for one. But, I have always found shadows fleeting, mysterious and comforting. Shadows always remind me that nothing is permanent in life. As the shadows move, so does everything in our lives. Neither wait for our whims. The only thing light cannot touch is shadow, which means even in a lighted environment, there is bound to be darkness. Like how things can take a dip in our lives. Also, they do enlighten us with the fact that there are unseen truths. But if we see shadows as bad times in our life, realize that there is light around it, which ignites our hopes of good times being just around the corner. Shadows should not be seen as enemies but as equal partners to light, which causes a balance in them.

"Shadows are proof that light exists" – Socrates

As wise people say, there should be a balance in everything. The same applies to shadow and light. As Socrates beautifully points out, we need shadows to prove that light exists.

The next time you see a shadow, pause, ponder and listen. Even shadows may have stories to tell.

The Possessing Hour : Jeremy John Hayes : Book Review

 

            Last week, I was under bed rest due to a fever. Boredom led me to search for a book to read. As usual, a search for the horror genre led me to select this set of short stories.

         A journalist experiences strange visions at a stipulated time daily, and it starts getting worse day by day. These visions of supposedly real people are affecting him mentally. He writes down those visions to avoid going crazy. This book chronicles those visions - a couple living in an apartment building where neighbours are performing an exorcism, a box where a woman starts putting all the bad things around her, a boy kills a butterfly only to encounter something bad, etc.

         The first thing that attracts us to the book is the abruptness of the stories. They start and end ambiguously. I would say that it becomes the boon and bane of the book. The ambiguity sparks an interest in you initially. The subtle undercurrent of dark humour will also keep you invested. But as we read on, the ambiguity takes the steam off a few of the stories. The author has tried many tropes (vampires, cults, urban legends, ghosts, haunted houses, etc), most of which have worked out really well. But in some of them, I feel it is a miss. Another drawback was the pacing. Some stories did not connect with me, and those stories slowed down my pace. The author had done a good job of making us uncomfortable in some of the stories. I wished that some of the stories could have had a better closure.

           In brief, this book could have been a better one if there were a tad less ambiguity. Nevertheless, this is a good collection of stories with an interesting premise that can make you feel uncomfortable at times. A decent one-time read.

Random Ramblings # 11 - Nature Song

 

            As I pondered what to write for the day, the rain started coming down heavily. A sudden calmness sinks in. Why don't I write about rain itself?

            Rain instils a serene feeling inside me every time. The downpour, the plants and trees getting their actual colour, the puddles, little streams being formed, and the smell of soil all invoke a sense of calmness.

            The first thing that strikes me when I hear rain is how the sound of rain can drown most of the other sounds around us. I guess this is why that sound is like therapy. Some people I know are not comfortable with the sound of heavy rain. But for me, the heavier the rain, the louder the sound, which in turn blocks every other sound, except perhaps the thunder. I read somewhere that there are different kinds of noises, like white, pink, brown, etc. The sound of rain is a pink noise, and it is considered more pleasant and softer compared to the white noise (the radio static sound is a white noise). This might be the reason why rain is so much associated with sleep and creativity.

            Have you tried to do something creative during the rain? If you have not, do try. For me, the sound is therapeutic and soothes my mind, which helps me to do something creative like write or draw. For a bookworm like me, the rain and the drop in temperature do wonders. The sound provides an immersive effect and elevates the reading experience.

            In this fast-paced world, I am not sure how many of us are taking the time to listen to this beautiful symphony of nature. But ironically, people listen to rain in sleep and meditation apps. Rain is one of the greatest gifts of nature. Listening to nature sing through the rain reminds us of the simplicity of life. We should learn to appreciate the same. All across the world, films and cultures adore rain.

            You might be office, house, in college, travelling or working. But whenever you cross your path with rain, take a pause, listen to the pitter-patter with your ears and heart. It can be a lullaby, a song or a story to you. Take a deep breath and experience the tranquillity before carrying on. After all, life is so simple.

"Let the rain kiss you. Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops. Let the rain sing you a lullaby." - Langston Hughes

Have you taken time to listen to the rain song?

Howl's Moving Castle - Diana Wynne Jones - Book Review

 

                

                I am a big fan of Studio Ghibli movies, which I binge-watch quite often. One of my favourites among them is 'Howl' Moving Castle'. Recently did I came to know that the movie is based on a book. Luckily, I spotted the book in the library and ended up taking the book for the week. Let's see how it fared.

             Sophie, from Market Chipping, grew up with her two sisters. They have a hat shop run by her stepmother. While her two sisters move out to learn, Sophie gets stuck in the shop creating hats. She accidentally crosses paths with the Witch of the Waste, who curses her to be an old lady. Sophie leaves the house and encounters the moving castle of Howl, who had a bad reputation for taking young girls' souls. Sophie meets Howl, Michael and the fire demon, Calcifer, at the castle and starts to live as a caretaker. She enters a pact with Calcifer to break the curse. Is Howl evil, as people believe him to be? What pact does she make with Calcifer? Is she able to break the curse? forms the rest of the story.

                I had a certain expectation while reading the book. All this is due to watching the movie. This was the wrong thing to do. The story progressed differently in both the book and the film. Since I had watched the film many times, the story from the movie often crossed my mind, spoiling the reading experience. The story was good enough. But the tempo was undulating. What started well slowed down in the middle for some time, and picked up pace towards the end. The language and writing style are simple enough to enjoy the read. Young readers might be able to connect well with the book. The various characters and the underlying characteristics are well written. They may appear one way, but behave in a totally different way. A few underlying themes, like resilience, adaptability, courage, and acceptance, are explored well. The mystery surrounding Howl makes him the most interesting character of the book.

             To sum it up, a charming book that can be fun at times but slow otherwise. Nevertheless, a fairly enjoyable read. Those who have already seen the movie should read this with a fresh mindset. 

Random Ramblings # 10 - Talking to oneself

 

Do you talk to yourself? You heard it right! Do you?

I do often! Being a loner, I have all the time in the world to talk to myself. Some people find me talking out loud to myself and look at me like a crazy fool. I admit that self-talk can be bad at times. BUT... It is more suitable for you too. You can take my word on that. Based on what you talk to yourself.

I have been a pessimist all my life. So, my self-talk involves a lot of negative things. Ever heard the saying 'You are defined by your thoughts'? True! Negative self-thoughts always pull us back on our path and are like quicksand that can pull you down. This leads to anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. But there are times when I say something positive to myself. Whatever I think starts with "I am not good enough", "I am worthless", "I am destined to fail", and "I do not deserve to live".

Then I heard the word manifestation, which involves positive thoughts, goal visualization, affirmations and actions. Whenever you start manifesting positively, the world around you works towards uplifting you. I started with positive self-talk, which started building a certain confidence in me. The positive self-talk started to cultivate some amount of confidence, resilience and success. This, in turn, created a good impact, inspiring me to attain some of my goals.

As I mentioned earlier, being a pessimist, maintaining a positive outlook and positive self-talk is tough for me. Whenever I try to take a step forward, it starts to pull me two steps back. But small steps lead to big changes. Hopefully, I can positively look at life.

Likewise, everyone needs to follow self-talk positively. You should not make room for negative self-talk. This is unavoidable, but you can always change your perspective and try to convert the negative talk into a positive way. Affirmations, journaling, and mindfulness can help induce a positive approach in you.

Do you talk to yourself? How has self-talk changed you?