Images of the snow peaked upper Himalayas are magnificent, awe inspiring and incredibly romantic. But the reality of living thousands of feet above sea level is anything but romantic. Temperatures are way below freezing (upto minus thirty degrees), air is thin, with the barest levels of oxygen, water is frozen, food is scant, healthcare is rudimentary and sparse, and every breath is a blessing. The reality is icy and harsh. High altitude pharyngitis/bronchitis, snow blindness

Many relationships are transient in our lives. They have a shelf life, there for a certain time, but always with a purpose, even though we may not see it without ample introspection. The purpose could be to bring us momentary joy, shine a light on our emotional chasms, hold a mirror to our hidden selves, highlight our frailties, our strengths. Or hard as it may be, to just teach us a lesson about people, life, instincts, and the myriad complexities of the human heart and mind

Being healthy is about being in balance—physically and mentally. The concept of mind, body and spirit is the foundation of one's wellbeing. If one collapses, everything else starts to fall apart. Equilibrium, inner peace and wellness come from understanding their interconnectedness and the impact each has on the other, and then nurturing all three. We can do this by eating the right food, exercising both the body and the mind, and meditating. We need to be at peace with ourse

Most people really grapple with accepting that they have a mental illness. There is understandably, a huge amount of fear about 'losing our mind,' and people and society at large, does not help. There are stigmas attached, people’s reactions include horror, severing ties, making mockery, and even treating a person with a mental illness like an outcast. Often relationships, marriage and job opportunities dwindle and all this makes coping with an already tough situation, even t

If we can talk openly about our flu, arthritis, obesity, even our cancer, then why can we not talk openly about our mental health? Why do we not treat our mind the way we treat our other body parts? There is no shame in having a mental health disease, just the way there is no shame in have a kidney problem. Let's break the stigma attached to it by openly talking about it. By accepting when we have a mental health issue, and by accepting others who have one. We can only take a