Journey for two

We’re meant to be ‘one’ – two bodies but a single soul.

The core of my heart is blue,
Seeking love to breakthrough,
Enchanted in your spell, I knew,
Life will never give me such a view,
I abandoned everybody in my crew,
Fearless, I lived on the edge like you,
Suddenly, it was me drinking your youth,
I poised motionlessly on the truth,
I surrendered my freedom to you,
I poisoned my self esteem to get through,
I stabbed my courage before it grew,
I let my passion burn in ashes few,
I disarmed myself for there was nothing due,
No battles anymore, the pictures I drew,
The Blood spattered wind as it blew,
For now was the time to comprehend this clue,
The journey of love is a ride for two.

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Photo Credits: https://www.google.com

Suicide is never an ANSWER!

“But man is not made for defeat. A man can be destroyed but not defeated.”

I read the very same line few days back and I felt like a winner despite of all the failures that have miserably been destroying me within and I felt proud of myself – really very proud for being steadfast and dedicated to the goals of my life. The question that rises over here is that if failure really is a misery that can compel you to invite a death call and split the threads of your breath? Who is not a FAILURE in this life – failure is an understatement; we all are WARRIORS! We struggle to achieve and if there are huddles to accomplish on the way to our destination then they are the trademark for earning experience – the only human on the planet who have no experience (in terms of life) is a new-born baby and as soon as he breathes in this world, he is open to the wide valley of experiences. From feeding to playing, from smiling to crying, from sensing to loving, from crawling to walking; all is a new experience for him. When he is learning to walk or sit, he does fall short a million times and he does cry often but all these efforts are worth it when he finally succeeds to sit or walk without an external support – that one smile of joy is worth the plenty tears he had cried throughout the miserable process of learning and that pain is worth the skill he has learned over the course of time. Unfortunately, as a baby grow physically with utmost optimism and a firm belief in trying; his mental capability grows with the blend of influences from the social circle and other things that encompasses the society where he grows up. When this baby starts kindergarten, he cries because he fears the new atmosphere and isolation from his mother punches him in his gut. When the same boy grows up to join school, he fears to make new friends and the competition to cope up with studies. With the time, many ups and downs are welcomed by life. Some are bearable and some are beyond one’s endurance capability, hence in any way human survives because they possess the brains to reframe themselves after being completely destroyed and devastated. Some are real warriors and endure pain and suffering coming their way with the determination, steadfastness and a hope to see the bright day but some lose hope and make a heartbreaking decision of “SUCIDE” – it pierced and slashed my soul while typing this word but encountering and accepting the reality is primarily imperative in order to eliminate it.

Suicide is one crucial reality of this bitter-sweet world. I am well aware of how life can be intimidating and discouraging but is “SUICIDE” a moral decision? Of course NOT! The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that each year approximately one million people die from suicide, which represents a global mortality rate of 16 people per 100,000 or one death every 40 seconds. It is predicted that by 2020 the rate of death will increase to one every 20 seconds. This is what’s happening around us and I know that it would keep increasing as it has been reported by WHO that since the last 45 years suicide rates have increased by 60% worldwide. Suicide is now among the three leading causes of death among those aged from 15 to 44 years (male and female). I have known a guy who tried to attempt suicide around three years back but his attempt failed . I met him the day before yesterday in a cocktail party and I observed a different guy talking to me. He sounded happy and ebullient and he was talking about how he would be marrying in the upcoming months. By looking at him, I wondered if he really remembered the night his mum was crying on my mum’s shoulder and I was peeking inside the operation theater where his body was being operated to work out with poison if possible. I thought back to myself silently if he remembered how long that night would have been for his mother who had turned into a widow just a month ago. I questioned myself whether he recalls his attempt and thank Almighty for giving him another chance to live the blessing he was bestowed upon with. The smile that illuminated his face and the reflection of bliss and pride in his character was evident that I can tell very easily what his answer would be if I ask him whether the decision he made three years back about ending his life was a sane decision or not. His answer would absolutely be “NO” when he had been a victim himself of the unending toil but his contentment today is a positive weapon to encounter everything with confidence and optimism.

The WHO states that mental health disorders (particularly depression and substance abuse) are associated with more than 90% of all cases of suicide. However, suicide results from many complex sociocultural factors and is more likely to occur during periods of socio-economic, family and individual crisis (e.g. loss of a loved one, unemployment, sexual orientation, difficulties with developing one’s identity, dissociation from one’s community or other social/belief group, and honor). The suicide rate astounded me when I read the WHO report further stating that 55% suicide attempts are made by adolescents to adults aged between 15 to 44 years and 45% suicide attempts are made by people aged 45 years and over. The crucially disheartening fact is that suicide is the third leading cause of death for young people aged between 15 to 24 years at which WHO states that “Youth Suicide is increasing at the greatest rate.”

Most people who commit suicide don’t want to die—they just want to stop hurting. Suicide is an attempt to escape suffering that has become unbearable. Blinded by feelings of self-loathing, hopelessness and isolation, a suicidal person can’t see any way of finding relief except through death – the only way they think they can attain peace. However despite their desire for the pain to stop, most suicidal people are deeply conflicted about ending their own lives. They wish to find an alternative to committing suicide but they just can’t see one. If a friend or family member is considering suicide, you might be afraid to bring up the subject but talking openly about suicidal thoughts and feelings can save a life. Hence, we have to aware ourselves to help people around us. One death in every 40 seconds is not a joke – we are a responsible “HUMAN” living on the planet (say NO to geographic divisions – we all are one and this world is our abode) Hence we can always endeavor on our part to stop this exercise and educate the people around us regarding “LIFE” who may in your opinion can later be the target of this lethal exercise. Therefore, I believe that we all have been through pain and suffering, our heart must have been attacked and invaded at times and our soul must have wished for an end once in a while but that doesn’t allow us to put a full-stop ourselves. Wait for the natural full-stop; at least that doesn’t announce you a “LOSER”. None of us desire an undignified end and even most of the suicidal people do not desire “DEATH” or “DARK-END”; instead they desire for the pain to stop. Make an aim to stay happy and make others happy. Reward the people around you with a smile and a compliment to make their day – your smile can be a healing therapy for a traumatized heart which can result in saving one life for every 40 seconds.

What you don’t know can KILL you!

“Guys, lets party and smoke water pipe (Hookah/Shisha) all night long”, I have heard this millions of times from my friends and every time I hear it, I am bombarding them with the lectures regarding how water pipe tobacco smoking can damage their organic machinery resulting in various health issues. Before I proceed with the “Water-Pipe Smoking Trend” in the society, let’s talk about what smoking is.

You may be the one welcoming your TRAGIC END yourself!

Smoking is a practice in which a substance, most commonly tobacco or cannabis, is burned and the smoke is tasted or inhaled. The combustion releases the active substances in drugs such as nicotine and makes them available for absorption through the lungs. The most common method of smoking today is through cigarettes, primarily industrially manufactured but also hand-rolled from loose tobacco and rolling paper. Other smoking implements include pipes, cigars, hookahs, vaporizers and bongs. The water pipe smoking is ensuring the progress in health problems occupying the society with the fast-paced time. Our youth is naïve, they would be attracted and lured by everything that comes their way with charm, trend, addiction and especially they would do anything to look “COOL” – this “COOL” primarily is the major route to our youth’s devastation. A very important issue that should be regarded here along with SMOKING is the problem of “IMITATION” in youth – the blind following of the customs and traditions of the modern society in no way guarantees the prosperity and development. One needs to think and ponder over the actions before making an attempt. This blessing referred as the “capability to THINK” makes us the best on the planet but if we don’t utilize the given blessing then we are unquestionably violating the system and choice of Nature.

We all are very well-aware of how water pipe tobacco smoking can be more dangerous and harmful than smoking cigarettes and if that was never highlighted to you before, then here you go with the CAPS: WATER PIPE TOBACCO SMOKING CAN BE POSSIBLY MORE DANGEROUS THAN SMOKING CIGARETTES. This in no way indicates that I encourage smoking cigarettes but those “WANNA-BEES” who think that flavored tobacco is incredibly intoxicating and harmless then it is time for the high alert because their assumptions need to be upgraded to the ground reality.

 A water pipe consists of a smoke chamber, a bowl, a pipe and a hose. Specially made tobacco is heated, and the smoke passes through water and is then drawn through a rubber hose to a mouthpiece. The tobacco is no less toxic in the water pipe, and the water in the hookah does not filter out the toxic ingredients in the tobacco smoke. Water pipe tobacco smokers may actually inhale more tobacco smoke than cigarette smokers do because of the large volume of smoke they inhale in one smoking session, which can last as long as 60 minutes.

While research about water pipe smoking is still emerging, evidence shows that it poses many dangers:

1)       Water Pipe Tobacco smoke contains high levels of toxic compounds, including tar, carbon monoxide, heavy metals and cancer-causing chemicals (carcinogens). In fact, water pipe smokers are exposed to more carbon monoxide and smoke than are cigarette smokers.

2)       As with cigarette smoking, water pipe tobacco smoking is linked to lung and oral cancers, heart disease, and other serious illnesses.

3)       Water pipe tobacco smoking delivers about the same amount of nicotine as cigarette smoking, possibly leading to tobacco dependence.

4)       Water pipe smoke poses dangers associated with secondhand smoke.

5)       Water pipe smoking by pregnant women can result in low birth weight babies.

6)       Water pipes used in bars and cafes may not be cleaned properly, risking the spread of infectious diseases.

Say “NO” to TOBACCO!

Do you know that a typical water pipe session can last up to an hour; a person can inhale as much smoke in one water pipe smoking session as is contained in 100 to 200 cigarettes. This is an alarm for the wake-up call; everything necessarily doesn’t turn out to be as pleasant as its impression throughout. Many find water pipe tobacco more appealing than cigarettes because of its sweet flavors but the sweet flavored tobacco in no means is a safe alternative to cigarettes as a WHO report revealed that a person smoking a water pipe takes in deeper and longer puffs of smoke than a person smoking a cigarette. Another misconception regarding water pipe is how water in the pipe is capable of filtering the toxic chemicals in the hookah instead  the WHO report stated that the charcoal burnt in hookah smoking contains additional dangerous substances, like carbon monoxide and various metals, that are not filtered out by the water in the pipe. In simple words, what you don’t know can kill you regardless of the sophistication of the modern world where information travels at the lightning pace.

 Download/View the following PDF file to look up for the report prepared by WHO regarding Water Pipe Tobacco Smoking.

 WHO Study Group On Tobacco Product Regulation