Meraki Musings

I am sure most of us have either seen our (female) classmates scurry into the washroom holding a pouch or hiding something in their pockets; maybe YOU did this yourself (at least when school was offline). 8 times out of 10, it was most likely a pad or a menstrual product that they were hiding.  Periods, also known as Menstruation, Chums, Monthlies, Time of the Month or even The Shark Week, and numerous other innovative names that mainly women came up with, to prevent men from understanding what they are talking about or just to avoid saying that shameful word. Does that really make sense? There was this viral tweet from 2019, and it asked:  "Women, what is the dumbest thing a man ever said to you about ... menstruation, etc?" There were many hilarious tweets like: "My husband thought I had to take a tampon out to pee." "Someone I was dating asked me if I could reschedule my period so it didn't coincide with his birthday." But at the same time: "A ...

Romance, relationships, heartbreak and drama. Most romantic-comedy movies (or TV shows) - specifically aimed at teens and pre-teens - have convinced us all that “you’re not REALLY living your teenage-years, unless you’ve experienced a relationship, major drama, and heartbreak”. But, how true really is that?  Let’s talk about relationships.  There is no denying that crushes, and subsequent relationships, are one of the most common experiences that you’d face in middle school through highschool. But, honestly? It’s really not the end all be all.   The beauty of being in a romantic relationship, for me, lies in the self-discovery, self-growth, comfort and security you are bound to face. In my personal opinion, all relationships - romantic, platonic, familial - teach you a lesson. And it is your duty to learn from that lesson, and grow as an individual, simply so that your future interpersonal relationships can improve.  However, the lessons you learn are not always posi...