Reinforcing Relationships

Friends Diwali is fast approaching Festivals and religious rituals have been traditionally occasions for reinforcing relationships. The idea is beautifully presented in the Speaking Tree article by Surakshit Goswami. The article opens with the following observations : "A newborn arrives in this world with empty hands and an open heart. It knows nothing of wealth, status, praise or loss. It does not cling, compare or calculate. In its innocence, the infant lives close to the state of vairagya, free of the fear of gaining and losing. Then life begins to write on this blank slate. Family and society hand the child relationships, beliefs, customs and expectations. Slowly, identities and responsibilities settle upon the young mind like layers of cloth." Perhaps the author pads up the article with some thoughts about the dilemas of 21st century society to make it acceptable to the target audience. Festivals and rituals build emotional closeness and shared identity by turning routine moments into meaningful, predictable connections. Why Festivals and Rituals Strengthen Bonds Shared Memories : Participating in traditions creates common experiences and stories that families and couples revisit across years. Intentional Presence : Customs like lighting lamps, cooking traditional recipes, or putting away digital devices force people to slow down and focus on each other. Belonging and Security : Predictable cycles—whether a major cultural holiday or a weekly couple's check-in—provide emotional stability and cultural grounding. Examples of Relationship-Reinforcing Practices Couple Rituals : Small, repeatable habits like lighting a dinner candle, sharing a morning coffee without phones, or taking a daily touchpoint hug reinforce intimacy outside of high-pressure calendar holidays. Family Traditions : Activities like making a family recipe together, setting up a gratitude jar, or participating in neighborhood celebrations foster empathy and collective pride. Festive Observances : Occasions like Diwali, Karwa Chauth or anniversaries offer dedicated space to express gratitude, honor commitment, and bridge generation gaps. At Sacred Space above, please see a quote from Mitch Albom : More about the book @C below. M G Warrier (Content source : Website) AA Inspire At 85, a grandmother in Kerala still teaches children Malayalam, Hindi, English and mathematics using nothing more than sand and a stick; for nearly a decade, she has kept a traditional way of learning alive - The Times of India https://share.google/8xY7WJMIjxAyvoIje A Deepavali : Keep relationships alive, honour freedom - The Times of India https://share.google/GNjttHRE7cKsbc4i3 B Media Response November 4, 2026 Chat Room Costs, prices and profits Apropos ET editorial "Stop the Price Scam In Our Hospitals" (November 4), one is tempted to suggest, it is high time the Central Government seriously intervened in the production costs, product prices and margins relationship across sectors. The idea is not to divert attention from the atrocious exploitation of helpless patients taking treatment from hospitals. Healthcare sector requires immediate prioritised attention. Profit is not a bad word. No manufacturing and marketing can happen or sustain without assured margin of profits. What is objectionable is exploitation of clientele by manufacturers and middlemen, taking advantage of certain situations or by artificially creating scarecities. M G Warrier Mumbai C Books FIVE PEOPLE YOU MEET IN HEAVEN : Mitch Albom https://share.google/eSNfugjSGKOZ2ZMn7 Amazon description : THE FIVE PEOPLE YOU MEET IN HEAVEN is a wonderfully moving fable that addresses the meaning of life, and life after death, in the poignant way that made TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE such an astonishing book. The novel's protagonist is an elderly amusement park maintenance worker named Eddie who, while operating a ride called the 'Free Fall', dies while trying to save a young girl who gets in the way of a falling cart that hurtles to earth. Eddie goes to heaven, where he meets five people who were unexpectedly instrumental in some way in his life. While each guide takes him through heaven, Eddie learns a little bit more about what his time on earth meant, what he was supposed to have learned, and what his true purpose on earth was. Throughout there are dramatic flashbacks where we see scenes from his troubled childhood, his years in the army in the Philippines jungle, and with his first and only love, his wife Marguerite. THE FIVE PEOPLE YOU MEET IN HEAVEN is the perfect book to follow TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE. Its compellingly affecting themes and lyrical writing will fascinate Mitch Albom's huge readership. D Media Response November 4, 2026 Chat Room Costs, prices and profits Apropos ET editorial "Stop the Price Scam In Our Hospitals" (November 4), one is tempted to suggest, it is high time the Central Government seriously intervened in the production costs, product prices and margins relationship across sectors. The idea is not to divert attention from the atrocious exploitation of helpless patients taking treatment from hospitals. Healthcare sector requires immediate prioritised attention. Profit is not a bad word. No manufacturing and marketing can happen or sustain without assured margin of profits. What is objectionable is exploitation of clientele by manufacturers and middlemen, taking advantage of certain situations or by artificially creating scarecities. M G Warrier Mumbai