August EDITION

When life throws you lemons…

Life is definitely not easy, but it is also not as difficult as we make it out to be. It is entirely within our power to emote or react to any given situation. We cannot control fate, but we can certainly control how we respond to all of life’s curveballs. You can spend a lifetime whining and crying about it, or you can simply accept it! In this issue, we have Taapsee Pannu as our cover girl, who plays Mithali Raj, captain of the women’s Indian cricket team, in her biopic Shabaash Mithu. She discusses how women in general, as well as women’s cricket, exist in the shadow of men. The society we live in may be patriarchal, but that doesn’t deter her determination. “It can’t happen overnight, it’s going to happen over decades. But, if I or my contemporaries give up on this struggle, the next generation will definitely not be able to see the change,” she assures.

Jaaz Joshi’s story and journey as India’s first transgender model is equally inspiring! The Joshi family from Delhi were blessed with their first child, a boy. Little did they know, their joy would turn into sorrow, as he turned out to be a transgender. From being abused as a child to dancing in a bar to finally undergoing hormone therapy and winning pageants, Naaz has always chosen to look beyond the situations and challenges that life has thrown at her.

We have a lot more inspiring stories in this issue; Chennai-based NRI Meghana Reddy pursued her career in animation in a foreign land, while Noopur Porwal and Akash Devaraju ventured into the uncharted territory of probiotic products with their start-up. Saba Poonawalla is a versatile animal trainer, dog cognitive developer, and behaviourist. Her dedication and focus enabled her to pursue her passion, which has since provided her with happiness.

None of these people were handed life on a silver platter, but they were all resilient. As humans, we have the unique ability to choose how we respond to any set of circumstances. Throw in some humour, and you’ll be able to cope with difficulties, weather disappointment, and recover from adversity and loss. So, when life gives you lemons, don’t just settle for lemonade; but make sure you throw in some mojitos too!