This photo that I took on April of 2012 seemed appropriate for this particular post.

Asleep by The Smiths has been on repeat for more than a handful of minutes. Why does melancholy seem so majestic in melodies? In every note, in every heartrending do re mi, in every vestige of sound that reaches my foreboding ears, I am carried away into a breathtaking multiverse where bliss has become nonexistent and sorrow has turned mundane.

Pretense has been my favorite method to cope with the distress and the harrowing insignificance of my life. Bottling my emotions has turned into a means of escape from a world where every second of laughter and smiles seemed cumbersome and plagued and deceitful. Submitting myself into the pool of thoughts where in every letter, every word, every sentence, every paragraph I pour out in an empty space in the worldwide web has become my only comfort. 

I could talk and sound nonsensical. I could listen and become caught up in a web of ennui. I could stay away and become swathed in paroxysms of loneliness, of emptiness, of indifference. I can no longer feel human when all I could ever express are raging thoughts and pensive words. In fact, I no longer feel human at all.

I wrote this on December 17, 2011 - almost five years ago. I'm writing this very sentence with my heart filled with contentment, love and joy. It gets so much better. Never lose hope. 

The holiday season is just around the corner, and everyone's busy with gifts, decors, preparation for delicious food and the barrage of parties that come with it. Don't get me wrong - I like parties! The only difference is that for introverts like me, parties, even intimate ones, feel exhausting after a couple of hours. So if you have an introvert in your life, here are a few tips to make the holiday season less insufferable and more tolerable for them:

• For the love of all things cozy, please don't show up at our place unannounced. I get it, the air is teeming with a partying frenzy that feels too cumbersome to ignore, and you know we love your company. However, the holiday season is high-time for social gatherings, and more often than not, we really just want our own company. At least while we recharge.

• Parties are fun, and holiday parties seem even more so. But don't be surprised if your introvert turns down some of your party invites. Believe me when I say that this is not some personal vendetta against you, and it's definitely not something we do to decisively offend you. This is one of those moments when the phrase "It's not you, it's me" rings true. It's not that we don't want to hang out with you. It's that we don't want to hang out with you and fifty other people we barely know who may or may not vomit on our shoes.

• I don't know about other introverts but my personal limit for socialization is 2-5 hours, depending on the circumstances. So please don't take it against us if we slip out earlier than most people. Again, "It's not you, it's me". We might miss all the fun, but our favorite parties are usually a ménage à trois between us, a good book and a cup of hot tea. Besides, that just means you can hang out with more people! Win-win!

• You know those people who manage to find 5-10 minutes of alone time during parties? They're usually the ones taking too long in the bathroom, offering to walk the dog or suddenly wanting some fresh air. I'm one of those people, and yes, we're introverts in that even a few, precious moments by ourselves can rejuvenate us for parties. So please allow us our minutes of tranquility.

• If you're the host, allow your introverts to bring a plus one. If your introvert is headed to an obligatory party, offer to be his/her plus one. Like a good bra, life is just a little better with amazing support. 

There you have it folks - some kind deeds towards your introvert straight from a self-dubbed introvert's mouth. I hope this season treats you well!

The discussion and propagation of self-care has recently risen to popularity in the last few years due in part to the masses' increasing regard for health and wellness. Contrary to popular belief, self-love isn't always enjoyable or easy. Sometimes, it feels like hard work, perseverance and determination. I was introduced to the idea of self-care through a good friend, introspection and good old research. While the concept wasn't entirely foreign to me, it wasn't until last year that I understood what self-care truly meant.

I won't pretend that I'm an expert in the topic of self-care because I'm far from it. However, I did feel compelled to write about it because it's become such an important part of my life. Here are some self-care myths that, I realized, aren't always necessarily true:

Eat whatever you want. Nope. Nope. Nope. There's a rampant assumption that self-care is all about taking care of your soul when that couldn't be farther from the truth. Self-care is taking care of your body, mind and soul. Consuming whatever you want without any regard for nutrition leaves your body malnourished, consequently making it more difficult to take care of the rest of you. Go ahead, indulge in a chocolate bar once in awhile but please do yourself a favor - eat better!

Do not force yourself to socialize. This largely depends on the circumstances. I'm an introvert at heart and there is nothing more tempting than to stay in my pajamas, binge watch netflix and drink hot tea for the rest of my life. However, that's not always a good thing. Isolating yourself only plunges you into stagnation and depression. It's good to strike a balance between some good old 'me-time' and tete-a-tetes with loved ones. After all, "no man is an island". **Important side note: If a person is toxic, cut them loose. There's no point in keeping up with people who only add negativity to your life.

Don't do anything! This is pretty much an extension of number two - it also depends on the circumstances. Do nothing day is relaxing. However, more often than not, being productive produces a more positive effect in your life in the long-run. Let's say you procrastinated because you felt like doing nothing. Getting back on schedule will leave you more stressed because you're falling behind. It's important to know your responsibilities and to commit to them. Productivity also increases your sense of accomplishment and self-worth, especially after you achieve a goal. So push yourself - do your laundry, wake up early to get to work on time, exercise. It might not be an alluring prospect as of the moment, but future you will definitely be thankful for it.