Short essays about the ordinary places and moments that quietly shape our lives.https://atomicessays.com/https://atomicessays.com/essays/not-everyone-should-have-children/https://atomicessays.com/essays/not-everyone-should-have-children/We live in a society that forces us to take care of our parents irrespective of how they treat us. So what's the solution? Not everyone should have children.Fri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/small-hands-and-open-hearts/https://atomicessays.com/essays/small-hands-and-open-hearts/A stranger at the mall gave my daughter a blue penguin clutching a mushroom. It reminded me that despite everything, people are still kind — especially to children.Thu, 24 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/the-beauty-of-being-a-cog/https://atomicessays.com/essays/the-beauty-of-being-a-cog/Some people say they hate the grind. They call it mechanical, soul-crushing. But maybe being a cog isn't a bad thing. Maybe it's how we find rhythm, stay afloat, and hold each other.Tue, 20 May 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/in-loving-others-dont-forget-yourself/https://atomicessays.com/essays/in-loving-others-dont-forget-yourself/Your life isn't yours completely. There's a part of it that belongs to your parents, your partner, and to your kid. But we often fail to keep a part of our life to us.Sun, 27 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/the-magic-of-being-a-regular/https://atomicessays.com/essays/the-magic-of-being-a-regular/I visit A.E. Tea stall every morning for a cup of coffee, one medhu vadai, and a butter biscuit. I'm a "regular" according to them. It's a simple label that carries more weight than it seems.Sun, 27 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/the-present-we-live-is-already-dystopian/https://atomicessays.com/essays/the-present-we-live-is-already-dystopian/The dystopian future from sci-fi is already here. We've built a world where we can't simply exist without performing for an audience — and the scariest part is we're all willing participants.Tue, 17 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/the-weight-of-the-written-word/https://atomicessays.com/essays/the-weight-of-the-written-word/The books that changed our lives — we always refer to the book, not the writer. Because the words we read don't come from a writer, but rather come through them. Writers carry the weight of these words.Tue, 03 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/i-dont-have-ambitions-for-my-daughter/https://atomicessays.com/essays/i-dont-have-ambitions-for-my-daughter/My daughter is about to turn two, and I haven't thought about what she's going to become. I don't have plans or big dreams for her. I believe it's not my job to dream for her.Tue, 19 Nov 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/work-life-and-parenting/https://atomicessays.com/essays/work-life-and-parenting/Parenting is a state of mind — a mix of fear, wonder, love, happiness, worry, and frustration. A beautiful chaos you didn't ask for, but wouldn't regret.Tue, 05 Nov 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/every-good-deed-has-an-expiration-date/https://atomicessays.com/essays/every-good-deed-has-an-expiration-date/We tolerate people out of love, respect, or debt. But our tolerance comes with an expiry date. At a subconscious level, we see every good deed as a transaction — and that's where relationships break.Tue, 22 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/a-tiny-core-of-stillness/https://atomicessays.com/essays/a-tiny-core-of-stillness/Water has a calming effect irrespective of its form. And irrespective of everything going on, we have a piece of calmness within ourselves — enough to keep us afloat when things get difficult.Tue, 08 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/is-the-hustle-culture-killing-our-creativity/https://atomicessays.com/essays/is-the-hustle-culture-killing-our-creativity/Creating more has become the mantra for fame, success, and money. But creating more, when forced, comes with its biggest drawback — the risk of burning out and missing what comes next.Sat, 09 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/forget-gentle-parenting/https://atomicessays.com/essays/forget-gentle-parenting/Parenting isn't a pet project or a casual experiment. Every choice you make impacts your child's whole life. Good parenting is about finding balance — not forcing paths, not creating hardships.Wed, 06 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/the-beauty-of-late-night-conversations/https://atomicessays.com/essays/the-beauty-of-late-night-conversations/Late night conversations don't happen often, but they always find me when I need them most. There's something special about talking late at night — we let our guard down and really open up.Tue, 27 Feb 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/art-isnt-born-its-found/https://atomicessays.com/essays/art-isnt-born-its-found/As artists, we like to picture ourselves as lone geniuses. But art isn't something we pull out of thin air. It's a reflection of everything around us — the people we meet and the world we're a part of.Sat, 17 Feb 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/love-isnt-yours-to-claim/https://atomicessays.com/essays/love-isnt-yours-to-claim/I loved a girl from school through college — a secret she never knew. Growing up in 90s India, I believed that true love always wins. It took one honest thought to change everything.Sun, 11 Feb 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/falling-asleep-at-life/https://atomicessays.com/essays/falling-asleep-at-life/You can never pinpoint the moment you fall asleep. Life works like that too — we keep postponing the important stuff believing we have the time, while life moves at light speed right under our noses.Sun, 04 Feb 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/the-way-up-and-the-way-down-are-the-same/https://atomicessays.com/essays/the-way-up-and-the-way-down-are-the-same/We're always one decision away from everything getting better or worse. The life we live is the collective outcome of all the decisions we've made.Wed, 24 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/why-is-internet-writing-so-hard-but-so-rewarding/https://atomicessays.com/essays/why-is-internet-writing-so-hard-but-so-rewarding/As a writer, you're competing with veteran creators and a hundred apps for a few minutes of someone's attention. When a reader connects with your writing despite all that noise — that's magical.Wed, 24 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/the-hum-of-the-empty-workspaces/https://atomicessays.com/essays/the-hum-of-the-empty-workspaces/As the clock struck eight, I was the last person left. The silence was calming. It felt like the room was breathing. Alive.Thu, 11 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/is-our-existence-just-a-notification/https://atomicessays.com/essays/is-our-existence-just-a-notification/The proof of life of someone today is just a notification from them — a text, a story, or a snap. Technology has strengthened our connection, but weakened our relationships.Wed, 10 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/library/https://atomicessays.com/essays/library/Libraries are time machines that transport us to different eras. As a reader, books can disappoint you — but a library never does.Fri, 22 Dec 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/airport/https://atomicessays.com/essays/airport/Being in an airport is a big deal for the Indian middle class. We'll get dressed like we're going to a rich friend's wedding.Fri, 08 Dec 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/waiting-rooms/https://atomicessays.com/essays/waiting-rooms/Life in itself is a big waiting room. We come in without knowing what's in store for us. We wait for our turn.Fri, 24 Nov 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/the-vibe-of-middle-class-bars/https://atomicessays.com/essays/the-vibe-of-middle-class-bars/Middle-class bars are the hidden havens of every city. Nobody bothers you. A perfect place to escape reality.Fri, 10 Nov 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/beaches-are-like-old-monks/https://atomicessays.com/essays/beaches-are-like-old-monks/Beaches have seen a lot. And yet, they're calm and in the present. Maybe their time on this planet turned them into monks.Fri, 27 Oct 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/the-world-of-south-indian-veg-restaurants/https://atomicessays.com/essays/the-world-of-south-indian-veg-restaurants/Anything with a 'bhavan' or 'vilas' suffix qualifies. These restaurants have seen more pivotal moments in our lives than we realize.Fri, 13 Oct 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/the-silence-of-chettinad-mansions/https://atomicessays.com/essays/the-silence-of-chettinad-mansions/Absolute silence is rare. I've experienced it only twice in my life — the second time was inside a Chettinad mansion.Fri, 29 Sep 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/tea-shops/https://atomicessays.com/essays/tea-shops/As a kid, tea shops were my window to the world. A raw and beautiful world filled with life, warmth, and kindness.Fri, 15 Sep 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/delicacies-from-local-iyengar-bakeries/https://atomicessays.com/essays/delicacies-from-local-iyengar-bakeries/The world needs more Iyengar bakeries. They've been feeding hungry school kids and giving working-class people fulfillment.Fri, 01 Sep 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/legacy-family-restaurants/https://atomicessays.com/essays/legacy-family-restaurants/Seeing the "family room" at the restaurant made me feel nostalgic for a past where eating out felt like going on a vacation.Fri, 18 Aug 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/movie-theaters/https://atomicessays.com/essays/movie-theaters/Movie theaters put us in touch with our true emotions. They let us connect with our inner selves in the company of strangers.Thu, 03 Aug 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/suburban-trains-and-train-stations/https://atomicessays.com/essays/suburban-trains-and-train-stations/Train stations always look older than they are. Until I graduated, they fed me, comforted me, and made me feel at home.Thu, 20 Jul 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/ice-cream-parlours/https://atomicessays.com/essays/ice-cream-parlours/Ice cream parlours are places of love — and if you walk in alone, they'll remind you of that more than a club on a weekend night.Thu, 06 Jul 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/the-good-luck-song/https://atomicessays.com/essays/the-good-luck-song/Every time I boarded a bus for a semester exam, I listened to Hotel California by Eagles for good luck. Sometimes all it takes is a song to prepare us for what we're about to face.Fri, 31 Mar 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/the-promise-i-made-to-my-bike/https://atomicessays.com/essays/the-promise-i-made-to-my-bike/My bike ran out of fuel several times, but never stranded me in a random place. It always stopped in front of my house or a petrol bunk. I promised to always keep the tank full. I still keep that promise.Mon, 27 Mar 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/annachi-kadai-rasna-packet/https://atomicessays.com/essays/annachi-kadai-rasna-packet/Coming to Chennai in 1999, the summer heat was unbearable. The only saving grace was the neighborhood annachi kadai's rasna packets — the drink of laborers, kids, and middle-class households alike.Fri, 24 Mar 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/player-1-start/https://atomicessays.com/essays/player-1-start/A console for which we fought tooth and nail to decide who gets the next turn. Back then, technology was a wonder. Today, kids take it for granted. I'd give anything to play one more game of Contra.Tue, 21 Mar 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/the-fish-and-the-iceberg/https://atomicessays.com/essays/the-fish-and-the-iceberg/The fishes were dying of heatstroke. Mom's idea — drop ice blocks in the tank. One day I carried the whole block and dropped it on the last surviving fish. I've stayed away from pets since.Sun, 19 Mar 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/face-value/https://atomicessays.com/essays/face-value/Wherever I go, people mistake me for an employee. A guy at TI Cycles thought I worked there. Someone at a tea shop ordered vadai from me. I don't mind — I find these incidents genuinely fun.Fri, 17 Mar 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/bsnl-broadband-days/https://atomicessays.com/essays/bsnl-broadband-days/When we got broadband in 2007, my limit was 34 MB a day. The 500C plan changed everything — unlimited data from 2 AM to 8 AM. Those hours waking up at 4 AM made me a blogger and a movie buff.Wed, 15 Mar 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/the-girl-in-the-green-dress/https://atomicessays.com/essays/the-girl-in-the-green-dress/I was fifteen when I saw her walking down the school corridor in a bright-green salwar. For a few seconds, I saw nothing but her. I never spoke to her. I felt lucky just to have been there.Mon, 13 Mar 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/the-curse-of-the-parrots/https://atomicessays.com/essays/the-curse-of-the-parrots/Dad got two parrots home. They fought every single day. We released them at a temple on the way to Chennai. Mitu and Meenu flew to opposite branches — free at last. They cursed me to be single for a long time.Sat, 11 Mar 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/the-singing-astrologer/https://atomicessays.com/essays/the-singing-astrologer/I copied in my 4th grade math test and came home to find an astrologer who tells the future through songs. He finished his song with 'your boy copied.' Since then, I stopped believing in astrology.Thu, 09 Mar 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/the-fast-and-the-fearful/https://atomicessays.com/essays/the-fast-and-the-fearful/I drove to Tirupati with my new car despite being terrified of driving uphill. A police officer asked for a ride to the temple gate. When she noticed my nerves, she quietly walked away.Tue, 07 Mar 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/into-the-world-of-boy-bands/https://atomicessays.com/essays/into-the-world-of-boy-bands/Until 15, I knew only two English songs. Then a CD of Backstreet Boys opened the world for me. Boy bands had a formula — good-sounding music that hooked you quickly. And it never disappointed.Sun, 05 Mar 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/the-mini-mall-computer-guy/https://atomicessays.com/essays/the-mini-mall-computer-guy/My parents bought me a branded computer from a mini-mall guy who sold poorly assembled PCs. The frustration of fixing it made me love tech. I became that 'guy' among family and friends.Fri, 03 Mar 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/why-do-we-love-nostalgia/https://atomicessays.com/essays/why-do-we-love-nostalgia/Why do we feel warm and comfy when we're nostalgic? You are a different person every second of your life, but nostalgia makes you look back into those missing pieces of yourself.Wed, 01 Mar 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/we-believe-in-mornings-should-we/https://atomicessays.com/essays/we-believe-in-mornings-should-we/Mornings are magical for most of us. We've built entire routines around them. But maybe it's not the morning that's magical. It is the night that heals us and leaves us ready to face the next day.Tue, 28 Feb 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/travelers-love/https://atomicessays.com/essays/travelers-love/When we travel, we bring a bag full of love. We're warm and kind to strangers. But we never talk to those 'friends' again after the trip. Traveler's love should be unbiased — towards everyone, always.Sat, 25 Feb 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/there-is-more-to-a-car/https://atomicessays.com/essays/there-is-more-to-a-car/My favorite pastime is having lunch in my car. A car is more than a vehicle. It is my personal space, an extension of my home, my ticket to freedom. A car eventually becomes your loyal friend.Thu, 23 Feb 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/the-sunset-constant/https://atomicessays.com/essays/the-sunset-constant/New cities can be overwhelming. But watching a sunset makes things better. It reminds us that all of us share the same sky. Irrespective of where we live, we're the same people underneath.Tue, 21 Feb 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/its-okay-to-be-a-hidden-house/https://atomicessays.com/essays/its-okay-to-be-a-hidden-house/I discovered an independent house hiding amidst plants and trees on my daily walk. A lot of us are like those hidden houses. Being ignored doesn't make us any less. Those destined to find us, will.Sun, 19 Feb 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/the-soul-of-cafes/https://atomicessays.com/essays/the-soul-of-cafes/I've acquired a new habit — working out of cafés. Cafés have a soul. We end up loving some over others because we vibe with their personality. An empty café lets you hear it speak.Thu, 16 Feb 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/travel-is-a-necessity-not-a-luxury/https://atomicessays.com/essays/travel-is-a-necessity-not-a-luxury/We misunderstood travel. It's not about tight schedules and value for money. It's about walking streets on foot, eating local food, and chilling at hangout spots. Travel at your own pace.Mon, 13 Feb 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/the-traveling-tunes-of-ilayaraja/https://atomicessays.com/essays/the-traveling-tunes-of-ilayaraja/In Tamil Nadu, you're constantly surrounded by Ilayaraja's music — in buses, tea shops, and share autos. You become his fan without even knowing it. Your subconscious can tell the next note before it plays.Fri, 10 Feb 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/the-plant-that-survived-time/https://atomicessays.com/essays/the-plant-that-survived-time/My dad didn't know the scientific name of the plant that controlled his diabetes. He just decided who could have the leaves. So many things changed since then — but the plant is still there, breathing.Tue, 07 Feb 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/the-beach-lets-you-be-you/https://atomicessays.com/essays/the-beach-lets-you-be-you/Nobody judges what you do at the beach. You can dig holes, chase crabs, or walk backward from the waves. The society that judges your every move ignores you completely at the beach.Sat, 04 Feb 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/evening-skies/https://atomicessays.com/essays/evening-skies/Looking at the evening sky from the terrace pauses my worrying and makes me feel grateful. It's weird what nature does to you — when you're confused and scared, staring at the sky helps.Wed, 01 Feb 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/i-was-just-lucky/https://atomicessays.com/essays/i-was-just-lucky/My lecturer said the only way to make it in life was to become a software engineer. I said "let's see." Thirteen years later, I work with software engineers every day. Disproving my lecturer was just a bonus.Tue, 31 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/no-experience-is-irrelevant/https://atomicessays.com/essays/no-experience-is-irrelevant/I said yes to designing a film poster without knowing how. I learned Photoshop over a weekend and delivered it on time. Every experience prepares you for the next one — you just don't know what the next one will be.Sat, 28 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/this-is-the-best-time-to-be-a-consumer/https://atomicessays.com/essays/this-is-the-best-time-to-be-a-consumer/Ten years ago, being a consumer was painful. Today, groceries in 10 minutes, cashbacks on everything, and a new competitor launches every time we start hating a company. We're finally spoilt for choice.Wed, 25 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/money-can-buy-happiness/https://atomicessays.com/essays/money-can-buy-happiness/Every book says money can't buy happiness. But hiring someone to clean my car every day stopped my mom's complaints and gave me peace of mind. In my case, money bought me happiness.Sun, 22 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/our-routine-burns-us-out/https://atomicessays.com/essays/our-routine-burns-us-out/During the pandemic, home stopped being a sanctuary and became a prison. We realized the routine we never knew existed — and it wore us out. Maybe it's a phase. I badly hope things get back on track.Thu, 19 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/rest-and-be-thankful/https://atomicessays.com/essays/rest-and-be-thankful/On a bench at Dindigul fort, I saw the words "Rest and Be Thankful" engraved in stone. Looking out over the city, I felt grateful for everything. Sometimes words in random places change how you see the world.Mon, 16 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/we-all-deserve-to-be-happy/https://atomicessays.com/essays/we-all-deserve-to-be-happy/We never fully enjoy happiness. By being sad about not being happy later, we're not being happy when we actually are. Cherish the good moments and experience them to the fullest. We all deserve to be happy.Fri, 13 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/form-your-own-opinions-from-scratch/https://atomicessays.com/essays/form-your-own-opinions-from-scratch/Half of us are following customs without questioning who created them. Read widely, talk to people with opposing views, and form your own opinion. If you realize you're wrong, don't hesitate to change it.Tue, 10 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/stop-looking-at-billionaires/https://atomicessays.com/essays/stop-looking-at-billionaires/We look for inspiration from billionaires whose lives can't be replicated. But you can learn real-world skills from the people around you — your lecturer, your neighborhood tea shop, your dad.Sat, 07 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/set-a-day-to-pamper-yourself/https://atomicessays.com/essays/set-a-day-to-pamper-yourself/Every month I spend a day just for myself. Not about family or friends — just me. Loving your own company is much needed in today's world. Get yourself out there and have a day for yourself.Wed, 04 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/forget-your-world-once-in-a-while/https://atomicessays.com/essays/forget-your-world-once-in-a-while/In Hampi, I sat under a neem tree and felt like nobody. No credentials, no identity. A new place makes you a nobody — and being a nobody teaches you more than being surrounded by friends and family ever could.Sun, 01 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/indian-moms-and-maternity-myths/https://atomicessays.com/essays/indian-moms-and-maternity-myths/It's been a month since we had a little girl, and my wife and I are actively fighting maternity myths — like the one that says fish bones can enter the bloodstream and block milk ducts.Fri, 30 Dec 2022 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/patriarchy-starts-at-the-hospital/https://atomicessays.com/essays/patriarchy-starts-at-the-hospital/When my wife and I had a baby girl, everyone at the hospital assumed it was a boy. The subtle, unconscious bias toward male children starts right at birth — and it seeds patriarchy in our society.Wed, 30 Nov 2022 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/to-let-non-veg-only/https://atomicessays.com/essays/to-let-non-veg-only/Nobody bats an eye at "Veg only" rental listings, but "Non-veg only" is treated like a joke. Discrimination based on food habits is real — and it runs far deeper than the vegetarian divide.Thu, 24 Nov 2022 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/our-actions-run-the-world/https://atomicessays.com/essays/our-actions-run-the-world/We reach our destinations safely because a thousand others obey the rules. We're all connected, and our actions directly or indirectly affect the lives of many — whether we know it or not.Sun, 20 Nov 2022 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/the-baby-pressure/https://atomicessays.com/essays/the-baby-pressure/As soon as you get married in India, people ask "when is the good news?" They don't realize how pressuring that question is. Fall in love first. When you're at your happiest, think about having a kid.Sat, 12 Nov 2022 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/traditions-change-with-time/https://atomicessays.com/essays/traditions-change-with-time/Societal and traditional values change with every generation. What was considered wrong or taboo is now considered normal. As humans, we value convenience — and that ensures our traditions keep changing.Tue, 08 Nov 2022 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/society-makes-us-feel-guilty-for-spending-our-money/https://atomicessays.com/essays/society-makes-us-feel-guilty-for-spending-our-money/Coming from a middle-class background, an imaginary guilt stops us from buying what we want. If you've saved enough and have your safety nets in place, go buy the thing you've wanted. Buy it today.Fri, 04 Nov 2022 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/the-wealth-that-powers-life/https://atomicessays.com/essays/the-wealth-that-powers-life/We obsess over physical appearance and material wealth, but never talk about mental maturity. Our society has no scale for it. The result is a world full of immature adults who never had to measure up.Mon, 31 Oct 2022 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/everybody-is-selling-you-something/https://atomicessays.com/essays/everybody-is-selling-you-something/Parents sell us God. Friends sell us love. Society sells us marriage. We're always sold on ideas and buy them without questioning if they're really for us. Build your own school of thought.Thu, 27 Oct 2022 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/dont-assume-whats-good-for-your-kids/https://atomicessays.com/essays/dont-assume-whats-good-for-your-kids/When I was thirteen, my parents took me to a psychologist because I flunked my exams. They never asked what was wrong. Talk to your kids. Understand them. Don't surprise them with a psychologist.Sun, 23 Oct 2022 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/choose-happiness-over-sacrifice/https://atomicessays.com/essays/choose-happiness-over-sacrifice/My mom never joined us for meals — she'd eat after we finished. She was conditioned to believe sacrifice is a woman's virtue. It isn't. Happiness shouldn't be conditional on what someone said a thousand years ago.Wed, 19 Oct 2022 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/friendships-die-because-of-assumptions/https://atomicessays.com/essays/friendships-die-because-of-assumptions/Most friendships fizzle out because of unsaid words, life getting in the way, or silence with no explanation. Good friends are hard to come by — celebrate the ones who stayed.Sat, 15 Oct 2022 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/having-babies-doesnt-make-you-privileged/https://atomicessays.com/essays/having-babies-doesnt-make-you-privileged/Having a baby doesn't give you the privilege to cut lines, boss people around, or be rude to waiters. The world doesn't work for us — and it won't work for our kids either.Tue, 11 Oct 2022 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/evolution-has-been-kind-to-us/https://atomicessays.com/essays/evolution-has-been-kind-to-us/The human body is extremely forgiving. It fixes itself every time we abuse it. But we take our age for granted and damage ourselves early — the moment we course correct, it starts healing again.Fri, 07 Oct 2022 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/why-should-you-learn-about-emotional-etiquette/https://atomicessays.com/essays/why-should-you-learn-about-emotional-etiquette/When someone comes to you in pain, the best thing to do is listen. Your own trauma should be 10% of the conversation. The rest should be about them. The world needs more listeners than it thinks.Mon, 03 Oct 2022 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/being-kind-goes-a-long-way/https://atomicessays.com/essays/being-kind-goes-a-long-way/My dad was kind to his employees, not because it was polite, but because he knew that was the only way to earn respect. When he passed away in 2015, they wept with us. Kindness doesn't cost a thing.Thu, 29 Sep 2022 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/old-people-are-insensitive/https://atomicessays.com/essays/old-people-are-insensitive/A man I'd just helped into an elevator asked where I worked, where my wife worked, and ended with "try to have a kid." He didn't ask my name. He didn't say thanks. Old age should bring maturity.Sun, 25 Sep 2022 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/our-world-is-eternal-we-are-not/https://atomicessays.com/essays/our-world-is-eternal-we-are-not/None of the people who walk the beach today will be doing so in a hundred years. Everyone will be replaced. Life is short — let's make use of it by living it right.Wed, 21 Sep 2022 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/remember-the-others/https://atomicessays.com/essays/remember-the-others/Our world revolves around family. But small gaps in our lives are filled by the 'other' people — the neighborhood barber, the tea master, the old couple who gifted a wall clock at your wedding.Sat, 17 Sep 2022 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/the-secret-life-of-uncles/https://atomicessays.com/essays/the-secret-life-of-uncles/Retired uncles know how to enjoy life. They're sneaky, daring, and they visit tea shops, bars, and restaurants without worrying about their age or the doctor's advice. They've got nothing to lose.Tue, 13 Sep 2022 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/indian-parents-have-become-lazy/https://atomicessays.com/essays/indian-parents-have-become-lazy/Indian parents who once swore by arranged marriages are now quietly slipping "Are you in love with someone?" into conversations. They're outsourcing the hard part — and calling it progress.Fri, 09 Sep 2022 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/guilt-free-brownies-go-to-hell/https://atomicessays.com/essays/guilt-free-brownies-go-to-hell/Health influencers have thrown the 128-year-old brownie recipe out the window. Life is short. Spend those few extra calories for your happiness, and go have that real brownie.Mon, 05 Sep 2022 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/lockdown-is-a-sneak-peek-into-our-old-age/https://atomicessays.com/essays/lockdown-is-a-sneak-peek-into-our-old-age/The lockdown gave us a glimpse of what old age looks like — staying home, longing for connection, and missing those long, casual walks. We are nothing but wanderers who domesticated ourselves.Thu, 01 Sep 2022 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/im-mediocre-but-i-show-up/https://atomicessays.com/essays/im-mediocre-but-i-show-up/I'm not the smartest writer in the room. But I show up when others don't. The volume of work will have a compounding effect and eventually make me good.Wed, 31 Aug 2022 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/creating-for-the-unknown/https://atomicessays.com/essays/creating-for-the-unknown/A writer doesn't know who accepts or rejects them. You write believing the work is good and people will like it. Write, write, and write — there is no other way.Fri, 26 Aug 2022 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/if-youre-an-artist-be-patient/https://atomicessays.com/essays/if-youre-an-artist-be-patient/Good artists aren't creating for the current generation, but for the generations to come. Vivian Maier found her audience after death. Be patient.Mon, 22 Aug 2022 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/be-happy-when-your-idea-gets-stolen/https://atomicessays.com/essays/be-happy-when-your-idea-gets-stolen/Your idea is not unique — thousands are thinking the same thing. Be grateful someone executed it. Have faith your next idea will be just as good.Mon, 15 Aug 2022 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/the-world-doesnt-remember/https://atomicessays.com/essays/the-world-doesnt-remember/The half-life of someone remembering your work shrinks every year. Create for your own pleasure. It doesn't matter if the world doesn't remember.Mon, 08 Aug 2022 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/dont-sell-art-due-to-peer-pressure/https://atomicessays.com/essays/dont-sell-art-due-to-peer-pressure/Don't turn something you love into a business just because others think you should. Continue doing it for your pleasure. Nobody will judge you for it.Mon, 01 Aug 2022 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/its-okay-to-be-unoriginal/https://atomicessays.com/essays/its-okay-to-be-unoriginal/Before becoming a master, Michael Crichton set out to be entirely unoriginal. The output should come immediately. Let originality come eventually.Mon, 25 Jul 2022 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/surround-yourself-with-smart-people/https://atomicessays.com/essays/surround-yourself-with-smart-people/I was never the smartest in the room, but I was lucky to make friends who were. Great ideas are rarely born alone — they emerge from a scenius.Mon, 18 Jul 2022 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/celebrate-the-masters-today/https://atomicessays.com/essays/celebrate-the-masters-today/We romanticize art from the past while ignoring the masters among us today. The golden age of art isn't a memory — it's now. Celebrate it.Mon, 11 Jul 2022 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/why-i-write/https://atomicessays.com/essays/why-i-write/Writing is how I communicate, express, and celebrate life. It converts scattered ideas into coherent words that might someday mean something to someone.Mon, 04 Jul 2022 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/life-doesnt-have-meaning/https://atomicessays.com/essays/life-doesnt-have-meaning/A colleague died in a road accident days after showing me videos from his Himalaya trip. Life has no meaning — it is only our perception that gives it one. Life is too short to think too much.Mon, 30 May 2022 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/admitting-youre-wrong-is-a-good-thing/https://atomicessays.com/essays/admitting-youre-wrong-is-a-good-thing/I once said expensive shoes were a waste of money. A year later I bought Nikes and loved them. Changing your opinion and admitting you were wrong doesn't make you shameless — it makes you a better person.Tue, 24 May 2022 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/stay-away-from-these-people/https://atomicessays.com/essays/stay-away-from-these-people/The key to a happy life isn't just about choosing the right friends — it's about excluding the wrong ones. Stay away from chronic complainers, people who drain you, and those who always say no.Wed, 18 May 2022 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/life-is-fair-sometimes/https://atomicessays.com/essays/life-is-fair-sometimes/We were weeks from bankruptcy and everything looked lost. Then a lawyer heard about our situation the next day and found a way out — for free. Life isn't always fair, but it lands a miracle every once in a while.Thu, 12 May 2022 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/being-in-love-is-not-staying-in-love/https://atomicessays.com/essays/being-in-love-is-not-staying-in-love/Being in love is easy. Staying in love is about listening, finding common ground, and respecting your partner's space. You can't expect someone to sacrifice their self just because they love you.Fri, 06 May 2022 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/your-9-to-5-job-isnt-bad-at-all/https://atomicessays.com/essays/your-9-to-5-job-isnt-bad-at-all/Social media creates unnecessary hatred towards regular jobs. A 9-to-5 gives you salary, insurance, stability, and cool people to work with. Don't hate it just because others quit theirs on Instagram.Sat, 30 Apr 2022 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/dont-be-too-humble/https://atomicessays.com/essays/dont-be-too-humble/I got a 5% hike one year by working hard and saying nothing. The next year I marketed myself shamelessly and got a 42% raise. There is a thin line between being humble and being too humble.Sun, 24 Apr 2022 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/forgotten-favorites/https://atomicessays.com/essays/forgotten-favorites/We all have a list of favorites that disappeared as we grew up. The memory wormhole picks up those that didn't stick and brings them back when we least expect it — to make life interesting again.Mon, 18 Apr 2022 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/enjoy-the-journey/https://atomicessays.com/essays/enjoy-the-journey/On a Kolkata photography trip, I came back with five good photos out of hundreds. But every Saturday we woke at 4 AM anyway — because more than the photos, we loved the journey.Tue, 12 Apr 2022 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/find-a-way-to-process-your-emotions/https://atomicessays.com/essays/find-a-way-to-process-your-emotions/We push negative emotions deep within ourselves and move on. But keeping them locked inside causes serious damage. Find your thing to process that anger or fear. It's trial and error, but it helps.Wed, 06 Apr 2022 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/when-in-crisis-talk-to-a-therapist/https://atomicessays.com/essays/when-in-crisis-talk-to-a-therapist/I had unprocessed grief from my dad's death for five years. It took a panic attack to make me seek help. Six months of therapy later, I finally said goodbye to my father. When in crisis, talk to a therapist.Thu, 31 Mar 2022 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/the-remedy-to-overconfidence-is-a-setback/https://atomicessays.com/essays/the-remedy-to-overconfidence-is-a-setback/We're always one bad decision away from disaster, and overconfidence is often what drives us there. A setback is life's way of giving us a chance to come to our senses before it gets worse.Fri, 25 Mar 2022 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/life-is-like-a-car/https://atomicessays.com/essays/life-is-like-a-car/Your mind is the driver, good health is the engine, and time is the fuel. We all get the same car. It's up to us to decide where and how far we'd want to go.Sat, 19 Mar 2022 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/cross-the-finish-line/https://atomicessays.com/essays/cross-the-finish-line/48 hours before the trip, I had no camera and no money. But life doesn't give you everything — it gives you something to catch on to. It's up to us to use it and cross the finish line.Sun, 13 Mar 2022 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/when-people-become-memories/https://atomicessays.com/essays/when-people-become-memories/Our parents taught us everything about career. But nobody prepared us to handle the loss of a loved one. Teaching people early when to ask for help could have saved a lot of suffering.Mon, 07 Mar 2022 00:00:00 GMThttps://atomicessays.com/essays/get-rid-of-habitual-complainers/https://atomicessays.com/essays/get-rid-of-habitual-complainers/Habitual complainers can't be satisfied no matter what you do. Being around them creates negativity and exhaustion. If they're beyond help, stay away — the things that drive us forward are hope and positivity.Tue, 01 Mar 2022 00:00:00 GMT