The Myth of Couples Growing to Resemble Each Other

Unveiling the Truth Behind Aging and Visual Similarity in Aging Couples...

The notion that couples begin to resemble each other as they age is a widely held belief, often spoken of in both jest and earnestness. This phenomenon, known colloquially as "couple convergence" or the "mirror image theory," suggests that over the years, the physical features of romantic partners gradually align. This article explores the science behind this intriguing idea, seeking to unravel the truth behind whether couples actually start looking like each other as they age. However, before we dwell on this topic, I just wanted to touch upon the fact that there is a bit of sadness and some inherent clauses that come with this topic. I see my parents age every week, and at no point, do they bear the same expressions or any level of physical similarity. The reason? My mom has been put down with Parkinson's for nearly a decade and the progressively degenerative nature of the condition continues to destroy her persona bit-by-bit. And this is what I am trying to highlight as I continue to come across so many scenarios where one partner is essentially the caretaker to his/her bedridden spouse and once the steroids, the medications, and years of chronic care start taking a cumulative effect. the entire notion of aging together takes a backseat.

A little bit of criticism ain't that bad - just get better at processing it!

Let us have a bit of a chat about dealing with criticism.

It's one of those things that can really sting, ain't it? When your flatmate moans about the rubbish or your boss pulls you up on a missed email, it's easy to start wondering if they secretly can't stand you. Those little comments can trigger all sorts of negative thoughts about ourselves that have been buried away.

Maybe you fixated on that one critical bit in your performance review because deep down, you doubted you were really cut out for the job. Or perhaps, having the right critical parent growing up means any suggestion about your cleaning habits feels like a massive blow to your self-worth.

The truth is that we cannot always get top marks, no matter how hard we try to be perfect little angels. So, it si crucial that we learn how to handle criticism without letting it chip away at our confidence. Next time you're feeling like a proper muppet or a total failure - trust me, you're not - give these expert tips a go:

From Childhood to Young Adult & Now Married - How Creating, Losing and Reconnecting with these Memories Makes Me Wonder about Life

Providing context for the discussion – this was during the middle school era, which now seems like the Middle Ages leading up to my current condition of just having passed the mid-life stage, and eating seemed like something I was born to do. I could eat on a budget, like a king, an African refugee or someone who needs to stuff just to get through the day. The extent of my bhukkadpann notwithstanding, it was evident that I had some room for the overall quality of fare served to me, the ambience and the dining schedule [the lack of it actually]. Invariably, this meant that on some days, I could be as fussy as a post-menopausal cat, not listening to endless calls from my folks to try something they believed was good food.

P-Cal Value: More to Protein Powder Gibberish, Fitness Bloggers are Making Us Believe!

It seems like that before the advent of penetrative advertising and lifestyle bloggers, the world was hitting the gym without a clue about their diet. This is what latest headlines from the world of fitness gurus seems to convey. Now, there is another label jargon that they say has been there for some time but none of us uneducated mortals has been reading it right. This is about P-Cal ratio or the P/Cal figure or PCAL value. Nothing too scientific unless you have been a high-school struggler. This is basically the amount of protein you are getting at the cost of consuming calories. So, if you have a higher P Cal number, you are getting more protein for the calories consumed.

Cancer: It Scares Me and Honestly, You Should be Worried Too!

Cancer Seems Like a Contemporary Lifestyle Curse

I just cannot get it out of my head. A few days ago it was World Cancer Day February 4th and the media was abuzz with celebrities who had fought back the dreaded condition. I must say that survivors like Rina Dhaka need to speak-up more about how cancer can be managed with emotional and medical support. It seems that proper care combined with contemporary standards in medical care can ensure that you don't lose your life or end-up in a where every day seems like inching closer towards the final stage where the props are in bad taste, the story of your life has gone awry and the support cast members are waiting for God’s gates to accept you. Cancer, as a health problem that finds new ways to invade the lives of people around us, has engaged a lot of critical attention lately. It also happens to be one of my deep-seated fears.

We know about Coffee & Conversations to Stay Awake…what else?

Making Your Coffee Work Extra Hard for You

Saw this trending editorial piece with some coffee hacks running in the title case and my first impressions were this is another coffee or caffeine related write-up that is going to preach about how to manage your daily intake. I had done a small piece on using coffee as a workplace companion but the Dailyburn.com article talks about various coffee combinations that can make it more effective. The one about adding protein powder makes a lot of sense. Caffeine when combined with protein is a beautiful energy-upping and calorie-busting solutions along with the protein ensuring your muscles are well fed. Coffee napping is not something you would find mentioned anywhere else.

For the Love of Impact Mints, Actually the Box…OK!! It Is Just A Short Review!

Flavor? Strawberry but Not Bothered About It!

I am a bit of spontaneous spender, picking-up things for their aesthetics first and function later. This has contributed to a ton of stuff that has little practical use but once seemed irresistible. This lethal habit surfaced again when visiting the Pinnacle Mall, Dwarka. The weed after the Republic Day weekend was slow, somewhat lazy.

We decided to test new shopping locales and across the rather well-designed mall that has 12 levels along with Daily Delite outlet on the ground floor. This is where, at the cash counter, I spotted this gem of a package – Impact Mints, sitting pretty at the cashier’s desk with other confectionery items that are often used when easy change is not available. I have had this childhood crush on tiny, smallish cases and boxes, even packaging, that looks playful, borderline cute.

Snacking, Munching, Food Hunting as 3-Pronged Daily Management Tool

The obvious question is that nearly everyone, from the Cro-Magnon man to Neanderthals and the slick city dwellers, takes to food when it comes to being stressed or when navigating through the daily schedule becomes a bit too challenging. I will be talking about the same thing but perhaps, will dig into the subject a lot more, sharing things many of us feel a bit apprehensive about when it comes to eating to do a bit better, at work, at home, in the bed or when idling on a Sunday afternoon: 

Tends to Jolt the senses, Controlling Anxiety Pangs: this applies to food options that are dangerously spicy or cold to the extent that they freeze-up your mouth. Why does it work? The same reason I shared above but this goes one step ahead. How?

Unsolicited Swagger when Sipping Tea | Are you a Tea Snob - use the Check-list!

You are a tea snob if you think drinking many cups at your work-desk makes you look important

Needless to say, this is due to my irresistible habit of observing things and forming knee-jerk opinions. I had always been intrigued by how people try to put in a bit of style when smoking, always holding their poison in a way that it looks sacred, something that makes them elite – a class apart. To some extent, this is understandable. Smoking is about getting a high and perhaps the high includes an ego boost too. What I couldn’t understand is why people who behave in a slightly similar way when sipping tea or coffee. This is not about some uptight tea drinking etiquette or weird tea serving rules like adding the milk last!

You are a tea snob if you pay a big tip for a single serving of tea at a cafe

When Healthy Snacking Makes Too Much Noise

I have been eating healthier, snacking with even more discretion. The realm of snacks now includes multiple salad combinations and a range of snacks that are roasted or are low on frying or use of edible oils. However, there is a small issue. My seating is compact, too closed-in for my comfort. As a result, there is always a chance of the crunchier stuff making a lot of noise, no matter how hard I try.

Is Misunderstanding ‘Big Data’ akin to Misinterpreting ‘How to Live’?

Some time back, we did a content development project for an IT solutions firm that offered cloud computing services. Back then, we were rephrasing a lot of content without understanding its entire impact. Now, this have turned more meaningful as the Big Data wave is finally settling and we witness organizations becoming data-smart with increasing enthusiasm. However, there is one thing I would like to highlight – in fact, draw a parallel. Many businesses are hopping on the Big Data platform thinking that this is actually about getting “bigger”, i.e. collecting more and more data, from every possible source.

Alia Bhatt in 2 States: Marjaane Paundee Bhangra Desi Beat Tey

I am slowly starting to like Alia Bhatt a lot. I have seen all her releases to date and she seems to be maturing amazingly quickly. Her performance in Highway was simply amazing—that doesn’t mean she did complete justice to the role. But, considering that she is practically a greenhorn in the industry, she reacted rather well to the challenging role and delivered beyond what most folks would have expected. In 2 States, Alia Bhatt retains her subtle charm without going over the top. However, the movie isn’t well scripted despite being a novel adaptation. The cultural differences have been shown in a very typical manner, leaving little room for either Alia Bhatt or Arjun Kapoor to showcase their real potential.

Either way, Alia remains a very promising leading lady in Bollywood, quickly climbing the charts—whether she plays a south Indian or sways to desi Bhangra beats, she is here to stay, i.e. unless the Bhatt camp gets into her head. The only thing I cannot comprehend is the plain-Jane look at award ceremonies. Is this some sort of well-constructed plan not to look glamorous as trying to lead the fashion army can backfire?

Not sure but she can afford to dress-up a lot more. Also, last night, we were discussing about the alcoholism and rehabilitation that her father, Mahesh Bhatt, has gone through and how Pooja Bhatt and she must have had a hard childhood. Right now, she seems to be doing all the right things, making all the right noises but there is always this fear of the Bhatt clan members vanishing suddenly, in the most unapprised manner - am keeping my fingers crossed that Alia does not do the Bhatt trick, stays true to her trade and does not end up in the SRK camp.

Also, her dancing is restrained, unlike Shraddha Kapoor who tends to get too mechanical or even Vani Kapoor who seems to be in the middle of a dance instruction class when matching steps with her not-so-tall male counterparts.