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By:

Asha Tripathi

14 April 2025 at 1:35:28 pm

Stop Comparing, Start Growing

Success does not grow in comparison; it grows in focus. Over the years, women have made significant strides in every sphere of life. From managing homes to leading organisations, from nurturing families to building successful careers, women have proved that strength and resilience are deeply rooted in their nature. Financial independence has become a significant milestone for many women today, bringing with it confidence, dignity, and the freedom to shape one’s own destiny. However, along...

Stop Comparing, Start Growing

Success does not grow in comparison; it grows in focus. Over the years, women have made significant strides in every sphere of life. From managing homes to leading organisations, from nurturing families to building successful careers, women have proved that strength and resilience are deeply rooted in their nature. Financial independence has become a significant milestone for many women today, bringing with it confidence, dignity, and the freedom to shape one’s own destiny. However, along with growth has come another silent challenge — the tendency to constantly observe, compare, and sometimes even compete with the journeys of others. But a crucial question arises: Is it necessary to track the growth of others in order to grow ourselves? From my personal experience of more than two decades as an entrepreneur, I have realised something very powerful — true growth begins the moment we stop looking sideways and start looking within. A Small Beginning I had a flourishing career of teaching abroad, but when I restarted my career after moving back to India, my beginning was extremely small. My very first assignment was a simple home tuition for a single student, and the amount I earned was meagre. There was nothing glamorous about it. No recognition, no large batches, no big earnings. Just one student and one opportunity. But instead of worrying about how others were doing, how many students they had, or how much they were earning, I made a conscious decision—my only focus would be on improving myself. I focused on teaching better, preparing better, and becoming more disciplined and consistent. And slowly, without even realising it, things began to grow. One student became two, two became a small group, and gradually, over the years, the work expanded beyond what I had initially imagined. Looking back today, I can confidently say that the growth did not happen because I competed with others. It happened because I competed with myself yesterday. Comparison Creates Noise When we keep watching others' journeys too closely, we unknowingly divert our own energy. Comparison creates unnecessary noise in our minds. It brings doubts, insecurities, and sometimes even negativity. Instead of walking our own path with clarity, we start questioning our speed, our direction, and our worth. True success grows through focus, not comparison. Every woman has her own story, her own pace, and her own struggles that others may never see. The path of one person can never be identical to another's. So comparing journeys is like comparing two different rivers flowing towards the same ocean — each with its own route, its own curves, and its own rhythm. As women, we already carry many responsibilities. We balance emotions, relationships, work, and society's expectations. In such a life, the last thing we need is the burden of comparison with one another. Instead, what we truly need is support for each other. When women encourage women, something extraordinary happens. Confidence grows. Opportunities multiply. Strength becomes collective rather than individual. There is enough space in the world for every woman to create her own identity. Each of us can build our own niche without stepping on someone else's path. Choose Encouragement Envy weakens us, but encouragement empowers us. Rather than questioning how someone else is progressing, we can ask a more meaningful question: "How can I grow a little better than I was yesterday?" Lift As You Rise Today, after twenty years of experience, the most valuable lesson I have learned is simple yet profound — focus on your own work with honesty and dedication, and success will quietly follow you. We, women, are capable, resilient, and creative. We do not need to pull each other down or compete in unhealthy ways. Instead, we can lift each other up while building our own dreams. Because when one woman rises, she does not rise alone. She inspires many others to believe that they can rise, too. And perhaps that is the most beautiful form of success. (The writer is a tutor based in Thane. Views personal.)

Plastic: A Slow Poison

Hazardous chemicals, depleted soil, and dying cattle reveal the true cost of plastic waste.

In continuation of last week’s article, let us look more closely at what plastic waste is doing to our land and soil.


When plastic waste remains on the soil surface for prolonged periods, it slowly releases hazardous chemicals such as phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA). These substances seep into the soil, disrupting its natural composition, weakening soil health, and gradually reducing fertility. What appears to be an inert material on the surface quietly alters the very foundation of agricultural productivity.


The accumulation of plastic waste also disturbs soil chemistry. Studies indicate that while soil organic carbon may increase significantly—in some cases by nearly 34%—essential nutrients decline. This imbalance directly affects plant biomass, limiting healthy crop growth despite the apparent rise in carbon content.


Plastic bags and thin films create another layer of damage. By clogging soil pores, they restrict water infiltration and impede air circulation. The result is poor soil aeration, increased waterlogging, and a steady decline in the soil’s ability to sustain crops efficiently.


The impact extends to life beneath our feet. Microplastics interfere with soil organisms — from bacteria and fungi to larger creatures such as earthworms. These organisms play a critical role in nutrient cycling and soil structure. When their movement and activity are hindered, the soil’s natural capacity to regenerate and remain productive is compromised.


Beyond poor end-of-life management, plastics are increasingly entering soil through agricultural use itself—from mulch films to packaging and irrigation materials—compounding an already serious problem.


Impact of Plastic Waste

Heaps of garbage lie along the roadside — a grim reminder of everything we no longer want. The pile contains discarded food packed in polythene bags, half-eaten meals in open containers, and leftovers casually dumped by nearby residents. Mixed with these are rotting vegetables and other biodegradable waste.


Such a combination produces a foul, overpowering stench that most humans cannot tolerate. Yet that very smell acts as an open invitation to countless other beings.

From millions of microscopic bacteria to houseflies, fruit flies, insects, worms, and rats, garbage becomes a thriving ecosystem. For them, it is less a dump and more a buffet — a ready supply of nourishment available without effort.


Stray dogs and cats soon join in. And then come the cows and bulls.


We may not worry much about flies or rats; scavenging is part of their ecological role. But cows, bulls, and buffaloes are not meant to feed on garbage. So why are they drawn to these toxic heaps?


The answer is painfully simple. The smell of leftover food trapped inside polythene carry bags lures them in. Hungry and unable to distinguish between food and packaging, a cow noses through the waste in search of sustenance. It tries to reach the scraps sealed inside the plastic. Unable to open the bag, it swallows the entire thing.


Cows, bulls, and buffaloes are ruminants. Unlike us, they often swallow food quickly and chew it later. When plastic bags are ingested, they accumulate in the rumen — the first chamber of their stomach. Over time, these indigestible materials build up, blocking the digestive tract.


The consequences are severe. Plastic prevents proper digestion and nutrient absorption. It can cause chronic pain, indigestion, internal injuries, and dangerous obstructions. In many cases, hard masses of plastic form inside the stomach, requiring complex surgery to remove. Without intervention, the animal may slowly starve to death despite having a stomach full of waste.


There are compassionate veterinary surgeons and volunteers who operate on affected cows, removing kilos of polythene bags from their stomachs. Their work is heroic — but not every animal is rescued in time. Hundreds of cattle die each year after consuming plastic.


If cows are revered as sacred, this silent suffering demands attention. The question is not only about waste management. It is also about responsibility.


Will continue… Till then, have a thoughtful and restful weekend.


(The author is an environmentalist.)

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