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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 Trails: How Human Carelessness Is Killing Animals

What seems like a careless human can become a death sentence for wildlife.

Dear Reader, in my last article, I had briefly described how cows ingest plastic while foraging for food in garbage and waste dumps — an action driven by hunger and human negligence in waste disposal. However, cows and bulls are not the only animals exposed to and attracted to discarded food packed in plastic bags or wrappers.


We have not spared even wild animals. We visit forests, national parks and other protected wildlife areas to enjoy nature, yet ‘graciously’ leave our plastic footprints behind. There have been several incidents in Mumbai’s own Sanjay Gandhi National Park where spotted deer have been seen consuming plastic wrappers and even plastic bags carelessly discarded by irresponsible tourists.


Whether it is deer, cows, bulls or any other herbivorous animal, the consequences are severe. The accumulation of plastic causes blockages in the stomach and intestines, leading to severe constipation and ruminal impaction. Plastic fills the stomach, making the animal feel full and reducing its appetite for nutritious food, which results in weight loss, weakness and eventual starvation.


Sharp pieces of plastic can cause internal wounds and serious infections. The blockage also prevents proper digestion and the release of gases, leading to painful bloating and difficulty in breathing, which can often be fatal. Chemicals used in plastic manufacturing, such as bisphenols, lead and cadmium, can leach into these animals’ systems and may even enter the human food chain through milk and meat products.


In many cases, the long-term effects of plastic ingestion result in a slow and extremely painful death.


In May 2025, a photograph of a female elephant with a swollen abdomen, found dead in a water body near Coimbatore, went viral and shocked the nation. Initial speculation surrounded the cause of death, but the post-mortem revealed a tragic reality — the elephant was pregnant and had died due to the consumption of plastic waste. The incident served as a grim reminder of how human-generated litter is silently claiming the lives of even the largest wild animals.


More recently, video footage released earlier this month from the Shola forests in Karnataka’s Brahmagiri hills showed wildlife researchers discovering significant quantities of plastic waste embedded in elephant dung. The visuals clearly indicated how deeply plastic pollution has penetrated natural habitats that were once considered untouched and pristine.


Disturbing incidents are being reported from other protected forests as well. In Tadoba National Park, a young tiger was filmed playing with and chewing a discarded plastic bottle, raising serious concerns about tourist behaviour and waste management inside wildlife zones. Such interactions not only alter natural animal behaviour but also expose wildlife to potentially fatal health risks.


The problem extends beyond large mammals. Snakes are often found trapped inside plastic bags, unable to escape. Stray dogs frequently get their heads or limbs stuck in discarded plastic containers and packaging, a distressingly common sight in both urban and semi-urban areas. Increasingly, both stray and wild animals are being exposed to plastic litter carelessly generated and abandoned by humans, turning everyday waste into a widespread environmental and animal welfare crisis.


The menace of plastic pollution does not end on land alone. In my earlier articles in this series, I had highlighted that plastic waste generated in our homes does not simply disappear. Every piece of plastic we discard continues its journey somewhere. Much of this waste is carelessly thrown onto open land, setting off a chain of environmental damage that often goes unnoticed.


Imagine a familiar scene. Six-year-old Meir and his cousin Advay are playing on an open ground with their friends when a passer-by casually throws an empty PET water bottle and a polythene bag nearby before walking away. For him, it may seem insignificant, but that single act begins another journey of pollution.


Curious to know where the plastic finally ends up, Meir and Advay decide to follow its path. Where does this waste go once it leaves our sight? Let us join them next week as they trace the journey of plastic beyond our homes. Until then, have a mindful and plastic-free weekend.


(The author is an environmentalist. Views personal.)


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