Hello World!

Hello World!
This is me and that is you.
We may be same or different,
When we meet or interact.
You may like or dislike,
You may encourage me to be a better person or stay silent.
But don't judge me for what I'm not and Never laugh at my faults.
You don't know how I fight silent battles Wearing a fake smile in front of others. Because mental health matters.

 A small kid I am who is unknown to the miseries of the world.
Sometimes I fall ill,
Sometimes I do mischief due to my childhood innocence.
My unfinished homework may be a mistake, But it's not a big crime that the punishments make scars on my soft palms and my innocent heart gets hurt by harsh words. Why should I make an excuse of headache for not attending regular classes!
Give me another chance to complete my homework and when I am wrong,
 rectify my mistakes.
But never insult me in front of others. Because mental health matters.

 Dear society,
Inside the office room or college bus,
why you harass me just because I am simple and innocent?
 It takes me many days and unseen silent nights to fight the inside battles and to be smart in front of others.
Because mental health matters.

 Dear society!
 I am a woman,
Whether I am married or unmarried, Employed or unemployed,
I know in my life,
 cooking is an essential part.
Often my fingers try the touch screen of
you tube shorts in search of new dishes to please others.
Couldn't you put some love and affection in my recipes to make it more tasty and avoid my fear of insults?
 Because mental health matters.

 Dear society,
I am a man with responsibility
on my shoulders.
Just like a woman,
I have to face many challenges.
 When I am unemployed,
The endless questions make me restless till I get settled in a job.
And in the job sector,
I too face many challenges that affects
my mental health.
Whether I am married or unmarried,
At home or office,
Sometimes, I too face domestic violence and false allegations.
But I don't cry in front of others and try to be smart forgetting all worries and sadness. Because mental health matters.

 Hello World!
We live in the society,
 But in a different part of it.
We are old men and women,
Who have once worked hard day and night to provide our children a luxurious life,
Now abandoned by them and sent to
old age homes as they want to
 celebrate their life.
 Though we are heartbroken inside,
Still we find joy in each other's company
 and try to forget our worries.
Because mental health matters.
We are orphans who don't know
how a family is,
Still we try to be happy, smile, laugh, play together with our friends.
 Because mental health matters.

 Hello World!
This is me and that is you.
We may be same or different,
In our meetings or interactions.
Whether kids or adolescents,
 Whether men or women,
Whether young or adults,
Employed or unemployed,
Married or unmarried,
Whether from old-age homes
or orphanages,
Behind the closed doors of
untold emotions,
There are thousands of unsaid words.
We all try to be happy hiding our sadness. We smile, talk, work and carry our daily activities hiding our scars.
Because mental health matters.

 - Archana Maharana (Lucky)

(Dedicated to mental health awareness month 1 may 2025- 31 may 2025).