The Heartlogue

✍️  By Subhasri Devaraj Image Created by Author You're at a networking event, minding your own business, when that person slides up to you. Within thirty seconds, they've mentioned their MBA, their connection to someone famous, and their recent promotion. You walk away feeling... smaller somehow. Like you just got steamrolled by someone's resume. Here's what just happened: You met someone desperately trying to convince you (and themselves) that they matter. The Name-Drop Addiction I used to work with this guy, Kevin. Kevin couldn't order a sandwich without turning it into a humble-brag symphony. "I'll take the turkey club. You know, my buddy who runs that startup in Silicon Valley introduced me to this amazing turkey place..." Kevin, we're at a gas station deli. But here's the thing about Kevin and people like him - they're not trying to make you feel small. They're terrified you'll discover they're ordinary. So they armor them...

        ✍️  By Subhasri Devaraj Image Created by Author The kitchen hums with the rhythm of the morning—pressure cooker releasing short, sharp whistles, sambar gently bubbling over the flame, the hurried clinking of ladles and plates. My hands move instinctively, chopping, stirring, tasting, adjusting. And yet, in the middle of all this, I pause. Just for a second. The tea is warm in my palms, the cup holding more than just liquid—it holds a moment. A tiny pocket of stillness in the hurry. The scent of cardamom drifts up, familiar and grounding. I take a sip, letting the heat settle in, and in that pause, random thoughts float through my mind: The way the morning light hits the counter just right—it’s soft, golden, almost like a quiet reassurance. The pressure cooker has its own rhythm, like it’s impatient, like it knows there’s no time to waste. I should have soaked the tamarind a little earlier—why do I always forget this step? The tea—it’s perfect today. Just...

   ✍️  By Subhasri Devaraj Image Created by Author You know that feeling when you're scrolling through your phone at 3 PM, wondering why you feel like a deflated balloon? Same. Here's the thing nobody talks about: what you toss in your grocery cart can literally change how you feel. Not in some mystical way, but because certain foods actually mess with your brain chemistry in the best possible way. I'm not about to tell you to eat kale smoothies and pretend they taste like chocolate cake. These are real foods that real people actually enjoy eating. 1. Dark Chocolate (The Obvious Winner) Finally, something that makes sense! Dark chocolate isn't just delicious - it releases endorphins and boosts serotonin. You know, those feel-good brain chemicals that make you not want to hide under your blanket all day. Go for 70% cocoa or higher. A couple squares after lunch, and you'll feel like you can actually tackle that email you've been avoiding. 2. Bananas (Nature's ...

   ✍️  By Subhasri Devaraj Image Created  by Author You know that moment when you realize your family might be just a tiny bit... different? Yeah, me too. I was 16 when I first discovered that not everyone's mom washes aluminum foil. Like, with actual dish soap. Scrubbing it clean, drying it with a towel, and folding it back up for "next time." I'm watching my friend's mom just casually toss a perfectly good piece of foil in the trash after wrapping ONE sandwich, and I'm thinking, "Lady, do you know how much that stuff costs?!" Turns out, my family was the weird one. Who knew? The Sacred Remote Control In our house, the TV remote had its own throne. Okay, not literally, but it lived in this exact spot on the coffee table, and God help you if you moved it even an inch to the left. My dad could sense remote displacement from three rooms away. It was like a superpower, except really annoying. "WHO MOVED THE REMOTE?" Everyone freezes. ...

   ✍️  By Subhasri Devaraj Image Created by Author Y ou know that brilliant friend who can debate quantum physics but somehow thought buying a timeshare was a solid investment? Yeah, we need to talk about that. Smart people make spectacularly bad decisions all the time, and it's not because they suddenly lose IQ points. It's actually way more interesting than that. They're Solving the Wrong Puzzle Here's the thing about smart brains – they're like that overachiever friend who turns everything into a competition. I once watched a software engineer spend two hours researching the "scientifically optimal" way to organize his sock drawer, then proceed to eat gas station hot dogs for dinner three nights straight. Smart people love complexity. They'll analyze a restaurant menu like they're decoding ancient hieroglyphics, but completely ignore the obvious red flags when dating someone who "just needs to figure themselves out." The Exception...

  ✍️  By Subhasri Devaraj Image Created by Author You know that moment when you catch yourself doing the exact thing you just rolled your eyes at someone else for doing? Yeah, that moment. The one that makes you want to crawl under a rock and pretend it never happened. I had mine at Starbucks last Tuesday. There I was, standing behind this woman who was taking FOREVER to order. She's asking about every single drink modification, questioning the barista about oat milk versus almond milk, wanting to know if the caramel drizzle is "too sweet." I'm checking my watch, tapping my foot, thinking "Lady, it's coffee, not rocket science." My turn comes up. And what do I do? "Hi, um... what's the difference between your cold brew and iced coffee? And is the vanilla syrup sugar-free? Oh, and do you have any pastries that aren't too dry?" The universe has a sick sense of humor. We're All Walking Contradictions Here's the thing nobody talks a...

  ✍️  By Subhasri Devaraj Image created by Author So there I was yesterday, standing in my kitchen, singing "I Want It That Way" like I was auditioning for a revival tour. Every. Single. Word. Perfect pitch, dramatic hand gestures, the whole thing. Then my mom calls. "Hey, have you seen my car keys?" I literally stopped mid-chorus. Because here's the thing - I'd been looking for those SAME keys for 30 minutes. Thirty! But somehow my brain had room for the Backstreet Boys' entire discography while my keys were apparently in witness protection. The Great Brain Betrayal You know what's wild? I bet you're nodding right now because this happens to you too. We've all been there. We're walking memory jukeboxes for stuff that happened when flip phones were cool, but ask us where we put our phone 5 minutes ago? Crickets. I started paying attention to this weird brain thing, and oh my god, it's everywhere: I remember my best friend...

  ✍️  By Subhasri Devaraj Image created by Author Last Tuesday, I posted a photo of my morning coffee next to my laptop. Golden sunlight streaming through the window, perfectly arranged flowers, that trendy mug I bought just for photos. The caption read: "Starting my day with gratitude and goals ✨" What I didn't show you? The pile of dirty dishes behind the camera. The fact that I'd been crying ten minutes earlier because my toddler refused to wear pants and we were already late for daycare. The coffee went cold because I spent twenty minutes staging that shot. That's the thing about social media. We're all curators of our own little museums, displaying only the pieces worth showing. The Morning Routine Lie You know those gorgeous morning routine posts? The ones with meditation, journaling, green smoothies, and workout gear laid out perfectly? My real morning routine starts with my phone alarm failing to wake me up because I forgot to charge it. I stumble...

             ✍️  By Subhasri Devaraj Image Created by Author Let me guess. You’re running on 4 hours of sleep, 2 cold coffees, and the pure pressure of keeping everyone else’s life together. You're folding laundry with one hand, replying to work emails with the other, and mentally planning dinner while your brain whispers, “Maybe I’ll rest after this.” Except “after this” never comes. Sound familiar? Let’s get one thing straight: You don’t owe anyone your burnout badge. Your tired eyes are not proof of your worth. And guess what? No one hands out awards for being the most drained woman in the room. The “Good Girl” Lie We Swallowed 💊 Somewhere between cartoons and college, we picked up this ridiculous idea: If you rest, you’re lazy. If you say no, you’re difficult. If you prioritize yourself, you’re selfish. Newsflash: That’s not selflessness. That’s self-abandonment in lipstick. They told us being a “good woman” means being alwa...

            ✍️  By Subhasri Devaraj Image Created by Author Hey you, yeah you — the one who’s scared of carbs, sipping hot lemon water like it’s holy nectar, and Googling “is banana fattening?” at midnight. Been there. Done all that. Let’s talk real for a second. Nutrition advice online? It’s a messy buffet — and not the good kind. So today, I’m serving 5 big fat lies we’ve all been fed (pun 100% intended), and what’s actually true. 🍞 LIE #1: “Carbs are the enemy.” Truth: The only enemy here is misinformation and maybe that rock-hard diet bread. Carbs are your body’s best friend with benefits . They give you energy. What matters more is what kind of carbs you eat — roti, rice, fruits? Go ahead. A croissant the size of your head every day? Maybe not. Eat smart, not scared. Your body isn’t plotting revenge over a dosa. 🍳 LIE #2: “Skip breakfast to lose weight.” Truth: Skipping breakfast makes you hangry, not skinny. Let’s be honest — when y...

         ✍️  By Subhasri Devaraj Image created by Author Be honest—how many “helpful” posts have you saved, bookmarked, or nodded along to, convinced they’ll change your game? And how many have actually changed anything? Here’s the truth no one wants to admit: consuming ideas feels productive, but it’s just disguised procrastination. You’re stuck in a loop—hoarding insights, waiting for the perfect moment, convincing yourself you’re preparing , when really? You’re avoiding action. Look, I’ve been there. Drowning in information, starving for results. That’s why I wrote this book—to cut through the noise and give you something you can actually use . No fluff. No vague “inspiration.” Just straight-up strategies that work. 📖 Read it. Apply it. Get moving:  here Because at the end of the day, no one cares how much you know. They care what you ’ve done. 📌  Copyright Notice © 2025 The Heartlogue by Subhasri Devaraj. All rights reserved. No part of th...

       ✍️  By Subhasri Devaraj Image Created by Author There’s something about the quiet of the morning—the kind that feels untouched, unhurried, like the world is giving you permission to linger a little longer. The soft light filters through the kitchen window, spilling golden warmth onto the countertops. I run a hand through my hair—messy from sleep, strands curling in ways they weren’t yesterday. It doesn’t matter. The only thing that matters right now is this moment, this mug, and the first sip that reminds me to slow down. The aroma wraps around me like a familiar embrace—deep, rich, grounding. I lift the cup to my lips, and there it is: warmth traveling through me, reaching places inside I didn’t realize needed waking up. Not just caffeine—but comfort, a ritual, a promise to myself that before I dive into the day’s lists and emails and deadlines, I’ll allow myself this breath, this pause. Outside, the world stirs. The neighbor’s dog lets out a sleepy bark...