Month: July 2026

I chose to smile…

/ ananyaexpress ,Instinctive writing / Leave a comment

Here is the corrected version of your text. The content, structure, and emotional meaning have been fully preserved, while grammar, punctuation, tenses, and typos (like “n” to “and”) have been fixed for better readability.
​If you are happy and you know it, clap your hands!
​The poem that just brings a smile to her face. The poem that just magically pulled her onto the floor to stamp her feet. She could barely speak, but she used to shout out loud to the lyrics:
​“If you are happy and you know it and you really wanna show it, if you’re happy and you know it say Hurray!!!”
​No matter what mood she was in, when she got to hear the poem, she couldn’t resist smiling. Even when she was crying, as I used to start singing, “If you are happy and you know it, clap your hands,” with tear-filled eyes she used to look at me. “If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands.” Somehow, she just got into the mood of smiling and used to come onto the floor, waiting for me to say, “If you are happy and you know it, stamp your feet. If you are happy and you know it and you really wanna show it, stamp your feet.”
​The pain and the sorrow just vanished, as if she understood: “Okay, I got hurt, but now I’ve cried. How long should I cry? It’s over, it’s gone. And now when something is making me feel happy, I have no problem accepting it and then expressing it, just like I cried loudly and raised a whole lot of attention from everyone when I was hurt.”
​Maybe she really understood at the age of three that this is how life is—everything is short-lived and temporary. Why hold onto the expression of something that’s gone, especially if that made you cry? It’s simply not worth letting it come in the way of the happiness that is now on its way back to us. Why not smile? The feeling that hurt me has now gone and is not even worth memorizing.
​Maybe she was learning and exploring the world and the things around her with her inquisitive eyes. She was always ready to touch and feel the new things around her. She started to learn to clap. The sound of the clap that earlier used to catch her attention—now she was able to produce that music on her own, and this was her moment of pride. The smile on her mother’s face made her smile, as if she realized it was her time now to reciprocate and give happiness back.
​Exploring and trying to know everything, sometimes getting the answers and sometimes not, but it never hurt her. It was as if she understood that life is too big to know all at once and she would get her answers, sooner or later. She was in no hurry, maybe because she understood that she never planned anything and she had no control over what was coming next. When everything is happening on its own, what is under her control is her own move, and she chose to be happy. Maybe some of the queries are not yet answered; maybe they will be later. No overthinking or perceptions—still, there was so much to look around and explore. She was content with what she had with her at that moment: the smile, the music, and the moment.
​Years later, from then to now, I was surfing on the net, and the word “happy” somehow fetched the link to a video of those magical lyrics. It reminded me of her smiling, curious face, and I clicked on the link.
​An animated little girl was smiling and singing:
“If you are happy and you know it, clap 👏 your hands. If you are happy and you know it, clap your hands. If you are happy and you know it and you really want to show it, if you are happy and you know it 👏 clap your hands.”
​And I clapped again, as if I understood the philosophy all over again.
​Don’t stick to what has not happened your way; move on. If it has hurt you, then it’s just a chapter of the past. Don’t close the book, just turn the page, and one day you will realize that turning the page is the best feeling in the world—because you will realize there is so much more to the book than the page you were stuck on. True happiness is entirely a choice you make for yourself.
​Why can’t we clap our hands? What has changed in me or you?
​Nothing…
​I am still the one who wants to play, though maybe I’ve changed my games. I am creating new rules, breaking the old ones, letting my kid do what I was forbidden to do, going out in the rain, and doing and exploring what I now feel is right and makes me happy.
​Truly, growing up has changed my appearance and mindset, yet the small kid in my heart still laughs out loud seeing anyone, even one of my own, slip stupidly on the wet floor. If they aren’t hurt, “Oh, so sorry,” is the expression. Has it certainly changed? Really? But then, when the person stands back up…
​See me…???
​I am always laughing… maybe with my face turned to the other side… and I clap my hands again.

Of Fragile Moments and Fading Self-Respect

/ ananyaexpress ,Instinctive writing / Leave a comment

What’s a lesson you’ve learned recently that shifted your perspective?

Boundaries > Comfort

Here is a short, relatable blog post written in a natural, authentic tone.
What’s a lesson you’ve learned recently that shifted your perspective?
We’ve all been there. You meet someone, or you have this close circle, and you feel so comfortable that you completely drop your guard. No formalities, no filters. You show them your messy, vulnerable side because it feels natural in that moment. You think, “Hey, they are my own people, it’s fine.”
But recently, I learned a hard truth that completely shifted how I look at relationships and myself: Never take yourself for granted, because the moment you do, the world follows suit.
Here is the thing about letting people too close without boundaries—it alters your aura. When you allow someone to constantly bypass your basic respect just because there’s “no formality” between you two, you unconsciously broadcast to the world that you are okay with being an afterthought.
“Once taken for granted, always taken for granted.”
It might not happen immediately. In the beginning, it feels warm and owned. But slowly, the dynamic shifts. The comfort turns into casual disrespect. And the worst part? You start losing self-respect in your own eyes. You wake up one day and realize you’ve handed over the remote control of your peace of mind to someone else, only for them to treat it like a toy.
Think of it like a beautiful piece of pottery. If you leave it out on the porch for anyone to kick around just because it’s “sturdy,” eventually, it’s going to get chipped. It’s not about acting pricey or throwing attitude; it’s about knowing your worth.
Emotions change, moments pass, and people change their tracks. If you don’t stand up for your own value, nobody else will. Prioritize your peace, guard your vibe, and remember—your vulnerability is a privilege, not a free pass for someone to take you for granted.


How do you maintain that balance in your relationships?

Let me know in the comments below!

My Unconventional Secret to Falling Asleep

/ ananyaexpress ,Instinctive writing / 1 Comment

What do you do to improve your sleep?


We’ve all heard the standard sleep advice: “Turn off your screens an hour before bed,” “Meditate,” “Keep your mind completely blank.”
But let’s be honest—sometimes a quiet mind is a loud mind. For me, trying to think about nothing is a surefire way to stay awake for hours. I’ve realized that if my mind isn’t locked onto a single track, I just can’t drift off.
Over time, I’ve found what actually works for me, even if it breaks a few traditional rules.

Here is what I do to improve my sleep:

Idea no 1..
I read something that provokes me to think. Instead of winding down with something boring, I like to engage my brain. Giving myself a specific concept or idea to chew on busies my mind in the best way possible. I get to drift off to sleep right along with those thoughts.

Idea no 2..
Sometimes, I watch something. I’ll put on anything interesting that leaves a bit of an influence on my mind. I’ll head to bed carrying that exact vibe or story, staying wrapped up in that influence until I soon doze off.
Look, these things definitely may not work for everyone. If you tell a sleep doctor you watch videos to fall asleep, they might shake their head. But to put me to sleep, this is absolutely the best way.
Everyone’s brain is wired differently. For me, giving my mind one interesting track to follow is the perfect ticket to dreamland. I know it’s weird but it works for me…😆😆😴