The Monkey Dilemma is a space intended to calm my monkey mind that is always jumping from one thought to another, one idea to the next. Those crazies need a home, and this is it. The blog serves as an online personal journal, a self-curated magazine, a romantic escape, and mostly an ode to life and its various complexities. I write about books, quotes, poems, products, introspections, nonsense, and more. Hope you enjoy reading the pieces as much as I loved writing them.
— Kalpana Iyer
Here are the latest posts to get you started:
An Ode to K-Dramas and Why Bollywood Should Bring Back Authentic Feel-Good Romance
Lately, I have ventured into watching Korean dramas. I have to admit I am completely hooked. I tried to stay away from K-dramas for the longest time, assuming it would be too cheesy for my liking. And honestly, the titles did not help. But after watching just a few K-dramas over the past few months,…
An Ode to Beloved Indian Witches
I was surprised when I learned Wicca is openly practised in India. Till then, I had only read about it in blogs written by people in the U.S. Witches are just like ordinary people, blending in seamlessly with society. They don’t ride broomsticks or cast spells on unsuspecting individuals. The real ones tell you not…
Important Life Lessons Learned in the Past Month
As mentioned in my last post, I had a whirlwind of a month. It was emotionally stressful, and I was in an overthinking mode. But all’s well that ends well. Thankful to the universe for every little blessing. With each unchartered experience, you learn something new. Lessons that overshadow the learnings of the past. Here…
What Do I Miss the Most from Childhood?
Out of all the nostalgia-filled flashbacks showered upon me by this thing called “childhood,” the one I sorely miss is having fewer responsibilities. When we were kids, someone was always taking care of our needs. You weren’t the one everyone turned to when it was decision-making time. You could let an adult take the burden.…
An Ode to 5 Interesting Quotes from “Your Place or Mine?”
Before we begin, I want to point out that the quotes posted here are from Portia MacIntosh’s book Your Place or Mine? Not the movie. The book is an entertaining, cute, light-hearted story of two accidental roommates who eventually become much more than they signed up for. It’s a heady mix of fun and frolic,…
An Ode to 36 Thought-Provoking Quotes from The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari
The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari needs no introduction. The book shares a treasure trove of ideas, concepts, and mental wellness gems we could do well to absorb. As the world progresses towards increased capitalism, we have forgotten to take care of our core emotional needs in the pursuit of fulfilling our materialistic ones. We…
Is Comfort Zone a Place or an Emotion?
We are often encouraged to venture out of our comfort zones, push our boundaries and limits, and embrace the unknown. People say that’s where the real growth happens. I concur. Subjecting ourselves to new experiences is a sure-shot way to fuel personal development. Having a routine in place may or may not be detrimental, depending…
An Ode to Dr. Gabor Maté’s Insights on Healthy and Unhealthy Anger
Recently, I came across a video that provided an interesting perspective on anger. It featured Dr. Gabor Maté, a Hungarian-Canadian physician, providing key insights on healthy and unhealthy anger. The doctor himself had experienced a transformation that changed his outlook toward rage, and he uses this knowledge to help us understand the differences between constructive…
An Ode to My Failed Love Stories
Love, for me, has always been complicated. As a youngster, I always thought my first love would be for keeps. That the first kiss meant the deal was sealed forever, and the relationship was locked in for life. But real life is not a movie. It is definitely not a fairy tale. Different plans were…
An Ode to Dopamine Detoxes
I’m at that stage now where I can discern the reason behind my restlessness. The symptoms that previously used to confound me can finally be attributed to a source and countered with practical solutions. I say this with pride because discovering the cause of any turmoil is always the first step to recovery. The reason…
The Monkey Dilemma 