Pria Acharya, Author at Pria's Ponderings

Pria Acharya

Transitioning

Finding Meaning No Responses »

Apr 192025

I carry a vision, not yet fully formed, but alive within me—

a seed stretching toward the light.

As I grow, my rhythm changes,

and so do my priorities, my path, my pace.

This season of becoming need not be feared.

Transition is not a breaking—it is a soft unfolding.

Nothing is fixed. Nothing asks for perfection.

I am allowed to bend, to bloom, to begin again.

I can rewrite the story.

New rules. New dreams.

A fresh language for boundaries,

a reimagined map of goals.

What the last chapter taught me was sacred—

a stepping stone, not a destination.

It served me, shaped me,

but it does not bind me.

Now, I rise into a different dawn.

I shift how I walk through the world.

I speak with new intention,

choose with clarity,

and meet each day

as an artist meets the canvas—

brush in hand, heart open,

ready to sculpt the future I see.

Walking with Grace

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Mar 272025

There are roads in life we do not choose,

Paths that rise steep, rugged, and bruised.

Some days, the winds howl, heavy with rain,

And shadows stretch long with sorrow and pain.

But even on trails carved deep with despair,

We hold the power in how we fare.

Will we trudge, bitter, cursing the way,

Or let resentment turn joy to gray?

Or will we walk with our eyes open wide,

Noticing wonders that bloom at our side—

The wildflowers brave in the cracks of the stone,

The whisper of leaves where the soft breezes roam?

The sunrise that glows like a promise renewed,

The sunset that soothes in its golden-hued view.

Though weary, though aching, though lost in the climb,

Still, we can savor each moment in time.

For grace is not found when the journey is light,

But when we choose it in struggle and fight.

And when the road ends, as all roads must,

We’ll find not regret, but gratitude’s trust.

Not for the trials, not for the pain,

But for walking with love through loss and gain.

For seeing the beauty, for breathing it in,

For choosing to walk with grace from within.

NHA Health Science Podcast

Causes, Do No Harm, Finding Meaning, Finding Purpose, veganism Comments Off

Aug 302024

Did you know that over 50% of the world’s grain is used to feed livestock instead of people? This startling fact highlights the inefficiencies and ethical concerns of our current food system. I recently had the opportunity to share this and much more on the NHA Health Science Podcast with Dr. Frank Sabatino.

We explored my journey from a traditional vegetarian upbringing in a Hindu family to embracing a vegan lifestyle, and how mindfulness and compassion play crucial roles in these choices. Our conversation also touched on my upcoming documentary, “Do No Harm,” which aims to raise awareness about the hidden truths of the dairy industry and inspire more compassionate living.
I’m passionate about sharing these insights and encouraging others to consider the impact of their food choices on animals, the environment, and their own health. If you’re curious to learn more and join the conversation, you can enjoy the full podcast episode here: www.HealthScience.org/podcast/094-Pria-Acharya.

Raj Acharya

Animals, Finding Meaning, Musing on Death, Spirituality Comments Off

Aug 032024

2003 – 7/27/2024

My dear sweet 21 year-old vegan cat, Raj (“king” in Hindi), passed on my lap and in my arms on my porch, under our pine tree about 3:40pm Saturday 7/27/2024. Today is the one week anniversary.

A few days prior, he had thick nasal discharge, which seemed resolved with a vaporizer. Then he refused breakfast, going to his napping throne on an Indian comforter on my bedroom ledge. It’s his favorite spot, where he can get sun, be left alone and watch the neighborhood.

He normally pestered me for breakfast, so ignoring it made me pause. After not eating for a day, I began feeding him through a syringe, along with water. He became frail, not standing. Saturday morning, I found him curled up in his litter box. I created a makeshift litter box with a box that had a low edge to maneuver.

We sat on the porch early Saturday morning, him under a blanket in one chair, me in the other. The birds sang and there was a gentle breeze. After periodic feeding, I laid him on ground cover under a big pine tree next to my porch. I laid next to him.

Later, I laid him on my lap on the porch and we both napped. An hour later, he made some whimpering sounds and I thought he could be dreaming. He then convulsed twice as I stood under the tree holding him, calling to him, and then I no longer felt him breathing.

Raj’s passing was idyllic. After a very long life with a loving family, he passed in a peaceful environment, outside, where he enjoyed being, in my arms. I’m so grateful he didn’t pass the prior weekend, when I was out of town. My AC broke the following day, Sunday, but learned of it Monday and was preoccupied getting it handled during a heat wave. I’m so grateful my attention on it was not taken earlier so that I could be present for Raj.

He is the first companion animal I’ve had who has passed naturally and not euthanized, like my previous 3 cats and 2 dogs. Despite various health issues, such as a heart murmur, and various injuries over decades, he has carried on, loving me and my 2 kids, over a decade apart in age. They both grew up with him.

Raj early morning 7/27/2024 on my porch

Slow Change

Finding Meaning, veganism Comments Off

Jun 222024

Change usually happens with small seeds being nurtured over time.

It can include speaking up, showing up in small ways that has a trickle effect, giving others something new to consider.

For me, this has included just asking if something is vegan at events, potlucks, when traveling. On the one hand, I’m just a vegan trying to eat, which I’m entitled to. On another, I’m proclaiming my existence as a vegan representative of other vegans and to prompt some potential needed discomfort in the other on who I am and why.

I did just that this past week when RSVPing for my neighborhood HOA sponsored 4th of July celebration breakfast. There wasn’t a vegan option stated, so I reached out to the representative, who connected me to the board president, who graciously reached out to the vendor and made plans for me to get a vegan breakfast burrito.

I could have not reached out, deciding to just have an entree at home. But reaching out was a deliberate, mindful choice of activism to show up, take space as a vegan, create and plant some seeds of awareness on veganism with others.

I made similar inquiry (Is this vegan?) at a potluck of “wise women” at my Unitarian Universalist fellowship recently, when I could have remained silent.

I wasn’t rude, just present for myself and animals.

#mindfulness #veganism #change

I don’t need you

Love Comments Off

Jul 202022

To survive,

But want you

to thrive,

Feel with,

See with,

Hear with,

Share with,

Talk with,

Laugh with,

Play with,

Sing with,

Cry with,

Eat with,

Cook with,

Kiss with,

Dance with,

Snuggle with,

Explore with,

Travel with,

Be still with,

Be serious with,

Be silly with,

Be spiritual with,

Be intimate with,

Be passionate with,

Be sensual with,

Be sexual with,

Be mindful with,

Learn with,

Grow with,

Love with,

Experience with,

Walk alongside with.

10/13/2020 Pria Acharya

Vegan Brunch

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Nov 032019

I enjoyed a vegan brunch this morning that included an omelette using Just Egg with spinach, garlic, onion and avocado.

Vegan frittata

vegan Comments Off

Oct 202019

I made vegan frittata for the first time this morning using Just Egg. It was delicious!

Vegan ”Huevos” Rancheros

Kid-tested vegan recipes, vegan Comments Off

Mar 032019

We enjoyed vegan “Huevos” Rancheros for breakfast, my favorite. 😋

I sautéed tofu with hash brown, baby bell peppers, onion, garlic, salt, black pepper and paprika. I added pinto beans made from scratch and nutritional yeast.

We had the mixture with corn tortillas and salsa.

Vegan creamy tomato soup

Cooking, Finding Meaning, Kid-tested vegan recipes, vegan Comments Off

Jan 202019

My daughter has a cold this weekend and I wanted to offer her tomato soup.

But I’m trying to get away from store-bought processed foods. So I was inspired to make it from scratch.

I made vegan creamy tomato soup, with actual tomatoes. I was very impressed with the outcome!

I sautéed tomatoes with onions and garlic in my Instant Pot. I added salt, black pepper, red pepper and basil essential oil. I then put it on the soup setting. I then added a can of coconut milk, cilantro and puréed with an immersion blender. Yummy! I could taste all the flavors. I will never have instant again.

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