Finding Meaning - Pria's Ponderings

Transitioning

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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

Joy

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Jul 202022

The feelings ripple to the surface,

Propelled by my thoughts,

My heart quickens,

Wanting to rush forth,

Like an excited little giggling girl.

Joy is here.

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.

Turning 50

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Jun 092018

Today is my birthday. I’m turning 50.

I wondered if the world would explode today, but so far, it hasn’t. My air conditioning unit, however, did sort of blow up when it stopped working yesterday.

Having no air conditioning is a harsh way to begin my 50th year and at the start of summer. The temperature in my house has reached 86 degrees so far.

I’ve been steadily working towards the commemoration of my 50th birthday today for the past two years. I’ve made conscious efforts to clean up my life and prepare for this day. These efforts have included letting go of toxic relationships, including my marriage. In a few weeks, I will be divorced one year.

There’s no denying middle age now, it’s solidly here. What also can’t be denied now is facing my mortality. Why am I here? What do I want to be about for my remaining years? What purpose will my life serve? These are heavy questions to consider as I tackle day-to-day challenges.

More than any other aspect, my celebration today is a spiritual one. I celebrate myself, my journey, my struggles overcome so far and that I will continue to overcome in the future.

I acknowledge and commemorate my courage to live as authentically as possible.

Vegan Taquitos

Causes, Finding Meaning, Kid-tested vegan recipes, Raising Vegetarian Children, vegan Comments Off

May 182018

In my transition to veganism since the past year, I’ve experimented with vegan recipes. The latest has been taquitos after buying a frozen version. I noted the ingredients and made my own improvised, homemade version last night.

It included Swiss chard grown in my garden and black beans from scratch, using my Instant Pot. I was able to get the beans started before picking up my daughter, which was ready after.

I sautéed the chard in coconut oil with garlic, onion and spices such as salt, black pepper, smoked paprika and coriander. These can be improvised as per preference.

I rolled this stuffing onto corn tortillas which were then baked. I also used the stuffing in taco shells. I added organic tomato, homemade salsa and homegrown cilantro before serving. My 9 year-old daughter stated it was the best taco and taquito she ever had. I would add avocado in the future. They weren’t ripe last night. I also used the stuffing in mini burritos that she took to school and I took to work today.

Spaghetti with Carrot/Tomato Saucei

Children, Finding Meaning, Raising Vegetarian Children, Recipes, vegan, Vegetarianism Comments Off

Mar 042018

I’ve been trying to move away from processed, pre-made food. I’m also trying to be a more organized working single mom.

I asked my daughter about meal preferences for the week so I could make some ahead of time today, on Sunday. She mentioned spaghetti.

I wanted to avoid a jarred sauce and I had a big bag of carrots from Costco to use up. I decided I would put them through a food processor and then put them in everything.

I bought Roma tomatoes, which were sautéed in with shredded carrots, onion, and garlic. I added basil, salt, pepper, paprika, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, and Brewer’s Yeast Flakes. I puréed in the pan. My daughter loved it. I also made a garlic bread roll with vegan margarine, olive oil, and seasoning. Any protein crumbles like Boca or sautéed tofu crumbles could also be an option to add to the sauce.

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