In a world where work is all we know,
A new leave category is introduced.
It is aptly called Emotional Wellness,
A chance to heal, to breathe, to live.
But doubts creep in, like shadows in the night,
Will they judge me for being vulnerable?
Lamenting a lost love or feeling blue,
Will they see weakness in what I am
going through?
They say we must be strong and tough,
No room for sentiments, none at all,
Corporate is growing lenient these days,
introducing Mental Health helplines.
Why do we need such leaves, they ask,
Isn’t Yoga enough for healing?
Schizophrenia and Bipolar, are just daunting
words but meditation can cure it all.
Sleep well, eat healthy, and don’t overthink,
that’s what they say to do.
But how do we heal the wounds of the
mind when therapy is tainted with prejudice?
The new leave category, has been
around for a few years now,
Yet we shy away, suppressing our fears.
We don’t talk about mental health, and
let our brains to slowly bid adieu.
We don’t realize that we are growing frail
Dying even before death takes us.
The survey at the office shows that
Emotional Wellness leave, is the
most unused category.
They have begun to see the reason
for it as alarming reports of seizures
and breakdowns fly.
We must know that it takes strength
to ask for help, to heal our minds,
and to mend our hearts.
***
Madras Courier originally ran as a broadsheet with a poetry section. It was a time when readers felt comfortable sharing glimpses of their lives through verse. If you have a poem you’d like to submit, do email us at editor@madrascourier.com.
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