By Ravi P. Viswanathan
As we share this moving excerpt from “Anna: The Queen of Hearts,” we invite readers to experience the remarkable journey of Anna Lopez, whose life of service and compassion continues to transform countless lives. Authored by Ravi Viswanathan, this heartfelt biography celebrates her incredible journey of passion, service and heart from Davanagere to Bengaluru and the world of volunteering. It’s also a fundraiser for ABLE/AWWD – an organization working toward empowering persons with disabilities through education, rehabilitation, and independence. Every purchase of this inspiring book directly supports ABLE’s vital work of inclusion and opportunity.
To contribute to this meaningful cause, readers can purchase the book or make a donation at ABLE’s “Support Us” page, then email their receipt screenshot to info.rawwd@yahoo.com to receive access to the online flipbook.
Anna never needed self-help books to tell her how to live her life. Long before Mark Manson’s The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck hit bestseller lists, she had already mastered the philosophy, naturally and effortlessly. As a teenager, she went to Vishala, one of her closest friends, feeling utterly unimpressed with herself. ‘I am not clever, not good in academics, not good in sports, not good in crafts or stitching’, she confessed. Vishala, wise beyond words, didn’t let her wallow for even a second. She simply looked at Anna and said, ‘You know how to be happy and bring joy to everybody. You’re always ready to talk to people, help people, that is God’s gift to you. Treasure that and be grateful’.
That one statement changed everything. Instead of trying to fit into someone else’s version of success, Anna simply decided to be happy where she was.
Not able to lose weight? No problem.
Not doing well in school, everyone getting first? No problem.
You are prayerful, be happy with that. I am not the one who is going to pray. You are rich, be rich. I don’t have any problem with that.
I am Happy where I am.
Repeated taunts and sometimes outright bullying can be extremely harrowing and mentally taxing for most, but not for Anna. This wasn’t indifference — it was complete acceptance of herself and the world around her. She refused to waste energy on things she couldn’t change or didn’t care about. I recollect my own schooldays, when I was teased for being thin and for my slow speech. Looking back at it now, a friend like Anna or Vishala would have helped me deal with it in the right way. Now, as an adult, with some wisdom dawning, I am happy to release the same positivity to all friends and relatives who teased me in my childhood. We all grow from where we are.
Her only rule is simple: never cause harm, never cross a boundary. This rule has steered her well in life. Anna has not been affected or thrown off her balance by externalities. However, this centered approach and unbridled sense of freedom was not palatable to all including her parents on some matters including church-going and other religious rituals. But this inner balance is what has helped Anna stay joyful as she sailed through the many twists and turns of life.
Excerpted with permission from Anna: The Queen Of Hearts By Ravi P. Viswanathan.
Ravi P. Viswanathan, an aspiring seeker and full-time life explorer, is the creative force behind Anna’s memoir. His eclectic life experiences have shaped his worldview, with a childhood spent in the Steel City, Green City—Jamshedpur, where he absorbed the Tata way of life. After a few detours—writing code for aircrafts and mastering the art of PowerPoint (a.k.a. strategy consulting), he finally found his dream job in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). During the COVID years, a deep dive into Yoga helped him shift gears from chasing deadlines to mindfulness, from boardrooms to breathing techniques.
Now, he seeks life in the present with a blend of purpose and introspection. It was this blend of meaningful connections and lifelong learning that led him to write this memoir—an ode to Anna, the force of volunteering, community, and boundless warmth. For Ravi, writing this book was a chance to share Anna’s wisdom with the world and spark a conversation about volunteering not just for social and environmental causes, but for life itself. And in that spirit, this book is Ravi’s way of volunteering—one word at a time.
Connect with Ravi on his LinkedIn profile: www.linkedin.com/in/ravivisw/ABLE (R.A.W.W.D.) is a Bengaluru-based nonprofit that empowers individuals with disabilities through education, rehabilitation, and inclusive community initiatives. With a deep belief in dignity and independence for all, ABLE equips persons with disabilities with the tools and opportunities to thrive — through mobility support, education and paramedical training and accessible and affordable prosthetics.
Founded and led by volunteers, ABLE’s work goes beyond product and service delivery—it builds inclusive ecosystems. Every contribution fuels their mission to create a world where ability is celebrated and every life has the chance to shine. Learn more at www.ablewithrawwd.org.
