In life, we need to be transplanted a few times to be able to discover the true ground beneath our feet!
In September 2007, I ended my 8 years long career to enjoy the bliss of motherhood and the loving company of my husband.
He moved to England in 2006 and after a year's separation, we decided this was not meant to be! It was a decision that we made with our heart - live together as a family no matter what.
On 18 February 2008, Nainika came into our lives and gave our relationship a whole new dimension. As parents we rediscovered ourselves, our priorities and the importance of those small joys of life became clearer.
Most of my time was spent on feeding, changing and playing with her. The mother in me was taking over alas to only realise that the career woman in her was struggling to emerge at the same time. I volunteered at a local library once a week just to have something other than my life with the baby at home.
After Nainika's first birthday, I decided to take on more voluntary opportunities and took on some more work with Poetree Creations - a group of poets in the Midlands. With all the work and meetings, my pre-condition was to take Nainika with me wherever I went. The couple I worked with happily accepted my offer. Here I was discussing funding proposals, writing website content, strategising in meeting rooms, community centres, volunteer centre office with a baby in the buggy!
Gradually, the career woman in me perhaps needed more fulfillment so I decided to go the paid work way. Working at a playgroup seemed the logical choice. Sherwood Playgroup happily accepted me and Nainika. While she enjoyed being at the playgroup engaging with toys, activities and other children, I helped organise the activities, set up the playgroup and even manage the kitchen sometimes! Enjoyable as it was - this came with its own set of challenges.
The communications professional in me started taking over. I wanted to write about my work more than organise playscheme. I did some writing with the local magazines and blogs. By this time, Nainika was at a private nursery part time. We needed a bit more income to manage her fees so I decided to pitch in. After looking for jobs and being rejected for over qualification and too much experience, I got through a temp position with Boots in an administrative support role.
Through each transition and role, one thing was common - Me and my determination to get 'there' eventually. Having left behind a glorious career, the work I did now was trivial, insignificant and menial. I was nearing the point of frustration and self-doubt. My skill set must have shown as I began to get more important roles at work. From being a general temp, I now had a clear cut job responsibility and profile. A big step forward!
No matter how insignificant the job seemed at the time, looking back today I feel it was an opportunity for me to experience a life I would never ever know of! It gave me a whole new perspective and definitely made me stronger.
We moved to London in September 2011. The first permanent job I applied for in my niche area of expertise, I got it! It felt like time had not moved at all - as though I was now picking up my threads from where I had left them. The only difference - I was now a better person with a deeper understanding of the various circumstances that different people come from.
The past three years have taught me a lot about life. I had had several experiences in vocations I would never have imagined I could enjoy - homework helper for school children at the library, window dresser for a charity shop, admin assistant at a community radio channel, playgroup assistant at a children's playgroup and the list is endless!
Life throws you up against the odds. How one manages to swim against the tide without drowning is nothing short of a miracle!
Today I ask myself the all essential question again - Am I there yet?
Probably.......probably not! Life is too short to worry over petty things and too long to sorrow over what I haven't seen yet!
