A little here and a little there

Hey Steemitians,

This is Rajashree Bhagwat. I hail from Karnataka. Presently I live in Kolkata. I moved here a little more than one year ago. The city of joy welcomed me with its warm embrace. The soft-spoken people and their easy-going nature were something I had seldom come across. Living here has taught me to slow down in life.

About Myself:

Of the many things I am, the biggest chunks are that of a mother and a writer. I take the pride in calling those my greatest achievements. Because both threw thunderbolts at me. And it still continues. They say people get better at what they do as the years pass by. I vouch for it. Eighteen years of parenting my three kids have taught me precious lessons of life making me all the more mettlesome. My kids are now turning into fine adults and I see a reflection of myself, my principle, my morals, and determination in them.

We are all are born warriors. Aren’t we?

The warrior in me has forayed into many areas of life. I’ll let my words take you through three stories of my life. Simmering down to an essence, it is about my smart twenties, my wise thirties and my forties, I am still exploring. But before my twenties, there were some years which gave me a strong base to my traits.

Born in an orthodox brahmin family, in a small remote pilgrimage town, called Gokarna in Karnataka, I grew up listening to Vedic chants. The sea shore, the lanes, my house and the lake opposite to my house were my world. The lake and the streets were so large and vast back then.

Does everything shrink with the years passing by? I wondered one day. But it was not the lake, not the street or the house. It was me, who grew up. I turned twenty-one.

‘High time to find a right match,’ my mother said.

No. No. I screamed but the voice feared coming out. I could hardly be heard. I saw my one big wish dwindling - falling in love and finding my choice of man. Couldn’t do much.

‘You will fall in love once you get to know the boy.’ My parents said. The obedience gene in me played its role obediently.

And then on, years flew. Lost in the world of corporate life and responsibility, juggling multiple roles, struggling to strike a balance, I lost track of the years, of my life and lost my identity too. The fast-forward mode of life had shifted me on to a completely different world.

One fine morning, everything around me came to a sudden stop. I wasn’t my cheery bubbly self anymore. Questions were more. No solutions. When, where and why did things change, I wondered. I desperately wished to turn back the clock and start everything anew. But I was already a mother of three by then. Now that there was no looking back, All I had was to forge ahead. The warrior in me woke up. Trying out my hand at different things, I found some solace.

Self-help and spiritual books started filling in my books’ rack.

Then followed Novels of a different genre. Somehow this time, the obedience gene in me failed to listen to my mom’s words, ‘start some spiritual practices.’

But something else was going through my mind. Each time, I encountered people with unique traits, my mind was coming up with stories. In the meeting, presentations and even while I was around people at work my truant mind would escape to the world of freedom. To the world of words. It soon got to the point where I realized that the only things I really cared about were my kids and my new-found passion for writing.

That was it. My passion weaned me away from my corporate life. Finally, at thirty-eight, I started writing. Writing anything and everything popped up. I had fallen in love with the words. Words lend flight to distant lands and far off places. Words give life to the dreams hidden within. Words kindle the passion that no man can.

My first dream book saw the light of the day in 2014. Soon, in just three months I came up with the second.

The emotions that had been festering inside me for long, poured out when I got my website done, www.rajashreebhagwat.com. I write about Adoption, Parenting, handling teen issues, Self-Development, Relationship, Spirituality and issues related to women. I love to help people with my blogs, giving them tips and tricks to deal with everyday issues.

What I am today, I owe it all to the words. Words bridged my two worlds, my dream world, and the reality.

When I do not write stories, I read, I cook, I take up writing assignments and spend time with my family. I also maintain a beautiful kitchen garden with unique plants - Bhringraj, Brahmi, lemon grass, turmeric, Taro, along with a few more vegetable shrubs. You can see the pictures of the Bringhraj, Brahmi, and Bel plants below.

With all the events happening at a fast pace I was called Impatient, restless, hasty decision maker and a lot more things. But I love the way I am. I admit I am a crazy woman. And this craziness is the reason for me being alive, living my life to the fullest.
With my kids, all grown up, I now have time in my hands. I believe, learning keeps us going in life and so I spend most of my time in learning new things. Spirituality, Reiki, facial yoga, are all my new additions to my daily routine. Lately, watching movies on MN+ while I have my lunch alone, has been my new interest. Out of the many films I watched, Sex and the City was one film I loved to the core. It resonated so much with my emotions. A must watch, for all the women in their late thirties and forties.

Hold on, you are now about to hear one weird thing I love the most - Gossip. Sounds weirdly weird? I know. But that’s the truth. And the other strangest thing you can find in me is, I am freakishly good at imitating people. I have enough to feel blessed. But thankfully, I do still crave enough to never stop trying.

Writing is an endless journey that I revel in, with all its winding twists and turns! Never a dull moment, never a time to regret, life is truly worth living!

So, this was all about my journey of parenting and writing.

In the first line of my intro, out of all many others, I had mentioned earlier, remember? If not, please scroll back.

Coming to those many others, I was good at pencil sketching and was a classical dancer, a banker what has all now become a history. I was also an HR professional in JSW Steels, one of the giant steel producer in India. My twelve years of stint in JSW has molded me to what I am today, a perfectionist, a multi-tasker, a goal-oriented person, a chaser of my dreams and a good communicator. My experiences working with lazy co-workers, pervert bosses, egoistic male colleagues, self-centered female co-workers, a queen bee boss, jealous and unsupportive peers, handling tough situations have all taken me through rough patches. The bullies, betrayals, harassments polished me. Do you know, a chunk of coal kept under high pressure and friction for a long time becomes a precious diamond.

I love changes and simple people. I hate routines and liars.

They say men get naughty at 40. But I say women get naughtier than men. I learned to flirt at 34. Shhh! It’s a secret.

Now, let me rant about my future goals. Before that, I wish to mention one mantra I believe and follow – when I say something, it is for myself first, then to others. The same holds good here too. I remind myself about my goals to reassure myself that I can do because I should.

My long term goals:

1. Earn. Hence, my presence here. When said by one of my friends, I got so curious I couldn’t help but come up with this piece of my introduction.
2. Come up with a book related to mid-life.
3. Post more blogs to help people deal with their day to day issues.
4. Marketing of my two books.
5. Maintain my slim physique.
6. Travel to new places and countries.
7. Start a homestay business.
8. Learn Astrology.
9. Keep facial wrinkles at bay.

My short-term goals for now:

1. To have a new stylish and classy haircut. Age appropriate, of course.
2. To keep going with whatever I have learned and started - writing, spirituality, etc.
3. To add value to each day, making it better than that of the previous day.

A bit too much?

Not really, because it is all linked to each other. It is just that I have to get started with something, somewhere and then sit back and relax.

The moments I love the most lately are when I let my creative thoughts pour with a fine glass of red wine.

My message to all who are reading this – Life is not short though, life is not long either. So, do not waste your precious time in cribbing, regretting, overanalyzing, overthinking about what had already happened. Enjoy each moment, be it bad, or good, because we all have come on the earth pre-destined. Give your best and be prepared for the worst. Life offers us thousands of opportunities. It’s up to us to identify and make the best of it.

Come, let’s join our hands for making this earth a better place to live.

Writing my introduction was a real fun. More importantly, it got me deep into thinking about myself, my interests and my past which otherwise wouldn’t be possible due to my other priorities. It helped me rediscover myself. I am happy to be a part of the team. Hoping to learn, and meet new people, I wholeheartedly step in this new world.

Wishing you all good luck and Thank you in advance.