Delightful Dipti

  All of us look forward to taking breaks every now and then. It is quite natural to humans to take these intermittent pauses. Fortunately, we are a blessed species that we don’t have to hunt for our meals everyday, well many of us!  So, 2021 turned out to be the year of sabbatical, giving me that ‘much needed’ break. Having worked for more than two decades already, I needed that time off which is not prescribed by a holiday destination or a life event. That period of ‘lull’, of ‘Do Nothing’, of ‘Sitting quietly and watching the world go by’! And I did manage to take a generous break of about five months from the workplace.  Now, given my ‘living by the clock’ lifestyle, I am very used to planning things. It comes so naturally that at times I get stressed by impromptu situations. Some people call it OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) 😀 But, this is how I was brought up seeing my parents planning things and executing it to perfection. And there I go with my first mistake...

  As I write this page, Mumbai and many other cities are observing a sharp rise in Covid cases. The waves of uncertainty and chaos keep knocking on our doors just when we start to feel a bit secure. Secure….doesn’t it just mean bright sunlight, sufficient food on the table and fresh water to drink?? Probably no, I perceived it slightly differently, embellished with my fancy thoughts. I wished to bring up this topic a long time ago - (in)security. Most of us deal with this sentiment at every phase of life. However, there are phases in our lives where insecurities might bog us down. As I began to embrace my emotional well-being last year, taking some time off was inevitable. Interestingly, I kept on postponing the decision for a long time. And reasons, many - everything that ranged from ‘I can’t give up’ to ‘healthcare security’ to ‘savings’ and what not!     As and when I pondered over taking a break, there were these persistent and equally strong thoughts on my finan...