Okay, that was a bit off the topic, you know. I know you might have the look on your face which says, “Kehna kya chahtey ho”.
To sum it all up, I just wanted to say, currently I may not have a physical space of my own. But in the virtual world, I do. And this blog is it. You see, sometimes the dreams which don’t let you sleep, always tend to appear in all your daily activities or you may end up linking them somehow. So that’s why the off topic comparison.
Coming back, this story is about a girl, whom I met at my workplace some four years ago. We were in the same department but in different teams. So I only knew about her, as I liked to talk or know people. But never got an opportunity to talk. But that was going to come soon. When I was being shifted to a new department, I was supposed to give the handover of my work to her. I will confess here that, she troubled me a bit even after my transfer was complete. Some or the other query use to pop up in our internal messenger or on email or on phone. Sometimes it was so much that my new team members asked whether we should ask our seniors to intervene as it may impact the new work.
Yes, it would have been an easy route to stop it. But I generally do not use or choose the options which are kind of last resort. I try to solve things amicably as much as possible. After a month or two down, the troubling stopped as she had synced in the new work. And then we rarely had much talks. Once in a while a ‘Hi’ or ‘Bye’ if our paths crossed
Two years ago when she was shifted to my department, our communication actually started. We use to talk, like, almost daily as our seating arrangements were nearby. Asking/sharing food when hunger use to take control or working together for the Annual office event or those traditional days. And most importantly, we both had a same hobby. Trekking. So sometimes we use to go together for those events as well. This was like a regular routine. In this period she was also back from her Maternity Leave. And generally, a little weight gain is quite normal post delivery. Sometimes I use to feel like suggesting her to think about Yoga or Brisk Walking. But then, I refrained from doing so for couple of reasons. One, being a full time mother plus a full time working professional, it isn’t easy to take out time from those restricted 24 hours. And secondly, you just cannot or rather should not directly drop in suggestions to some one about their personal lives, even if it is genuine. Not every time they may be welcomed. So I use to just tell her to start climbing steps while coming to office and since she was into trekking so the walking part also got covered. For the record, she has completed a trek of Lonavla to Bhimashankar which is almost 75 KMS in just one and half day.
Now, fast forward to March 2020. The biggest speed breaker of our lifetime came in, Corona.
We all were working from home now. And this had disturbed all our regular routines. For me, more than the office routine I was missing my morning walks/cycling. Plus the pandemic resulted in cancellation of all running events and also the trekking events too. It is a more of a necessity for me, you can say, as for a person who has been a obese for so many years. These were the habits that helped me to bring my weight a bit down. So, now with no movement meant the schedule will be broken which was established over a period of 4 years.
But let's see how The Lady fared in the Lockdown. I don’t know whether it was April or May in this year. She suddenly started uploading pictures of herself in Yoga poses in her Instagram. Initially, it was a start of something new so I had appreciated her. I was hoping it stays consistent, as in fitness world, that’s the most important thing. Well, the lady was in with a plan it seemed. The pictures started coming daily, now with more hashtags and yoga trainers tagged in the post. Slowly more exercises were added in and pictures got converted into videos now.
Generally, we take a break on a Sunday. But since she is on a mission, she is always trying to snatch some time of everyday for her new found passion. The one signal to know if you have converted an activity into your passion is when you regret, if you miss a day. And in one of her post, where she had detailed how she felt sad about missing a session on account of some other work was that signal. Though she was content that she had tried to convert her regular chores into a compensatory workout on that day as well.
Even when she started the journey, she hadn’t bought the Yoga Mat or any accessories. That is another signal when you can say safely, that the person is doing a particular thing only for herself/himself. It's not been done to show off or just get some likes or to attract some lime light. But it is done, just to achieve peace of mind.
So after some time I stopped messaging or complimenting her on every post. One reason is, ofcourse, it may become a cliché. But more importantly, I knew she has gone beyond now and she isn’t waiting for anyone’s approval or hearing good things about her journey. She is self motivated.
Through her posts, I was reading some Sanskrit names of the asanas for the first time. By now, the captions of the pictures were also becoming longer. And without mentioning it in her 'Bio' of Instagram, she is turning in, to be an Influencer. I remember one comment I had heard about her earlier, that the way she manages her work + home + hobbies is actually commendable. Even I feel that too. I mean, who doesn’t has problems? But few are able to keep them inside and keep a smile on the outside. It always sends out positive vibes. She is able to do this.
For me in the Corona times, I use to keep doing something or the other which, I hoped, would at least compensate for some percentage of the regular walking schedule which I had before corona. But, being in home, it isn’t that easy to stay motivated all the time. Sometimes you feel the need to breathe some fresh air. So her regular status updates was providing that fuel. In case, on a day if I skip doing those little somethings, then her post use to remind me about consistency and make me regret that I missed it.
I remember asking her suggestions on some Yoga Asanas for me to begin with. I also use the option “Save for Later” in Instagram to some of her post if I wish to attempt it later. One of the great moment in her journey, according to me, was when she had begun attempting the headstand. It is one of the difficult pose and one needs ample practice for the same.
She is also, now, being invited by trek organising group to join their Instagram Live session. And she herself has started taking Live Training sessions too.
I believed that this is the story that needed to be documented. Yes, it is just a gist. The real struggle can only be described by the person themself. We all know that every persons story in this world is unique. But we are so much engrossed in our day-to-day routine lives, that we miss out on observing the uniqueness or living our own story.
So this post is to your story, Lady. I wish, what has gone by uptil now are just few pages of the book. Keep them coming.
-SR.
PS: I have already reserved my free lifetime membership if she plans to start a fitness centre in future ;-)
PPS: May The Force Be With You.
