If you are a professional in an emerging industry, like gaming, data science, cloud computing, digital marketing etc., that has promising career opportunities, this is your chance to be featured in #CareerKiPaathshaala. Fill up this form today!
Irrespective of age, marital status, occupation - every woman can do with a hobby or interest to enrich her life - just for herself
Trees, plants, gardens, flowers was something I have loved for a long long time. However the liking remained unstructured and drifted into nurturing potted plants but I did not really try to develop it as a hobby for reasons unknown. Last year, I learnt about a course in Field Botany and I began that with great apprehension. Would I be able to get back to Science after all these years, should I give up precious evening hours on weekends (usually devoted to family outings), and so on and so forth.
Yet I did complete the course and gained hugely from it. Besides making new friends of all age groups, the best one was the greenery around me that I had taken for granted till now. I know the names of trees and their general flowering seasons and peculiarities. What I don’t know, I know whom to ask or which websites to refer to.
I have been walking up and down my lane for last several decades and only noticed its green canopy. It was absolutely thrilling to identify these trees and to discover that some were uncommon species.
My new found hobby has helped me truly enjoy natural beauty around me. Hence morning walks are different every month, due to the changing floral landscape on my route. The trees at any holiday destinations add to its enjoyment and enrich the experience. A surprising offshoot of this hobby was that I no longer needed to indulge in ‘small talk’ or gossip with fellow travellers (especially in group tours). Suddenly I was alone yet not really alone on my travels or outings. And the spotlight when enlightening others on various ‘tree’ peculiarities is wonderful as well! I have known people who have made a second career out of such developed interests and some have become authorities on their favourite subject. An opportunity to visit wonderful areas in Maharashtra that were off the beaten track was an added bonus.
As our children grow up many of us find more time on our hands – working moms included. This is the time to revive any old hobbies that may have taken backstage for various reasons. Else you may discover some new interests. Most cities now offer structured training by experts and joining such courses will be a good idea to brush up your knowledge or even learn something new. I chose Field Botany but each one of us will have our own special interests. Browse the Web and local dailies for advertisements of any courses or activities. You can even contribute your time and efforts for an NGO working in your field of interest.
Reconnecting with and nurturing your hobbies will be an enjoyable experience. It’s never too late to try something new… Go on. What are you waiting for?
Pic credit: Jeevan Jose (Used under a creative commons license)
Archana is a physiotherapist, fitness enthusiast, amateur field botanist and nurtures a few bonsai. Happiest on a road less traveled. read more...
Women's Web is an open platform that publishes a diversity of views, individual posts do not necessarily represent the platform's views and opinions at all times.
Stay updated with our Weekly Newsletter or Daily Summary - or both!
Shows like Indian Matchmaking only further the argument that women must adhere to social norms without being allowed to follow their hearts.
When Netflix announced that Indian Matchmaking (2020-present) would be renewed for a second season, many of us hoped for the makers of the show to take all the criticism they faced seriously. That is definitely not the case because the show still continues to celebrate regressive patriarchal values.
Here are a few of the gendered notions that the show propagates.
A mediocre man can give himself a 9.5/10 and call himself ‘the world’s most eligible bachelor’, but an independent and successful woman must be happy with receiving just 60-70% of what she feels she deserves.
As long as teachers are competent in their job, and adhere to the workplace code of conduct, how does it matter what they do in their personal lives?
A 30 year old Associate Professor at a well-known University, according to an FIR filed by her, was forced to resign because the father of one of her students complained that he found his son looking at photographs of her, which according to him were “objectionable” and “bordering on nudity”.
There are two aspects to this case, which are equally disturbing, and which together make me question where we are heading as a society.
When the father of an 18 year old finds his son looking at photographs of a lady in a swimsuit, he can do many things. What this parent allegedly did was to dash off a letter to the University which states: