The Anchors of Our Lives ⚓

Last month, I was on a super short impromptu visit to India. I had previously planned for a longer haul sometime later in the year, but since I had some urgent official works, I had to make this quick trip. Two weeks flew away in a jiffy - travelling to and fro, and through three cities within India. Too much travelling, I know.  The trip was hectic but extremely fruitful, both emotionally and functionally. It doesn't matter that I couldn't buy Indian-wear, savour all the Indian delicacies I had been missing or meet all the people I wanted to hang out with. Yet, just being in my homeland and connecting with my roots anchor me to my purpose and mission.

Back to the grind, I am currently working on creating a system that can help as many people as possible understand their skin and hair problems. I see more and more people ignoring their concerns because of either lack of doctors, longer queues, or unsuitable timings, leading to them applying anything or everything suggested on the internet. Please don't do this. It will further complicate your issues or aggravate the disease leading to complications. Always check the credentials of the advisor before taking medical advice on social media.

Apart from that, my writing has taken a major setback in the last 3 years. Firstly, since I was moving to Germany, my focus was on the nitty-gritty and official work. Paperwork and setting base to a new country takes some time and a lot of work. Then, life here took priority. And now, when I am comparatively settled, I am at a stage in writing where I keep trying to pick up where I left but it gets difficult every day. Writing is like any other art which thrives on consistency. A lot of people ask me how I managed to write and post stories almost every other day, back then. My answer is because I was consistent, the ball kept rolling. After Spark & Spice, I received hundreds of queries about Book 2. I have been working on it forever, because I did not edit after the second draft. I start and stop. I start and stop, again. I even started Book 3 Spark & Spice Forever, so that I stay anchored in 'that' zone mentally but even that met with so much resistance from readers. People didn't want to read Book 3 before Book 2. And my procrastinator self followed what people asked me to. Finally, I have started writing the blog again and I hopefully continue, except when I am travelling (as in past 3 weeks). Now, I will start Book 2 again and finish it in one go, so that the gaps are sealed seamlessly.

I am also planning to keep a journal of my journey of completing and publishing Book 2 of Spark & Spice, with my log of the day and some writing tips. Let me know if you would want to read it.

Some of you have stayed in touch with me for past so many years. I am so proud to see a lot of you working in diverse fields and following their passions too. At the same time, there are a few who were following their passion or calling a few years back but have given up now. Maybe you have discontinued as your art doesn't give you the same joy as before. Maybe you are on a break like I was. Maybe you want to pick it up again but don't know how to. Consider this as a sign and try to get back to it if it still speaks to you. Once you begin, it will follow you all over again. I may have been on a break but I know I will pick it up, more strongly than ever.

And when I can do it, along with my work, family, two kids, traveling, and consulting patients, you can too. All of us have different issues and all of us deal with them in our own ways. The best way that works for me is to have an anchor that brings you back to your pursuit and keeps you hooked until you finish your task. Anchors are for the times when we need support to begin or continue something. Not for most of the regular days. Find an anchor that brings you back to your calling and let it hold you on your table for at least an hour or so.

I used to listen to music when I studied for medical exams. It was my trusted anchor for a long time when long hours of sitting on the desk was needed. Then, it was replaced by a wrist watch. I used to take it off my wrist and would lay before my laptop to begin working. My fingers moved on the laptop with the moving needles of the watch. It's funny and a bit silly too, but works. These days, I light a candle and make coffee as I sit down to write. These are my anchors on days when writing becomes a task.

Do you have any anchors which swiftly take you back to your work on dull days and remind you to not be distracted? Share with me if you have them. I am excited to know.

Ciao for now.

Take care 💓

M.

PS. I would love to hear from you.
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