Six months into 2019 and I am shocked at the changes happening in my life. I have resigned from my job as a medical teacher and now self-employed as a private practitioner, less juggling and simpler life. This series of life’s like that (inspired by Reader’s Digest), will bring you up to date with what’s happening on my work and play life.
Professional life
While growing up, I had plans of forever being a medical teacher. Its the coolest profession. You treat patients and also train future doctors. But God always has plans for you. If not for that job, I would never have understood, how people live and work in small towns and villages in India. Some things we take for granted, like a movie night at the cinema hall is not possible. But you can have a calmer life.
Writing and Blogging
But then life gives you a curve ball, and you can enjoy the game or feel frustrated. I am just glad I can still do everything I wanted, and my writing goes on. With all the upheavals, writing and blogging, are cool stabilizers. Just like your BFF, my blog is a friend with an easy familiarity, wherever I relocate. Something about a virtual home agrees with me. I like the location-independent nature of digital work.
While I love writing and blogging, the economics of it is always something I enjoy researching. I am picky about the work I do, online and offline. Picky about quantity and quality. Anything I do needs to keep me at peace with myself. That’s the research which is going on even now.
If you want to keep up with what’s happening in the health scene worldwide, click the green button below quickly!
Featured post
How is the Health of the Nation: The report is an eye-opener!
The best part about self-employment is, you can adjust how much to work and can adjust your holidays according to school vacations. You also can plan your life better, or that’s what I am hoping. The next update will have more understanding of how this is working out.
Politics, Violence and Social Health
With Indian election drama, keeping us entertained, this half of the year seems a little empty of scheduled drama, but that’s okay. I am sure things will come up to entertain us.
The Doctor’s protest last week which was withdrawn yesterday has given all of us in the medical fraternity a lot of insight. Maybe we can all work together as a society, to make health and healthcare better for all, rather than a blame game.
Exercise and Wellness
The intense sweaty West Bengal summers, make keeping up exercise schedules crazy. Walking and yoga with my daughter is the only thing I can manage. This we started together some time back to help her concentrate more, and it seems to be working. Good thing schools are doing their part, to make yoga and meditation a part of the activity.
Relaxation and Travel
After coming back from our holidays at a tea resort in Darjeeling hills, the summers of the plains seem suffocating. But, its mango season and living in a district with plenty of mango orchards, ripe mangoes are a daily treat. I am just trying to avoid bingeing and enjoy a few slices without obsessing about how yum they are. Something about fruits fresh from the garden, that tastes different. They are firmer, juicier, more flavorsome and tastes so much better than any supermarket cling film wrapped fruit.
We visited an organic farm last Sunday. The farmer is an ex-cop who decided to explore organic farming to bring wholesome nutrition possible for his family and friends. We got organic red rice and black rice from the farm. The red rice took some time to cook, but tasted amazing with an interesting nutty flavor. He has plans of making this big and we have become permanent customers!
There’s a local handicrafts and farmers market type, fair going on, where I go for two reasons every year.
1)To stock up on pickles. They are high on salt and sugar and is not healthy. But do have a good dose of probiotics. Not recommended for everyone.
2)I also go to buy beautifully handmade crochetted table covers, cushion covers.
Books, Gardening and Plans
I published my sixth book with Blogchatter ebook and doing the creative writing course with them. It’s a learning experience.
In the next part of the year,I want to garden more and exercise more.
Travel to relaxing gateways is making us happy. But we want quick flight destinations. That’s a problem from Kolkata sometimes. But my wishing chair is getting ready, and one day we hope to travel as fast as we wish. I received this tag fro Damyanti and passing on the baton to Mahathi. What are you doing, this side of 2019? Let me know in the comments below.
Nice,Really Your writing skill is too good।
So good to know that you’ve been able to strike a balance between your passion and your profession, Amrita. It seems like you had a full year and a lot was going on that you were contented with. Wishing the rest of 2019 brings you more reasons to feel happy and contented about. The Creative writing course sounds very interesting. Maybe, I’ll have a go at it myself, sometime this year!
Thanks, Esha. Yes I kind of like the life I have now.
Sounds like you had a nice year so far, Amrita. I wish you a more active later half of 2019 with lots gardening. 🙂
Thanks Vinitha
All the best for your private practice. The vacation at the tea estate sounds like it must have been delightful! And I hear you on all the doctor’s strifes that are happening across India. High time we stopped the apathy & blame game & improved the infrastructure and capacity at hospitals.
Thank you.Thats what we all pray for.
I always admired your multitasking abilities Amrita and this post is another proof of the dexterous mind and hands that you have.
Congratulations for publishing 6th book! Its a no mean feat.
Wishing you a great year ahead.
Thanks Anagha.You are very kind.
I’m glad you manage to balance your profession with your passion, so very well. The best part about writing is that you can do it anywhere and nothing can get in your way, if you really want to do it. Keep writing, stay happy!
Thanks, Apeksha.The balance is what I strive for.
Good to know a bit more about you. Was it hard to leave the job and practice privately? I do think it gives you more time for yourself. Good to know about your vacation and those mangoes. 🙂
Hope your next six month go like you want. Exploring and living life on your terms.
It was not as hard as such, but a little sudden. Somehow felt better after I stopped juggling life and work. Now as you mentioned, I am living life on my own terms. Almost.
That tea resort at Darjeeling looks lovely!
Thanks Sunita
You seemed to have done a lot in last six months. I was in Kolkata in May and the weather was horrible. Congrats on your book and how is the creative writing course going on?
Thanks Balaka.Kolkata is very humid during these times. The Creative writing course is interesting.It’s still going on.
Nice to know that you are doing what brings meaning and purpose to your life, Amrita. And that you manage to balance off things with holidays, outings and hobbies. More power to you!
Thanks, Corinne. Balance is most important I feel.
All the very best to you for new beginnnings. We are living the city life and yearn for some peace but can’t muster the will to leave it behind too. You do so much in the limited time and that’s really commendable. I hope I can get some inspiration from you to be regular with blogging.
Its different for different times of life.I think with Blogging too there are ups and downs.But persisting helps.
Good luck in your new venture as a private practitioner. My daughter who is doing private practice doesn’t know whether she’s coming or going. Of course hers is a dependent speciality unlike yours where you can call the shots. But its nice to have a work life balance and I’m glad you’ve found yours. Good luck and keep smiling
Yes. You are right. Finding the work-life balance made us take a lot of decisions in the last six months. Life is short and its best enjoyed with health and happiness.
I miss those mangoes here in this season. Iam happy for you for becoming self employed. All the best and I wish you more time of blogging and vacations.
Thanks Ramya.