There’s nothing as comforting as sitting with your friends and chatting. Giggling, smiling, talking rubbish and also doing things that actually inspire. And that’s exactly what was the outcome of a fun-filled evening at the club with my friends Diya, Mala and Priya. When we all started our married lives years ago, we were all non-working mothers trying to master the skills of our mothers of multitasking and running brilliant homes. Today our kids have grown up or in the process where much supervision is not needed and all of us are working women who are doing things because there was a process of reinvention, relearning and rethinking.
That evening we realised how important it is to move outside our comfort zone and do something. Learning a language is the best way to combat a mind that maybe rusting. Of course, living in Kerala, many of us will say where can you learn anything here? Do you know you can actually learn Spanish in Cherai, French in Kaloor and German from a person living in Fort Kochi just to name a few options. Kottayam boasts too of a lovely lady teaching French and I am sure there are many more like that. Otherwise the Internet is always there.
Driving, kalari, dance, yoga, cycling and even changing a habit, makes anyone feel younger and sharpens our abilities. I am a kind of person who gets bored being in a comfort zone so I am constantly trying to do without things and make new things a part of my life. Working in an office with people half my age also always inspires me. For me, this New Year is to try something new. It could be even a commitment newly made to your diet, excercise and to yourself. I know so many people who have even taken up painting classes and cooking classes just to come up with an out-of-the-box menu, gardening and stitching all of which actually help bring a sense of achievement.
If you are the kind who has nothing to learn, then maybe it’s time you shared what you know. Starting classes where you can impart your skill or knowledge makes you interact with different people from different backgrounds and age groups which in turn will just give you direction and inspire you to give off your best. And since the New Year is still new, maybe it's a good time to start... Because after all, you are never given a dream without the power to make it come true.
The writer is a Kochiite and you can contact her on anjali.kurian@gmail.com
