Manali Manan Desai's Blog, page 74

A Blessing in Disguise ~ A Curator & Creator of Handmade and Handpainted Products Shares Her Journey

Ntozake Shange says,

“I think art is a healing force, and if we give in to the joy that can be found in art, then we are able to sustain ourselves in spite of ourselves.”

In today’s #FridayFeature blog focusing on the #WonderWomen stories, we present a woman who found just this joy and even a source of healing through art. Meet, Lavanya Venkatesh, artist, entrepreneur and founder of Hastkrit. Hastkrit is a platform for all cutesy handmade everyday essential items from pouches to coasters and serving trays. What made Lavanya get into this artistic field, how did Hastkrit come to be about and what motivates Lavanya to continue on this artistic spree? Let’s find out in her own words.

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“I suffered an ankle injury due to an accident and had to undergo surgery. After this surgery I was on bed rest for 6 weeks. During that time, I started drawing by seeing videos on YouTube and other digital platforms. Through these, I learnt how to do zentangle and mandala art. I continued drawing and realised the need for hand-painted products and so started drawing and painting on different products like bags, pouches, trays, coasters etc. The art helped me heal and become a better person and helped reduce my stress and pain.

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Once or twice, I shared the photos of these products on my social media (personal) profiles and with a few friends. The wonderful comments like “These look great” or “Wow! Can I buy this?” made me realize the potential these products and my art had. Hence, was born Hastkrit.

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The struggle is mainly about penetrating the market and making people understand the beauty of these products and such art. In India, people are not aware of hand-painted products and do not realise the time and effort that goes into hand-painting a design on a product. So, since my price for a product is higher, there is always comparison to a printed design on product.

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My entrepreneurial journey has just begun, and Hastkrit is still a baby of sorts. Hence, I am yet to see or meet a turning point in my business. However, the positive reviews on my work and the products of Hastkrit, are what I consider the milsetones in this journey so far. And the turning would surely have to be that accident, which turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

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Hastkrit in Sanskrit means hand creation. It is a brand that I started in 2016. The brand is a way to create and make available handmade and products. My biggest motivation is the sheer passion I have for art and my hunger to keep learning and creating new products.

The journey so far has been gradual but fulfilling. I have been in business for the past 3 years. It has been a slow progress and I am hoping that I would be able to open a store or a boutique with exquisite hand-painted products.

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A lot of people think I acquired my artistic skills through a known teacher or guide and even ask me who my guru is. But, here’s a proud open secret I’m proud to share; I have not learnt art or drawing or have never been to any classes. Whatever I draw or painting is just what comes to my mind. I am a self-taught artist. It has been a way of expressing myself and has given me immense peace and happiness.

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There have been a number of learning’s in this journey. I have become a more confident person as a whole and

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“I am willing to face anything to make my passion and brand a success.”
“I have also learnt patience and I have started to believe in my art.”

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To drop in a message to Lavanya, have a look at her cutesy artistic products, and order (one or more) of these for yourself, please follow the links below:

Facebook
Engrave
Instagram

 

 

 

 

A Common Goal & Passion ~ Two Digital Media Enthusiasts and Brand Consultants Share Their Story

Pierre Omidyar says,

“Thanks to digital media we have technology, finally, that for the first time in human history allows people to really maintain rich connections with much larger numbers of people.”

In our #MondayMotivation blog focusing on #WonderWomen segment, today we present not one, but two such visionary women who understood the importance of digital presence and in order to help brands use this platform effectively started their own platform. Meet, Brand Consultants and founders of Unclutter Media, Loveena Mehta and Devanshee Mavani. How did they come to quit their jobs and come together to start this digital consultancy firm? Let’s find out in their own words.

 

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“What got us into it was our common interest to something of our own rather than work a 9 to 6 job for someone else. Prior to Unclutter Media, both of us were working in very bureaucratic companies. We knew each other through common friends and were well acquainted.

 

In our respective jobs, we always felt there weren’t many opportunities to really make a difference and add value. Fast forward to early 2019, we met at a friend’s house. Over a game of Monopoly Deal, we got to talking – and Loveena simply went like “I want to start working for myself now, all I need is a Graphic Designer” and Devanshee stared at her for a second and said “I am a Graphic Designer”. The 10-minute conversation was all that we needed to start this journey together. We found this clear need for smaller brands to declutter their brand image.  Our mission took shape and now we work towards providing a more affordable and accessible means to help such brands get on social media and build a clutter-free beautiful brand for their businesses. Our pilot project was for one of our friend’s social media page. We worked really hard to create the best content and strategy for the brand and turns out we loved working with each other. As a team we work really well together by playing to our individual strengths to our best abilities. Devanshee is our very own ‘Dealmaker’ and Loveena is our versatile ‘People’s Person’.

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It wasn’t easy getting people to understand the importance of digital media and the main challenge we still face is that brands are still not completely aware of why moving to a digital platform online it is of utmost importance. With the increasing accessibility of social media, there is a tremendous opportunity for brands to tap into markets that weren’t possible to reach just a few years ago and our aim is grab this opportunity with both hands for the benefit of ourselves, but more so for the benefit of the many brands that are not reaching to the right audience because of lack of proper or complete absence on various digital platforms.

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Signing our pilot project and getting all the appreciation for our effort was a big confidence booster and most definitely the turning point for Unclutter Media. I still remember the joy on our faces and the happy jumps in our office on that day. A tiny victory, but we felt like we were on top of the world! After this project was when our journey really started.

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As for motivation, we are each other’s motivation. We work really hard not only to keep our clients happy, but more to give them the best experience that they deserve. And when our clients recognise and appreciate our hard work, it makes us want to run an extra mile for them.

 

Our journey so far has been great. We’ve gotten an opportunity to work with diverse brands of all sizes. and we plan to continue working with them. Our future plans are to grow our team and improve our services through constant innovation in this field. There have been quite a few successes, as for us completion of each project and getting appreciated for it is a milestone in itself. However the two that we’re most proud of are these:

Unclutter was featured in Midday – it was a big deal for us to be recognised on such a public platform. 
Signing our 10th client – trust us, this was a really good feeling.

 

Our combined learning through our separate and now combined professional experiences have been

To be patient.

 

To celebrate all the smallest successes.

 

To learn to deal with people. 

And most importantly,

To never give up.

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To get in touch with Loveena and Devanshee or have a look the work portfolio of Unclutter Media, follow the links below:

Loveena Instagram
Devanshee Instagram
Unclutter Media Instagram page
Unclutter Media Facebook page 
Loveena’s other Instagram handle (where she shares her travel stories)

 

 

When Work is Your Identity ~ The Principal of A Prestigious School Shares Her Story

I always wanted to give more to people, than people could give to me.

Walking Over & Under A Bridge And A Brook

In focus for today’s #TravelerTuesday is the Bridge of Adam & Eve in Pordenone, Italy.

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The above photo is taken from the bridge which runs over the river Noncello. I was exploring the city on foot and was done for the day when I came across this beautiful crossing.

That’s when I recalled glancing at it through the bus window when I had entered the city. It had intrigued me then too, so I was happy to have come across it by accident once again. As I crossed the bridge and took in the beautiful view of the river, I saw a path going below to the riverbank. Immediately, I decided to venture out and explore more. As I walked down the beaten path, I came closer to the river and right at the end of the path, I was at the edge of the river.

The best part? The river water was so clear that I could see the bottom of the river!

From down there, I could see the Bridge of Adam & Eve too!

It was like a full circle, getting to see the river from the bridge, and then getting to see the bridge from the river bank!

I climbed back up and captured the river view again, but this time of the other side.

If in Pordenone, its impossible to not walk over this agile bridge with a neo-Renaissance style. It connects the old town area of the Church of Santissima Accedare from Via San Marco. These overlook a cathedral and a slender bell tower that , together with the Palazzo Comunale, forms the trio of the most representative historical buildings in the city of Pordenone.

The boat that you see nestled in the river, makes an excursion on the Noncello river once a week. Though I missed out on that opportunity, I enjoyed the walk around this structure, calmly enjoying the landscape and waters of the Noncello.

Pro-tip: If visiting during afternoon or evening wear comfortable clothes and footwear as there is quite a bit of walking involved and you may end up sweating if you’re dressed in warm clothes.

 

 

Battling Depression Through Profession and Passion ~ A Medical Student & An Aspiring Writer Shares Her Story

Israelmore Ayivor says,

“You will never be rewarded for the dreams you slept over day in day out. You will be rewarded for dreams you stay awake and achieved.”

 

In our today’s #MondayMotivation blog focusing on the #WonderWomen segment, we present a young dreamer as well as achiever. Meet, Shivaani Ravichandran, who is currently a medical student aspiring to become a physiotherapist and a psychologist, alongside following her passion for writing and poetry too. What motivates her to follow these diverse fields and how does she manage it all? Let’s find out in her own words.

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“Being a medical student, my profession is my main identity, but I identify myself more as a writer or rather a poet because I love to write; it makes me feel good. Probably writing is my inbuilt nature because I started writing from a very young age, I remember having my very own personal diary right from my grade 5.

To me writing is a therapy, a safe place to voice out my emotions, to unwind myself, I usually write when my emotions are at an extreme high; irrespective of whether it is sad high or happy high.

I believe that life looks beautiful in the eyes of a poet and to this regard I completely agree with the famous quote by Anne Frank which says, “Paper has more patience than people. I can shake off everything if I write, my sorrows disappear, my courage is reborn. “

 I can totally feel this!

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The biggest struggle for me as a writer was working up the courage to share my written work with the world. Initially writing was very personal and worked as a therapy for me. Trust me I had never even dreamt of starting a blog to share my writings. I used to mindlessly scribble on back pages of my notebooks when my friends introduced me to Instagram. Here I found an amazing platform where I could share my thoughts and voice out my emotions in the form of quotes and poetry. It took a lot of courage to share my work publicly, but it was not that tough as my fellow Instagrammers encouraged and motivated me throughout my journey.

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But the real struggle was to manage my medical course as well as writing simultaneously. This was a constant juggling struggle as for me, my passion for writing was equally important as my medical profession was. I didn’t consider writing as just a hobby but a powerful tool to explore more and to voice out my thoughts through words. With time and through some experience, I have finally learned to balance both well, without compromising on either.

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The motivation behind my medical profession and my writing passion are my own experiences. My depression, pain and struggles that I faced throughout my journey are my all-time motivation. My battle with depression was the toughest but giving up is not an option for me. I didn’t want to give up because I wanted my life to be an inspiration for someone to survive during their struggles. My family and friends have encouraged and motivated me throughout my journey, and I’m grateful to them for being my support system through all the lows.

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The journey so far has been gratifying. I found a writer, poet, a storyteller in me in as an inbuilt version. This creativity flows from me naturally as I never really made any efforts to sit and learn the art of it.  What I write, is always from my heart and through my emotions. I’m not a trained writer but an emotional writer. I pour out my heart, mixed with my emotions but now I aspire to learn more and write for a cause to voice out the silenced headlines of our society. I share my writings in the form of quotes, poetry and epigrams on my Instagram page.  Very soon I will be publishing my own anthology and books with topics closely related to psychology.  

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For now, the only social media platform where I’m actively active is Instagram. But I would like to expand and share my journey of writing through other writing and blogging platforms too in the nearby future. My writings reflect my thoughts on mental-wellness, psychology, body positivity, feminism, equality and self-love mainly. I’m working hard to improve myself so that my words can travel to the roots of the society. The proudest achievement for me as a writer as far was getting recognized by the official poetry world organization through Instagram, (their Instagram ID: officialpwo) Through them, I got the opportunity to narrate a story written by me. The story was about addiction and titled “The Spilled Honey “.

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This story of mine was ranked amongst the top 5 best writings and narration of that event. It was a special moment close to my heart, as it was the first open mic event for me in my writing journey.

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I’m still learning and growing because I’m an all-time learner.  I started writing as a passion but now it has become as important to me as my profession. I have learnt from my journey so far that

 “Writing is a powerful tool and every word can make an impact on people”

And that,

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“Sometimes holding a pen can be like holding a double-edged knife because a wrong word might cut a cardiac muscle deep enough!”

 

Also, I believe

 

“Writing has the power to bring about a change and it is a writer’s responsibility to make it happen!”

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To drop in a message to Shivaani and to go through her journey as a writer via her poetry, musings and blogs, follow the links below:

Medium Profile
Instagram 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hunt For Own Dream Led To Fulfilling The Dreams of Others ~ A Life Coach & Counselor Shares Her Story

Iyanla Vanzant says,

“The way to achieve your own success is to be willing to help somebody else get it first.”

 

In our #FridayFeature focusing on the #WonderWomen segment, today we’re proud to present a woman who helps others realize their potential and reach their dreams. Meet, Manisha Bhati, a Keynote Speaker, Trainer and Owner of Dreamhunt India. Dreamhunt is a counselling and development enterprise with a difference, offering courses ranging from career counselling to girl empowerment. How did she get into this business and what motivated her to give up her job to start this unique undertaking? Let’s hear it in her own words.

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“I come from a conventional Indian family where women are treated as mere instruments for taking care of the household and children; in short mostly destined to stay within the four walls of their homes. So, it came as no shock to anyone around me when I was married off at the age of 18 as per the prescribed norms of my family. However, just five months within the marriage, and surviving through inexplicable strains, made me realize I couldn’t go on living like this. So, I gathered some courage and with my parent’s support, left that life behind.  

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Post that episode, I worked as a teacher for some time and then had a satisfying and respectable job in one of the world’s topmost leading investment bank, Deutsche Bank. But I always felt a part of me was missing or that I wasn’t doing what I am supposed to do. I also have a long-standing teaching experience of 7 years. Coupled with my banking and teaching experience, I had observed that most people I came across or interacted with, were lacking confidence or soft skills.[image error]

Alongside this observation, I could also sense the need for a platform where these issues could be addressed, in a professional way, but with a personal touch. Thus, was born, Dreamhunt India.

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The biggest struggle with the fruition of this idea was getting the initial finance to start the business. Despite so many years of professional experience, my financial standing wasn’t strong enough for investing my earnings or to get a loan for the business from any bank. Asking for money from my father seemed inappropriate on so many levels. However, my dream did need funding. Hence, I did what I thought was the best way to gather the initial funds; I sold off my gold jewellery which my parents had lovingly gifted me during my marriage, and managed to amass 4 lakh, which I immediately put into starting and developing Dreamhunt India.

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I knew this wasn’t going to be easy and that it’s definitely not a one-person job. Luckily, I found the perfect business partner in the form of Shridhar Waghmare. He was a colleague at Deutsche Bank and our shared ambition of boosting the personal and professional skills of individuals, was enough for me to believe in him. So, with our joint efforts, Dreamhunt India came to be in 2017.

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It has been a slow and steady growth curve, however one that has been immensely gratifying. From getting recognition from the likes of Mr. Giriraj Singh (Union Minister of State) to winning Brands of India Awards in the Education category and even the ‘Best Training Institute’ award from WOW (Winners of Worthiness) publications, I believe we must be doing the right thing to have bagged such prestigious accolades.

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Currently, our clients range from 15 to over 40 years old, because our aim is to bring out the best in people of all ages and gender. How are we different though? We ‘focus on one’ rather than ‘focusing on all’, where our one-on-one counselling and development sessions with clients don’t just consist of theoretical and inspirational speeches, but we also take them out for movies, walks, and other fun activities.

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We have expanded our reach beyond just corporates to even schools and colleges. Schools like St Patricks, Rims International, St. Helena’s, colleges like DY Patil Engineering College, Bharti Vidya College, and Vidya Bhavan College of Commerce and corporate clients includes B2B inDemand, Dreamhouse Entertainment, Yatri Tours and Travels and Mantra Group, are just a few I’m able to recall off the top of my head from our clientele and work portfolio.

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Through the personal and professional ups and downs, my biggest motivators have been my parents. Their support has made it possible for me to trudge on unknown paths and have the energy to move on despite facing several roadblocks. Besides them, my partner Shridhar has also been a great facilitator, in and outside of Dreamhunt. His ideas and inputs have lent an edge to the business for sure. But besides his professional acumen, his support as a friend and beyond as a business partner, has helped me grow as a person.

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Through it all, my learning has been

 

“Give as much back as you can without worrying about the income, and you’re sure to get rewarded for it sooner or later”

Being a woman, one must always remember that.

“True women empowerment comes from being emotionally, mentally, physically and financially independent”.

And also,

 

“Realizing your purpose may take time, but don’t settle for something that doesn’t bring you mental as well as physical happiness.”

 

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To drop in a message to Manisha and have a look at Dreamhunt India’s varied services as well as to get inspired or motivated by Manisha’s counselling, please follow the links below:

DreamHunt India website
Dreamhunt India YouTube channel
Dreamhunt India Facebook Page
Manisha’s Instagram Handle

 

 

 

 

A Year of Grieving, Healing, Growing and Slowly Moving On

Dear Departed Soul (Baa),

A year ago on this day, we as a family, went about our routines not knowing that it would turn out to be the most emotional day of our lives so far.

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There I was, out for my evening walk, when I got a call from my father asking my mother and me to be at our grandmother’s place as soon as possible. I could sense right away that something was amiss. Only my mother and I know how we made it there, thinking about what would have happened.

I still remember walking in, finding your bed empty and understanding right away that you were gone. That night and the next few days went by in a blur, crying over your loss and mostly wondering how we would go on without you.This letter is to tell you about our attempts at this.

It has been 365 days since then, and we’re all still reeling over it. You left us bodily, but spiritually we hope you’re still around. In your absence, I like to believe that we have come together strongly as a family.

As to other important happenings, I would like to begin with telling you about grandpa. He was always a quiet person, but since you have gone, he has become even more quiet and talks only when spoken to.

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He misses you and we’re trying our best to make up for what we could not do for you by being at his service as much as we can.

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Your sons are all doing well and one of them is about to become a grandfather himself. Though our happiness knows no bounds, we know that besides the parents and grandparents to be, you would have been the happiest about this piece of ‘good news’.

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Your other two great-grandsons whom you had already met, are growing up so fast! It makes us sad that you didn’t get to spend more time with them.

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All your grandchildren are now officially adults with the youngest one now having completed her degree college. Our professional lives have either just kick-started or taken new leaps. But in our personal lives, we still wish to have you by our side.

As for me, I’m now a published author of four books. Losing you and the grief that followed, made me turn to writing as a form of healing.

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I believe that it was this, that led to my successes as a writer in the past year.

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My biggest regret is of you not being able to hold my proud achievements and show them off to the world saying, “These are my granddaughter’s books”, with a twinkle in your eyes. Because, I know you would have been the most proud.

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A year has passed since that traumatic loss and not even one day passes without at least one of us thinking about you, missing you and sometimes even regretting. The regret is of not having spent more time with you and more so of not being at your service in a better way.

We hope you can forgive us for our misgivings. And we hope you’re showering your blessings on us from up there.

For all of us, it has been a year of grieving, healing, growing and slowly moving on.

Always missing you,

Your Granddaughter on behalf of the entire ‘Khamanwala Khandan’

 

 

A Green Walk Through Two Beautiful Parks

“Nature surrounds us, from parks and backyards to streets and alleyways. Next time you go out for a walk, tread gently and remember that we are both inhabitants and stewards of nature in our neighborhoods.” – David Suzuki

In focus for today’s #TravelerTuesday are two beautiful parks I visited during my visit to Italy.  It was my second visit to Italy and first time visiting the quaint little town of Pordenone. I had read up few things about the city and the places to visit before landing and setting foot in town.

City view captured en route my hotel from the airport

So, on my first day, after I had dropped off my luggage at the hotel, I wanted to begin exploring as soon as I could. Umbrella in hand and with an overcoat to protect myself in case of rains (I was told it could rain here during any season, any day and at any time) I ventured out without any itinerary in mind.

Venturing out to explore the city without any itinerary in mind

I had walked around a good 10-15 minutes from my hotel when I came across an entry gate to a park which seemed inviting; thanks to the greenery, the benches and the overall natural appeal. So I decided to give it a try and wasn’t disappointed in the least bit.

 

Waterbody @ Valentine Park, Pordenone

It was the much popular (and touted to be the best park in the city) Valentine’s Park. I explored it in its entirety on foot in around half an hour. With many benches to sit around on, a little pond, some birds for company, and a hilltop kind of point which gives a panoramic view of the park, the walk turned out to be a pleasant experience.

It was easily one of the most beautiful parks I had ever visited. From the running course with attached equipment to children’s games, it even includes a small bar and a huge green area where you can unwind with a canvas and enjoy a sunny day.

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I exited on the other end and right across the path I saw an entry gate to another park. Curious and wanting to explore more, I walked in here and soon came across a large beautiful pond (which I read later on is an artificial one).

Have a look! Isn’t it wonderful?

 

The artificial lake in this park is filled with the water from the nearby Vallona canal. Want to know this park’s name? It’s called the San Carlo Park.

Satisfied me with nature exploits on my very first day @ Pordenone

Though much smaller in size, it didn’t fail to satiate my travel and natural beauty needs. I walked back to my hotel with a smile on my face and memories of a lifetime. If in Pordenone, I recommend all nature lovers to visit both these parks simultaneously as they are literally stone’s throw away from each other.

Pro-tip: Carry an umbrella and wear warm clothes (preferably full sleeves). Also, apply or carry mosquito repellent ointment as both parks have many mosquitoes which can become irritating and spoil your overall experience.

Creativity Abound ~ A Software Engineer’s Multiple Pursuits

Mary Lou Cook says,

 

“Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking rules, making mistakes, and having fun.” 

 

In our #MondayMotivation blog focusing on the #WonderWomen segment, we’re proud to present a woman whose creativity pours out via multiple outlets like photography, writing and much more.

Besides these creative pursuits (which she prefers calling ‘hobbies’ rather than ‘professions’), she also has a regular job. Meet, Anusha Sridharan, who is a software engineer by qualification and profession, but also dons creative roles like those of a photographer, writer, poet and an artist. What made her choose so many diverse profiles and how does she manage it all? Let’s find out in her own words.

 

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“I’m a Software Engineer by profession but my hobbies include photography, casual art, writing and poetry. I strongly believe that doing just one type of work is failing to utilize one’s full potential, hence I chose multiple outlets to make optimum use of all my pent-up energy.

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I began my journey in Photography back in college. What began as a casual mobile photography is now a serious hobby. I saved up money from my first salary to buy myself the basic DSLR – Canon 1300D.

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Capturing important moments and unnoticed frames of life is the driving factor for me to thrive to be a better photographer each day.

  Poetry came early into my life, thanks to the holiday homework that I got back in school. I used to write poetry and my mom taught me to write it right, with the proper rhyming scheme. I used to be in awe of how beautiful they sounded when recited. As I grew up, poetry started to make more sense to me. Along with it also began my journey of writing. I started contributing short stories and poems to Quora blogs. It then progressed to me contributing to many anthologies. Today I can proudly say that I am a self-published author with three of my books available on Amazon.

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My biggest struggle is about time, as managing it, is still cumbersome. But I’ve learnt that you can always make time for something you love. So, I try to do the same thing, to make time for whatever I love doing – painting, photography, and writing. The other big challenge is getting the support to go on. Sometimes you wouldn’t get the support you need and it would bog you down – that’s when you need to realize that you are your own strength and you need to fight for yourself.

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In my writing journey, the first turning point came in on the day when my poem was published as part of an anthology – Whistling Silence. There was another standout occasion with this passion, wherein I was interviewed for Infinity Youth Magazine.

This gave me a  sense of achievement and also made me reflect on how I have come to this point after a long journey.

[image error]Anusha’s feature in Infinity Youth Magazine

In my photography hobby, the turning point was when I purchased the DSLR. The day I got my DSLR was during the Diwali 2017. I had clicked family pictures and I noticed that some of my family members had changed their display pictures to the clicks I had clicked of them. That was the best kind of silent appreciation. Even today for many family events, I am trusted upon to cover the event and click candid pictures.

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My mom is my biggest supporter and even my source of motivation. She has been a true support in all great ways. She has always encouraged me to do more and helped me explore my true talent. So, due credits to her. Another strong pillar of my strength is my dear husband. He’s been a true support to my creative side. One major motivation that makes me do what I do is the need to express myself, voice my thoughts and convey it to the world, be it any form that I choose – poetry, story or painting

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The writing journey has had these milestones so far,

Self-published three books so far on Amazon through Kindle Direct Publishing – Sky Album, Picturesque Aromas of Thought Alleys, and Mixture is the New Secret
Been part of several anthologies – Whistling Silence, In Solitude & Solace (Story Mirror), Treasury (Happy Writers Anthology – Lapsus Creations), Postbox (Ink feathers)
Successfully finished 2019 Non-Stop November challenge on Story Mirror for Poetry
Currently taking part in 52 weeks challenge for both Poetry and Story on Story Mirror  

The future goal with this hobby is to write a full- fledged novel.

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The photography journey hasn’t had such remarkable milestones so far, but I intend to continue pursuing it. My keen interest in photography began in 2013. I had done only mobile photography until 2017. I have made submissions to NatGeo Youtshot Photographer and I plan to pursue Photography even more seriously and I hope to have my clicks featured on NatGeo someday in future. The plan here is to make a professional leap through a photography venture. I have done smaller projects and am hoping and aiming to bag big ones soon.

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The learnings with all my professions, passions and hobbies have been:

“Following your passion can be both the easiest and the hardest part of one’s journey depending on what one intends to make of it”
 

&

 

“Your hobby or passion could be a setback or something that makes you work harder until you are where you want to be.”

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You can drop in a message to Anusha, follow her photography and writing pursuits, or even buy one of her many books by following the links below:

Instagram (photography page)
Instagram (writing and painting page)
Goodreads
Blog 1
Blog 2
Amazon (links to all four published books of Anusha)
Quora
Mirakee
Booksirens

 

 

 

A Desk Job With Some Creativity on The Sidelines ~ An Author’s Advent

Vincent van Gogh says,

“Your profession is not what brings home your weekly paycheck, your profession is what you’re put here on earth to do, with such passion and such intensity that it becomes spiritual in calling.”

 

In today’s #FridayFeature focusing on our #WonderWomen segment, we present a woman who follows her passion, through multiple profession. Meet, Kavya Janani, a banker and an author of four published books. How did she get into such diverse fields of works and what made her take up writing as a career too, besides having a great desk job? Let’s find out in her own words.

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“I am a banker by profession and a writer by passion. I have four self-published books to my credit, of which two are ebooks. The day job or desk job, whatever you may want to call my banking job, keeps my mind alert and engaged. There were and still aren’t any complaints I have with this job, but it always felt like a part of me was unsatisfied and I always had the feeling that I wasn’t giving my 100% when it came to my professional fulfillment.

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With an impulsive urge to spill out all my bottled-up thoughts, I chose writing as my escape route. It liberates me and gives an identity to me. It is my path to self-discovery.

 

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Of course, writing is a constant learning process. So, not it isn’t without any challenges. But oh! there’s one huge struggle! Not having enough time to write.

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I have so much to tell, but due to time constraints, I am unable to put my thoughts into words. I am desperately following this saying, ‘If you don’t have time to do it, make time to do it.’

 

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My first turning point was in the year 2013, when I decided to publish one of my short stories in YourStoryClub, an online short story publishing platform. There was no looking back after that.

 

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I churned out story after story in a short span of time. My second turning point came this year, when I finally published my full-fledged romance novel ‘With Love, Forever’, after a wait of eight years.

 

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My motivation is music and more specifically A.R.Rahman’s music, of course! His music is my motivator, my lifeline, and my therapist. His music is where I find my home.  

 

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The future plans? They’re huge you can say. Because my upcoming novels, they’re all centred around the theme – time travel.

 

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Also, I plan to write more short stories and poems in the upcoming years.

 

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There’s only one learning, and that is

“Throughout this bittersweet journey, I have learnt and am continuing to learn”

 

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You can connect with Kavya, follow her writings on social media, or buy one (or all) of her published books through the links below:

Blog
Instagram Page
Facebook Page
Kavya’s Books