My 2 Years of Leave

This article is for me, my family, my friends and maybe you ask me how is spend my to use 2 years. This was first time in my life I was free. I went in 2007 to Delhi for my graduation and after that started job from 2011.

In case you know me from my school daysI was mostly studying. In job I never took any leave for just to be at home. Took 1 week leave at time of my wedding and didn’t took any while my pregnancy. In case you are a parent you know how tough is first 6 months of child caring so maternity leave went like that. And the work from home period just went in home chores along with work.

This 2 years of my Child care leave was first time in my life I was truly free. No office work or calls for first time. I had a baby sitter and house help so wasn’t burdened.

While taking this leave most people were asking me “What am I going to do with all this free time?” “Won’t you get bored?” Even I was asking myself the same.

I had few lans in mind but it all vanished as the second wave of Covid hit India. And trust me I didn’t moved a single step closer to my plans.

So what I did? 2 years its a long time.

I have divided this into 3 major categories.

• My learnings
• Amyra’s learnings
• Places I have visited
• Different experiences

To start my first 2 months were spent at my hometown under lockdown. Mostly taking care of my mother whose both hands fractured due to falling from stairs. Was a difficult time for everyone in every corner of country and so for us.

My learnings in 2 years

1. I am a certified life coach

Having completed basic life coaching course I moved to learning and successfully completing Mindfulness trainer, Happiness Coaching, Advanced Psychology and Level1 Hypnotherapy. I have consulted 12 people till date and this makes me more than happy giving back to society.

More than use for other people these courses helped me to grow and create a better life for my family specifically to my child.

I open to consulting in case you feel someone is in need of. The biggest need of hour is to break the taboo associated with asking for help.

2. I am a Level 4 Reiki Practitioner

I was always interested in understanding Universal Energy. Reiki works on the same concept. And it was perfectly timed in my life. I met my teacher after years. In case you are ever interested in learning or need of Reiki healing contact me and I will led you to my teacher.

This taught me that how much better we all can make our life at any stage.

3. Learned making Website This one and for Gonaturalezaa

Though it is easy these days but for a novice like me in IT space it took me some learning.

And you are read this article on site built from scratch by me. Do Share with me scope of improvements.

4. Have improved Painting Skill

Started practicing to teach Amyra, I found out that I am also much interested in this art. Learned by practising and online videos. Though there is much scope for me to learn and improve, but I am happy that I started and determined to keep moving forward.

I made several wall paintings at my home and also painted galaxy background for my baby’s birthday celebration.

I also do Fashion illustration as my deep interest always lies in fashion area.

5. Learning Calligraphy

I had or better to say have a terrible handwriting. Learning calligraphy was on my wishlist for a very long time.

With aim to teach Amyra I started learning and practising with her. And now I enjoy it more than her.

6. Learned about Coffee and Wine

Not the topics that excite many but for me these are the area of great interest. And gives me a happiness in knowing and exploring them more.

7. Can read Spanish

Long way to go in speaking fluent Spanish but now can read basic Spanish and even can reply for simple questions. Hope universe is planning my Spanish vacation soon.

8. Upgraded my Upcycling skills

What is upcycling? Upcycling is a processes by which “old” products get to be modified and get a second life as they’re turned into a “new” product. 

Though I always knew and have done it but now I am a pro specifically in merchandise.

9. Have Read 43 books in these 2 years

I started reading books at age of 29. Particularly with idea of passing some good habits to my to be born baby. And now I realise what I have been missing in life.

But as they say “Better late than never“. I geared in my journey and have read __ books. Some physical, digital and audio, varying from different areas. Most of books were focused on life improvement but at same time I loved and gained a lot from spiritual books, love stories, thriller.

My learning is never say no to a book.

Amyra’s learnings

To clarify Amyra’s learnings in these 2 years are not something directly related to. Its a collective result of efforts of both me and my husband and more over her zeal towards new learnings and new experiences of life.

1. She learned to do skating

2. Learned to cycling

3. She can speak and understand simple Spanish

4. Can do Hula Hoop Tricks

5. Can do painting and calligraphy (though much to learn and improve)

6. She knows to play Chess

Apart from all these activities she has an appetite for adventure and exploration like her parents. She is always keen to visit new places and try out new activities. At same time Amyra is developing her spiritual side along with me.

Places I have visited

I would further like to divide this topic as

• Spiritual Places
• All other places

Spiritual Places

Have visited total 18 Spiritual places

• 9 monasteries, Gurudwara Pathar Sahib in Ladakh
• Tawang Monastery in Arunachal
• Jagannath Puri (twice)
• Dongargarh, Bamleshwari Mata
• Bodh Gaya (3 times)
• Kamakhya Temple
• Isha Yoga Centre, Coimbatore (twice)
• Amarnath Yatra (not completed)
• Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah, Delhi
• Kolkata Durga Puja
• KaliGhat Darshan
• Kashi Vishwanath
• Sarnath
• In presence of Sadhguru
• Trimbakeshwar Jyotirling Mandir, Nasik
• Shirdi Sai Baba
• Shani Shingnapur
• Bhuteshwarnath Mahadev , C.G

Places I visited

• Ladakh
  • Leh
  • Nubra Valley
  • Last Village of India, Thang
  • Pangong Lake
  • 125 km solo scooty ride to Lamayuru
  • Beautiful Alchi
  • Gurudwara Pathar Sahib, Magnetic Hills
• Arunachal Pradesh road trip
  • Dirang
  • Bomdilla
  • Tawang
  • Bum la Pass , Madhuri Lake
• Puri
  • Konark
  • Jagannath Mandir
• Bhilai (4 times) meeting my whole family
• Delhi (twice) meeting freinds
• Mumbai (twice) meeting family
  • Kidzania for Amyra
  • Ikea Navi Mumbai, Worli
  • Taj
  • Flamingo Park spotting flamingos in wild
  • Colaba zoo watching Penguins for first time
  • Dog cafe
• Goa
• Nasik Vineyards
• Meghalaya Road Trip
  • Kaziranga National Park
  • Cherapunji
  • Mawlynnong : cleanest village of Asia
  • Dawki River
• Darjeeling
  • Mirik
  • Zoo
  • Toy train
• Siliguri & Bongaigaon – Enroute tours
• Isha Yoga Centre, Coimbatore
• Pondicherry
• Mahabalipuram
• Vishakatnam (twice for personal work)
• Kolkata (3 times)
• Pahalgam (for Amarnath Yatra)
• Thailand
  • Pattaya
  • Bangkok
• Varanasi & Sarnath
• Bhutan

Different experiences

• My first solo trip
• First time exploring North East India
• Driving Long Car journeys (as first time was visiting places without Preyanshu)
• Kissed by and Kissing a Dolphin
• Volunteering service at Isha Yoga centre, a divine experience
• Ice Skating by Amyra
• Camping at Cherapunji and Dawki
• Road trips
• Witnessing Red Panda, Wolf and Black Panther at Darjeeling Zoo
• Diving deep into meditation
• Trekking 14 kms in a day Solo and 5 kms in a day with baby

Summary

Though as per society standards these 2 years of my life have been financially not so profitable but have been showered with different blessings and experiences along with life changing lessons. I wouldn’t trade any single moment of these 2 years rather with any other things.

Not to undermine the precious moments I have spent with my whole family and relatives with whom it took sometimes years to meet.

This break in mid of life has not refuelled rather overhauled me. I am not just energised its new me all together with every experience.

At last I found my life Mantras.

“I love myself, I love my life”

“Lets make this world a better place”