“I was always looking outside myself for strength and confidence, but it comes from within. It is there all the time. I believe Anna Freud’s lines are genuine. The world has become a place where people are bustling around. Sometimes, days are too exciting and at times people are jam-packed to strive hard for success,to meet their monetary requirements, to improve the quality of their living. I had been one among the bevy of such bees, running with the life’s pace, enjoying the challenges that I face daily, solving out the problems and ending the day with a satisfaction that I have done my best to contribute for my personal growth.
It took years to build the confidence of being independent. To earn out of own hard work meant a lot to me. It had been an exemplary feeling of spending from own pocket. Life gives us chapters to learn in the form of situations to handle and people to meet. Being a working woman, I always had a chance to perceive things happening around me. Until I had to go through the situation, where things were turning around the corner.
It all started off with the sick leaves and casual leaves. After all it has been exhausted, I had to go on LOP for days. Finally, I had to quit my job for taking care of my daughter who was constantly feeling sick due to improper diet.Life has changed then. Though it was too hard for me to accept the reality, the break from my career gave me more strength to face rejections, which I have never seen before.
Initially, though I had been hesitant and lamenting about the decision that I was forced to take, days passed by and changed my mind slowly. It gave me self realization. I could figure out, how much my daughter missed me these days. All the perception I had about exploring and learning proved wrong, since I could learn a lot when I was on break.
I tried engaging myself by learning other languages, set up workshops on painting and jewelry making. I was sanguine enough to let myself know that teaching is as fun as learning. I have become an ardent reader again. Kept myself updated in all aspects. On the other side, when I knew it was time to get back to track, and tried attending interviews to resume my career as developer, there was a set back. Rejections everywhere. I couldn’t get through.
I went into depression. My mornings were never like before. I always felt like sleeping for hours and not to get up. I had to depend on my family for financial support. This was silently bothering me so much, I had to go hard on everyone. The one driving factor was my “Confidence”, which I never gave up. I tried, tried hard in all possible ways and ended up in a start-up and I’m happy for what I’m now.
Career break is never a choice. But at times, we find it takes a major place in our lives uninvited. It is definitely not a bad decision to take a career break. May it be a forced one or the other way round. “An ideal mind is a devil’s workshop”. It is the ethos of people, how well they visualize it. When one has a long term vision, constant hard work and confidence take them places. Breaks and Pauses become just words like others!
You may want to read other articles written by the same author – ‘Tips for writing an exceptional resume‘ , ‘ Alternate Career Option as a Fitness Trainer‘ , ‘ 5 golden rules for setting the goals ‘
About the author:
Mrinalini: a computer science graduate, with an overall experience of about 6 years in IT industry. Though I had been a techie full time, I always had a love for writing and thirst for becoming a writer. Mother of 3 year old Kid, it took me years to realise, what I needed to make myself end my day completely satisfied. Am a blogger, traveler, adventure lover and an ardent book reader. I read a lot, believe books are the best companions in the world. I love to enjoy each day of my life, as it often comes bagged with full of surprises.
(The author is a guest blogger at Her Second Innings. The opinions expressed are those of the author.)
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