Women of purpose

“Let the beauty of what you love be what you do.” — Rumi

Unlocking our potential is a desire that fuels our hearts as we navigate through life. Each of us seeks fulfilment by pursuing tasks that give meaning to our life. For some, it could be climbing mountains, and for others, planting a rose garden. It is our myriad interests and personalities that provide contrasts that not only raise interesting issues but are also seminal to life itself.

Although I enjoy the deliberations and dialogues brought forward by such differences, working women versus homemakers is the kind of debate I avoid, simply because I have deep respect for both.

I understand, a housewife can look after her family in a more effective way. She is there 24/7 for her children and family. She gets to decorate and redecorate her house, she takes up new hobbies and learns new skills. She manages the challenges at home and finds meaningful ways to manage her time.

A working woman on the other hand walks the thin rope between her work place and at home. She pretty much needs to do what a homemaker does and at the same time work at maintaining her professional career. Like a skilled juggler, she performs again and again without ever letting the ball drop.

A case in point would be my mother. In the early 1970s, when she took up teaching, some eyebrows were raised and once we (her children) came along, there were serious frowns. She was counselled time and time again to give up her work, but, she held her ground. She wanted to provide the best education to her children which necessitated a better income, while also wanting to forge an identity for herself.

All her sacrifices, her seamless changing of roles and her tenacity of purpose did not go in vain. Through her grit and resilience, she excelled both at her work and at home. She led by example and showed us the importance of being independent, of being focussed and of pursuing goals, whatever they may be.

It was amazing to see how she was always there for us despite having a full time job and other responsibilities in and around the house. She showed us through her every word and action that the delicate balance between home and  workplace could be achieved. She also inculcated in us a deep respect for home makers as she often eulogised her own mother who was a housewife. My mother retired recently as the principal of a government school and, needless to say, I am very proud of her.

My own zeal to maintain a work-home balance and excel at it comes from the legacy that my mother has bequeathed us. Similarly, my sister is a passionate home maker and visiting her home is always a delight.

Coming back to the central idea, whether we are homemakers or professionals, we need to be passionate about what we do. We need to seek meaning and purpose in our everyday life so that we can leave behind a legacy that is etched into the minds of others and in the stories they share about us. It should not be too hard; after all, what we seek is also seeking us.