PremilaMartis
After 14 years in the financial markets, interest-rate to be specific, in different formats, my second child was born. As I contemplated life ahead ... current career, family, health, purpose of life, quality of life .... I saw the possibility of a zillion compromise situations that I didn't want in my life. So I moved on. I dabbled in teaching Financial Markets, gave time to social causes, fund-raised for a few and continued searching. A difficult 7-8 years since my spouse was scaling peaks and I wanted more than the joys of mother-hood!!
I always had a deep-rooted interest in the ecological field since the age of 20. In 2014, the calling finally led me to Urban Leaves, an urban farming collective in Mumbai. I now co-run it with Preeti Patil, the founder and my green soul-mate, from whom I am constantly learning, as we strive towards our dream of green roof-tops in the city. I am able to channel my passion, ability and energy into a movement that gives me tremendous satisfaction. The learning curve is continuously upward sloping. My core continues to be that of a guide, teacher, mentor in addition to that of an efficient executor, and I get as much as I give and more. My life seems to have so much more zest since I followed my passion and I am so grateful to be where I am. I have two loving families - There's Russell, Jai and Nikita and then, there is Urban Leaves. What more could a one ask for!!! I feel miserable about the destruction that man has wreaked on Earth (age of Anthropocene) and frustrated that my efforts are miniscule in the larger scheme of things. But that will not stop me from doing the best I can. I strongly believe that people will act if they have solutions. I fervently believe that the next generation is our beacon of hope. These two beliefs led to the birth of the #SaveALeaf Campaign as well as a focused effort to bring down the average age of volunteers at Urban Leaves (both on a zero budget). And now as the benefits of these two initiatives trickle in, it is time to maximise impact. Indeed, I have miles to go before I sleep. |