ShivaniMathur
On our 25 th reunion, as i look at my reflection in the mirror and consider my journey since we left Bajaj, I notice i now have a few more lines on my face- , not pretty in a conventional way, but each one tells a story i am proud of, so i would never consider botox. I am happy to share some of these stories with you.
Most of you will remember that i used to wear 5 kilograms of silver bangles that jangled every time i spoke and gesticulated wildly. At Bajaj, I was full of energy. I still wear bangles ( all the time) that jangle, and i am still full of energy and gesticulate wildly. But it is no longer 5 kilos and each bangle is a gift from someone significant. Although i am still very energetic , i am much more calm inside. Partly because i have so far lead a satisfying life, had exceptional influences on me, and partly because for several years i have embarked on a journey of discovery through a process that is articulated in the Upanishads. It is absolutely wonderful, very empowering and I recommend it to everyone. I still ask annoying questions and from time to time wander into another world ( you may recall in lam's classes- " miss mathoooooor, if you are paying attention can you tell me what is sxx ......") For 23 of the 25 years, i worked in investment banking - mostly in London , but also in Mumbai, New York , Singapore and Hong Kong in a highly charged alpha male environment. Most of it had been fantastic and I achieved what is conventionally called " success" - a decent though not obscene bank balance, ascending the wobbly corporate ladder and so on... But some parts of my life have been stranger than fiction - and i often wonder if my next career should be in film direction. If i can inspire and change even 5 lives, i would do it in a heartbeat. I now live in London and last week finished renovating my new flat cum studio. I said flat cum studio because i have taken to self expression through the medium of painting. I absolutely love it. 4 years ago we had a celebration of my 100th painting. I feel like the Chinese mum of a 100 children. Luckily my children are neither disobedient nor annoying and they just "sit quietly" on the walls! You can see them on www.shivanimathur.weebly.com and many will tell you stories that i am unable to articulate through essays such as this. |