20 Jan Bloom where you’re planted!

Before children, I was passionate about two things…Medicine and Dancing. Over recent  years, motherhood has phased these two out into the outer circles of my life. However, being a healer and an artist are core to my being without which I would be a mere shell of my true self. This blog is meant to encourage anyone trying to swim upstream, listening to their inner voice by toning out prying but well-meant questions from friends and family…

One evening, some years ago, when I was feeling guilty about how much more I could do, a dear friend, Diwia Thomas said to me, “ Bloom where you’re planted.” Thinking back, I guess that’s what I’ve always done. I was doing the things I loved…just not in the way I used to…which, in the past, was teaching and practicing medicine at Baylor College of Medicine and performing year round. On the Medicine side, I had now become the “curbside-doc” for friends and family and on the artistic side, I danced with my children and for their friends. Lifting weights, gym workouts and running outdoors kept me in shape for the infrequent dance performances and was truly vital for sanity!!

Occasionally I found myself having an opportunity of a life time like dancing extemporaneously to Chitra Divakaruni’s reading in the setting of any artists oasis, David Hall in Fort Kochi, Kerala.

I took up painting whenever I was pregnant which lead to the realization of a skill I never thought I had.

The art of cooking was another outlet that truly helped me flourish where I was planted. The simple every day breakfasts to elaborate birthday cakes became fertile ground to experiment and have fun with the kids too. It was edible art and every meal was a new canvas!

Bringing legends to life and exposing children to the incredible treasure of Indian classical dance has truly been rewarding. Parents have told me that the children remember these experiences years later!!

Applying Henna was another art form that helped me have a shared experience with my children and their friends. It was fun learning to do dinosaurs and spider webs for the boys who were equally excited to get a “Henna tattoo”!!!

As I embark on re-starting my medical practice this week with immense gratitude to God and great excitement, the rollercoaster of emotions, self-doubt, soul-searching and difficult decisions of the past seem insignificant and a journey that was meaningful and apt.