The hob(by)nobbing professional
THERE was a time when the Sunday tea was enjoyed with Dr. Narottam Puri, the host of the weekly sports programme on Doordarshan. The ENT specialist had his own fan following but not so much for wielding the scalpel! A familiar figure on the DD sports scene for three decades, his commentaries, quizzes and anchoring on the small screen have always managed to steal the show. Likewise when Deepak Vohra was roped in to host Doordarshan's `Breakfast Show,' we were left wondering if bureaucrats were indeed so chatty and happy-go-lucky!
A cardiologist nursing an orchard, a banker being part of a theatre group, a successful businessman devoting time to homeopathy, a school teacher joining a mountain biking club... One just has to look around to find innumerable instances of people pursuing special interests, which are totally unrelated to their "profession".
Hobbies are recreational in nature. While for some it is a pastime and occasional diversion from the routine, others seek a larger canvas - a non-professional venture if you like. For :
It gives them an opportunity to go beyond the confines of a professional life
Provides a sense of entitlement, where the privilege and the pleasure is most exclusively theirs!
A great way to widen their interests and a platform to interact with like-minded people
Enables them to spread their wings
Ideally, these non-professional ventures are continuous, have defined `work' hours but are devoid of the usual trappings associated with money-making ventures. While some may be tempted to seek success, most are clearly guided by just interest and personal fulfilment. Psychologists opine that however small or limited in nature it does a world of good for a healthy work-life balance. Most such interests take a backseat during the busy career building years. They eventually resurface when there is an urge to spend time doing something `enjoyable' or self-enhancing.
Anu, a software engineer always had a penchant for word games. She cannot recall the last time she racked her brains for the right word! Recently her idea to introduce a scrabble club at her workplace was well received. This was when she discovered a handful of people like her, who were eager to get (re)started. The club meets twice a month during evenings. She is now `busy' enjoying the game after a long hiatus of nine years. She now hopes to expand it into a full-fledged, non-professional venture. Thankfully enough, these don't come with age bars!
Some like Sumant Waghmare discover their calling when they least expect it. An officer in the Indian Railways, he was introduced to Reiki by a friend. He knew it would prove therapeutic but didn't know that it would prove immensely fulfilling as well. It came in useful during one of his remote postings where he began a healing session, a concept unheard of in the sleepy town. It not only helped the patient but also gave him a break from the files and administrative work. Today Sumant knows that if "it had not been for the railways, I would certainly have been a Reiki teacher!" As work and home stake their claim to a large chunk of our time and energy, this is probably the reason why most of us indulge in `seasonal' pursuits! Take the case of S M Dhar, a banker with a camera and hiking shoes as his summer companions. Come summer, and his penchant for photography and trekking takes him to the mountains, where he revels in the snowcaps and freezes the moment with his trusted Nikon. This kind of indulgence is perfect since it does not disturb the professional lives and the break is eagerly awaited. The satisfaction and the thrill is unlimited and uplifting - probably enough to last till the next season.
The time, effort and dedication, depend on the kind of venture one takes up. During the initial phases you may find it a little difficult balancing it with your professional life. Nevertheless ramble along! In this day and age, where professionals are seeking solace and satisfaction through spiritual mantras, all they have to do is look within for answers. The soul curry is just waiting to be devoured! These are one of those rare pleasures in life, where you just have to `listen to your heart' and steer your own course. No questions asked, no parameters to weigh your success against and no worrying about ROIs. Just open the doors and let your minds free.
RL SAILAJA
sailaja.hyd@cnkonline.com
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