In Gratitude - S3 : Paying my homage through years of my life || My Experience of Marriage || By Anupama Vaidya

Series Part 3… towards my big milestone - 2021 - Golden Celebrations.

Published on Facebook: 17-Oct-2021

As a countdown to my big milestone, I owe my being what I am to all of you who have been a part and parcel of my life and have helped me shape my life….

As a third part of this series, after my schooling, college and post graduation… a natural progression was taking up a career job on campus that I already had…. But before I get to expressing my gratitude to this part of my life, I will like to express my gratitude to a part of my life, which is a closed chapter now but has given me life’s lessons, a purpose to live and a new discovery of myself. Yes, my 10.5 years of my marriage.

Having met my ex-husband on college campus, it was a such a wonderful start to a relation on SIBM Campus… turning quickly from knowing each other, to getting serious about our relationship and then a swift proposal from him, my acceptance for being a life partner…. Got married pretty early in life before even discovering what life meant fully to me, with dreams to cherish of life, marriage and career.

While, our marriage did not last beyond 10 years, I’m in gratitude to this phase of my life and the Karnik family for those 10.5 years of togetherness, for all the beautiful moments of a family we cherished, leaving aside those difficult moments which are a closed chapter. And if it weren’t for those difficult moments, maybe I don’t know whether I would have been what I am today. Challenging times, taught me that decisions are to be taken based on values, marriage is not about love but an assimilation of values and when things go wrong, deep dive and see if the basis is value clash, if yes, going our own ways is better.

My marriage of 10.5 years, has been an investment in my development, learn life’s nuances, different personalities, preparing me to be stand up for myself and my future life

Dec 1994 to Mar 2005… and Mar 2005 to Oct 2021! two phases of life, the prior prepared me for the latter, the wonderful years that were lying ahead had to be unlocked by stepping out, setting myself free with my dear princess Ishita, my purpose of life. A guardianship of an angel daughter, to raise a wonderful human in her and provide her a platform to flourish. A gratitude to the family to push me for a child, after 6 years of being married. I couldn’t have asked for anything else, a daughter, my education and a belief in myself.

A tough separation, preparing me lifetime as a person, including facing of courts, legally managing things (which actually helped me build my legal acumen, which I need as a business leader too – I really owe this in a big way to the learning got through my separation days), to enable to me to stand for myself and take this decision with confidence; push me to strive hard to build a career; be with the most loved ones – my daughter and my parents! And be what I am today.

To start back life afresh in March 2005 with absolutely 15K in my pocket and home to call of my parents….

My gratitude to my ex-husband and parents-in-law; I learnt through this phase of my life: a River moves on to become a part of an ocean! Moving on in life is better than stagnant water, that dries up; Moving on helped me discover many more facets of my life and shape me to what I can turn back and feel a sense of gratification towards my life.

Today, as I look back at those years, there are almost like a blank slate to me, which has helped me move ahead in life – this has led me to discover the beauty of life… and how to grow beyond the challenges of life …. to cherish the gift of life …. It’s one life and it’s my life !!!

I express my thanks to all those years with the Karnik family, as a part of my stepping across this milestone of my life, and wish them well always!!!