Balancing Personal and Professional Life is a must for Positive Living

My name is Radhika Vaidya, I am a 60 year old Architect from Pune. I love my profession and I am also passionate about music. I love listening to Hindustani Classical and Old Hindi songs. Recently, I have started learning music and want to learn painting too sometime soon. I feel that this is an interesting phase of my life where I have to discover so many unexplored areas in my life which I haven’t got time to explore so far either due to my professional and personal commitments.

Balancing Personal and Professional Life

I feel that a woman has to take up different roles in her life especially after marriage and childbirth. I too had to take up different roles in my life along with my professional life as an architect.

After doing my Bachelors in Architecture from JJ College of Architecture, Mumbai in 1979 I shifted to Pune where I worked as a Junior Architect with various Senior Architects and also helped my husband who is also an architect in setting up his office. In 1984 I did Masters in Town Planning from College of Engineering, Pune. Because of my kids I was mostly working from home or was working half day in office. Once my children got little older I joined my husband’s office fulltime in 1987. Later my Father-in-law was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. I took care of him and along with that also worked on two crucial township projects at that time. It was tough to handle both things at one time. I handled both responsibilities with full dedication. Later I was awarded for my contribution in township project.

Now that my children are well settled with their own respective families, so I am exploring other options as well like since, 5-6 years I am also working as a visiting faculty in various colleges in Pune.

In addition to professional work, I am also exploring ways through which I can pursue my hobbies in music and art which I always wanted to do but couldn’t pursue due to family and professional responsibilities.

Childhood Memories

I have very fond memories of my childhood which I still cherish a lot. Though we had a small house but it was always full of guest. Both my parents were very social. My father always uses to invite friends and family at home and my mother use to take good care of them. Both my parents were known for their hospitality among their friends and family. I think from them only I have inherited the caring and social behaviour. Our parents also took us to concerts which we all siblings use to enjoy a lot.

Family

My father is my role model. He is 90+ and still manages to do all his work by himself. He owned a book shop at Girgaon in Mumbai and was actively running it till the age of 70 years. Because of his professional skills and good social behaviour he is very well known among the publishers and bookseller. He is full of life and loves travelling.

My mother was a home maker and a talented singer. Because of her only I developed interest in music and started learning Sitar but couldn’t continue it due to my studies. She was very creative person, she use to make innovative and useful things out of nothing. Both my parents brought me and my three siblings very well. They inspired us to be a responsible and good human being. Because of their love and support we have achieved something concrete in our professional and personal life and are well settled with our respective family.

My husband, along with being an understanding life partner, is a good friend and a mentor. He is also an architect and has his own firm. My younger son and daughter-in-law are also architect. Four of us work together in the same firm. My elder son is a marketing strategist based in Bangalore. His wife is an entrepreneur; she is helping her father in running his pharmaceutical company. We are a happy family and both our sons and daughter- in-laws love and respect me and my husband a lot.

Fitness Mantra

My secret to healthy living is to eat healthy and think positive. I eat balanced and nutritious meal three times a day. I feel that good mental health is very important for a positive living. For maintaining good mental health I am pursing my hobbies in painting and music. These activities and my professional work keep me occupied and positive.

I also hold the position of Secretary at the Rotary Club of my area. As a part of the club activities I am involved in various welfare works which we do every week. This gives me peace of mind and satisfaction which in turn strengthens my mental and physical wellbeing.

According to me an active senior citizen is that person who along with maintaining his/her fitness also does something meaningful and productive for the society.

Future Plans

In five years, I am planning to retire from my professional life and will then pursue those hobbies and interest which I was not able to pursue earlier due to personal and professional commitments. Now I want to live for myself and contribute in societal development.

My Message

In five years, I am planning to retire from my professional life and will then pursue those hobbies and interest which I was not able to pursue earlier due to personal and professional commitments. Now I want to live for myself and contribute in societal development.