{"id":6298,"date":"2024-07-26T11:56:20","date_gmt":"2024-07-26T11:56:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.authoranugarg.com\/?p=6298"},"modified":"2024-07-26T12:51:40","modified_gmt":"2024-07-26T12:51:40","slug":"slice-of-love","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.authoranugarg.com\/?p=6298","title":{"rendered":"Life begins at 40 or is the toughest at 40?"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"6298\" class=\"elementor elementor-6298\">\n\t\t\t\t        <section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-0df15f2 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default kng-boxed-bg-false kng-section-boxed-divider-false\" data-id=\"0df15f2\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n            \n                        <div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no \">\n                    <div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-f1f61af kng-column-element-default\" data-id=\"f1f61af\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n            <div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n                        \t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a6f4c4b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a6f4c4b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.23.0 - 05-08-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\tDecember 2015. We were so looking forward to travelling home, enjoying the &#8216;Delhi ki sardi\u2019 and the warmth of our loved ones. Big family &#038; friends\u2019 reunions and the biggest draw is your parents. You want to see the light in their eyes and the extra-long hug you get when they enfold you with their love. \t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n                            <\/div>\n        <\/section>\n                <section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-eac1d86 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default kng-boxed-bg-false kng-section-boxed-divider-false\" data-id=\"eac1d86\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n            \n                        <div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no \">\n                    <div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-0ccd8d3 kng-column-element-default\" data-id=\"0ccd8d3\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n            <div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n                        \t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ebaf9e1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ebaf9e1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBut right in the middle of the joyous celebration, our world was torn apart &#8211; literally. My mother-in-law was diagnosed with last-stage cancer. I got to experience firsthand why the 40s is the toughest. You have ageing parents on one side, grown-up kids on the other, plus a demanding job.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n                            <\/div>\n        <\/section>\n                <section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-10c0606 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default kng-boxed-bg-false kng-section-boxed-divider-false\" data-id=\"10c0606\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n            \n                        <div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no \">\n                    <div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-7be139e kng-column-element-default\" data-id=\"7be139e\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n            <div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n                        \t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dccf07d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"dccf07d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We worked out a rotation where me and my husband were shuttling between India and Singapore every month. Every time I left my kids, it was heart-wrenching. I would freeze food, call up friends, and arrange classes, and it was equally difficult to leave maa. The mental &#038; emotional trauma is huge. It&#8217;s traumatic to see your parents going through the pain, added by the constant fear of losing them.<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n                            <\/div>\n        <\/section>\n                <section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-388076b elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default kng-boxed-bg-false kng-section-boxed-divider-false\" data-id=\"388076b\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n            \n                        <div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no \">\n                    <div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-357fe96 kng-column-element-default\" data-id=\"357fe96\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n            <div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n                        \t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-01714eb elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"01714eb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For two and half years we were a family that was apart. All four of us were in different places. Our WhatsApp group was named &#8211; \u2018Till We Meet\u2019 (very filmy) but on the flip side not a single birthday, anniversary, Diwali, New Year, or board exam we were together. Did we lose out? Yes, we did. Google became my kids\u2019 mother as I was not there. The kids were struggling hard to not bother us and figure out things on their own. And as a mother, I missed that feeling of kids shouting mummaaaaa at every half an hour interval.<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n                            <\/div>\n        <\/section>\n                <section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-704a1f5 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default kng-boxed-bg-false kng-section-boxed-divider-false\" data-id=\"704a1f5\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n            \n                        <div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no \">\n                    <div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-f9f61ea kng-column-element-default\" data-id=\"f9f61ea\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n            <div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n                        \t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6bfd1e0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6bfd1e0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tI began engaging in conversations with myself. When I asked myself, &#8220;What is it that you want to do?&#8221; I found myself at a loss for an answer. I felt utterly clueless. There was no passion, no goal, no sense of accomplishment, and no identity. It was as if I had lost myself along the way. I no longer recognized who I was, what I desired, or what brought me joy.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n                            <\/div>\n        <\/section>\n                <section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-0734d5d elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default kng-boxed-bg-false kng-section-boxed-divider-false\" data-id=\"0734d5d\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n            \n                        <div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no \">\n                    <div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-abbfea5 kng-column-element-default\" data-id=\"abbfea5\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n            <div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n                        \t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b7478e2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b7478e2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tIn hindsight, it was a life-turning moment for us, but it also redefined us. All the multitasking and management skills that I honed in my 20s came to my rescue.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n                            <\/div>\n        <\/section>\n                <section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-4535402 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default kng-boxed-bg-false kng-section-boxed-divider-false\" data-id=\"4535402\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n            \n                        <div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no \">\n                    <div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-1206618 kng-column-element-default\" data-id=\"1206618\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n            <div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n                        \t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b1dd2f3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b1dd2f3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Take decisions objectively<\/strong> &#8211; We were ready to pack our bags and move back to India. But it&#8217;s important to take advice from trusted people who can view the situation logically as you are too emotionally vested.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n                            <\/div>\n        <\/section>\n                <section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-c5000f4 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default kng-boxed-bg-false kng-section-boxed-divider-false\" data-id=\"c5000f4\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n            \n                        <div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no \">\n                    <div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-b35ddb4 kng-column-element-default\" data-id=\"b35ddb4\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n            <div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n                        \t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-93f7940 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"93f7940\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Live in the moment<\/strong> &#8211; I learned to \u201cLive in the moment\u201d as I was always torn apart. When I was with Maa, I would be so stressed about kids and vice versa. This one mantra made my life so bearable. I learned to be happy and give all I could where I WAS as I understood I couldn&#8217;t be everywhere.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n                            <\/div>\n        <\/section>\n                <section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-70538fd elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default kng-boxed-bg-false kng-section-boxed-divider-false\" data-id=\"70538fd\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n            \n                        <div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no \">\n                    <div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-7dd3676 kng-column-element-default\" data-id=\"7dd3676\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n            <div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n                        \t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-219f0a6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"219f0a6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Rear your kids right &#8211;<\/strong>\u00a0When we went to drop our son off for his undergrad in Hong Kong, we were the most relaxed parents. Because he had learned the hard way. Our daughter was stuck in Singapore all alone for nine months during COVID. She survived so beautifully. So, teach your children life skills early so that they can sail through the tough times even when you are not around.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n                            <\/div>\n        <\/section>\n                <section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-7f08dc6 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default kng-boxed-bg-false kng-section-boxed-divider-false\" data-id=\"7f08dc6\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n            \n                        <div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no \">\n                    <div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-96f85b1 kng-column-element-default\" data-id=\"96f85b1\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n            <div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n                        \t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-96f60b4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"96f60b4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<strong>Create precious moments<\/strong> &#8211; Take out moments for yourself and as a family even though it means juggling and hard work. Create moments of happiness that feed your soul and make life worthwhile.<br>\n\nWe all came out tougher as a unit and as individuals, emotionally stronger and more mature to handle all the curves life throws at us. As a parent, it\u2019s such a comforting feeling to know that your children can manage themselves well.<br>\nI guess life just goes on and all we need is to keep going with the flow and keep learning.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n                            <\/div>\n        <\/section>\n        \t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>December 2015. We were so looking forward to travelling home, enjoying the &#8216;Delhi ki sardi\u2019 and the warmth of our loved ones. Big family &#038; friends\u2019 reunions and the biggest draw is your parents. You want to see the light in their eyes and the extra-long hug you get when they enfold you with their [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":487,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[81],"tags":[10],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.authoranugarg.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6298"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.authoranugarg.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.authoranugarg.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.authoranugarg.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.authoranugarg.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6298"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"http:\/\/www.authoranugarg.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6298\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6321,"href":"http:\/\/www.authoranugarg.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6298\/revisions\/6321"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.authoranugarg.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/487"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.authoranugarg.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6298"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.authoranugarg.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6298"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.authoranugarg.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6298"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}