“For a girl raised in an orthodox, rather patriarchal environment, I’d been a rebel since childhood, with a mind of my own, and a vivid enthusiasm to live my best life. And that reflected in my choices as well, be it an urging interest to start a business very young or subsequently establish a career in marketing. I always took bold, sensible steps and made sure to give it my all.

Nevertheless, in the course of life, I stumbled for a brief bit in the next phase labelled ‘marriage’. After getting hitched, my life revolved around blending into my partner’s lifestyle and way of being before coming to a screeching halt. This unexpected pause came around 2014 when I was suddenly left alone in my parent’s house, post my then husband’s shift to Dubai. Now as a woman who thought she was in a beautiful lifelong partnership, the ghosting came as an absolute shocker.

Additionally all my attempts to establish contact were futile and in the end, what I received was, in fact, a divorce notice 1.5 years later. Now, ‘shattered’ would be an understatement, where I was diagnosed with clinical depression. At one point, I also remember feeling suicidal with so many questions looming in my head but no answers to any. I was jobless, and just getting through each day felt painful, despite being put on sleeping pills and antidepressants throughout.

But like they say, ‘once we hit rock bottom, the only way is up!’ and I, after a phase of intense internal suffering, finally decided to focus on my wellbeing. I made mental health a priority and took baby steps towards those things that made me happy, be it a simple car drive or yoga sessions.

Moreover, what helped me heal extensively were Pranic and Reiki sessions with fantastic coaches who shifted my perspective from the past to the years ahead. Starting there, I slowly but surely came out much confident as an individual, and was even lucky in finding true love. What further came out as a surprising outcome was my foray as a life coach- something that I hadn’t ever imagined.

And what began there were two amazing chapters in my thirties, that gave a new meaning to my existence. I’m now incredibly content, married to a man who is as balanced and loving as one could expect. This 2.0 phase of my life feels like a blessing where I’m able to take things by the day, guiding my clients too, towards a better life through my experiences. Who said, divorced women can’t have happy narratives? Their best days are, in fact, post such testing times!”