A Year of Pause, Healing and Renewal

Lalitha Iyer
Sabbatical Dates: 1st September 2024 – 31st May 2025

I took a break from my tasks at Plusturst and started the Cocoon fellowship in earnest in September 2024 and concluded it by 31st May 2025.

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Personal health
I went about preparing for my knee surgery with a lot of anxiety and the surgery was fixed for the 17th of September.

It was a process of surrendering to the medical system, acknowledging the I know little about my own body AND that the surgeon and other doctors do know what they are doing. And yielding to the care and support the family offered, grateful for their love concern affection and care.

Post surgery pain and recovery was a prolonged process. Yes, easier than what I feared. My ‘good girl’ persona took over, and I persevered with my exercises. My physio therapist was firm and kind at the same time, making me bend, lift, turn and yell out in pain at times. She was relentless and kept me hard at work…. The results were gratifying too. In three months, I was feeling much better, and could manage climbing stairs, walking and exercising.

Family
It has been a time to receive support and caring from my immediate family, especially my daughter, sister-in-law and brother. They have taken tender care of me during the surgery and post-surgery. It has also been possible for me to spend more time and give more attention to my father. He is in good health but quite lonely and I feel blessed to be able to give him care and attention.

I also cherished the celebration they organised for my 70th birthday (May 25), taking care to invite friends and close relatives form every decade of my life starting with primary school! I was against it, but they went ahead in any case, and I did enjoy it though it was a bit overwhelming.

Reconnecting
The break opened opportunities to reconnect with friends -especially long-lost ones. Thanks to social media, I could locate some of my school friends and resume chats and messages. Similarly, I could connect with many of those who were close to me in my banking stint. Wonderful to be back in contact with so many friends who have remained their ‘young selves’ despite all the hurdles they have crossed.

I resumed my active engagement with the book club I’m part of and enjoy reading ‘wide spectrum’ rather than narrow interest.
 
Buddhist practice
I could find more time (and need) to build my faith. I have been continuing with my Lam Rim study and practice under the guidance of our Lama. The fellowship period allowed better time for this.

Professional interests
While I reduced my time in Plusturst, I could engage with more opportunities to do something different and new. Mostly it was in the realm of working with those interested in further strengthening their facilitation skills.

I felt I was able to share form my adventures and misadventures over the years. The groups I worked with were open to explore along with me.

I was able to go to IIMA to facilitate a T-Group within 8 weeks of surgery and that was exciting.

ISABS ODCP was another regular commitment, except for a break of a few weeks in Sept and Oct. here again, I enjoyed the opportunity to work with emerging generation for facilitators.

Earlier, I did not make much time for these kinds of opportunities. I realise that I now enjoy them. So, I plan to look for them in future.

Plusturst
I stepped back from regular activities of Plustrust. This gave me the opportunity to suggest newer activities and some solutions. (e.g., Business skills training for craftpreneurs)

My colleagues have emerged as independent leaders and come up with creative initiatives as well. They took the lead in organising the celebration of 15 years of Plustrust in March 2010. I was able to join the team in person, and it was after a couple of years that we were getting together. So, it was fun and I was happy to see them taking greater ownership for the organisation.

The team capacity is stronger, and we now have more trustees. We expect to promote our senior team member as CEO in the next few months. That gives me great relief.

What I could not start on
I had planned to write another book, and I was not able to get my act together for that.

My plans to sign up for a Tamizh reading club are still incubating….

I have no sense of regret though! It ok to leave something for the future…
 
Re-entry
I have resumed my work in Plustrust in June- and travelled to Udaipur in July. I am focussing on a strategy review in the next few months so that we can plan and work towards growth.
 
Conclusion
The cocoon fellowship allowed me the respite I needed from my work commitments to focus on my health and well-being. I now feel it ok for me to relax and let things shape up! The work burden has shifted and is shared across my team.

One more thing I felt good about- I could declutter my personal belongings except books. I could also plan my personal finances better.

​I think it’s particularly important at my stage in life to find such a slot of ‘not doing much’ and I’m incredibly grateful to Dasra. Vishal has been a source of support and encouragement throughout, helping me cope with my ‘guilt’ of not doing much.