How I Restarted my Career at 50!

It was March 14, 2020, Meera was on her way to Goa on an assignment. She planned to finish her work and be back home on March 16. As she was leaving home her phone rang. It was her daughter Arya. A call from her children was an incomparable joy for Meera. She took the call. Her daughter was excited. She told Meera, “Mama I am coming home!” Meera’s face burst into a smile as she asked her daughter, “when Arya,” Arya replied, “Sunday Mama.” Mera, unable to contain her joy, said, “Oh that’s a wonderful surprise!” And Arya said, “Yes mama, it is a surprise for me too. My team lead called me up to tell me to work from home until further notice!”

Arya continued talking, “Mama!” She said, “Saira is joining me too. Guess what? Her University has closed down.” Meera was overjoyed. Both her daughters were coming home before the lockdown! Meera couldn’t stop smiling, “Wow,” she said aloud as she thought to herself, “the whole family will be together again.” 

According to the plan, she left for her meeting. She couldn’t wait to finish her assignment to be back home. When she got back to her city, she was amazed. Everything including her workplace was closed— it was a lockdown! She had never seen her city that quiet ever in the past. Meera couldn’t let that trouble her. She had to get back home to where her family was waiting for her.

Meera had led a hectic life. Now with her workplace shutdown, she did not have much to do. Few household chores and cooking for her family didn't take long to do. Meera was passionate about cooking, and her kids were home. That was all the more reason to dish up something new each day. So there was time to cook, clean, rest, and a lot of time to spend with family. Meera thought to herself, “It can’t get better than this.”

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The months in each other company flew past. Before long, the younger two children started with their online classes, and Arya was working from home(WFM). Her husband Dilip did all the shopping for her. Everything was going on smoothly. Meera sat on her favorite chair thinking, "this doesn’t seem like it will end soon." Deep in thought, she walked to the window. As she looked down at the street, Meera frowned, still in thought, “the street was once so busy and now your barely see anyone passing by.” 

She was so caught up in her thoughts that she didn’t hear her daughters walking towards her. “What happened Mama.” they asked in unison as they burst out laughing. Meera joined the banter and said, “I was just thinking how things have transitioned in the past few months.” Saira agreed to say, “True mama, if someone told us something like this is to happen, we would never believe them.” Arya nodded as she said, “Yes, but the best part of it all is that we are all together.” Meera's son, Daya joined them at the window and said, “yeah because of this lockdown I cannot go and play football.” And the banter continued. 

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Meera’s children knew their mother well. They were now seated in their living room when Saira asked her mother, “mama what were you thinking about?" Meera looked at her younger daughter as she spoke. “I was just thinking I have so much time and so little to do, I wish I could use my time more productively. It is criminal to waste precious time.” This time Arya spoke up, “productive like what Mama?” “Some job or help somebody—” she broke off and was thoughtful again. “But Mama there are so many things to do.” Interested Meera asked, “What things, tell me about it.” “Freelancing .” answered Saira. Meera was now confused as she asked her children, “how do you do that and what do you do?” Her children took turns explaining the concept to her. 

Meera absorbed all that her children told her. As they finished with the explaining, Meera spoke again, “I understand the concept. But what skill of mine shall I freelance?” All three shouted, “writing of course.” Meera stared at them one whole minute before all of them burst into laughter. Meera was the writer and editor in the house. Her children always sought her help in writing their projects and assignments. Meera thought for a few seconds and then said, “But I don’t know anything about it, I will have to learn everything from scratch.” And then she continued, “also so many young people engage themselves in content writing. Will I have a chance? Will someone give me a job?”

Daya walked to his mom as he spoke, “Mom you always say that age is just a number, and it is never too late to learn.” he finished by saying, “You can do it.” 

All her three children promised to help. Her husband agreed to corporate, and Meera stepped into the job profile of a freelance writer at one year short of 50 years! Her husband kept his promise to become an editor at 3 years short of 6o years!

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 Time is precious, and one must use it productively. How easy it is to say I have worked all my life and I must relax now. Everything unused deteriorates. Your brain does too. Why not keep yourself busy —it's never too late to learn something new anyway!

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