Today, I met her. As a woman in biology, I keep meeting extraordinary women with immense intellect—ambitious, career-driven, outspoken, confident, and bold. Women with strong opinions, who are not afraid to put their thoughts out there. But she was different. Confident yet fragile, she was like a fresh breath of air—like the calm breeze in the summer afternoon—very different from a regular gust of wind.
The women I meet daily are career-driven, balancing their homes and jobs. Running around doing all the chores, trying to perfect everything. From skincare to physical health, from mental health to home care, and family care while prioritizing their professional career. Discussions about the daily struggles are very common, and the common theme is how she was late picking up her kid as she had one crucial experiment. Another talks about how she spent Sunday in the lab, leaving her toddler at home with her husband.
Some recount how she had to go to a pediatrician's appointment for her kid in the middle of the day and return in the evening to process her samples afterward. I have heard stories of perfect dates and lab adventure later. How, after her ideal date, she had to come to the lab with a full face of makeup and her heels to change media. The most heard thing is that she has to finish a set of experiments before going on maternity leave. All these scenarios are happening around me every day.
But she was different. She decided to slow down and enjoy what this world has to offer: pure happiness. In this race of how well you balance family and career, she prioritizes her family over her profession. She wants to be a mother, a wife, and a caregiver. She has planned it all: how she will spend her time with her kids, teach them different things, impart values, and make them experience this world.
We live in a society that celebrates and glorifies career-driven women. She is here to change the norms. She embodies her feminine values and core. She believes that it is her responsibility to give her kids the care and love they deserve. She tries to connect with everyone and take care of people while maintaining her independence.
I can accept that I am not willing to sacrifice my career for anything. She has different priorities; She would go to great lengths for her family and loved ones. It was truly refreshing to witness such dedication.
I truly enjoyed my time with her. Our conversation offered me fresh perspective on life. While having a career, being opinionated, and maintaining independence are important, being a mother, loving wife, and caring friend is equally essential.
Life is all about finding balance. As a woman managing family, children, careers, parents, friends, in-laws and career, it can be challenging. Often, you may neglect your personal life in favor of your career. That is the time to reflect on your life and consider what life has to offer. There are so many more experiences to explore with your loved ones.
Fifty years ago, when women stepped out of the house to build their careers, it was considered a break from the norm. Today, in an era of independent women, trying to build a family is often viewed as breaking the norm. While times have changed, women continue to challenge societal expectations in every era. They seem to resist being confined, while society often tries to group every woman into a single mold, but I truly believe each woman has her own unique shine and should be cherished as rare one.
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