It is amazing how many women in my generation decided to work towards this elusive title. We aspired to be feminists, professionals, domestic goddesses, the most amazing mothers and wives; the entire nine yards. To be fair, many succeeded in breaking the bar that existed in their homes and societies. But it meant working very hard, often trying hard to defy the laws of time and energy. No one remembered that we could neither add more hours to the day nor create energy from thin air. Most importantly, we refused to listen to the voice of experience, especially that of our mothers. Well, we were more educated so we knew more!

Today, I see many accomplished women around me. They are ‘super-achievers’ in many domains but also ‘super’ tired and often ‘super’ belligerent. They stopped nurturing themselves. How could they? Somewhere along the way the physical and mental tiredness, born out of juggling so many balls, converted into chronic fatigue, much like excess food converts to fat. By the way, health also became a casualty – backaches, diabetes, weight or the lack of it, the list is long.

I remember my mother telling me, ‘don’t aspire to become too efficient’. Well, I wasn’t going to listen to that. Over the years, I have not only come to understand the rationale for her advice but would like to share it with every person, not only women! But then, like the younger me, they may not listen.