The Hidden Strength in a Hobby
A Friday Afternoon at S&Co.
It was a rainy Friday noon at S&Co., that familiar pause
before the weekend begins. Srini and his partner / brother Vaidy had stepped
out for a long client meeting, and they would head home directly after. The
office had wrapped up most of the week’s work, and a sense of ease settled over
the team.
In the pantry corner, with cups of chai in hand, the team
members gathered - Jagruti, Manoj, Sunil, Pooja, Prajakta, Dhawal, and
Tabassum. What began as casual conversation turned unexpectedly thoughtful.
Jagruti leaned against the counter and asked, “Do any of you
even have hobbies anymore? Or have we all become work machines?”
Pooja laughed, “Feels like the only hobby we have is replying
to client emails!”
“But it’s true,” Prajakta said, “We talk about work-life
balance, but when was the last time we actually did something just for joy?”
That’s when Dhawal spoke up, “You know, I’ve always admired
how Srini Sir and Vaidy Sir manage their personal time. Srini Sir writes blogs,
reads regularly, indulges in music classes and goes on treks. And Vaidy Sir
runs marathons and gives motivational talks!”
“Wow, I didn’t know that,” said Tabassum, surprised.
“And during the year, they head out for atleast one major trek
in the Himalayas. They say it clears their head.”
Pooja mused, “So hobbies don’t have to be complicated. They
just have to bring joy.”
“Exactly,” said Manoj. “Some hobbies are active - like running
or trekking. Others are passive - like reading or listening to music. Some
people like to paint, others like to cook or write.”
“Even watching movies could be a hobby,” said Tabassum, “if
you do it with intention, like exploring world cinema or understanding
filmmaking.”
Prajakta added, “And hobbies help you discover sides of
yourself that your professional life may never touch. It’s where you reconnect
with you.”
Dhawal nodded, “Sir once said hobbies are like vitamins for
the soul - something you don’t realise you need until you stop having them.”
Sunil smiled, “It’s like an SIP for your emotional
well-being.”
As the clock ticked closer to 6, there was a quiet sense of
resolve in the air. The team began to pack up for the day, each one reflecting
inwardly. Gardening, sketching, music, running, journaling - perhaps the
weekend could be more than just rest. It could be a return to something
forgotten.
As they stepped out of the office, Jagruti turned and said,
“Let’s actually do this - revive one hobby this weekend. Even if it's just for
30 minutes.”
“Done,” said Prajakta. “This weekend is for us.”
And with that, the staff of S&Co. stepped into the Friday
evening - not just looking forward to the break, but to rediscovering what once
made them feel alive.
