Tag: perspective

Categories
Literature

Pause

by Nikita Balachandran, Intern

Every day, I have a routine.

Every few years, I have a goal.

Every now and again, I want to fast-forward; to a better time, to a better day 

And wish I could play a different role.

“It fits!,” They will scream blind,

 Just because you are good at the grind

 With no reason for you to think you don’t belong 

How do they know what piece of the jigsaw I resemble? 

Being good at something isn’t equivalent to feeling one with the throng.

Every now and again, I would rewind, to the day I set off on a path.

Not regretting the journey, no! But the ignorance behind it,

the comfort that kept me chained with no heart to fight it.

Remember, however, you always have the choice to make another attempt,

Why can’t we let go of our chase for a familiar life of security? 

From what I have heard, familiarity breeds contempt.

Every now and again, I am terrified the choosen path will reach an end, for then the crossroads will arrive concurrent and sharp.

“You will grow here too,” They will scream blind, 

Just because it’s not the one with the steeper climb

With no reason for you to not take the well-trodden path, 

But how do they know my dreams involve a terrain leading to a different visual? 

Growing is subjective & you shouldn’t feel guilty for not performing it like a ritual.

Every now and again, I pause, 

Reflect, revaluate and restart.

Every day you work without a purpose remember,

Stagnancy digs a grave deeper than sunlight can ever reach,

And it is the dead who don’t feel, grow or persevere,

Alive, you are an amalgamation of each day’s strife,

When you need to be an anvil, you bear.

When you need to be a hammer, you strike.

Pause when you do not know exactly where to head, 

Pause when you do not know what would be the sequel to the ongoing part,

Pause so you know where you want to be in the end, 

Knowing what you don’t want seems like a good place to start.     

Categories
Literature

Sunshine

by Prisha Mehta, 2nd BPTh

In the blow of  a candle, the fire looses. 

The blue flower falls weak in front of the red. 

The mighty sun comes down at night, 

The stars need the dark board to caste it’s shine. 

The tall trees bow down to the blow of the wind. 

We all lose somewhere, fall weak somewhere, 

We all fall short somewhere, 

Because we’re full of flaws, flaws that make of us.

We all are broken, broken in ways we don’t even know. 

We’re Lost, lost in ways that can’t be found. 

We’re full of insecurities, insecurities that tear us apart. 

We’re all scared, petrified, lost, hopeless and vulnerable, in ways that aren’t common. 

But it’s what it is, 

The bare raw truth,

Nobody is perfect, nothing is perfect. 

But then, 

It’s just a phase, they say. 

The clouds are gray, huge and fat, let them pour n pass and bluer brighter skies will come,

The sun will bloom it’s light, again through the holes and cracks, within your body, mind n soul. 

All we need to Remember is 

To hold onto, 

tight, 

and stick onto 

Safe places and people. 

People who will heal us, Who will hold us. 

People who will love us, love us besides the imperfections we have. 

Hold our hands, walk us through the storm. 

And remind us, 

Everything right will happen. 

Because, 

What’s meant to be will, 

what not will not. 

Trust, 

and have faith. 

Good things come. 

They do come, 

all we need to do is wait. 

Categories
Humans of Somaiya

Riddhi Mehta: ”I have learnt how mental health plays a crucial role in physical healing”

Your body can withstand anything. It is your mind that you have to convince.

I decided to join a contemporary dancing class, which was something I’d always wanted to do. I was a little nervous at first, since this dance form requires a lot of technique and great balance, which could lead to injury, but I went for it anyway. One day, while dancing, I felt a twinge in my right knee. I should have stopped and taken rest, but I kept going, because I thought that this was bound to happen. I saw the doctor, and underwent an MRI, which showed that I had a few sprained ligaments, especially the ACL. The doctor advised me to rest for two weeks, but I started feeling better after a week, and I resumed my classes.The only thing that makes me more anxious than attending medicine lectures is missing them! It didn’t seem like much of a problem, but eventually I realised it wasn’t feasible to travel from Thane by car everyday. Traveling by bus was probably the most challenging thing for me; I even fell off its high steps one day. It was difficult for me to accept the severity of my injury. The pain kept getting worse, and I was reluctant to use a walking aid. The reality of the need of using a walker slowly hit me. Taking just four steps had become my biggest mission. My mind ran rampant, and my mind was beating itself up for not being able to carry out my daily routine, because of the unbearable pain that came with walking. I found myself crying more often than ever, and felt completely helpless at times. I finally took help from my teachers, Dr Anjali, Dr Tanvi, and Dr Mugdha. They helped me cope with my pain, and trained me to walk, convinced me that I really needed to use a walker and taped my knee, after which surgery was not necessary anymore. My friends were extremely supportive and never let me lose hope; but my teachers always gave me a positive outlook and told me there was nothing to worry about.

What I learned from this experience is that your mental health plays a crucial role in physical healing. My mindset delayed the healing by a whole month. It has given me a better insight into the psyche of the patients I treat.

Categories
Food and Lifestyle Travel diaries

”Overwhelmingly beautiful!”- Tarsar Marsar Lakes, Kashmir

by Maria Dalal, 4th BPTh

To try and describe the beauty of the Kashmir valley is difficult- great writers have written odes to fill books but have felt they couldn’t do it justice. How does one surmise the overwhelming abundance? Mammoth mountains framed by lush rolling valleys, forests sprawling from edges of orchards, fields of saffron, the tinkling of streams and gush of rivers, the perfumed gardens, the lakes that reflect the endless skies- it is an assault on all senses. 

My parents and I planned a week of tourism by road followed by a 6 day trek to the Tarsar Marsar lakes from a small village (that looked straight out of a movie) called Aru near  Pahalgam (Bajrangi bhaijaan posters on every tea and bhajiya shack!). 

The first day of the trek was a gift in itself- traversing a pine forest that immediately cleared to the beautiful meadows of Lidderwat, trailing the river Lidder by our side. I will let the pictures do the talking.


A group of 20 strangers- from different cities, age groups and professions, quickly became friends to the common goal of ‘appreciation’. Of the gift that were these few days in the lap of nature, the gift of bright mornings, tiring trekking, the comfort of hot food, windy evenings that forced us into tents with card games, and naps under the open sky.


The trek put a lot of things into perspective. It let us acknowledge the magnanimous while appreciating the small things. And that steep climb in front of you- always, always makes you scared. Once you start, your breath catches and your palms sweat- was this a good idea? Am I sure? But a good guide and smiling company- becomes a pattern of one foot in front of the other, eyes wide open to the ever changing view.


In the month of January- a few weeks back, we received a phone call from the receptionist at one of the hotels we stayed at. He had a strange request, something we couldn’t understand over the phone’s rumbling. His son’s 10th standard board result was out and he wanted us to check it online of the official J&K Board of Secondary Education Portal. The internet connection services were still disrupted and everyone in the house was very anxious- mathematics had been a tad difficult. Aatif and his father trailed back to the hotel reception contacts ledger, saw our names and remembered we came from Mumbai- a conversation we had over an early breakfast. 

We checked the results on the website – and good news! Aatif had an above average CGPA and math was cleared by a safe margin. The only thing that came to my mind was how similar Aatif’s father sounded to my mother when we were waiting at our computer screen for my board result. The same nervous tone, the inescapable sighs and the yelling of my name at regular intervals.

It is always easy to highlight differences to establish one’s identity as separate from others. Many people, for their own means, will continue to reinforce the differences, will keep convincing us there is an ‘us’, and there is a them. But moments like these remind you just how much is common among every man, woman and child on this planet. 

We’re so human. 

We’re just human. 

Categories
Alumni

Dr. Arham Jain (PT)

Batch (Year of joining) 2013-14       

What parts of your job do you find most challenging?       

It is emotionally draining to treat patients who have been through traumatic illnesses or injuries and have become dependent and don’t have enough family or financial support.

What is the most rewarding or enjoyable part of your job?

  Meeting new people, interacting with them. Getting to see and think about life from their point of view, seeing them improve functionally and become capable of doing activities which they had lost hope upon. Helping them build a positive image of themselves and being able to reduce their pain and suffering. Making them independent which is the most valuable aspect of life and we often underestimate it.

Considering all the people you’ve met in your field, what personal attributes are essential for success?

  Management. The way you manage your day be it time management, financial management, social life management, emotional management, defines your success.              

What do you wish you would have known your first day of graduate school?

Professionally I’m sure that as time passes you’ll be perfect in your skills. But it’s your perspective which will make sure how soon you become perfect. Be patient. Everything happens for a reason. You’ve to be positive about situations and come out of it. Trust your instincts. It’s ok to be unsure sometimes. Take your time and go ahead. Be with people who give you good positive vibes.  

How did the institute help you be who you are today?     

I feel blessed to be an alumnus of Somaiya. The professors and staff have been really helpful. It’s their knowledge and experience which has made me a capable Person and a capable Physiotherapist.         

Categories
Behind the Lens

BEHIND THE LENS

Dubai- Akshata Manjrekar (Intern)

Budapest- Akshata Manjrekar (Intern)

Divya Sharma (Fourth Year)

Ratnesh Jathar (First Year)

Rishika Balani (Fourth Year)

Sailee Dige (First Year)

Sakshi Jain (First Year)

Sanika Godbole (Fourth Year)

Konkan beauty at its best in rainy season. Konkan turns a new leaf with its forests receiving a fresh coat of green. A typically konkani house amidst of nature, the greenery accompanies the roadways and the river, sun playing peekaboo with the rainy clouds. The serenity seeing the green farms all over.- Sharayu Tambe (Fourth Year)

Urmi Shah (Third Year)

Kerala, God’s Own Country- Pranali Redekar (Second Year)

Gujarat- Bilwa Sawant (Second Year)

Natasha Tungare (First MPTh)

Harsha Khilnani (Fourth Year)

Maria Dalal (Fourth Year)

Categories
Alumni

Dr. Nice Matthew (PT)

Batch (Year of joining) 2005             

Could you describe one of your typical workdays?

I am an assistant professor in the Physiotherapy department of Sapthagiri Medical College.  Post college hours, I consult patients in the private clinic I run.   

What parts of your job do you find most challenging?

  To keep myself updated on the latest research from all over the world.

What is the most rewarding or enjoyable part of your job?

When I can impart the knowledge I gained to my students and when see them apply it on their patients and the outcomes are great, it is very satisfying.                  

Considering all the people you’ve met in your field, what personal attributes are essential for success?

 Hard work, dedication, consistency, perseverance, to have faith in oneself and dream above all and live those dreams!

What do you wish you would have known your first day of graduate school?

To have faith in myself and to dream high. I did not know how vast the field of physiotherapy is.  I want to take a step higher every day- I want to attend more workshops from only the best and practice what I learn as part of my research.

What educational preparation would you recommend for someone who wants to advance in this field?                       

Know the subject well- in and out, manual therapy is an adjunct to recovery, and the importance of exercise physiology.

What professional journals and organizations should I be aware of?             

IJOSPT , JCDR, IJPMR, IJPR, IJHSR

How did the institute help you be who you are today?            

It made me think analytically about every aspect of clinical practice- apart from the professional skills.  I am proud to have been a part of KJ Somaiya.  Thank you to all my teachers and fellow mates , seniors and juniors alike.     

What developments do you see in your field that could affect future opportunities?

Firstly, I see a larger number of PT students graduating every year which will drastically increase competition for opportunities of current demand. This will lead to physiotherapist working for a lower pay so as to get the job. Many correspondent courses have diluted the quality of the field. My sincere advice to the budding physiotherapists would be not to rush into things and work at being a skilled person. Thank you!

Categories
Literature

Hospital – Teaching and Preaching

by Natasha Tungare, 1st MPTh

Keep your eyes and ears open and you will get to learn a lot from your environment around!!!

When you are working at a place for really long, you somehow get attached to that place. And yes, for me this place was nothing but HOSPITALS. Being in the medical field, hospitals have already taught me a lot. Yeah, you might have never heard someone loving hospitals, of course not, but for doctors these hospitals are as good as their second homes. I cannot even describe how much these patients have taught me. Medical students often learn hands on, but I’ve learnt something beyond that. They have taught me how to LIVE LIFE!! Sounds strange isn’t? How can someone who is on their deathbed teach me about living life? 

 We keep cribbing about small mishaps each day. We never value the people who are always there for us and that’s our own family. We hardly give time to our family. Your family is going to be with you when you are in ICU and no one else! When I see those tearful eyes of mother who’s besides her unconscious son on ventilator, that’s when I realize how grateful I am for everything. When you listen to the painful life stories of such patients, you suddenly realize that your problems are too small, nearing insignificant. 

 People often ask me how can one not get angry? How can one stay calm? When I look back I realize I’m not the same person I was around 4 years ago. This maturity, peaceful mind, gratitude, kindness is all because of the experiences I had.  As I always say “Life is all about experiences. Some are good some are bad. Either way- you learn!” and hospitals and patients are a reason for me to have this change.

The story of Gautam Buddha has always inspired me. King Siddharth Gautam, while touring his kingdom, saw the death of a person and the grief of his family heading to the funeral, he saw a man begging for food which is a basic need, he saw a widow carrying her little baby in arms wandering completely helpless. And the impact of all this was so hurtful to him that he left his throne to start serving the people. Think about the larger picture and your problems suddenly seem tiny.

One painful experience can completely change you and your perception towards the world! We all aren’t saints but we can do our part to serve the society.

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