About Me — Lipika Sahu
Introvert, Thinker, Prankster, Non-judgemental, and Kindness Practitioner
A past tumor in the spinal cord and a failed business — are two things I wear with pride on my sleeves. With pride, not because I failed — but because I have come out stronger and happier on the other side.
Hi! I am Lipika Sahu. I am a 24-year-old(that’s what I always feel), though the strands of grey within my mane might reveal my real calendar age of 40- wait, 39, because I did not get to use 2020. I am not counting that.
Engineer by education, I pursued banking as a profession (ya, tell me that). After my MBA, when I was at the peak of my career, I was detected with a rare tumor in my spine.
It sucked — resigning from the job and leaving my two- and-half-month-old daughter at home for a 10-day stay in a hospital. After a seven and half hours long, arduous surgery, I finally got rid of that tiny mass.
But it left with a parting gift — I was quasi-paralyzed.
It took me almost a year and a half to walk. But I was in a hurry to hold my daughter when she learned to walk. That was my only motivation.
And I did walk, albeit with a limp. I cannot run, ever, but I am not complaining. From lying on a bed to walking, I know I have hit the jackpot.
Cut to six years later; I started my business. All in. But despite every effort, it failed. I lost quite a sum in that. QUITE. Not even counting the stress, sleepless nights, and anxiety(remnants of which still surface at times). I have encountered horrible days that would have sounded ridiculous before.
But today, I do not have any regrets about having ventured on that adventurous trip. I am just taking away the satisfaction that I am emotionally equipped to handle failure.
Enough of heavy stuff. Phew!
I am a full-time writer today. I was recently introduced to Medium, and it was love at first sight. You can find more about my writing here.
I am an ardent thinker and a staunch believer in the power of self-talk.
I love playing pranks on my friends and family- though, at times, it irritates them. But hey, it comes with the package. Before mobile portability came into existence, I would have a new contact number every time I hopped from one city to another. And my favorite thing was to call up people and impersonate someone else. What fun!
I believe that kindness is an act that needs to be practiced by all. I derive a lot of happiness and satisfaction when I am able to be of some help to someone.
I am that person who would teach sudoku to senior citizens, who would be on her guard if I see a lone child and would keep trailing till assured that a responsible adult is somewhere near, and also that person who would let the mother of a fussy kid jump the line ahead of me. I seize every opportunity to hone my kindness skills.
My interests are quite diverse. I find myself lost in books and cooking. Psychology and spirituality intrigue me. Music and writing calm me.
And hence, I am here and see myself here for a long time.
