musings from an observer's diary Introduction My first session of the Observership program was a session on mind maps. Deepa introduced me to the concept by drawing a mind map of an elephant. While she got pulled into a client call, she asked me to continue building on the mind map. "Don't give it much thought, put down whatever comes to your mind", she said. A serendipitous choice or coincidence? I chose to build a mind map about the Sun, instead of continuing with the one

musings from an observer's diary After a very long time the written words hit me home with such intensity. It felt like a personal note shared by a best friend who has known me, co-navigated the varied life stages and seen me through my highs and lows. The same friend who exchanges notes and glances with your parents and husband about your idiosyncrasies every time you act or behave in a way that is uniquely "you". Hold on- Have they spoken to my close friends? Is someone spy

musings from an observer's diary "Let us go with Faith over Fear". I heard Deepa mention this to a project team on my first day of joining the Observership program at Lumière. These words felt like music to my ears. After having decided to participate in the program, I had been filled with many doubts- will I be able to restart, what will the program be like, and will I be able to contribute effectively? But once I had decided to go ahead, I wanted to silence these thoughts,

‘After our meeting, I want another half an hour to talk about something personal’, said Damayanti on the call. Damayanti told me of her sister-in-law, Anandi, a stay-at-home mom for 18 years. ‘Take a look at the CV. I really want her to meet you. She is depressed. My husband and I want her to get out of the house and do something’. Anandi’s CV showed that she was a creative person. In her short professional career of 3 years she had worked as graphic artist and assistant desi