Finding a balance between profession and passion – and doing it well – is not a cake walk. Yet Preethi Narayanan weaves all of it together to build a fulfilling life that’s as challenging as it exciting.
A lawyer by profession, Preethi finds expression in solo travel, writing and open mic performances. Striking a fine balance between the demanding complexities of her job and the creative freedom that beckons her, Preethi’s determination and attention to detail at work gives way to the call of vivid landscapes, dancing words on pages and the bold echo of a microphone.
Some people manage to awe others by simply being themselves and Preethi is undoubtedly one such person. For her varied, adventurous lifestyle and interests, Preethi Narayanan is our Monthly Muse for August.
Read our full Q&A with her below!
You’re a lawyer, a writer and a solo traveller. What’s the biggest challenge of balancing a demanding profession with creative, free spirited passions?
I am a Senior/Principal Associate attached to one of the foremost law firms in Chennai with clientele spanning major companies in India and abroad. To put it short, it’s a job that’s far more demanding than it appears. It involves a lot of mind work and grit so much that there is no scope for mistake. In this line of work, I’ve developed extreme discipline, diligence and determination. But here team work plays a great role. Developing that camaraderie is important. I have a good team that steps in for me when I am out traveling or when I have some writing assignments. It’s definitely not easy to work 10 hours a day, come back home tired and pick a pen and paper and write poems . There are these days when I am chasing a deadline at both the professional level and my passion projects, where I am physically and mentally exhausted. Fortunately for me, I have an understanding boss and a good team at work whose help I try to take when in need, plus my publishers and collaborators are extremely accommodative about my work schedule, so it’s been slightly easier on that note.
What’s your favourite part of travelling alone?
The logistics are my favourite part of traveling alone. There are certain trips which are curated by some travel companies, where I don’t have much planning to do in terms of which places I have to visit or the mode of transport in which I’ll be going. I just have to pack my clothes and accessories, go to the pick up destination and I’m ready! There are some trips, which are not curated for which I have to do all the planning, right from the itinerary, my accommodation, mode of transport and budgeting etc. My favourite part is I am absolutely in control of what I’m doing, though at times, circumstances may not be conducive. These just teach me how, I’ll have to depend on strangers, take help if necessary and that greatly has improved my communication skills.
What’s one destination you’ve not been to yet that you’d love to visit in future?
Leh and Tawang in India have been the destinations that have been on my wish list for the longest time. I’d also love to visit Morrocco, Tunisia, Peru and Bolivia abroad.
“Do that thing that you have been procrastinating/postponing. Life only happens once. Get out there and do it to the fullest of your ability”
You perform and thrive at open mics, how did you stumble into that interest and how has the skill grown over time?
I’m a part of a lot of local communities for women, where I stumble upon a lot of people. One such community in Chennai, helped me rediscover myself and that’s where I began opening up about my travels. I was told that I should perform more not just about travels, but my life experiences too. That’s when I started performing the poems I wrote, which paved the way for spoken word poetry and storytelling. The skill here is the content you give people. There are two ways you can perform on an open mic – you either just get on the stage, talk in the name of performance without preparation or you can prepare the content, read it over and over again, try to record your performance, improve and then finally perform before the crowd. I initially was in the first category, but now, I definitely prepare before I step on stage.
A lot of your interests involve putting yourself out there! What have these done for your own confidence? Whether travelling alone or performing in front of a crowd, how has this shaped you?
Traveling alone and performing before a crowd are two different ball games, altogether. When you travel alone, you have to be prepared for the perils that you may face. As a woman, there are high chances of getting your periods, particularly in the high altitude places like Spiti, Leh, Annapurna, Hampta Pass etc which can perhaps make you prone to mood swings that eventually can spoil the entire trip. So, we need to be prepared for that. Plus, high altitude places can give you a lot of altitude sickness, oxygen issues, which you need to prepare your body and mind. There may be times when you can be struck in a place due to landslides, which can leave you with no networks. Those times, we need to be alert and prepared, physically, mentally and financially. I have encountered all such situations, which has made me mentally strong and made it such that I can manage situations, which I would have otherwise been afraid of.
Coming to performances before a crowd, it’s best to know your audiences well. Otherwise, you may be out of place and sometimes that can do more harm than good. But, we always cannot anticipate what the audiences want, because at times you may prepare content for adults, but your audience may involve children too. Here, you have to take that certain risk and perform without being bothered about the audience’s reaction, though that may seem a little hard. I have also encountered such a situation, but have been able to perform well. Ultimately it’s the faith that you need to have on yourself. Both traveling alone and performing before crowds has made me trust myself and have faith in my abilities. I still am a learner, learning the unlearned and unlearning the learnt.
As a writer, what’s something you’d love to improve and grow in?
I sometimes feel I go all over the place and not stick to a particular thought process. I wish to improve that. Also, I wish to work on rhyme schemes in my poems without them sounding pompous. I wish to grow as a better writer, being both bothered and unbothered by people’s opinions and criticisms, however paradoxical it may sound.
Finally, what’s one advice you’d love to give people who want to put themselves out there – to chase their passions with the same confidence you do?
I still have a long way to go, but I’m also happy with my journey so far. Have absolute faith in yourself and your abilities. Only when you believe in yourself and show how serious you are, will people believe in you and your abilities. Do that thing that you have been procrastinating/postponing. Life only happens once. Get out there and do it to the fullest of your ability, without giving too much thought about the consequence. It’s finally your choice to be happy or not to be happy.
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