If life had release notes, Deepti would be somewhere around Version 2.x+1 — continuously upgrading, debugging, and reinventing herself with each passing season.
A mother of two teens, wife of nineteen years (and counting), and a working professional nearing twenty-five years in her career, Deepti looks back at her life with a smile that’s equal parts nostalgia and pride.
“I feel like I’ve lived so many lives within one,” she says.
And indeed, she has.
The Many Lives Within One
From e-learning to technical writing, from staffing to FinOps, Deepti’s professional journey reads like a masterclass in adaptability. She has worked long hours, thrived in five-day corporate weeks, and later rebalanced her life through flexible three-day WFH roles.
She has gained and lost weight, joined gyms and quit them, boxed and yoga-ed her way through phases, and then — taken guilt-free pauses.
She has doubted her writing, yet published pieces that sparked confidence.
She has spied on her husband in jest, yet pushed him to take that “boys-only trip.”
She’s lived, laughed, stumbled, and learned — fully.
Midlife, A Different Rhythm
Today, at midlife, Deepti feels something she didn’t in her twenties — contentment.
“I’m more patient, calmer, and definitely wiser,” she admits. “Of course, I sometimes miss the carefree version of me, but I love the peace that comes from lived experience.”
Midlife, for her, isn’t a pause — it’s a rhythm shift. It’s not slower; it’s more intentional.
Reinvention, Not Resistance
If there’s one word that defines this phase for Deepti, it’s reinvention.
Each decade, she says, feels like an upgrade — a chance to reboot and refine.
Reinvention takes courage to step out of comfort zones and intention to follow through.
She’s lived by both.
Her Children, Her Constant
When people ask whether her presence in her kids’ lives has changed as they’ve grown older, Deepti smiles and flips the question:
“It’s not about how much I’m in their lives — it’s how much they’re still a part of mine.”
The bond, she says, hasn’t weakened — it’s just evolved.
From “Let’s prepare for your exam” to “How well are you prepared?”
From “Wear this dress” to “This is what I’ll wear.”
From her wiping their tears to them hugging her when she breaks down.
The roles may change, but the connection remains beautifully intact — invisible yet unbreakable, like the umbilical cord that never truly severs.
The Working Woman’s Compass
Professionally, Deepti’s choices have always been her own — sometimes bold, sometimes unconventional. She’s shifted industries, switched between full-time and consulting roles, and embraced flexibility to balance home and work.
But through all the transitions, one line from her father has stayed constant:
“Always work to earn. The amount doesn’t matter — what matters is that you do.”
At first, she thought it was about financial independence.
Now she realizes it was about something deeper — self-worth.
Because continuing to earn, in any form, kept her sense of purpose alive. It reminded her that she could always contribute, always evolve.
The Joy of Small Pursuits
Deepti doesn’t believe in separating hobbies from life — she weaves them into her everyday. She’s the mom who once loved dressing up her kids in fancy-dress costumes and helping them with handmade school albums.
The woman who joined Toastmasters because she missed being on stage.
The writer who pours reflections into stories online.
And lately, the mentor who finds joy in seeing others grow. “Every little interest is an extension of who I am,” she says. “They keep me curious — and curiosity keeps me young.”
Advice to Her Younger Self
If she could whisper something to her twenty-something self, it would be this:
“Take small steps, but keep moving forward.”
Because progress, she’s learned, doesn’t need to be dramatic. It just needs to be steady.
The Toughest Role of All
She’s played many roles — employee, wife, mother. Each has its challenges.
But if she had to choose the toughest, she doesn’t hesitate: motherhood.
“Being a mother means growing with your children while raising them,” she reflects. “It means learning their world — so different from the one you grew up in. It means being their anchor and their wind at once. It’s about holding your emotions together while helping them manage theirs.”
And perhaps most beautifully,
“It’s carrying your heart outside your body — watching it walk around in the form of your children.”
The Midlife Takeaway
For Deepti, midlife isn’t a crisis — it’s a crossroads.
A moment to look back with gratitude and look ahead with quiet courage.
It’s a reminder that reinvention is not about becoming someone new — it’s about becoming more yourself.
Her story is a celebration of balance, curiosity, humor, and heart — the very spirit of Midlife Baithak.
