Kolhapur couple suggests 3 mantras for healthy ageing  

By Ananya Katti

We are all busy finding the purpose of our lives, but somewhere in the process we may be losing ourselves. Our hectic lifestyle is affecting our physical and mental health. How do we find a balance? Mr Vijendra Hungund and Ms Laxmi Hungund, a Kolhapur couple in their 70s, have three mantras to offer.

# Tip 1: Lead a disciplined life:  Mrs Hungund   begins her day at 5:30 am.  with an hour of pooja. After that she takes a walk, cooks food and visits friends. She goes to sleep by 10 pm without fail. “A fixed routine trains my mind and helps me function well throughout the day,” says Mrs Hungund with a bright smile.

When asked how she manages to maintain this routine, she says, “I have been a homemaker, mother and a wife for over 45 years now. My husband worked for the State Government and was transferred to various places. We were in a long-distance marriage, I was taking care of my daughters and used to be overwhelmed with the responsibilities.”

This is when my mother taught me to always take care of my family, no matter what. “Over the years I realized that I could do so only if I am happy and at peace with myself. Therefore, I decided to curate my daily activities and follow a routine. This way I can fulfil my duties and take out time for myself.”

The couple take turns to cook, especially if one of them is ill or has an important work.  This builds bonhomie and respect for each other.

# Tip 2: Be spiritual: Besides pooja in the morning the Kolhapur couple does regular meditation in the evening. When asked why they do this, Mr Hungund says, “There is no reason in particular. We have been brought up in religious families and hence have seen this culture. Whatever gives you peace is the best for you.” Regular meditation has helped them stay calm in adverse situations and has helped their relationships at a personal level.

Mr Hungund also adds, “Before retiring I was away from my family. Coming closer to God helped me come closer to myself. I could keep myself sane throughout.”

#Tip 3: Make friends, socialise: They have a group of friends who meet twice a week for sessions of bhajans or simple get togethers. This way, their life goes beyond their four walls and two people. “Having a social life keeps us busy and involved,” Mrs Hungund says.

“After our daughters got married, there were times when we felt lonely and even fought a lot.   We realized that this was because there were just the two of us. We were getting on each other’s nerves. Therefore, we started going out with our friends for bhajans and paaths. This way we had our own space and now we have a big friend circle!” Mrs Hungund says with a chuckle.

William Shakespeare rightly said that “It isn’t within the stars to hold our destiny but within ourselves.” This Kolhapur couple is a great example of how to give meaning to our life, instead of finding it.

(The writer is a sixth semester BAJMC student of School of Media and Journalism, DY Patil International University, Akurdi, Pune.)

Read also:

Retired life is an open highway; let’s cruise on it

My grandmother showed us how to be happy