Have you ever asked yourself, What if I just went ahead and did what I wanted?? As the eldest daughter of a South Asian home, doing what I wanted meant first, considering what everyone else wanted! And every decision went through the ever present filter of "What would people think!?" I know every culture has their version of that...but I swear Desis live by it!! Growing up, I stuck to the script of what was expected of me...I was respectful, reliable, and polite. But truthfully, that was just because I didn't have the guts to go against the grain...which eventually led to a bit of resentment of having to live to please everyone else! But when I recognized that God had given me the tools to live in a way that felt fulfilled and truthful, I decided that I couldn't care what anyone else thought! Case in point...I stayed in a marriage way, way longer than I should have only because that was what was expected of me! But I wasn't about to live the next 20 years the way I had lived the last 20! So, I ended that marriage and focused on me! I grew my "very non-Pakistani" cleaning and organizing business and launched another business that focused on fennel seed mixes that are a staple in South Asian homes! Hey, not all of us are going to be doctors and IT experts!! I started actually BELIEVING the positive things people have said to me over the years and ignored the voices that were more concerned about what others thought! And it was liberating and empowering and freeing! I created this podcast for- All of those men and women who have heard “What will people think?” their whole life and have decided that they really don't care! On this podcast We'll meet some really cool, interesting men and women who've stepped out of the cultural or familial expectations that were put upon them and are living authentically! We will talk about what society expected them to be and what they, themselves decided they would be! It's not always easy to step outside the box, but it makes for a great story when you do! I AM your host: Farnaz Dar and this is the "Going Against the Grain” podcast.
Raise your hand if you grew up hearing “ Oh no, you can’t do that…What will
people say!? Or “Loukh kya kahngay!?”” If you know, you know!
At my age, I thought that this was a thing of the past, but apparently, worrying
about what the world thinks, is still going strong, and not just in the South Asian
community!
I’m the one at the party who LOVES talking to people and finding out interesting
tidbits of information about them…yes I’m curious, but mostly I’m just fascinated
about people! And I’m coming across more and more people who have decided
“They don’t really care what anyone else thinks and they’re living their life in the
truest, most authentic way…forget societal norms!”
And I’d like to introduce them to you! Men and women that have broken free of
cultural or familial expectations and are doing the most interesting, out of the box
things!
Whether it’s A college professor who moved to a foreign country and is starting a
fashion brand; the medical student who dropped out to successfully launch a skin
and hair care company; or A tech founder who put his career on hold and became
the “class mom”… You’ll be inspired, touched, and just plain amazed to hear their
stories!
They’re absolutely living their truest and most authentic life, completely against
the grain!
I am your host, Farnaz Dar, and let’s talk to people who are “Going Against the
Grain!”
Thank you so much for spending a little time with me today!
And for once...I'd REALLY like to know what people will think! So please follow,
download, submit a rating and review on iTunes and Share us with your friends.
To learn more about how I followed my gut and went WAYY against the grain...visit my
website: SauFennel.com!