STILL RECOVERING from March, are you?

Well, guess what? All of us are. Year-end closing, appraisals to worry about, deadlines and targets that loomed closer than ever. Work pressures can bog any of us down. Combine that with life’s other responsibilities and the picture can be overwhelming.

Anytime I get weighed down by pressures of various kinds, I stop and look for inspiration from the simple things around — something that most of us can do if we want to be happy individuals.

A good time and place to start would be now. Why? Well, spring is in the air. Isn’t it a season to remind yourself that green shoots show up no matter how severe the winter has been? And how can you not stop to gaze at gulmohar’s brilliant orange, the bright yellow of amaltas, and the vibrant colours of bougainvillea? The spring’s colours are a reminder to us to slow down and enjoy the beauty of nature.

It’s for the same reason we have renowned economist Lord Meghnad Desai on the cover. The man shares with us the reasons for his optimism about India’s growth story and how he thinks we are on the right track. A growth of 8.5 to 9 per cent, he says, is achievable for India’s economy. The shoots of growth are already showing, aren’t they?

Talking of spring, the Looking Back section is a must-read. For we have a fascinating story about the courage and strength of Kalpana Saroj, a Dalit child bride who went on to become a successful entrepreneur. Rising above the harsh challenges of life when she was exploited as a 12-year-old child bride, Saroj refused to give in. Determined, she fought her circumstances and saw the shoots of hope. Today, she is a successful entrepreneur and a Padma Shree winner.

Go on and look for that sprout of hope and nurture it. This spring, find that spring in your step.