Prerna Arvind

“𝒦𝒶𝓊𝓃 𝒽𝒶𝒾 𝓎𝑒 𝓁𝑜𝑔? 𝒦𝒶𝒽𝒶𝓃 𝓈𝑒 𝒶𝒶𝓉𝑒 𝒽𝒶𝒾𝓃 𝓎𝑒 𝒹𝑜𝓈𝓉?”

It’s funny to say it out maybe, but many things in my life have happened as I pursued what my friends suggested me to do. I am at a point in life, where I have become the Jack of all trades! I am grateful to my friends, family, and my dear hubby for supporting me throughout and urging me to try more and more things.

Today, apart from being a Project Manager, I am also a travel blogger, a book reviewer, an illustrator, a makeup reviewer, and a tarot card reader! Before COVID, I was more into travel blogging, book reviews, and makeup reviews. But when COVID dawned and there was a lockdown, it opened up a new horizon for me. I started exploring illustrations for fun. Earlier, I used to draw with either pens or pencils. It was only later that I got an iPad. With digital accessories, I was introduced to a new spectrum and this hobby grew on me. A friend of mine saw my portraits and asked – “Why don’t you make mine?” Soon the word spread out, and one by one, the count kept increasing. After some time, my friends suggested, “Why don’t you start earning from it?” This was the beginning of my journey as a part-time professional illustrator. I soon started receiving requests for wedding invites, and bedtime storybooks for children. Before lockdown, I used to spend 4 hours of a day traveling. But now, I have time to steal, sit down, and do the artwork. So far I have done loads of illustrations that include 2 children’s storybooks.

Coming to tarot card reading, it was more of an interest. Most of my clients in tarot have been friends of friends, especially girls. I have also observed that it’s mostly girls who came to me. They have this strange belief in tarot and they come to me with a positive hope for their problems. I mostly get questions related to life and relationships. There was one situation that got a little awkward. I remember that one of my clients had been through a very bad breakup. Since she was known to me, I used to read often to her. Gradually, this turned into an addiction and she made that her way of life. It was more like cards were taking control of her life rather she did! I believe, whatever the cards say, it’s ultimately up to you, how you tackle it and change it. Even if it’s negative, you should have that capability in you to change it and make it positive. I feel more like a therapist than a tarot card reader. Listening to my client’s problems and talking them out so that they figure out the solutions, makes me very happy. Being from an IT background, I have faced several challenges to cope up with all my hobbies. At one point in life, I didn’t even have the time for all this. However, eventually, I made myself understand and prioritized what was more important. Even if you can spare 15 to 20 minutes a day doing something for yourself, do it. Do it if that is what makes you happy, as that will mount to a different kind of satisfaction. It will make your days better, for sure!

Whenever possible, I try to spread the message that, “We should not lose ourselves.” My dad always used to say, “You have so much talent. Why don’t you put it into use and help others out of it? Whenever you can, you should always give some part of it to the community.” I am glad that today, I can do all of this for real. As of now, being inclined a lot more to illustrations and artworks, I’m happily spreading smiles.

Total Work Experience : 7 Years (Infosys, CRMNEXT, Mindgate Solutions Pvt Ltd)