When reading a book, especially one of a personal nature, it’s natural to wonder why the author wrote it. I know that I often do.

So why did I write Henna for the Broken Hearted?

There’s a quote by a renowned a spiritual healer in Mumbai, Dr Gulrukh Bala, that reflects the most important reason.

“Sharing the trials and turbulence of the deepest moments of our lives with others helps build a healing web for all”.

Ultimately, there comes a time in all our lives when we meet disaster, sadness, loss, or regret. A time when our lives change forever.

I’ve read a great deal of books featuring the real life stories of people who have been though a crisis and grown as a result of it. I’ve been awed by their courage in sharing their stories, and inspired by their experiences.

In writing this book, I sought to do the same. I wanted to contribute, to give something back. No doubt, there are people who have done more remarkable things than me in their lives. Yet, my journey has been a hugely transformational one for me. One that has left me totally amazed. When I look back on it now, so many years down the track, I wonder how I managed to end up where I have. From having no idea about how my future would look, or even how I wanted it to look, to finding so much fulfillment.

If my book helps or inspires just one person to pick themselves up, and move forward in a new direction, I’ll have achieved my goal. It really is possible to take a huge leap of faith and not just survive, but for your life to be even better than imagined.

Of course, there are other reasons why I wrote the book.

India is an extraordinary, and often a very under-appreciated, country. Tourists who visit only touch on a small and superficial part of it. Admittedly, India isn’t an easy country to get to know. It’s complex and inconsistent. It only reveals itself little by little. And, the depth of it is so immense even one lifetime isn’t enough to learn all there is to know.

Therefore, I wanted to also share a bit about India and what life is like there. I hope that it will help people understand India better, the good points and the bad, the appeal and the frustrations, and even the magic.

The book also answers many questions people have about my life. What brought me to India? How did I meet my husband? Why did I give up the comforts of my old life? How do I cope? What was it like adjusting to India and being married to an Indian? How did I get to where I am now?

Lastly, this book has also been a much desired personal growth experience for me. Writing a book, especially about one oneself, is not an easy thing to do. It’s actually very confronting (and at times terrifying!). I’m a very honest person in real life, and I wanted my book to be a reflection of that honesty. Being brave enough to share my inner thoughts and not always portray myself in a positive light has actually been very empowering, and a good lesson in not taking myself too seriously.

Photo: Taken by R Prasana Venkatesh Photography in Kerala during the monsoon.