Anjana Bhakta

WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT BEING YOUR AGE?
As I get older, I feel more confident. I can feel happy and excited for others and not feel like I’m not doing enough.

WHAT HARDSHIPS HAVE YOU ENDURED THAT YOU FEEL HAVE MADE YOU STRONGER?
Being first generation, first born here in America, when I went to school, I didn’t know any English. I really struggled with that, I only spoke my language Gujarati, and had a lot of tutoring when I was younger. That was difficult, you automatically feel behind. You watch other kids, and everything seems so easy for them. You feel like the underdog and that feeling stays for a long time. If I don’t understand something I really dig into it, work a little harder, and study a little harder. Make sure I’m presenting myself as an equal to everybody else.

WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER YOUR GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT?
Having a family and getting pregnant with twins. I’ve always dreamed about a family and having kids. Having children was difficult, going down a road where I thought this is never going to happen for me. But once it happened, I was so excited, it felt like a big gift, and I felt like God was telling me to be patient.

When I look back now, I realize something may not happen at the time you want it but be patient and it will come when it’s time.

Also bringing Primrose schools to the Wichita area. I saw my parent’s struggles with their businesses, and I just wanted a job, to come home, and not worry about it over the weekend. We were happy, my husband as an engineer, and me as a registered nurse. At one point we wanted to do something on the side, and make a little money. Once the children were born, we were looking for a good daycare. I enrolled the children in Primrose, which was planned to be built in Wichita, but that fell through. When I contacted Primrose, they asked us if we wanted to set it up. We ended up visiting a Primrose in Kansas City a year later and we fell in love. I really do think that was a big deal in our life and a big accomplishment. 

WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST EXTRAVAGANCE?
I grew up very minimal and overall, I’m a very simple person. For me, luxury is having time, time for reading or listening to a podcast, waking up, and not necessarily having to be anywhere specific.

I picked up the hobby of silversmithing and have been making jewelry for a long time. It’s getting more expensive because I want to work with gemstones and better-quality jewelry. I always wanted to go to the Tucson Gem Show and in February I’m finally going, I’m so excited about that. To me that is a luxury, doing that for myself and spending money on that.

WHAT IS YOUR MOST TREASURED POSSESSION?
Besides my family I would say my planners, I have 10 years of planners.
When I opened the Primrose schools, I quickly learned sticky notes wouldn’t work and I started using the Passion Planners.  Planning my time intentionally and making sure I have time for myself, and the things I needed to get done and wanted to do. I use the planner as a journal for both my work and private life, goals, accomplishments, and productivity. The planner helps me get all my ideas on paper and plan my week, spread it all out, and not have to worry about it anymore until I must.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE THING YOU HAVE CHECKED OFF YOUR BUCKET LIST?
In the summer of 2022, we took three months off work, and we traveled as a family. Almost like nomads, without a schedule (even though the months were somewhat planned). We drove from to the south of Texas, to Yellowstone, California, and went to Hawaii, we really enjoyed the outdoors. It was a great experience for my children as well. Things did not go perfectly during the trip, but we were flexible, and there was a lot of teamwork and patience with each other. It was a very good experience.

WHAT IS YOUR IDEA OF PERFECT HAPPINESS?
Happiness is about doing what I love, and being creative. When I make jewelry, having complete freedom to create and bring something to life. I also think it’s when you’re playing your own game. When you’re doing your own thing and all the aspects of your life are exactly where you want it to be. It’s not about perfection, it’s about enjoying your moments right now.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR YOUNGER SELF?
I would say be patient and don’t be afraid to go for it. Follow your passion. Follow your dream. Good things always come out of it. When I was bringing Primrose Schools to Wichita it was a big investment and a huge liability, but I was confident enough to recognize I got this; I’m going to do it.

DO YOU HAVE ANY WORDS OF WISDOM FOR YOUNGER WOMEN?
I think growing up now with social media is very difficult. We get stuck comparing lives. Play your own game, there are a lot of distractions that are hard to avoid. Give space for your own thoughts, do nothing, and give yourself permission to be bored, a lot of good things come out of that.

WHAT IS A TRAIT YOU ARE MOST PROUD OF?
Being able to not feel guilty about taking time to do what I want to do. I learned to not let myself feel guilty for doing something that’s just for me, something I want to do.

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO OR FAVORITE QUOTE?
Wabi-Sabi
(n.) a way of living that focuses on finding beauty within the imperfections of life and accepting peacefully the natural cycle of growth and decay.

WHAT DO YOU MOST VALUE IN YOUR FRIENDS?
Being able to be myself and just laugh. There are some relationships where I can be 100% me, say anything and they will never judge me.

HOW DID YOU CHANGE OVER THE YEARS?
Life is all about seasons. From childhood to teenage years, trying to fit in. Merging different cultures, where my parents are from into western culture. Getting to really know myself and who I am and getting more and more confident.

IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE THING ABOUT YOURSELF, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Besides being a little taller, I wish I had confidence when I was little, I wish I wasn’t as shy and experimented more. I know I had to go through that phase in order to get where I’m at.  If I could change it, I would like to be able to go back and say no, go for it, and own it. 

WHAT DO YOU HOPE FOR THE FUTURE GENERATIONS?
Mental illness right now in teenagers, young people in general, it’s just hitting them hard, and I wish I could eliminate that for them. No one should experience mental illness and feel like they don’t have a way out or feel like they’re stuck. I don’t know how to fix it. That is an area that I’d love to be able to give myself time and think about this and. There must be something that we can do.

WHAT BRINGS YOU THE MOST JOY AT THIS AGE?
Doing what you love to do, you know, every day waking up and feeling like things overall are very balanced in my life. Where I’m at is perfect.

WHAT IS YOUR SUPERPOWER?
Supporting my children in their life, whether it’s sports or creativity, and encouraging them. Keep them excited, I don’t ever want them to feel guilty. I’m a good listener and supportive person for the people in my life.

DO YOU LIKE BEING 40+?
Yes, I do. I feel healthy, I still feel young, and I feel like I could still do most things. I feel more confident to do things. So yes, I like it.

WHEN IN YOUR LIFE, SO FAR, HAVE YOU FELT MOST CONFIDENT, AND WHY?
Having children immediately took me out of my shell. Also, managing and coaching employees and having that responsibility for them. And hearing back from them that you’re doing good, makes me feel good too.

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD?
Life is up and down, there will be incredible bumps. There are wins, there are losses, and there are all kinds of happiness, but you must enjoy it. I know people hear this all the time, but you really, really do have to pause and enjoy it. Every bit of it. Because even in errors and failures, there are lessons that are being learned. Lessons that will help you get to another win. Reflect, on all kinds of situations that happen and enjoy the process. It’s not a race.