Finding You and I

Here in India, we have a very interesting approach when it comes to health and medication. We blindly trust our doctor’s words and prescriptions and rarely ever question them. And why would we? Most of the doctors that we visit are our family doctors who we have gone to for decades. They’ve probably treated our parents and our siblings since we can remember. Then there are those among us who don’t even visit doctors and choose to self medicate. Some simply take a tablet because they know that someone else is taking it for the same issue. Unfortunately, that’s not how medicines and healthcare works.

Meet Shivani, an experienced pharmacist, who has set out to educate and enlighten people about the basic dos and don’ts of health, well-being and self-care through her informative and thought-provoking Instagram page “Finding You And I”.

Shivani is a third-generation immigrant who was born in England but grew up with her family in Kenya. She later moved back to England when she was 16 to do her A-levels. Shivani came from a business family, but one of her main introductions into the world of healthcare was her uncle who went to England to pursue his further studies in Pharmacy. Unfortunately, her uncle passed away unexpectedly when he was 50, leaving a tragic hole in their family. This was around the same time that Shivani was all set to start university. Though Shivani was initially inclined toward a more creative stream, such as fashion or interior design, she decided to pick up the torch and follow in the footsteps of her uncle.

During her university years, Shivani gained hands-on experience working under doctors and learning how to help patients. Though the pressure of having other people’s well-being in her hands sometimes got to her, she managed to push past it and excel at her work. After finishing her 5 years of training, Shivani was ready to practice, and she found herself as the manager of a pharmacy. She enjoyed helping people learn about their health, teaching them the best ways they could take their medicines so that they would get the maximum benefit, and what they needed to eat in order to live a healthy life.

Shivani ended up spending a good ten years in the British Healthcare System doing something she truly loved and was passionate about. One of the best parts of her job was the fact that she could personally help people and make a difference in their well-being. She recounted a story of an old man rushing to her pharmacy, begging for someone to help his wife. He was unable to get a doctor’s appointment, and the poor man felt completely helpless. Shivani listened to him regarding his wife’s condition and helped him the best she could. A few weeks later, the same old man showed up at the store and told her that he had been searching for her for a while. His wife was much better, and he was just so grateful to Shivani for all that she did. It’s these little things that made her truly love her job.

After getting married 4 years ago, Shivani moved to Mumbai with her husband who was born and raised here. Having lived her whole life abroad and in a completely different atmosphere, she suddenly felt like a fish out of water. Shivani initially struggled with the shift, especially since she left her passion for pharmacy behind in England. She found new hobbies to explore and started dabbling in different avenues such as social media and food and lifestyle styling for brands. But through it all, she always found herself drawn back to the field of pharmacy. Shivani would have friends call and ask her opinion about different medicines and treatments. Her advice and insight into the world of medicine was a great help to many. And after much encouragement, Shivani finally decided to share her knowledge through a public platform. She created her Instagram page in May 2021 and named it “Finding You And I” because she believes she’s still on a journey to discover herself.

Her page covers all the basics one needs to know about healthcare, well-being and sustainable eating habits. From the correct way to apply eye drops, to how important a balanced diet is and the correct supplements that one can take, she covers it all. “If I could just get people to learn the basics and how to use it in their day to day life, that would be a big help,” says Shivani. She plans on taking this journey one day at a time, and she is glad that her knowledge is helping others in whatever way it can. If you want to know more about Shivani and her informative adventure, click here!

Written By Jessica Albuquerque,

A master of being a Jack of all Trades, A method in madness some may say. I’m just a girl on a never-ending journey, Standing on the precipice of my next big story.

Week 26, July 2021