We often ask our elders things like: When you were my age, how did you prepare for the future? There’s no secret why we want to glean as much wisdom as we can from our parents and grandparents. Our elders have traveled miles away from home, experiencing many versions of themselves and society. Along the way, they’ve embraced the life around them.
When the exciting opportunity came up to chat with Ghlee’s very own Alka Sharma, I had a different question in mind: What are you looking forward to as you get older?
Throughout our lively and bilingual conversation, I was met with her warmth, vibrant spirit and incredible storytelling. I’m proud to share a window into Alka Aunty’s life, the very source of inspiration for Ghlee. And you don’t want to miss her tips on what to incorporate in your routine for a slower and more joyful life (red lipstick included!).
Q: Please tell us about yourself, Alka!
I am a mom of four children, who are all grown up. My husband and I are retired, and we are enjoying the slow and everyday parts of life. We go for walks every day, make yummy food and roti with ghee and drink chai, and relax next to the pool.
Q: What remedies do you remember from your childhood?
Growing up in Punjab, I was one of five sisters and two brothers. We had a cow at home and it was so special. When the cow had a baby, my dad was so happy! The whole house was excited that a new baby came.
This cow was everything. It gave us fresh milk that we used to make ghee and yogurt, and helped us offer Seva (service for the community). We would incorporate ghee into our cooking, like in our daal and saag (lentils and leafy veggie dishes). My grandmother would use the yogurt as a face mask or for her baths. Her skin was always glowing; you wouldn’t believe it!
My elders would also use ghee, cloves, haldi (turmeric), ginger and make a tarka out of it to apply to wounds and bruises, and then cover them up with bandages. It is a natural remedy that I still use today.
Q: What remedies did you bring with you to Canada?
I came to Canada when I was around 24 years old, when I got married to my husband. I’ve been living here for most of my life now! Being away from home was very hard. Everything was different.
In my childhood, we warmed up ghee and used it as a conditioner to keep our hair nice and soft. I tried some of the new hair products, but found myself coming back to ghee again after a while.
While raising my kids, I made sure to use these natural remedies that I learned from home. This included: using ghee in my cooking, and warming ghee up with spices for tel malish (oil massage) when they were sick or aching.
Now, when I see my ghee pot in the kitchen, it brings me ease.
Q: How did you feel when Varun started Ghlee?
You know, when Varun was little, he would wake up with swollen lips in the morning. He would carry around all these lip balms and chapsticks in his pockets. Varun is the youngest of my children, so he was very modern and Canadian. When he would come downstairs while I was making roti in the kitchen, I would tell him “Use ghee for your lips, it’ll be so good.” Kids will listen, but they don’t act on what they hear, no?
When Varun got older, he finally listened to me. He tried ghee on his lips and it worked. When he had the idea to start Ghlee, he asked his dad to help him make ghee. My husband is an engineer and has a background in the food industry. He makes perfect ghee! It was like a science class, the way they were experimenting and testing so many things in the kitchen. When he showed me the first Ghlee Lip Balm, I was so amazed.
Q: I heard you inspired Varun to create the Muscle Balm. Can you tell me about that?
Yes, dear, I had knee surgery 2 or 3 years ago. To this day, I still have pain in my knees, especially at nighttime. Varun made this Muscle Balm and put the container on my bedside table. I did not touch it for a week! This is because Mom knows best, right? I finally used it, and I was speechless.
I use the Muscle Balm every day in the morning and every night, after I take a bath. Sometimes when I’m watching TV, I also use it. I massage it into my knees, and it really helps me. It made me so happy to know that he made this for me, to help my knees. I am so proud of Varun, Arati, and my kids.
Q: What are your essentials for your self-care routine?
Offering Puja in the morning. When I wake up in the morning, Puja Pat starts my routine. I bless my home with incense and pure ghee. This is my form of meditation; I learned it from my dad.
Putting SPF on my face. I always make sure to moisturize and wear sunscreen in the morning, and it helps to keep my skin healthy from the sun. I still look great, no?
Drinking chai. My husband and I love to drink chai every day. We put fennel seeds, cloves, ginger, and a little bit of ghee. It smells and tastes so good, especially on cold days.
Going on a walk every day. It is so important to stay active, especially as you get older. Even just walking is good for you. The Muscle Balm helps me go for a walk.
Wearing red lipstick & Ghlee’s Lip Balm. Red lipstick is something that makes me feel like myself when I go out or even when I’m at home. You know when your lips feel dry from wearing lipstick? I keep Ghlee’s Lip Balm in my pocket all the time. It helps to keep my lips so smooth and so nice.
Q: What are you looking forward to as you get older?
I am turning 65 next year, but I feel like I’m getting younger and younger! Now that my kids are all adults, I want to be myself more and explore who I am, after reflecting on what I’ve learned throughout my life.
Seeing my children happy & healthy. I always tell them, “Don’t be stressed. Be happy and positive and take care of yourself.” I want my children to embrace the parts of our culture that I share with them. I hope they continue these traditions and rituals — anything from food, to how we worship, to using natural remedies.
I have no regrets, and I’m continuing to enjoy the simple and happy days.
Q: Finish this sentence with a bit of wisdom you want to share: “Because I’m Made With Ghee…”
I take time to relax every day and make sure to take care of my health and skin with natural ingredients. I encourage you to do this, too.💛
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Thank you to the By The Kollective team for bringing this photo series to life:
Creative Director: Kiran Rai
Photographer: Baljit Singh
DOP: Sandro Pehar
MUAH: Jappay
BTS: Villa
