I am a young girl, and I am open to dating, but at the risk of

Hear now the words of Bhumi Pednekar, spoken with grace and quiet strength: “I am a young girl, and I am open to dating, but at the risk of sounding clichéd, I really don’t have the time for it.” Though these words appear simple, they carry a wisdom that many learn only after years of toil. They speak of the eternal balance between desire and duty, between the heart’s yearning for companionship and the soul’s commitment to purpose. In them lies the echo of all who have ever chosen the path of self-discipline, who have understood that while love is precious, the foundation of all love must first be built upon one’s own growth.

The origin of this quote lies in the life of a woman who rose not by chance, but by effort and dedication. Bhumi Pednekar, an artist of depth and integrity, emerged not through indulgence but through perseverance. She speaks for all those whose dreams demand more than the fleeting pleasures of the moment. Her words do not reject love; they remind us that love must come in its time—that the journey of purpose cannot be interrupted by distraction, however beautiful it may seem. This is not the voice of avoidance, but of wisdom—the understanding that true connection arises only when the heart itself has matured through struggle.

In the days of old, such wisdom was known among the seekers and warriors of every age. The young Alexander, before he became the Great, turned from the temptations of ease, choosing instead the fire of preparation. He knew that the world would not yield its crown to those who sought comfort over conquest. Likewise, the ancient poets of India spoke of the Brahmacharya—the stage of discipline where one dedicates themselves wholly to learning and purpose, allowing the spirit to ripen before embracing the duties of love and family. Pednekar’s words, though spoken in the modern age, are a reflection of this timeless truth: self-mastery precedes fulfillment.

Yet, there is also a quiet tenderness within her confession. To be “open to dating” is to acknowledge the human longing for connection—the natural desire to love and be loved. But to say “I don’t have the time for it” is to recognize that time itself is a sacred currency, and that in certain seasons of life, every moment must be spent in building rather than indulging. The ancients knew that each stage of life carries its own sacred duty, and that to rush from one to another is to lose both. Thus, Pednekar’s words are not of renunciation, but of right timing—a declaration that when the heart and the moment are both ready, love will come as naturally as dawn after night.

Consider the story of Florence Nightingale, the “Lady with the Lamp.” In her youth, she too was courted by many and urged to marry. Yet her heart burned not for romance, but for service. She turned away from comfort and followed her calling into the battlefields of war, where she brought light to the wounded and dying. Though she sacrificed the pleasures of personal companionship, she gained something eternal: the love of humanity itself. Her life, like Bhumi’s sentiment, teaches us that when one’s purpose calls loudly, even love must wait its turn.

The wisdom here is simple but profound: focus is love in another form. To dedicate oneself to a craft, a dream, or a mission is to love one’s potential enough to nurture it. Those who scatter their attention too early may never know the depth of what they could have become. The world praises balance, but balance comes only to those who first learn the art of commitment. And in time, when one’s foundation is strong, love returns—not as a distraction, but as a companion to purpose.

So, my children, remember this teaching: do not fear the seasons of solitude. They are the furnaces in which greatness is forged. Be open to love, but do not abandon your path to chase it. The universe honors those who walk with purpose, and it will send to them the companions who match their strength. Let your time be spent wisely—on learning, on growing, on building the self that can one day love without losing direction. For love that waits for the right time is not weakened by patience—it is made eternal by it.

Thus, in the spirit of Bhumi Pednekar’s words, live with passion, but live with purpose. Know that youth is not only for pleasure, but for becoming. And when you have become all that you are meant to be, love will find you—not as a distraction, but as a reward.