GRATITUDE

Starting my very own blog ... A desire for many years now. One of the reasons that delayed in getting the blog going was the topic for my first post. I guess the universe conspired to make it happen in 2019 on my birthday. Its not a milestone birthday but nevertheless I am grateful for being alive and ticking till now; enriched with varied experiences and getting to spend time with family and friends. These are some incredible blessings in my life. I wish to share these very experiences in this space. Perhaps, I could inspire or offer comfort with my words.

Just after the clock started ticking into the 19^th of May, some friends stayed awake to send me heart-warming wishes. I received so many wishes from everyone around me that I started to feel a little overwhelmed! As the sun started making its presence felt in this part of the globe, more wishes got the phone clucking and I was wide awake! Lo! I knew what I would write about...GRATITUDE.

We come across people who take plenty of things for granted and thanking the giver, doesn’t come naturally. We are so caught up in the euphoria, we often forget to be thankful. Don’t we? When everything seems to be going smoothly, many gestures are taken for granted. But when life seems full of troubles and problems appear to be casting a shadow over our lives, the same gesture is considered like a gift for the royalty, worth its weight in gold.

Regardless of the current situation being to my liking or not, I appreciate the treasures coming my way... A baby returning a smile or a toddler ready to share his chocolate when I extend my hand for it or a bird helping itself to the feed and water that I left for it or sighting an armadillo on my first morning in Texas; for friends making time to meet; the list is endless. It’s difficult to be positive and maintain an attitude of gratitude, especially when the chips are down; but not impossible. Start with the people around. Every time you pay for the services rendered, add a “Thank you”. Even an illiterate person in our country, understands the word. Just the two words, would leave him/her in a better state of mind for a while. If more of us get into the habit, we help them to look at the positive side of things. When we have many people thinking positive then the outcome would be positive. Staying in a positive world will have such a huge impact on everyone's life.

Once, I was looking for an address and enquired of it from a kid coming from the opposite direction. He replied, “Follow me” and turned around his bicycle. I wished I had something edible to offer when we reached. William Arthur Ward, a writer of inspirational maxims, said, “Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.” So, I thanked him when I reached the destination and he replied, “no mention”. It filled my heart with love for him. Likewise, my heart is forever grateful for the hope, guidance, laughter and love received, regularly. I am grateful for the unwavering assistance of the angels from this realm or from the other; for the opportunity to assist others and for all the alternative healing techniques. I am definitely grateful for the internet because it keeps me connected to people. Today, again, I express my gratitude towards all the people who have been with me and around me.

All of us go through this roller coaster journey of life and each time we fall, we rise again and when we do that we rarely recognise and acknowledge our inner strength. I think it is essential to acknowledge and express gratitude to self because as an individual we are here with our very own abilities to travel in this journey and nobody can take that away. So be good and kind to yourself. Look into the mirror and say,

“I am proud of you!”

Family and friends have played a big role in making this blog happen. Thank you, thank you, thank you... for giving me a birthday to remember!

Love and Blessings to everyone reading this.