My Gratitude List for March, 2015

This post is written for Gratitude Circle for the month of March, 2015

I am glad for this exercise as it helps me to constantly focus on the positive aspects of my life and motivates me to remain constantly happy, healthy and fills me with gratitude.

Inaugural programme

Group Photo of participants

The month of March was a busy month, with my focus on co authoring a research presentation on a pilot programme implemented on violence against women by Young Women Association of India; it was a privilege for me to represent the YWCA at an International seminar held at American college, Madurai, Tamilnadu India.

I am very thankful for the opportunity given to me, to reflect and articulate the experience from a research angle and present it in the International seminar. I am happy to meet so many other participants and enjoyed listening to their presentations on various other issues related to women’s empowerment.

I am glad that our paper has been published in the international journal for  Human Rights… this is a useful exercise for me as I work in an academic institution, as it will add to my profile and will enhance my competency as a counselor.

PILLAR - Pallotine Institute of Lay Animation 

Open Meditation Hall

This opportunity led me to another place, which I had never been before and it was a refreshing break for me to stay at a quiet place, far away from home wherein I could just be myself doing nothing, meditating, enjoying the beauty of the mornings surrounded by hills, and a quiet place to sit and be by myself….. away from my kitchen and the daily routine work of cooking, cleaning, washing and rushing to work and rushing back home to continue what was left undone in the morning.

Meenakshi Temple

I visited the very popular and one of the oldest temples in Madurai, the Meenakshi temple for the second time in my life, and saw how much it has changed – a lot of shops have come up, and I picked up a few earrings for my daughter and also for my self. Madurai is also full of jasmine flowers, and one gets to see fresh flowers all the time, through out the day I found jasmines very fresh most of the women adorn their hair with jasmines, I was attracted to the  fresh jasmines, so bought and put it in my hair every day.

Kodaicanal, Madurai

 I visited kodaicanal and it was such a lovely feeling to be at this place, so well developed surrounded by natural beauty- hills, water falls, pleasant weather, and so much of carrots directly from the farm – I was happy to pick one bunch and brought it home, this place is also filled with boiled hot sweet corn to suit the cold weather, we went as a group enjoying the sweet corns, home made chocolates and hot cups of tea.

There are all types of food available, the north Indian thali, south Indian thali, Chinese Dominos pizzas and Tiffin centers with Dosa Idli Upma Pongal etc. we had lunch at a hotel, and ordered for the south Indian thali. I picked up two types tea leaves for David, as he loves tea.  I also picked up some spices and dry fruits from this place.

Kodaicanal Restaurant

South Indian meal

It was also very satisfying to renew some very old contacts, some of my friends whom I have not met for more than a decade, and another friend who has been a great companion to me for the last 3 decades… I enjoyed catching up with her and updated myself with what’s happening in her  life, and also sharing my own journey of what I have been involved with and how happy I was to meet her.

Me and my friend Theresa

I am happy and refreshed from these experiences and my gratitude level has remained high till date, despite a few challenging situations in the family – my husbands brother in law was diagnosed with bone cancer in the fourth stage and has been on treatment for the last 8 months.. he has become very sick and now the doctors have stopped all medication as it has affected his brain and it’s a sad situation for my sister in law who is looking after him at home and also managing her two year old child. we are regularly in touch with the family to offer prayer and encouragement.

We are having severe water problem in our apartment – but we are grateful to God for one of David’s friend person who brings in water for us on a regular basis and ensures that we have water for everything. So our day to day activities are not disturbed by shortage of water. We have enough to sustain ourselves daily.

My mother in law is now settled on her own; she has taken a place for rent and David has helped her with whatever she requires and ensures that she is lives a comfortable life.  . David visits her regularly and checks on any requirement, whether she requires grocery, snacks, milk & fruits.

My daughter has completed her exams and now she will be going to standard IX and now enjoying holidays for this month.  I am waiting for her results and also the books for the next class… I am happy that she has another two years to complete school.  She is independent in dealing with her own academic problems…. I only step in when she requires my help.

There's a lot more to write; I shall save it for a few more posts this month. 

Thanks to Vidya & Corinne for this Gratitude circle.  This has helped me focus  to write at least once a month.  I hope to improve and want to discipline myself to do a few more posts in a month… with next month A-Z blogging, am sure to connect with more bloggers and will be posting daily.

Be Blessed & Be Happy !

EVERY LIFE HAS A VALUE !

Emmanuel with his sister

Being a mother of a Down syndrome child has changed my perspectives towards children with special needs. Thanks to my son Emmanuel – who helped me understand that every life has a value. As he was the second child I did not know what to expect, despite knowing that he will be a special child.

My daughter was born very healthy and I did not even worry about her developmental stages; she did everything at the right time, and it was a joy to see her accomplish all the milestones.

Emmanuel was a different experience, as he had taken his own time to reach the milestone.  Living in a joint family has its advantages as well as its disadvantages; the advantage is the support one gets in taking care of kids. The biggest disadvantage is the tendency to compare children, and the expectations on the children that he/she has to reach the milestone as per the norm.

Me, my son  Emmanuel and my daughter Maria Dorothy

Being an optimist I always sang songs for Emmanuel and spoke to him in his ears that he is most beautiful, unique and a precious child, singing affirmations, believing in God and trusting in myself, to a large extent I managed to help Emmanuel, the first thing I got his IQ level checked, and then went on exploring how to help him in integrating him into the normal school. With my limited understanding, I started exploring schools for him and this was a tough job

My Son Emmanuel

This experience also reminded me of the challenges I faced in taking care of my son for seven years; Emmanuel was sick very often, and with delayed speech, schooling was a major problem; with limited options I struggled and always worried about his future; despite knowing well that he was my present and I need t focus in living in the now… it was not easy as I saw him progress slowly, I felt compelled to  ensure that he should have secure life, little did I realize that his time here on earth was limited; his life had a value of its own and he had a message for me and all those surrounded him, to love, laugh and spread cheer.. 

I feel grateful and happy to have made a positive choice to have a special child, despite all types of feedbacks and criticisms about Down syndrome kids, who are looked down as a mental health problem, an inconvenience and nuisance to be dealt with.

I am blessed and privileged to have had a Down syndrome son, who was brought so much of love and happiness in my life and in our family, his simplicity, innocence and the charming smile was enough for me to brighten my day.

I feel strongly that there is need to spread awareness on Down syndrome… I don’t know how and what needs to be done...  there is a desire in me to reach out and I felt optimistic when I met Mahesh, a down syndrome child in one of our family function, he surprised me by touching my feet and greeted me and my husband with folded hands, saying namaste with a smile.

I did not take my eyes of him, till the end of the family function, and it was such a pleasure to interact with him, and to know that he is going to school and doing well. I found his parents so loving and caring, treating him with so much kindness and warmth, that I could not forget him till today.

I am positive and hopeful that attitudes of people will change, and these children will be treated with respect. I do my bit on speaking about, and being sensitive and generous in dealing with children with special needs and spread awareness through whatever opportunity I get in my life. I am glad to dedicate this post to all the Down syndrome kids for making this world a beautiful place; and most important for giving lessons of unconditional love and redefining everything in life.

Be Happy!