Z – Zillion Thanks

This April for the A-Z 2020 challenge I came across a short story which touched my heart and evoked sense of gratitude.

On August 5, 2010 in Atacama, Chile, 35 miners were trapped underground when part of a mine collapsed, leaving all exit routes blocked.  Dismay turned to hope when a rescue team found a note that told anxious families that the miners were alive. Sixty nine days later,  following a remarkable feat of skilled engineering all the miners were rescued to a sense of overwhelming gratitude that was felt the world over.

Thats the power of positivity that unleashed a powerful energy all over, Zillion thanks.

*******

This is the last Thursday of the month and I am joining the Gratitude Circle by counting my blessings and listing out gratitude for the month of April 2020.

The month of April 2020 was a complete lock down time and this suddenly changed everything so quickly that by the time we realize, we were at home with fears, insecurity and the news of the increase of COVID 19 in the state made us extra careful about taking precautionary measure  in staying home, washing hands constantly, and wearing a mask if there’s a need to go out and we tried our best not to break the rules laid down and within two to three weeks, we were in a new routine, a new schedule and despite all the news  both fake and authentic, we could still remain grateful  and even celebrate Easter.

small joys red beauty at home

We started valuing everything and everyone around us and it was easy for me to make the list of things to be grateful for: here goes my list:

We bonded as a family by having our meals together and even praying together, which was actually reduced in the last few years. This helped us to talk to each other and we found time in appreciating and affirming one another. I am grateful for the family that supports me and helps me in reaching my potential.

I surprised myself by experimenting so many recipes.

We shared the household chores – and I am grateful to David and Dorothy that they shared almost all the work in the house, thus reducing the burden on any one particular person. This gave me an opportunity to try variety of recipes – I am glad that I learnt so much in this month, attempted recipes which I have never ever done in my life… I kept posting on Instagram and Facebook with gratitude in my heart. Some of recipes I tried are a variety of south Indian snack, some vegetable cutlets, curries, the Hyderabad biryani and deserts.

There is still online classes for my daughter - thanks to the teachers who are making the effort to complete the syllabus and interacting with students. Thanks to our extended families, relatives, friends and neighbors for being in touch and also sharing what they had been making in their kitchen's.

We never ran short of supply of milk, vegetables, provisions of the kitchen and there was always something on the table everyday and we could even share with our friends. I am grateful to the vegetable vendors and the fruit vendors who came near our door step to sell. I am also grateful for the regular supply of milk for tea/coffee and mango milk shakes.

 

grateful for the vendors:)

We began a new habit of hearing mass everyday on television every evening after a walk in front of our flat. We started noticing things we have never noticed before.  I clicked some pictures for the tree love posts, while my daughter clicked the blue sky and some time beautiful flowers in varied colors. We played shuttle badminton and ludu at home and found ways to keep self busy. I feel blessed as we felt much better and revived after listening to word of God and praying, playing and privileged to have food on our tables, a peaceful rest and shelter to be together at home and safe.

I am grateful that I could keep connected to my students through tele counseling – its like working from home. But no pressure as I enjoy interacting with students. Our centre facilitated specific counseling for COVID 19. The counselors were trained and I am thankful that we had volunteers joining and helping our centre.

 “When we are grateful we affirm that a source of goodness

exist in our lives” Robert A Emmons

I am also grateful for the meeting we had with the #Ywcaof secunderabad facilitating a zoom meeting on the YWCA  Day which was on 24^th April, 2020 wherein all the YWCA’s around the world celebrated common membership in a movement that advances human rights and leadership of women. We had the President from the National office giving us the message, the General Secretary, and one of our active members sharing the message in the context of COVID 19. This was the first online virtual meeting in the history of #YWCAof secunderabad. It’s a difference experience having more than 30 women to be part of this celebration.

April month also kept me busy and I am grateful that I could participate in the April A-Z Challenge 2020 wherein we post for 26 days non stop except on Sundays.  Blogging kept me busy too as I tried and integrated some of the tree love post,#WAWTB posts and now Gratitude Posts  hosted by vidya sury.

Today is David’s birthday and I am grateful to God for the gift of him as a companion to my life; without his support I wouldn’t be so involved and active.  This day is to thank God for the gift of life and love. The kind of life I live and space I get to not only work at the university, but also to progress academically and be involved in a women’s organisation is all because of the kind of relationship I share with David. I am so happy that I am able to move towards my personal goals and also open myself to so much of learning. With out the space in the marital life its not easy. I value his presence in my life and the kind of qualities that he possess – accomodative, hardworking, full of faith in the Lord, Generous and kind.

Today is also the last day for the April A-Z 2020 challenge and I feel a sense of accomplishment for completing the blogging challenge. I am yet to visit the other bloggers. I am taking time to stop by and there is so much of resources and a variety. I hope to take time and keep visiting the other blogger friends.

Gratitude to all the medical professionals, to the security officers like the police and all the generous souls who went out of their way to respond to those who are stigmatized, and discriminated. The organisations that went out of the way to respond in distributing masks, provisions and provided knowledge and awareness on COVID 19. Let us be grateful for everyone and everything in our lives. If you are interested in joining the gratitude circle. write a post, you can add the badge and post it on the last Thursday of the month and add your link to the Gratitude Circle.

There were some deaths too in the family circle and it was a challenge to stay back home due to lock  down. We decided to pray for their families. Yesterday was a popular film star Irfan Khan who died at the age of 53 battling cancer. A brilliant actor who entertained the audience for years. Today I heard of Rishi Kapoor another popular film star, who entertained for so many years in Bollywood.  I felt sad… every day we are hearing deaths due to COVID globally and wonder how long this phase will take us too… Now we need to be prepared with the effects after the lock down which I am sure will take some more time, may be another 6 months or even one year. I only hope and pray that we learn to explore and find ways to  resolve every challenge.

I would still like to look at the positive side effects of COVID 19 - and salute all those who are positively contributing to reduce infections by #staying home and #staying safe.  May health, healing and peace reign in your hearts, homes and families. 

Thank you for reading my post, appreciate you. I would love to hear your thoughts J

Be Blessed & Be Happy!