October 2023 Gratitude

”Strive to find things to be thankful for; and just look for the good in who you are” Bethany Hamilton

31 days of October is gone and I am glad to write this gratitude post, one of my favorite things to keep counting the blessings of life. As it had always kept me happy, engaged and productive.  Here goes my gratitude list:

I am glad to spend some time with Dr Beena who is not only Director for Sahayam Psychological Counseling and Wellness Centre but also my mentor, well wisher and guide. She is not been coming to the centre due to other commitments, hence  – I took opportunity to visit her and  sat down to discuss about the kind of issues that we are currently dealing with the students, updating her about the centre and also updating myself about  some of the upcoming projects. It’s always inspiring to spending time with people who are passionate and keep finding new ways to bring meaning in life; I am blessed to be surrounded by people who inspire and motivate..

This month was 24^th wedding anniversary of our married life.  It was a quiet  day of gratitude for us. We attended mass to thank the Lord for the numerous blessings we have received, and for having sustained us for so many years of our lives, protecting us and helping us  to deal with every challenge, at the same time finding our own paths and responding to life’s call leading us to discover our unique   purpose and fulfillment as individuals.

A time of gratitude to recall our parents and family members, friends and every person who were part of our journey in the last two decades and more. The day was made special by good food J there was a delicious prawn biryani cooked by David’s friend which came as  a surprise meal.   

I grateful for the  happy time at the beauty parlor, which is a feel good factor for me – I love this place and enjoy the company of  girls who work here for they are so gently and the touch is so comforting and healing, especially the hot water pedicure followed by a foot massage is something that I enjoy.  These are all small joys of life.  

thanks to Dorothy for this click

This month  is also a special as it’s my mother’s birthday and one of my brother’s too.  Even though they are no more alive, there are so many memories attached to this month. I can never forget my mother and how much she loved to celebrate, the joy she brought by, attending mass, praying – and making special breakfast, treating all of us with Puri, and Wada , lunch was fried rice with chicken/fish and some sambaar. And all of us enjoyed whatever she made, and she ensured that we ate no matter whatever time of the day we visited.

Food has memories hence I got the Udathwada made for breakfast and tried to do few deeds of kindness in her memory, the best tribute I can pay for a person who had a great influence on my life …

 I am grateful for the time I could spend with an old friend- it’s been a long time that I have not met, so glad we could just be together snacking on the nuts and coffee – updating each other of everything that’s happening in our lives, it was a good break for me too and she surprised me with a small box of almonds.

I am grateful to be associated with the YWCA of Secunderabad – a women’s organization that works for empowerment of girls and women. This month there was a candle light ceremony wherein there is an installation of the new board and members come together once a year to praise and thank the Lord and recommit ourselves once again by giving of our time and talents for voluntary service. It’s also a time to meet the other members, interact, connect and enjoy together a fellowship meal.

David has celebrated 28^th anniversary of his group Soldiers of Christ wherein he has members who facilitate the Sunday clinic and also pray together, and involve in the pilgrimage to various churches within the city especially during the season of lent. There are other members who sponsor some spiritual retreats for the poor in the parish. I am grateful that he find ways to utilize his time in a meaningful way.

I am grateful for the invitation I received from a Don Bosco Degree college, Hyderabad, as this was their first batch of degree students and for the first time they were having a graduation ceremony – I was glad to address the students and motivate them as they complete a milestone. I felt privileged to address their parents too. It was an interesting experience for me as I handed over their degrees to the toppers as well as the other students who were gold medalist. 

I am grateful that I could take one session on mental health for the community women – as it’s a priority for our centre I agreed to do it for the community managed by the YWCA There was 45 women and it was an interactive session. I was glad to meet the women and provide them all the required information as well do training for the facilitators on mental health so that they could continue doing awareness programme with their self help groups.

I am privileged to be working in this counseling centre, for the students who keep coming regularly seeking help and support.  This month there were issues related to anxiety, relationship failure, childhood trauma and abuse. Some of them needed medical intervention and still others required regular counseling sessions.  I am grateful for the opportunity to be in this helping profession as it helps me understand issues and makes me grow.

This month David had fever and was not feeling up to the mark.  He developed swelling in his legs and we found there was a small abscess in the leg which was troubling him. The doctor gave him antibiotics hoping that it would reduce, after a couple of weeks it grew and it turned painful and a small incision had to be done to remove the puss and it was troublesome.  I thank the doctor and the nurse who treated him and helped him recover. I am grateful to God that despite small discomforts He is always there to heal and to protect and grant us the grace to deal with every challenge.

I am grateful for the opportunity to be able to continue my education. I got my second year materials for reading, so I did spend a lot of time reading them and updating myself with the syllabus from philosophy. This year there are only 4 papers and I tried completing the first one on western philosophy and there are 3 more to read and understand. This will equip me to write my assignments for submission.

I am grateful for all the service providers and every person who has been part of my life; and would like to be eternally thankful to God for keeping me active and alive.

Thanks for reading my post, how was October for you, would love to hear from you J