Gratitude Post – August 2021

August is a month for friends- we have friendship day being celebrated every year sometime in the first week of the month.  I remember so many friends who have been a part of life since my school days college days, and involved myself in the church activities, youth group, choir and work places, as I kept changing and evolving. I am blessed and privileged to have good friends who have always been helpful, genuine, friendly and challenged me to grow and progress. I am filled with gratitude when I look at all these persons; and I do owe a lot to them for enabling and empowering me to fulfill my desires and dreams too.

August begun with a friends birthday and we together joined and celebrated, it was a pleasure to meet and enjoy the company of one another. With lock down and the risk involved due to Corona we have not been meeting and going out; this birthday was an opportunity to meet.  Birthdays are gratitude moments that reminds of gift of life and love. We made sure that we followed the covid protocols of wearing mask and maintaining social distancing and carried our sanitizers.

This month was Aparna’s birthday - a good friend of mine, we have worked together for more than a decade and we have shared meaningful conversations; and together we have implemented some of the projects related to youth & women empowerment. Hence I was very happy and grateful for the gift of her friendship as there was so much learning and growing and we have mutually supported one another to grow and enhance our capacities and we continue to do so... till date.

I am thankful that Dorothy despite her busy schedule helped me with a handmade card for my friend, and all of us could write in the card and sign.  All friends met for lunch and had a great time enjoying delicious food and lots of fun .

On the work front there was regular offline work wherein the centre was open and this month there were too many students who visited the centre. I am surprised that this whole month there were more students in the age group of 14 to 20 years – mostly adolescents and youngsters who are undergraduates. The issues were serious from relationship issues, porn addiction, suicidal ideations, depression, anxiety and stress and academic pressure. I am grateful to work here and help the youngsters to deal with whatever issues they come with; at the end of the day I feel happy and content for the meaningful work and the opportunity to reach out.

I am blessed and happy that Dorothy has fared well in her 4^th semester and has passed with good grades, despite me being busy with work and David too busy with his own. I am glad that she has managed on her own and worked hard to be able to succeed in scoring well; and has now moved into the 5^th semester. She keeps herself busy with being involved in the local parish youth group and also in the Young Women Christian Association, secunderabad.

Grateful to my nephew who surprised her with chocolate cake and pizza party. The kids and his family came home; we thanked God for the results and enjoyed cake and pizza for dinner. These are small little joys that just happen without much planning, bringing happiness.

This month there were a couple of weddings, one was 15 kms away from our residence and it was one of David’s friends from our parish community, the person is active in the community and friendly with us. It was grand celebrations wherein I found there was enough space for the crowd they have invited, I loved the ambiance and the trees there were decorated beautifully, I was happy to take a few pictures of these trees for my tree love post hosted by Parul.

Another wedding was my classmates son and she had informed well in advance a year ago and the wedding was getting postponed due to lock down; finally it was fixed for august third week and being a Sunday it was an outing, as the distance was far and the invitees were limited and the Covid protocols were strictly followed.

This month I did get  a long distance call- a student who just called me to thank me, reminding me of his name and when he had come to the centre; he told me that he felt like thanking and so he called up. It was a sweet gesture and I was very happy to speak.

I am grateful that I could connect with two of my relatives (uncles)– both of them, one is  70 plus and another one  in 80’s, living a retired life;. It was a pleasure talking to them as they were very fond of my mother and they were delighted to receive my call and it was a long conversation recalling and catching up with what is happening in our lives. I felt happy for these conversations are important especially at this time there is so much uncertainty.  I believe it is always good to appreciate persons when they are alive and not wait for death.  

I am grateful for my guide who is helping me with my PhD. I visited him this month and updated my progress and he gave me a green signal to move on and continue my work. I am happy that there are people around me who are kind and helpful.

David is busy with his work; he took a short trip to Dornali, Mysore- St Anthony’s shrine. He is an ardent devotee and makes an annual visit along with his friends.I am grateful he had a safe journey and returned healthy and safe.

My health has improved and I am back on track, regularly attending the centre, taking both physical counseling as well as telecounseling. Managing my PhD work and also looking into small little things at home to ensure everything runs smoothly.

I am blessed to have people to help me with my household chores, all our service providers – the person who brings us the newspaper, the one who delivers the milk packets, the lady who sells vegetables and our neighbors who are friendly and respectful and are ready to help in times of need.

This month I was also celebrating my daughters’s pre birthday celebration –as she will be celebrating her 20^th birthday on the 7^th September, 2021. So I decided to affirm her for 20 days J  everyday till date counting the days.. and surprising her every day with handmade card using my creativity J making it colorful and a small little gift to keep her happy…today is the 14^th day and another 6 more days to go to reach the 20^th day. 

“I AM GRATEFUL FOR WHAT I AM AND HAVE; MY THANKSGIVING IS PERPETUAL”HENRY DAVID THOREAU

I am grateful that I could pick up some small little gifts for children in our extended family who celebrate their birthdays in the month of September, I am happy with the discounts and offers as I keep buying some gifts. I am thankful for my financial health wherein I can plan and bring a smile on the September birthday girls in our family.

I am also grateful for people who keep inspiring me- by sending regular messages. Videos, quotes on whatsapp, Instagram and Face book. I take little time to acknowledge only whatsapp and Instagram.. FB I don’t find that much time, occasionally I will just randomly see and update self and appreciate those who take time to inspire.

I am glad to write this gratitude post, and I know that counting my blessings not only helps me change my moods but also brings me happiness and joys, making me relive once again the whole month and keeps in good health.

Thank you for reading this post; hope you had a great month too. I would love to hear from you.

Be Blessed & Be happy !