May 2026 Gratitude

This month was hot as predicted by the weather reports, and it got cooler with in between showers in the evenings, and now it’s much better. 31 Days have gone rolling into eternity, never to come back again and despite the weather, there have been a lot of good things happening for which I want to be grateful for: so here goes my gratitude list for this month:

I am glad to go out with my daughter for a stand up comedy show which was in Shilparamam, Hyderabad.  My daughter is a great fan of Kenny Sebastian and has been watching and follows his channel. He was in Hyderabad and she booked the tickets almost 6 months in advance and checked with me whether I would be interested to accompany her. I was happy to agree and there I was attending his show, wherein he not only did comedy but also used the guitar and sang some songs. This is was the first time I saw a live show with my daughter and laughed out loudly, I am grateful for these memorable moments.

My classmate Maureen and Harsha celebrated their wedding anniversary this month and it has been 4 decades they have been together as a couple. My other schoolmates also came and it was great to be with all of them – it’s inspiring to celebrate these kinds of occasions which are rare. I am grateful to join in thanksgiving celebrations that remind of God’s faithfulness and the commitment of one another for four decades of unwavering companionship and cherished memories.

I grateful for the lift we got from another friend Philomena and her husband, who saw that the party was delayed and we had a problem in booking a cab. It was almost midnight –we reached safely home, and thanks to the generosity of Philo my friend who ensured that we are dropped home.

I am glad for a short break– to Mysore and Coorg, with my daughter and my friends, we were seven of us and together,  we went around Mysore city, saw the palace, St Philomena’s Church, Chamundeshwari hills and Brindavan gardens. It was a busy day and we stayed one night in Mysore and the place was beautiful, and there was buffet breakfast and good spread of the south/north Indian and western too. Grateful for the variety and abundance of food on my table on all the days that I toured.

We rested well and next day we started to Coorg which took us around 3 hours – and on the way we stopped by the Golden temple, Buddhist Monastery,  Tibetan market and proceeded to the coffee plantations site and reached late evening to a beautiful hotel right on the top of a hill. The place was stunning surrounded by forests and the sun rise from this place was awesome and the food was also very good.

The next day we went to a fort which had a museum, and from there to an old historic temple followed by a beautiful garden called the Raja Seat. There was view point and it was well maintained garden, and there were  lot of people as it was  holiday time.

We spent some time in this place and then headed for lunch, –in place which was specialized only for sea food. We tried crab curry, Fish fry with a different variety, prawns and their traditional fish curry with rice.  It was a heavy lunch for me and I preferred to skip the dinner to keep myself from over eating.

Post lunch we headed towards Abbey waterfalls – it was 100 steps down and 100 steps up and I was wondering whether I would be able to make it – then I saw an 82 year old gentle man returning back, that inspired me so I started walking down those steps and reached the water falls – took a lot of pictures of the waterfalls and some group pictures, and climbed back 100 steps, and along with my friend, we were happy that we could reach the waer falls. I felt like a winner, achieved something great, thanks to my legsJ with fitting shoes it was not difficult, and also, I felt when you walk together with friends it’s easier to walk long distances. I am grateful for every experience, and with friends its always fun to keep walking, exploring places, food and also relaxing.

The next morning I got up early to see the sun rise – my friend and Dorothy also joined and what I saw was so beautiful, that even now if I close my eyes I can see the magnificent sun rising above the hills, and after a very long time in my life I watched something so magical and it filled my heart with joy. I clicked the pictures and also captured it in my eyes and its unforgettable and is stored in my memory!

I had a great time, Dorothy loved this hilly place, and I am grateful that I could take this short break with my daughter and friends. I had to get back to my work the very next day, and luckily our train was on time and it was a comfortable journey and we reached home by 6.15a.m.

I am grateful for Anuja my sister-in-law, who was there helping me in my absence to ensure that meals are cooked, and house is well kept. I am blessed to have her as she helps me at home- That gives me time to relax, pray and leave for work. Being Saturday and the weather being extremely hot, there were no students at our counseling centre. I worked for the whole day and came back home to sort out my suitcase and empty it and washed all the clothes.

I had a good night rest – slept well and next day being Sunday – I attended the church for the early mass and it was a day to relax – I am grateful for this time and for everything that works out perfectly for me, feel favored and blessed.

This month I was busy with trainings follow up, hence was not sitting at my counseling centre but was going constantly to another place to assist my boss. I enjoy trainings and follow ups where one gets to interact with participants, take their feedback and suggestions.  I am grateful I get to learn so much, not just the knowledge, but listen to the experiences of participants.

I am grateful for a friend who was thoughtful in sending me some mangoes from their farm, it was delicious and different variety – then there were  different variety of mangoes, sent by another friend of Dorothy from their trees.  I appreciate and thank them for being so  kind and generous.

I am grateful to have attended a memorial service of Seema Victor a prayer partner, active member of the YWCA of Secunderabad, a friend who was full of faith, trusted God in her worst times, well versed with the bible and the way she was coping with her illness was an inspiration to me. Unfortunately, her father passed away before her and within few days she also died.

The memorial mass was at St Anthony’s Church, Mud fort, my previous parish. I am visiting this place after a very long time in my life. The moment I stepped inside the church. I recalled so many moments in this church that was so dear to me. I used to regularly attend this church, sing in the choir and volunteer for different activities with youth, women and children too. My heart was overwhelmed with joy and felt immense gratitude for my past, the journey taken in faith and to where I am… brought a lot of  strength from within which made me sing and pray actively join the celebration.

I am grateful for the lift I got to reach the venue and met a lot of friends there – this was a fellowship meal; and this place too was familiar to me as I had spent my childhood here. The Secunderabad club is a place where my father worked for many years and retired. We lived inside the staff quarters and this place triggered so many happy memories of my life. I shared all the stories with my daughter Dorothy, clicked some pictures here and came back home with gratitude.

I am grateful that 31 days have passed – the Lord has been gracious, faithful and has been generous that it not just me who is alive but all those surrounding me, be it at home or workplace and friends – all of us have journeyed this far, to enter into the fresh new month.

I am grateful for every breath of my life, the air in my lungs, my heart still beating all through these years, and my body that has kept me healthy, my legs that have carried me to places that I have always hoped for; am grateful to God for watching over me, for making a way, where there seems to be no way –for leading me in the right direction, while I doubted my own capacity.

I trust God to lead me through all seasons for I know His plans are for Peace and Prosperity, and He works everything for my greatest good. I am reminded of the scripture passage that says those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

I move ahead with faith continuing my journey of gratitude – welcoming the new month that is about to unfold shortly. Thanks for reading my post, my only prayer and hope is that this post fills you gratitude, and motivates you to count your blessings.

 Be Blessed & Be Happy !