37‌ ‌Things‌ ‌I‌ ‌am‌ ‌Grateful‌ ‌for‌ #WrappingUp2020

 

I have been cultivating an attitude of gratitude for years now, and 2020 has been a year when its meaning took a whole new level. 2020 has been a year like no other in our lives, and it only makes sense to bid adieu to this year while counting our blessings. I have been thinking about it ever since Corrine had suggested this prompt for early December linky, but I could not get around writing it then. But, hey, can you be ever late in counting your blessings? Yes, it’s never too late to be grateful and count our blessings. In case you are wondering why the number 37, well I turned 37 years fabulous and wiser this year. Considering one blessing for each year I have lived till now, listing 37 blessings is not too difficult. Isn’t it? I must add here that adding this number was also Corrine's idea and a fun one at that I say.

Looking Back - January to March 2019 #GratitudeCircle #MondayMusings

“Gratitude turns what we have into enough.” – Anonymous

A gratitude post and a post about life, in general, have been long due on the blog. The first quarter of the year is done and dusted with. So it makes sense to look back at the months gone by so far this year. I have had a lot to be thankful for, quite a few things to ponder about and lest I forget about it as the year goes on, I should make a note of it here on the blog. So, I will not beat around the bush and straight get to the point.

The year so far has been a happening one. Of course, there were highs and lows too. And there were things to be grateful for. The universe keeps people aligning on my path to show me the way - to say the things I need to hear, to get the lessons I need to learn to grow and most importantly to not give up on trying - opportunities are just around the corner. We just need to make sure we aren't just walking straight.

Only Change is Permanent - Looking Back - June to September #GratitudeCircle

Finally, I am here clearing the dust and the cobwebs off this space. For almost 3 months, this place has been deserted and I am really not sure if anyone is peeping up here to see what’s up.

But, hey I know some of you are stopping by because the blog stats say so. So, all is not lost yet and yes, I am not the one to give up. Hello folks, welcome back. Make yourself comfortable as I want to share some news here.

Life at my end past 3 months has been one with lots of movements. Yes, quite literally. We have moved out of Pune and have now stationed ourselves in Hyderabad. So, you can guess what all kept me occupied. Lots of decluttering, cleaning, packing, unpacking, selling stuff, meeting people,  finding and a new place to live, and the list can go on. I am slowly settling down in this new city – the house is almost set, found a help (so important), slowing making new acquaintances. The little one resumed his preschool after a month’s break. But, there are many things that still need to be done – like getting the mobile number ported to the new state, changing the address in every damn place – bank, adhaar, etc. (small tasks, but takes up time real quick).

While chatting with a friend of mine who shifted to Bangalore from Pune while we shifted to Hyderabad, she said – ‘ aisa lag raha hain sab kuch hil gaya hai’ (everything seems to be shaken from its place). Indeed that was my feeling too when we shifted. This has been our first city change within India and with a toddler on tow, I can say that it is not a small task.

There have been a lot of things that I have been grateful for the past three months. But, I think I will concentrate on the one thing that clearly stood out and will stay afresh in my memory for a long time. And that is meeting friends.

The day I knew we were moving out of Pune, I made a list of people I needed to meet before I left the city. We live in a world that is so connected online that we often discount the feeling of meeting people for real. Of course, there are reasons why we can't meet often - jobs and responsibilities keep us occupied and sometimes the distance within cities is so much that it needs a special occasion to meet. But, trust me the feeling of meeting friends and chatting over a cup of coffee is incomparable to any online chat. I am so grateful to have made such wonderful friends in Pune – all of them made the stay memorable. I can't really express in words how I cherish all the lovely moments spent together.

Pune was a city of many firsts for us - for starters, I took my first scooter ride here (LOL), I made a new beginning as a content writer; we bought our 1st car here; we welcomed our bundle of joy in this city, we bought our 1st home here. No matter where we go, Pune will always be special and we hope we come back to this city again in the future.

Letting go is difficult – be it a habit, person, or a place. But, letting go is important. While I still miss Pune and all my friends there, I am also excited about what life will unfold in this new city. Life is all about experiences and we sure want to have varied experiences in our lives. It is what it takes to make a life rich. So grateful that I am getting the opportunity to experience living in another iconic city.

September was my birthday month and I got to celebrate my 35th birthday with my elder sister (Yes, she also lives in Hyderabad). So grateful to have family and friends wishing me a great birthday - no matter how old you get this day always seem special. I think in recent year birthdays for me are less about celebrations and more about contemplation and reflections. Does that sound like the effect of the approaching middle-age? I don’t know yet. But, I do think that I am clearer about my life goals and my priorities. Am I getting wiser?

Since the city move took most of my time and energy, reading has been laid back, so has been the blogging. But, I am soon getting into the rhythm of writing and reading regularly. Did I tell you I have ordered 5 new books (so hard to resist the temptation even when you have a pile of unread books)?

I have big plans on the blogging front this month. So, do visit by to catch up on the pending book reviews and some sumptuous recipes. I assure you, you won't be disappointed.

Have an awesome October. I am joining Vidya's Gratitude Circle for the Month of June. You can check it out too for a liberal dose of Gratitude.

If you like what you read here, do share your thoughts with me on my Facebook Page, Twitter Handle or tag me on Instagram @jyotibabel using the hashtag #jyotispages 

Thank you for stopping by! Cheers!

When Gratitude is Hard to Find – Looking Back at June 2018 #GratitudeCircle

When Gratitude is Hard to Find, Look For it a Little Harder.

So, finally, here I am with the much-delayed gratitude post for last month. Looking at the title you can make out last month wasn’t a great good one. I will correct myself further here – I just managed to get through it. The reason why I am dwelling on it here is that I think writing about it will make me accept the things as they happened and yes, writing always makes me feel better.

The beginning of the month started on a sad note. A school friend of mine lost her younger brother; he had been fighting for his life and was in ICU for almost 1.5 months after meeting a drowning accident. He never came back. The image of my friend and her brother as I remembered them in school flashed in my mind for days. Such is the fragility of life – it happens to us when we are making other plans. My deepest condolences to the family and I hope they find the strength to move on in life.

If you know about the law of attraction, you would know like attracts like - happiness attracts more happiness and misery attracts more reasons to be miserable for. That was exactly the case with me.

May 2018 - A Month That Flew By #GratitudeCircle

May was a month for me that just flew by! Yes, quite literally. And it ended on such a crazy note that I myself can’t believe what happened.

Life always has its own ways of throwing things our way; things that we think would never happen to us. So, when they such things happen, we can be reeling under it's after effects for days. The challenge is to accept the things as they are and that can be the most difficult thing; easier said than done. No regrets whatsoever, because I think if I were to pass through the same circumstances again, for the first time, I would do the same thing, again. But, will I let that happen again? I won’t comment there, because as I said life can throw a googly anytime but I am better prepared now. At least I think so.

May though fast, it was also memorable (or should I say unforgettable) one. While I may not seem to be all that appreciative of others, I know in my heart how thankful I am. And even if I try to put it all in words, I know my words will fail me. My way of handling things that I can't control is by distancing myself from it. That doesn't necessarily mean that someone did anything wrong or that I mean to hurt someone or be coldhearted. It is just that I would rather occupy myself with something else rather live in a dilemma. It's only sane to stop when you can see that there is a dead-end ahead. Making up your mind is one thing, convincing your heart is another deal.

Everything in life happens for a reason. And my problem is that I try to find a reason for everything!

On that note, let me begin my reflections on the month of May 2018.

Attitude of Gratitude - Looking Back at Jan to April 2018 #GratitudeCircle

It seems unbelievable that we are into the fifth month of the year already. It was only some time back that we all were making grand plans for the New Year (at least I was). While I am happy that I have worked on some areas of my life and am happy with the progress I have made. But, that’s not what made me stop now and ponder over the happenings this year, till now. The universe has a unique way of responding to our wishes and time and again it leaves surprised, as to how it manifests the things that one asks for. Past few days have been a roller coaster ride for me – it is incredible how someone comes into your life - like a gush of wind - out of nowhere, connects with you instantly, and puts your life in perspective for you. The happenings past few days put me in a mood for introspection and deep contemplation and at the end of it, I was just left with one feeling – Gratitude. It is a feeling of happiness that comes from appreciation. And I am learning to cultivate it - one step at a time.

It has been a while since I mused about my life, in general, in this space here. So, today I take this opportunity to ramble it out. It is going to be a long one. So, please make yourself comfortable. But, before that let me express my thanks for two fabulous bloggers that I had come across virtually last year – Vidya Sury and Shailaja. Their posts on gratitude have always touched my heart and in the process have inspired me to cultivate an attitude of gratitude. If you have not checked their space, do check out and I am sure you will love it there. I am forever in debt to them for the inspiration - as I know now, it is such a fabulous and rejuvenating feeling.