Smiling in Gratitude

I started the year determined to focus on the good stuff and that, to me, meant minimizing time spent online.

I took time to stand and stare.

I am also on a  mission to giveaway/donate/dispose by decluttering at home. I read this line, somewhere, in the context of decluttering: What if you were to die tomorrow?

The thought made me shudder – not the death part, but the thought of all the stuff I’ve accumulated. So, although I’ve been cleaning and purging in spurts, I have resumed it with renewed vigor, setting myself 15 April, my Mom’s birthday as the deadline. Had she been around, she would have cheered me on. With lots of coffee. Sigh. So I’ll just pretend she is, and get on with it. I am already feeling quite grateful that there are recipients for what I am gifting away.  Best way to collect smiles!

I’ve learned to appreciate and enjoy one day at a time. Of course I worry, but I don’t let it steal my happiness, because, as I am now used to telling anyone who’ll listen: Everything works out eventually. And if you stop stressing over it, sooner than later.

Here are some highlights from my gratitude diary. I have a fab planner this year that doubles up as one. Looks so pretty I almost wanted to take a bite off it!

I am grateful for my friends and neighbors who’ve kept me offline–I actually shut down the computer for longer hours than usual, and don’t miss being online at all. I had some fun outings with my girls, when we visited the Chitra Santhe, an annual all day art exhibition and sale organized by the Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath. All roads leading to this place are closed off for the day and everywhere you see, there’s art display by artists. It was so much fun.

Here are my girls, taking a breather!

This year, I’ve made myself a long list of pleasant things to do and I am trying my hardest to sleep early. Just as I did during my childhood, I make a daily timetable and follow it. Most of the time. Some deviation is always there, but I am mostly on track. I am grateful for my life.

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Last week, the sweetest thing happened to me. We were out in the market as Sury needed a pair of shoes when I heard a voice calling out “madam, madam”. Realizing we were passing the export surplus clothing shop which I usually pop into when I am in that area, I turned to wave hello. The man beckoned to me, and wondering what was up, I went into the shop. There, I found him busy digging into a large sack. Then he triumphantly pulled out a pair of pants–you know, the type one wears at home. And you know what’s printed on it? Coffee. Look! So cool, eh?

I tell you, I was overwhelmed and I felt almost tearful that an almost stranger should remember I love coffee. Ok, so we’ve been shopping at his place on and off for at least a decade now…still! Imagine remembering something like that, especially as we hadn’t dropped by for months! I was so touched. Luckily it was my size so I had to buy it right away, along with a pretty red top I saw.

♥

I am grateful for my clients who keep me busy and enjoy working with me.

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In the first week of Jan, there was a pleasant surprise when I was chosen as the winner of the Orange Flower Award 2017 for the Wellness Writing category. This was organized by the Women’s Web. Great feeling! And I am grateful to Sid for clicking this nice photo.

And? This bundle of fun has kept me laughing. A lot:

What are you grateful for?

What makes you laugh?

Join me for the January 2017 Gratitude Circle!

Write your post, show off the #GratitudeCircle badge, and add your post url to the linky below.

Thank you for being part of the Gratitude Circle! ♥