My Overflowing Gratitude Journal

What a wonderfully hectic month February is! I always find it interesting that the shortest month of the year packs in the most in terms of work, happenings at home and with friends. As though it is trying to make up for those missing days!

Some highlights from my Gratitude Journal

My husband and I celebrated 20 years of being married, marvelling at, and feeling grateful for each other.

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February is also . . .

. . . tinged with sadness as the day before our wedding anniversary is my Mom’s death anniversary. We’ll never stop being shocked at how sudden her death was, even though she had chronic ailments–but we’ve learned to focus on all the good times. We are also grateful she did not suffer too long before her heart stopped. Nevertheless, as attached as I am to my Mom, I am not at all sure I will actually get over it. And I am fine with that, cherishing and holding my memories close to my heart.

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This month has also been busy with work–I seemed to be on an editing marathon, what with deadlines and all.  Grateful for the work I enjoy!

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Even as I sat back . . .

. . . after sending in the edited manuscript, I got a lovely invitation to cover the Global Investor Summit at Ranchi, Jharkhand at short notice. Excited to be one of the two bloggers chosen across India, I packed my bags and looked forward to a great time. Oh yes, I also hoped to meet and shake hands with Dhoni; however, that didn’t happen because of the high security, what with ministers and top industry Chairmen on the dais for the inaugural session. Still, I have a 50x zoom camera and I made good use of it.  It was a wonderful trip, with great company and I also got to see the Hundru waterfalls near Ranchi, which is also called the city of waterfalls. Please look for a separate post on this! In fact, several about the Ranchi trip!

But I must mention, with gratitude, the kindness of all the people I met during my trip. Especially the fantastic green tea with lemon and honey that the stall near the waterfall served us with. So charming, so tasty, so very welcome.

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Then one evening . . .

. . . I was thinking of my schoolmates, triggered by a conversation with my nieces. I have this pendulum clock which has stopped working. I’ve tried having it repaired, but have been assured that it can’t be. I don’t have the heart to dispose it off. As I sat gazing at the clock, I remembered one of my classmates, also a close friend at the time, who loved picking watches apart. The memory got me smiling. Just then, my phone rang. Can you imagine my feeling of stunned surprise when it turned out to be that very classmate? We had last spoken in 1979. Oh! we had a marathon call catching up and I am so thrilled to be connected again.

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As if my cup did not already runneth over . . . 

. . . one day, my doorbell rang. I opened it to find the postwoman with a small parcel. Wondering what it was, as I wasn’t expecting anything, I eagerly opened it to find this: A hard copy of my book.  What a thrilling moment. I confess I felt teary eyed! Here is the front and back cover:

And close on its heels came an email from the wonderful gentleman who coordinated the publishing of the book, asking me where to send my royalty. Royalty! Wow! Not a big amount, but the very fact that I was eligible to receive “royalty” was so exciting. I earned $45 and I’ll treasure this moment for the rest of my life. All the other books I’ve contributed to–we have the proceeds going to charity. This is the very first book that earned me royalty and as you know, I will have a happy moment giving it to my girls at the welfare home. Yay!

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Talking about books, I have a special announcement today.

My friend Lori Gosselin’s much awaited book on building community is launching today. You will all agree that community is what we all yearn for, whether at work, or in our personal lives. And I think, in today’s fast-paced digital world, community is what will keep us going and happy.

Sounding the Drum: Community Building in the Digital Age is available in all the Amazon stores in both paperback and Kindle format. It’s a fast read with stories, step-by-step guidance, and an Appendix filled with tools and templates so that you can build community, starting today. It’s time.

Look out for my book review very soon. I’ve also reviewed Lori’s first book “The Happy Place,” which is a must-read.

May I pleaase request you to come join the launch party.

You can also buy the book on Amazon

I have read it and I promise you, you will love it!

My gratitude list is never complete without feeling deeply thankful for my friends and my family.

How did February go for you?

Join me!

Join me in the February Gratitude Circle bloghop with your own post!