Nice and tacky title, eh?
As we get our various garments in a twist over who should register under the GST—Goods and Services Tax—Act, I know one GST that is mandatory for everyone, age and gender no bar.
Gratitude and Service Therapy
At least in my book!
Mmm. Hmm.
I am smiling all the way as I write this gratitude post. Not feeling apologetic for not posting it on Thursday. Not saying June has been an easy month, but as usual, I’ve found that focusing on the things I have always makes life better. I’ve been writing in my gratitude journal every day. Some days, twice. And especially on those days when things looked rather bleak.
It has been a month of:
- losing a good friend
- lots of time with family
- having son home for summer
- great news
- girlfriend dates
- cooking, a lot.
- watching movies with son
- attending book launches
- reading
- working
- repairs galore
- purging stuff
. . . and so on.
Not going to talk about the tough times. Just holding precious moments and memories in my heart.
Strangely, for the first time in a long time, I posted just four times here, last month. I had post drafts ready, but couldn’t get around to publishing them, simply because there was too much going on offline.
Did anyone miss me at all?
Hopefully July will be more prolific.
June began with terrible news of a dear friend’s passing. It was such a shock. I have known him since 1984. All I could do was feel sad, and remember the good times, long conversations, and even recently, joking with each other. So, so, so very sad. I can only feel grateful for our friendship.
The most glorious thing about June was, of course, having my son home. Enough said—the sun just shines brighter when he’s home. Even when we fell sick, one after the other. So glad he’s home, even if I secretly think, omg, he’s going to leave in x days. Crazy mommy, huh! My privilege, though!
Talking of sick, it’s been predominantly a month of tummy-and-headaches. Not sure why. I am due for my blood tests and am a little freaked out about that. Still, worrying won’t change things, so let’s see how that goes, because, eh, life goes on, and there’s so much going on!
Oh! we participated in a Walkathon one Sunday to raise funds for underprivileged kids and it felt so very good!
We spent time with books. Okay, “time” is an understatement—it was hours and hours, in the course of which we also fitted in a couple of book launches. One had a mythology quiz which our team won—and the prize was a stack of 5 books! Very nice indeed! And because it was at the British Library, of course I ended up buying another stack of withdrawn books that were on sale. Not repentant at all!
One day my sis and I had a facemask date and it was so much fun! I was a little dull about them moving out from the apartment opposite ours, but as I mentioned in an earlier post, we’ve been in and out of each other’s houses and that has been wonderful.
In mid-June, I had the pleasure of attending my niece’s prize day at school. My heart was bursting with pride as we returned home, her arms laden with trophies. And then, a few days later, her exam results were declared. She did very well. But of course, the next goal was admission into the college of her choice. After a nail-biting wait, that finally got confirmed and we are all so happy for her. Of course we’ll cry our eyes out when she leaves for college in a different city, but there’ll be tears of joy mingled with that. So grateful.
While all these major happies happened, there were minor happies, too. Our TV went on the blink, and got repaired.
I must express gratitude for my washing machine that makes my life easy. Although, I do wish, at times, that laundry would do, dry, fold, and put itself away! Sigh. Still–love the fragrance of the fluttering bedsheets in the balcony, somehow enhanced by the sunlight.
And oh, if anyone is interested to know—I got my desktop computer up again yesterday after a long struggle. Everything that could go wrong, did. Finally, when we thought we were all set to load the OS, we discovered the DVD drive was dead. Which meant buying a new one. So, the computer is practically new, except for the casing. But what matters at this moment is that it is up. And we’ll watch and see how that goes. I am wary at the moment.
So, as July begins, once again, we shall be super-busy getting my niece ready for college. Lists to make, packing to do. My son will also return to campus in three weeks, and boo-hoo, sniff-sniff. I will miss our evenings on the terrace so much!
♥
July has always been a month of new beginnings for me, with something or other in the works. Good stuff. This July is no exception and I am looking forward to it.
I’ve got a lovely project going on and will say more about it next month when it completes. So excited!
Another thrilling thing was an unexpected assignment that came up, which enabled me complete a very important contribution to the medical fund for my local welfare home. I was stressing over how to do it—and like an answer to a prayer, the assignment came out of the blue. Universe is always listening, eh!
July 8 will also mark this blog’s fourteenth anniversary. How shall we celebrate? Would love to hear what you think.
Just when you think it can’t get any worse, it can. And just when you think it can’t get any better, it can.
Special thanks to the friends who kept in touch. I am fortunate to have you in my life. ♥
Welcome to the June Gratitude Circle blog hop, two days late. I hope you will join me by linking your posts. You know what to do! Thank you for your support!
23 comments
Certainly been an eventful month for you! Glad you got to spend time with Vidur and congrats to the niece on all the laurels. How sweet! Hope health gets back on track and the results are what you need and expect.
Nice to hear about the book launches and the book shopping too. So very sad to hear about the friend’s passing. My sincere condolences. Very tragic how things can go from fine to terrible in the blink of an eye. Gratitude really helps. My Journaling habit has been helping me this last month. July is hectic with family visits next week and Gy birthday mid month and her first unit tests mid month too. Ah well, change and all its vagaries. We must embrace them, no?
Planning a new project. Fingers crossed it clicks this July. Let’s see. Will link up my post. Was waiting for yours to go live.
So nice to read about your month, Vidya, the good parts. I am so happy that you are spending time with Vidur. We also feel sick one after another at home, the weather change. I also have to get some tests done, routine ones to keep a check on the levels. Glad to hear that your desktop is working again and lovely to hear about your projects as well. July also marks 9 years of my blog. Yippee! Yours is turning a teen. Maybe a giveaway of things cherished. 😊 Have a great July!
Sure things would have been hard for you, Vidya. I admire you for finding the silver lining always. You inspire me. So good to know Vidur was around and you had a good time. Don’t worry about the tests. It will go well.
Congrats on 14 years! Wow! so impressive. Wishing you a happier July. Love and hugs.
Parul Thakur recently posted…Gratitude List – June 2017
You have had an eventful June, Vidya. Love the positivity that oozes from this post.
14 years… wow! That’s truly awesome.
Reading about washing machine, made me smile. Like you, I am truly grateful for the gadgets like washing machine, food processor, chopper etc that help easy my work and especially food processor for kneading the dough. I cant knead on my own… I can, but take ages to get it all together 😛
Wishing you a healthy and happy July. Cheers ♥
This is such a great post Vidya and a reminder for me to write in my journal, which I did! 🙂 My mommy heart aches with your mommy heart at the very thought of your son leaving. Those times are filled with tears for me but we must let our little birds fly, huh? And now your niece is heading off too? Double the tears, double the joy. They are doing precisely as we raise them to do and we can and should be proud. I will be praying that your blood work comes back perfect. And yes, Vidya. We all missed you. <3 Can't wait to hear about your mystery project. 🙂
Dear Vidya, every month, rather the beginning of it – in my case, I feel extremely grateful for the gratitude link you have started. It helps me a lot in putting things to perspective in writing. Loved to read about your month and times with son is of course the highlight. And the many small positives which you string along in your narrative. I also love your images and have been meaning to ask which medium do you use for them.
Thank you so much for your lovely comment! Indeed, regardless of the frequency at which I post, I always look forward to writing my Gratitude post. It is also the easiest because I maintain a journal and just have to pick points from it. It is a wonderful feeling to have you and others celebrate with me. Thanks again!
Images: I used to edit in Picmonkey, but finally got over my resistance to Canva and now use it. For my other blogs, where I have an image template, I make the template with the logo on Canva and use Fotor on my laptop to add text, etc. The water color images are sometimes mine, mostly from Shutterstock. And of course, as you can guess, I just love playing with images and spend far more time on them than I should.
Vidya Sury recently posted…Gratitude and Service Therapy #GST #GratitudeCircle
Thank you Vidya
I can’t thank you enough Vidya. I started doing these gratitude posts seriously only this year. I could feel the difference. To make each day worth living, I started Instagram series #GratitudePie . All the credit goes to your Gratitude Circle. Good wishes for your project. Happy to read your gratitude posts each month. Happy journey for your July trip.
Such an eventful month, Vidya. I can imagine how excited you are with Vidur at home for holidays. I’ve planned to go home during Durga Puja and my mum is excited from now and I’m too. June has been good to me and even gave me some much-needed perspective before handing the reigns to July. I even have a gratitude post ready, just need to find time to post & link up 🙂
Oh and yes good to know that your computer is fixed. And give my best wishes to your niece who is going to start a new phase of her life.
You had a full month! Sorry to hear about your friend. You’re right… in the end, we do have the memories. And I can imagine all the cooking, with your son at home. Did you take photos of the food? I love to see food pics. Share them. 😀
Do you prefer working on desktops or laptops? Or no preference?
Did you make this watercolor painting? Like on paper? Or is it digital? Either way, I love it!
I had a super busy June. So crazy that I can’t even remember right now what all happened!
Kaddu recently posted…Is It Worth Having a Facebook Page For Your Blog Now?
:-)It is ok if you don’t remember as long as the month went well! Feeling good is more important, although it is rather nice to remember the details. That’s why I maintain a journal and write in it, sometimes many times a day. To ans your q-s:
Yes I took pics. I post them on instagram occasionally
I prefer the desktop because of the size, the posture, and the spot where I’ve placed it–near the window.
I didn’t make this watercolor painting–got it off shutterstock, but I do watercolor and sketching. And I do it on paper–like the gratitude circle logo and my own logo in the header…and my food blog’s logo.
I wish you a fabulous July, Chicky! Thank you for dropping by!
Vidya Sury recently posted…Gratitude and Service Therapy #GST #GratitudeCircle
Sorry about your loss. I too got a bad news in June. My uncle passes away in a terrible accident. How tricky life can be! All the more reason to be grateful for what we have.
Hope your health is improving.
Facemask date is something that me and my sister would do too. Sounds fun. Wish you a wonderful July.
I did miss your posts. ~hugs~ I have set up a blog reading schedule so that my time is more open for writing and need to get on that next, as a matter of fact. So sorry about the loss of your friend. I pray your health is good and the pains subside. I’ve been postponing a visit to a gastroenterologist myself. Namaste, my dear. And enjoy every minute with your son.
Nice post , and sorry about you loss
Thanks for sharing.
Hi Vidya! Remember me?? Gosh I have been horrible in visiting one of my most uplifting blogs. It sounds like June has been very busy indeed and with great highs, like your son and unfortunate events like your good friend dying. It always means we have to look at the positive and be grateful for the tiniest but important things.
Quite soon June eh? I’m glad you are back with more gusto, Vidya! As much as I love my washing machine, I wish it would clean clothes better. I end up hand washing most of my clothes so that every drop of dirt is off it. I use the machine only for bed sheets and stuff now.
May your friend rest in peace. She was lucky to have you as her friend as am I. But I’ll alive and kicking and I’ll try to make up for this friend of yours too <3
14 years! Wow, you're quite young ya.
You know i love you! <3
Sorry to hear about your friend vidya; death creates a feeling of emptiness, at the same time gratitude creates magic, when we focus on all the beautiful moments that has turned into memories. so nice to hear about your son, and your niece and so many meaningful activities you have been involved. Its always inspiring to read your post, wishing you good health and yes congratulations for the 14 years you have been spreading so much love, encouraging, motivating and sharing your valuable insights in so many different ways, Thank you for your generosity and I liked your title – Gratitude and Service Therapy 🙂 wishing you wellness and blessings !!
Even at the risk of repeating myself I will say thins – I love your optimism even in the face of a not-perfect month. We’ve missed your cheerful presence Vidya – specially at the Barathon. So very sorry to hear about your friend and also that you weren’t keeping well. Hope you pass the tests with flying colours. You take care and make sure your smile is always there.
Obsessivemom recently posted…The trouble with being a good girl
Eventful month for you!
Sad to hear about your friend, my condolences.
It was great meeting your son and your niece (oh, and you! :P) that evening. Of course books and food make life better <3
Hey next time you participate in a walkathon, lemme know. I'd love to be a part of one.
Sreesha recently posted…How To Be A Bawse, by Lilly Singh
Oh I forgot to comment about that title. It’s chuckle-worthy 😛
Sreesha recently posted…How To Be A Bawse, by Lilly Singh
Sorry to hear about the loss of your close friend. May his soul rest in peace. Yes, I really missed you and your posts. Welcome back with a bang. Prayers for your good health and happiness on July and always !!!!
Vasantha Vivek recently posted…Gratitude Dissolved My Negativity ….. #GratitudeCircleBlogHop
Hello Vidyasury,
I’m here for the first time, this is a very nice blog and mostly you and your style of expressing things. really liked it. and yes! and I smile today and you? 🙂 God Bless you