Gratitude Is My Magic Potion

I know I am a bit late for the September Gratitude Circle (28 Sept) and National Coffee day (29 Sept) but I am right on time for International Coffee Day—1 Oct—which is tomorrow.

I could freak out over not posting on Thursday, or I could just accept that things are exactly as they should be, and move on. I choose to do the latter!

So without further ado, let’s go to the good stuff!

Snippets from my September Gratitude Journal:

I celebrated my birthday on 27 September in the most unusual way this year.

I was away from home for the first time in my life on a birthday, and felt a teeny bit sad. However, reason took over, and well, I got over that quickly enough. I had a wonderful day with friends. I was off at 3.30 am from home for a day trip to Delhi to visit the Nestlé R&D center in Manesar. Our group met at the airport and the lovely organizer brought me this cake.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BZhjblbhLNY/

So, 5.30 am found us singing happy birthday followed by cake cutting!

And on the flight, the Indigo hostess who had overhead my conversation with someone when I boarded, presented me with a slice of cake exactly at the moment when I felt a bit eatish. Yummy! And… so grateful!

The rest of the day continued its fabulousness as we enjoyed our trip. I got home at 11.45 pm, tired, but happy. Of course, I rather zonked out the next day, which explains why the post didn’t go up on time. Forgive me, please?

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My son wrote me a poem and sent it to me at the stroke of midnight. I read it and reread it and rereread it through tears of happiness. That boy…I adore him. So grateful that he’s my son.

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After I returned home, my phone pinged and I was overwhelmed to see Sreeja’s poem. This girl, I tell you! Ever since I met her years ago, she has never once forgotten my birthday and writes the most charming poems. Look what she wrote for me this year:

A writer, an artist, a woman so smart
She wears a smile that touches your heart

The one whose pen speaks the honest word
She surely loves the perfectly set curd

Mom to her loving, caring, brilliant son
He is, in all ways, her best job done

Someone who gives without expecting much
Whose hands are blessed with the golden touch

She spreads her vibrance wherever she goes
Smiling her way through the high and lows

Wanderlust, she loves to trot the globe
She has a fetish for a colourful wardrobe

A genius in her own self-taught way
She’ll win over you, challenge if you may!

As the Earth comes a full round
I’m sure, new passion she has found

On her special day, the day of her birth
I wish her joy and abundant mirth

May God bless her with pleasant sunshine
May, through the odds, she be just fine

May her days ahead be always sweet
God bless the woman, someone I’d love to meet!!

Happy Birthday to you Vidya

Is that not super-duper? Love you Sreeja!

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A wonderful thing happened earlier this month. I reconnected with one of my college mates—I had been looking for her for the longest time—after exactly 30 years! Somehow, things do happen when they’re meant to—so imagine my total delight when me “met” and caught up! She is very special to me and I have fond memories of some great times together. Thank you, S!

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With all the rains we’ve been experiencing, we’ve tried to feel better with ginger-lemon-honey-green tea. My sister and I spent enjoyable moments savoring our cups.

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As usual, we have been having internet woes. Even they find it hilarious that I’ve been complaining for months, with no resolution. They claimed they’ve checked and sorted out the wiring, and I know they did the rewiring from the junction box downstairs to my phone—but that doesn’t seem to have solved the issue. I still face disconnection issues. What to do? I refused to stress over it. I choose to be grateful that the technicians turn up promptly every time, even if it is a Sunday. Thank you guys. Sigh.

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And as if on cue, Ghazal of Mamaearth sent me a tin of stress relief tea. It is wonderful and delicious.

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With all that’s been going on, we’ve been doing the rounds of the hospital for my husband who had to have a biopsy. Technically a half-hour thing, but this is something only the hospital college does, so there’s unavoidable waiting and protocol to follow. It has been tiring, but we’re super-grateful for the lovely doctor who has been assigned to us, and who coordinates everything. Hopefully next week he’ll start treatment and recover.

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Did you see the birthday gift I gave myself? This gorgeous photo album—I am so thrilled, I tell you. Best thing? With all the powercuts, I don’t need electricity to enjoy this. I can hold it in my hands and allow each photo to walk me down nostalgia lane. I feel so grateful!

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I am grateful to Radek for featuring me in this fantastic roundup post. He asked the question:

“What was the most discouraging thing You’ve heard while working on Your blog / video blog / coaching business, and what was Your trick to recover from it?”

We all go through that miserable stage as a result of self-criticism or outside criticism. These posts show how different people overcame them. It is a four-part post with some great bloggers chiming in. By the way, Radek is one of the most charming people I’ve met and I love his writing style. Do read!

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As always, I am thankful for my friends and family.

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And coffee. Special mention for coffee today, because tomorrow’s International Coffee Day. I’ll be writing about that tomorrow with some fun photos—do come back and join the fun!

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How did September go for you? What was the best highlight?

Happy Navratri!

Do join me for the September Gratitude Circle bloghop with your own posts. Grab the badge for your post and add your post url to the linky below:

I am linking up with #WordSante – do join us!