It is not often that we are happy with what we have in life. Every day we take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude. We hardly pause to appreciate what we have been blessed with, moaning instead of all the things that could have been. Not just me, I guess it happens to all of us at some point or the other. There is always, always, always something to be thankful for. Gratitude helps us to grow and expand; gratitude brings joy and laughter into our life and into the lives of all those around us. In many ways, being grateful liberates us from the prison of self-preoccupation.
At times, our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has reason(s) to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us. When I look back, through every rough ride, life has taught me a few lessons over the years that has made me rethink what I already have and be grateful for them, although I may not have expressed them explicitly often enough.
Today, when I started to make a gratitude list, it dawned on me that I must talk about all that I feel grateful for. During my growing up years, I found it difficult to talk about gratitude even though I felt it within, often noticing the hard work of my parents but could never bring myself to talk about it, the way I do now. I believe it happens with many other kids too. Now, it feels much easier to talk about these things – be it having a difficult conversation or expressing gratitude to someone, because it makes me feel happy to do so. Looking back, and casting a kinder glance at how life has treated me, notwithstanding the many occasions when I have felt let down, I still must admit that I have had far many reasons to be grateful for. And, I truly feel happy within myself as I do so.
1. I am deeply grateful to the Almighty for granting me a privileged life, a good education, loving parents, plenty of opportunities to learn and excel in, a caring partner and husband, a wonderful son who means the world to me, a bunch of very good friends, who have defined friendship in a unique way for me, for giving me the chance to travel to many beautiful places, to call some of them home at some point in time and to know that God has been there to guide me and support me through many a crises, when nothing else could have helped – all of which may seem like a dream for many.
2. Over the last couple of weeks, I have been able to appreciate even the smallest acts of kindness owing to my inability to get on with normal everyday activities as I recuperate from a surgery. Deeply, deeply grateful to my mother, my husband and my son, who are with me right now through their unconditional love, their big and small everyday acts of kindness, support and help with which they have been helping me through each day as it comes, constantly assuring me that things will be fine soon! I would have vanished into thin air without them, honestly! I am deeply grateful also to my sibling, my father, my in-laws and my close group of family and friends who have been constantly enquiring after me and wishing me a speedy recovery from time to time. They show me the positive side of life through every little conversation we have and keep me in high spirits every time I sink low in despair!
3. I am deeply grateful to life, for being able to let me see this world and enjoy its’ beauty every single day, for the tranquil dawns and the glorious dusks that I get to watch from my window every day and the beautiful moonlight that casts a spell on the night sky and floods my balcony with its silver light…or the glorious rainbow that makes me wonder why I will never tire of the beauty of nature!
4. I am deeply grateful to my home-help who comes to work for me every morning and the watchman who kindly opens the gates when I am unable to do so, the neighbour who smiles and asks me how she can help when she sees me looking unwell.
5. I am deeply grateful for the freedom to live as a citizen of the world, in a country that is not a war-zone although sometimes violent actions and behaviour of some misogynists do turn things ugly forcing us to question the times that we live in. In a world where lot of people are deprived of the use of all five senses, I am grateful that I have the means to express myself through words, speech and art, music and other random acts – my love, care and appreciation for all those wonderful things in life that makes living worthwhile. And, just as much, if not more, I remain deeply grateful to all the difficult people who have ever come into my life, for I’d never have wisened up otherwise!
Gratitude is a very powerful process for shifting our energy and bringing more of what we want into our life. Sometimes it’s easy to feel bad because we’re going through a rough time in life. But, no matter how bad our situation may seem, there are tens of thousands of things to be grateful for in life.
Nothing, absolutely nothing or no one should ever be taken for granted.
This post was written based on an inspiration by fellow blogger Lauren at Alphabet salad about creating a Gratitude List to run through the month of July 2015.
