Hanuman Chalisa

Every month, a few of us meet at a friends’ house to sing Hanuman Chalisa. We do this in honor of a departed soul. It’s a healing ritual for the family hosting and for those of us that gather.

I am eternally grateful to…

  • Vilasini aunty for taking the time and effort to rally a bunch of elementary children to teach Hanuman Chalisa. I remember it like yesterday. All of us would assemble in the common hallway to learn from her. Aunty has given us a gift of a lifetime.
  • Appa and amma for steadfastly playing Hanuman Chalisa on Thursdays and Saturdays. Without that repetitive listening, the gift would have evaporated into thin air.
  • M.S. Subbulakshmi for being the voice of Hanuman Chalisa. For her Bhakti.
  • My faith for giving us something to hold on to at the darkest of times.

Weekend is here!

Piping hot kanji, a low key work day, lunch date with the family, hot spicy Jalapeno poppers, playing pool with Ram and Hari, movie night with Hari, some good laughs at the movie, nice new warm fleece mitten, canceled extra-activities for tomorrow, a new episode of Grey’s Anatomy and Good Doctor… these are the things that made me happy. These are the things that I am thankful for today. 

Short abrupt post

I am half asleep as I am typing this post, so bear with the brief and abrupt nature of this gratitude post.

I am thankful that the painters made good progress today. This week has been frustrating with the renovation work not moving anywhere close to where we expected. We needed to see progress to keep our patience and sanity in check.

Tudlu for now!

Workplace gratitude

I have been working from office a lot since this summer and have been enjoying all the perks that come with it. At work, we have free cereal, oats, kombucha, coffee, hot chocolate, fruits, nuts, sparkling water and pretzels. Free bagels on Monday, dessert spread for Halloween and what not. Just not food, we also have a game room with pool table and foosball. I don’t go to the game room much (I would rather go home soon!) but tend to go for free yoga every Wednesday. Doing savasana right in the middle of the work day, what is not to like about that? Much gratitude to the company management and to the good folks coordinating the different wellness activities.

Tenderness and Meditation

For the first two to three hours of the work day today, I was consumed by fire drills. Thankfully, things turned around as the day progressed. I am deeply grateful that days such as today are an exception rather than the norm in my work world.

Ram and I spent quality time this evening. We recited some slokams together, played scrabble and ended the day with meditation. The guided meditation asked us to think of someone we love and send happy thoughts to that person. As soon as we closed on the meditation, the child eagerly said, “I kept you as my friend amma. I sent heart shaped wishes to you.”  Such unconditional love only a child can radiate! So grateful for this willing child who will grab every single opportunity to soak in and bond with me. I am thankful for a quiet low profile evening. Deeply grateful to Sangi for pointing to this very useful link – https://annakaharris.com/mindfulness-for-children/ on a fellow blogger’s post a while back.  Ram loves the meditation audio and looks forward to this part of our bedtime routine. I do too!  I also use it every weekend in my Sunday school. It feels like the right way to start and I can’t wait to see where the journey takes us as a class.

On that note, tudlu, see you tomorrow!

Share Your World

Thank you to Carol for SYW. 

Would you rather take a 2 week vacation with an organized tour or take a cruise of your choice?

Ha, the idea of two-week vacation with an organized tour sounds lovely for this burnt out soul! I have never liked the idea of taking a cruise. I have taken ferries a few times. The experience was nice for a while but  it left me longing for land under my feet once the novelty wore off. Secondly, asking me to get dressed up in formals on a vacation would be blasphemy. Some coaxing and cajoling will be in order for someone to sign me up for a cruise. Not that anyone is inviting me with open arms for a cruise, just saying.

Did you like swinging as a child? Do you still get excited when you see a swing?

I did but was not crazy about it. I won’t say I get excited but I would find it hard to resist if I were to spot one.  I do fantasize the idea of having a swing in my living room, provided my living room were an ancestral home.

What is the most important thing that you ever learned ? (I bet it’s not something you learned in school)

I am sure it would depend on when you ask me. Right now, what comes to mind is – relationships matter! At work front, in fundraising experiences, or just with family and friends,  people often are willing to go an extra mile just because it’s coming from you. The energy, the time, and the authenticity poured into a relationship pays rich dividends in unexpected ways. We all need each other’s help, treat everyone with respect, do the best you can and assume positive intent.

What inspired you or what did you appreciate this past week?

I am grateful for the financial freedom that my job gives. It’s not about fancy lifestyle or expensive vacation but peace of mind knowing that I am doing my bit.

Fullness of life

Today was a day filled with activities and commitments. Thank God for fullness of life, it leaves you with less bandwidth to brood and ruminate over things that could have been.

A big thank you to Da for holding down the fort as I went skipping and hoping from one activity to the other.

The day started with an extra hour, thanks to daylight savings roll back. I did the single thing that would enhance the quality of my day manifold – an extra hour of beauty sleep!

Thank you to Da, Hari and Ram for believing in me and for being my cheering squad. I was part of a panel discussion this afternoon at the local library. I was a bit anxious as this was my first time and I was not quite sure what to expect. The boys rooted for me and cast their vote of confidence in me. Da brainstormed ideas with me and nudged me (much needed for yours truly) to dress appropriately for the occasion. Exactly the kind of moral support and reality check I needed. So grateful for this bunch!

The best part of indulging in different pursuits is the people that I get to meet and know. Grateful that my path crosses with passionate, smart and nice folks. My life is richer just by virtue of knowing them.

Have a good week. What are you grateful for today?

 

Saturday gratitude

Things that I am truly greatful for today…

  • After chauffeuring the kids around for classes, I planted myself in my house at 1:30 PM and didn’t budge. The rest of the day was taken over by weekend chores but I am grateful that I didn’t have any commitments or obligations to fulfill.  Just me, my family and my chores. Being with the family at home is the perfect antidote for the intensity of the work week.
  • A nice clean house. My cleaner came today. She dusted, dusted and dusted. My thanks to her for all the hard work. Makes a world of difference to this family.
  • A noise free house. No pounding or hammering. Immensely greatful that we get a break from construction work during the weekend.
  • Being able to make time for practicing dance and for reading to Ram. Did a lot of good for the soul! My heartfelt gratitude.

Acts of Kindness

As I pulled into the parking lot to the Indian store, a lady came up to me and did something very unusual. She had used only one hour of the two-hour parking ticket that she had paid for, so she gave the receipt that she had saved so I could use it. This is such a small thing that says a lot about a person, don’t you think? It was just 50 cents, she could have let it go. She took the trouble to find someone, explain the situation, and make them take the spot after she pulled out. And she had nothing to gain out of it. I was touched by this gesture.

In today’s gratitude journal, I am thankful for all the times that I have been at the receiving end of these act of kindness. It does not take a lot to create a ripple. These acts of kindness inspire me to never shortchange on kindness and generosity. With all that’s going on around us, the world can use all the kindness it can get!

Family and Home

I take the train at Newark, NJ Penn Station to return home. Like last time, the time before last time, and the time before that, the place depresses me. A sense of misery takes over me as I see jobless, homeless people loitering around. The telltale signs of poverty is there for me to read.  I wonder what their story is. I wish life was a level playing field. I pray that their circumstances change and that they have better days ahead.

I sigh heavily and send thanks to the power above for giving me a darling family and a welcoming home to return to.