Saturday, November 24, 2007

Thanks to the Lord!!


It is Thanksgiving Day, the one day of the year when you're expected to be grateful. But according to an army of psychologists, writer's and talk show hosts (even Oprah) giving thanks only today is a lost opportunity (lost, why??!!!). You should be grateful all the time they say, and one of the best ways is in writing- by keeping a "gratitude journal" - TOI

Could this mild exercise, jotting down a few grateful thoughts, really be the key to contentment??? I thought i'd try it out....I thought i'd write a letter, and started....but then realised it is the prompt for this week at writer's island.

I give thanks to...

God! He's the power above, who holds my hands and leads...( thank god, he sits above, just imagine what he'd be, if he were to stay with me....?? one more to the asylum!!! )

My family...they have given me such wonderful moments to share and shed tears around....(the salt loss, has kept me away from raised BP levels :) )

My husband for reminding me always that I have a voice that sounds extremely good within the bathroom walls....( imagine the scene, if he'd said I sang well...I would have been burning stage floors and your ears too...)

For all the plentiful occassions that we decide to throw a party....drink, eat and be merry...( Vijay Mallya would have not built such beautiful bungalows all over the place, if not for us...and I wouldn't want to be responsible for his "Don't have a roof over my head" status)

For those simply colorful and amazing festivals we Indians celebrate....( the malls would never have made their profits without these...) and the shopaholics their dose of pastime

This city I live in..its weather and its people...you must live here to know it. ....( Where else can you smell the fragrance of the Jasmine, the Sampige, the Rajnigandha, the Margosa,and lots of trees and flowers, amidst the smoke of the terribly noisy autos, the "I think I'm the king, give way" BPO vehicles, the idlis and dosas that you can get anytime anyplace...yeah even 3 in the morning...go to the market are you'll see one lone man pettige angadi {tin shop}open...)

The people of this city. They have been so hospitable....they opened doors to so many that now I get to see how tall buildings can be built and how a crowded street can look like..

The locality I live in...so peacful and serene...that I can hear the swish of the 'madisaars' ( the nine yard saree tied by women), hear the suprabhatham ( the early morning devotional number to wake up the umpteen number of God's waiting above) and also get to smell the idli's and paratha's and the cereals

My children's school, without whom I would never have known the capacity of my sons' shoulders to carry heavy loads.

My friends without whom I'd have never known the meaning of support and unconditional love!

My fellow bloggers....(thank god its virtual !! I'll never get to see them curling their 2 hands around my neck or even closing the window quickly :) )

The endless rallies held in our city,right next to Mahatma Gandhi's statues...(i'm sure he's crying so hard...he doesn't get time to tell his Hey Ram's!) I'd have never learnt the art of patience!!

The malls that have cropped up all over our quaint city ( I didn't say it, the coffee book guys have said it!! )...our students and overflowing population would never have fitted into the small MTR'S, Vidhyarthi Bhavans', SLV'S, Coffee House, Koshy's and Lakeviews...

The inflow of the giant food chains, like McDonalds , etc, without whom the new age parents would never have had an idea how to feed their children..

The beautiful temples, some so old, dotted around the city..(our students would never have realised their religious fervour or else...go to the poplular ones, like ISKCON, Dodda Ganesha Temple, Maruthi Mandir, Ragi gudda...during the exam season you'll know what I mean....)

My most wonderful kids ( yeah inspite of the pre-teen issues and the sibling wars...) I would have had such dull boring life, with no stories to smile about!! and who taught me to scream my guts off in a very calm way...

The most brilliant weather....the jackets would never have been put to use would they??


My parents, without whom i'd never have known the art of respecting people, though they maybe strangers...

the list goes on and on...and I can't see the stranglers and hear the tsk tsk.....but i'd love to thank everyone who brings the smile on my face, gives me their shoulder, wipes my tears and listens patiently to all my rants...
THANK YOU.

36 comments:

Lea said...

There is a lot to be thankful for here, in your letter of gratitude! I believe it does make a difference to look at the world through the eyes of thanks and doing so every day... would be a love letter to the world...

Rambler said...

Prats.

Firstly the most important one, Vidyarti bhavan, wow finally found one blogger who knows my part of the city....

totally agree with the whether part...

Happy thanksgiving, we are seldom thankful to smaller things.

Thanks for writing, and letting us explore your world.

Prats said...

@lea...Its always about thinking positive. And i'd always want to be grateful

@rambler..hehehe...your part...its my life that area..studied there...
and i'm so happy to let you into our grateful world.. :)

aMus said...

***My children's school, ...to carry heavy loads.*** u shd kick them!!!
***Mc.donalds***..so true!!!

This is such a nostalgic thanksgiving that i WANT to thank you :))

bringing good old memories---ahh lakeview..yummmm :))

Nice one, prats, and see you're getting the old humor/ back ...suma

aMus said...

and u forgot Airlines Hotel :))

hope and love said...

great post..!! gratitude enriches our lives so much..

Compassion Unlimitted said...

Hey prats..that was damn cute..enjoyed every line,every word
just lovely
Tc
Cu

Prats said...

@TA heheh...couldn't let go off my golden memories...and oh yeah...I forgot airlines...how could I...I still do the rounds there for the Chole Bature and tea...in the thick glass

@Hope and love thank you, I think thats all we'll be left with ...cos we gain so much from life

@cu. Thank you...i'm so glad I made your day

b+ (Retire In Style Blog) said...

I thought when I read your post you must be a teacher with international schools. What a gift you have.

b

Vinesh said...

it surprised me how making a list of things i was grateful for significantly changed my view towards life. how about you?

Aarthi said...

Hey I love your blogs...not just the blogs but the way you have made your page so interesting with hangman n matchup ...gr8 work..:)

Chiniiz n Sugarz Mom.. Swati said...

This is a very positive blog.. you have put many aspects of life and society which one would normally loathe so beautifully.

Prats said...

@b :) Thanks....I hope it doesn't get into my head too much....I might just start rattling of Shakespearean stuff and fox you...

@vinesh It is indeed wonderful. Its always helped me each time I've had something to cry about...when you look back and find that there have been more things to smile...you really smile.

@aarthi thank you. Just wanted to add some fun to reading!!

@swati Hey thanks...somehow I feel we should just go on being positive....and not let negativity eat up our lives...

Tys on Ice said...

hey, happy thnksgiving...and u seem to be giving those thnks freely... :)

hve a great day...

Prats said...

@tys Thank you thank you...yes its the spirit of the season I presume :) and I still don't have the guts to scare people...:)

Prats said...

@just jen How's everyone in the family now? I can understand how tough it must be when such things happen during the festive season...but cheer up... *hugs you*

Tumblewords: said...

A fun and wonderfully loving letter of gratitude - this is a pleasure to read!

Jo said...

You letter says a lot about you ---all good!

Head Cookie said...

What a great piece and I agree thanks should be giving daily.

Prats said...

@tumblewords thank you...

@jo...heheh....thank you

@jadey You bet it should be doen on a daily basis...at least it lets us introspect and be grateful for what we have

Unknown said...

That's a pretty nice Thanksgiving post. Me missing B'lore a lot. Can't wait to get back to home sweet home this weekend.

Prats said...

@J Thank you, and yeah we're missing out on ur posts too...

Preeti Shenoy said...

Hey--I dont close the window quickly at all!!
Nice letter of thanksgiving.

Prats said...

@ps Oh thank god!!! Now I can for redemption :) Thank you

Raghu said...

Thank you for a wonderful post!

Keshi said...

Wonderful TG post Prats! Happy TG to u and ur family!

There r alot of things to be thankful for...alot. And some ppl still concentrate on the negatives. U did a great job here!


Keshi.

Prats said...

@raghu your welcome

@keshi Can't handle negativity....so bring on a smile...thank you

Anonymous said...

Nostalgia is what I felt when I read this beauty of a piece, you reminded me of all the good things I miss when I am far away from home. Thank you.

Annie Jeffries said...

I smiled all through this as I read. So much goodness here.

Prats said...

@ul i'm sure the good things will come to you wherever you are...I wish that for you :) thank you

@annieelf Nice to make people around me smile...it feels nice...thank you

Gazal said...

just the right kind of post on thanks giving,flavoured with the spice of humour,and a pinch of sacrcasm and satire !!!!!

hey fellow bangalorian !!!

Unknown said...

Oh wow!!! The traffic referral source is coooooooooooooooolll.

Keith's Ramblings said...

Your posts are always an inspiration. I learn more about your beautiful country each time I visit. Thanks therefore must go to you!

Prats said...

@j hey Thanks must go to the politicians, who inspire the lines ;)

@keith Thank you...and there is so much more to rave about.....and I love it

aMus said...

thank god my exams are over...and yours are beginning so i'll pray for you ;)

Prats said...

Thanks.....i'll need everything in double dose.. :)