STORYTIME!
Showing gratitude is an essential value to imbibe; it takes you a long way!
Whenever I’d receive a gift from a family member, my mom would compel me to thank them over a call (text was not allowed). It made me appreciate more, look at the good in people and situations. It is works wonders for your mental health and overall well being!
POSITIVITY DURING THE PANDEMIC? HOW COME?
Be it people clanging utensils in their balconies, banging drums, singing patriotic songs or lighting up diyas- these little gestures created an atmosphere of joy and positivity during the lockdown. The pandemic has compelled us to introspect and reflect on every aspect of our lives profoundly.
Managing work from home to the household chores has been mentally excruciating due to self-quarantine. Yet, nothing feels more relaxing than enjoying a hot cup of coffee in the balcony, noticing the changing colours of the sky! However, these testing times have made us more thoughtful, kinder, more observant and more thankful towards our domestic help, the milkman, the newspaper guy, the laundrywala, the bhaajiwala, the waste pickers.
Yes, we miss those dinners, parties, chai dates, college days and going out for drives but have you noticed how the frequency of communication with our dear ones has risen? Pulling us closer than ever before!
The pandemic is making us all more grateful towards the little things in life.
WHAT IS GRATITUDE?
The secret of living a content life. A beautiful way of seeking happiness in what we have than what we lack. It is about appreciating and valuing everything we have. It helps us to see the goodness in life, be it people, things, opportunities, situations etc.
People feel more positive, have good experiences, improve physical and mental health, face challenges with ease, and cultivate healthier relationships.
It is commendable to want more, achieve more, strive for a better life and keep progressing. But once in a while, pause for a bit, look back and be proud of the milestones covered. It would help if you reflected on how much your accomplishments mean to you.
During these times, we realize how millions of Indians around are struggling to make ends meet, starving, trying to keep a roof over their heads or facing multiple hardships while returning to their villages. This tells us how we are living in better situations with the best of resources. However, everyone has their own set of issues across class, caste, gender, race. etc. but one must be grateful for the availability, accessibility and affordability of the most basic needs.
HOW TO BE MORE THANKFUL?
- GRATITUDE JOURNALLING- Jotting down everything we are grateful for regularly, in a small diary, propels us to see the goodness in our lives. Feel free to a visually appealing look! Add this to your daily night time skin routine! A little nourishment for your mind.
- THANK YOU NOTES- Paste those post-its which come in cute shapes, colors and sizes OR tiny cards thanking someone for a specific thing that meant a lot to you.
- CALL/ TEXT- That joy of receiving a call from your childhood friend after several months is inexplainable. The moment you’ll catch up, you feel nothing’s changed. Feels great, right?
- GIFT AWAY- Let’s agree that a bouquet or a box of chocolates with a handwritten note makes us all feel special!!
- AN APPRECIATION POST ON SOCIAL MEDIA- We know the many disadvantages of social media, but why not make it a safe space to be kinder and more appreciative. Posting a photo/video/simple note of acknowledgement can mean so much to that person. So ready to make someone’s day?
Remember, our lives change at a very fast pace. We experience so many highs and lows that the destination ends up being the ultimate goal, but why not embrace the journey? The lessons we learnt, the people we met, the rewards we earned!
Because “Gratitude turns what we have into enough.”
– Anonymous
People reacted to this story.
Show comments Hide comments[…] Practice gratitude. Start appreciating people who have always been there for you. Well, not only people but to all things which you’re grateful for. We often forget to appreciate what has been with us. Feel sufficient with whatever you have. It will make big impact in your life. Gratitude has the power to unlock closed doors for us. It turns problems into gifts, failures into success, the unexpected timing into perfect timing. Gratitude often makes sense of past, brings peace for today, and creates peace for tomorrow. […]
Agreed <3