happiness and food

Another month of 2015 just went by and June started off at the note exactly as I had expected. There were things I was looking forward to and there were things that were pleasant surprises. Gratitude is teaching me to observe little things in life and to be thankful for what I have. Gratitude is also helping me be contended with life and I’m experiencing a bit of more calm than before. I have started maintaining a list so that I can capture more and on a day to day basis.

So, without any further ado and in no particular order, here are the lovely things that happened during June 2015:

• My parents were around for 5 days and those were some really awesome days. We got time to talk about a lot of things. I took time off from work and got a chance to go shopping with Mum. For the very first time, I depended on the local transport which was a great experience. Volvos are better than the autos or those stinky cabs. We went to temple, ate out, shopped and relaxed in each other’s company.

• Women’s Web, the online magazine had their first community meetup and like an enthusiastic bum I am, I registered for it. I wasn’t disappointed. I met some great women and I learnt so much that day. It was Saturday afternoon that I’m not going to forget.

• This month after a very long time, I ordered books for myself. Palace of Illusions, Kiterunner and Asura. I have now read Palace of Illusions and I can read it again. It is that wonderful a tale narrated from Draupadi’s perspective. Not just these three books, Papa also got me The Good Earth but what I loved more is the message that he wrote for me. Pic above 🙂

• Finally VT’s exam got over. While he spent 6 hours writing the exam, I met a Bengali aunty and a sweet young entrepreneur who were great company on that day. We chatted on many things ranging from HR jobs to how to prepare fish curry. The BIEC campus was beautiful and I got some great shots of the sky too.

• This month I shopped quite a lot! A new jeans, 2 new tops, a saree, a lip color and little more things. While shopping I realized, I love M&S. When I buy stuff from that place, I keep asking for a smaller size! What better than this.

• I adopted 5 little plants from RM’s garden and 4 survived. I am grateful to her for giving those 4 a new home. The 5th one, dear Jade – you RIP baby! Oh yes, I bought a Sedum and I did a bit of innovation and got it hung in the balcony. It looks sweet hanging in there giving me that bit of green in air.

• Though our favorite Jon Snow is no more, catching up on the latest season of GoT was fun. VT and I did a couple of late nights and it was fun! There is something about that show – Khaleesi, those wild dragons, Arya and Sansa and that background score. It is addictive!

• This month I ate out a lot – no not just the nearby Srinidhi Sagar but two new places. Open Kitchen and Soda Bottle Opener Wala. Both were different and cannot be compared. But I know we can visit both these places again.

• With the start of Ramzaan, we also got a chance to visit Mosque Road for some good Iftar Food. Last year’s Iftar food meant hoping over a lot of stalls compared to this year but the quality and the festive spirit was not a downer at all. I tried haleem this time and it was good.

• Health wise, this month’s Yoga had a lot of variety. With the one with props to a new form of Yoga called Upa Yoga, it was fun. SN and I had tender coconut water after one Yoga class and that seems to be something I can do every weekend.

• I am thankful for my job. It provides me my daily bread and helps me put my brain to something that possibly adds value to my organization. In uncertain times, a full time job at a place where I love to work adds to my belief and confidence in my company.

As I am writing this, I know there were more happy moments like a good hair cut, completing 40 days of #100sareepact, some more pictures and lots of jaggery at home. Have I told you all about my love for Jaggery? Let’s keep it for some other post but for now, I am signing off and I am grateful for a great June! If you maintain a Gratitude List, do share with me and I would love to read.

Until then, be grateful!

Linking this post at the Gratitude Circle and Alphabet Salad’s June link up.