January did not begin on the note I had thought of. There was no big bang party at home or time out with friends. However, there was self-reflection and I found comfort in my own company. Sometimes I think that’s what growing old means. It means we find solace in what we have and stop struggling with what we cannot change.
As quickly and suddenly things changed at the start of the year, they started looking upward even more quickly. That was the biggest one for us. We could not be more grateful to the Universe and the one who runs it. Like always, there were many more things that made me smile and I am grateful for.
Health: The visits to the hospital this month reminded me that good health is a gift. For as long as we can, we need to take care of our bodies and keep ourselves fit. It’s a machine that can keep running but if you oil it well it would not stop abruptly and need a change of some important part. That oil for our body is good food and workout. I am grateful that in spite of the sudden travel, I was able to work out almost every other day this month.
Love: As I traveled up North early this month, the temperatures had already hit close to two degrees. In that kind of cold weather, love kept me warm. VT shared his memories from college and I could not keep my hands of jalebi. Wait, this is love and not food that I am grateful for. My evening calls have started increasing exponentially. Yes, there are days I don’t get done by 11 PM and then the one thing that I don’t have to worry about is dinner. If VT is back from work, I get my meal around 8 PM while I continue to be on call. I am grateful for a partner who is extremely supportive.
Friends: My friends ensured that I feel loved and cared for when VT wasn’t around. Calls, house visits, cakes, chicken, and rasogullas – they did all things possible to make me smile and it worked. When I traveled, GK and MK went out of their way to drop me to the airport in the wee hours. My brother C, ran with me to catch the train and I still reached on time in spite of being on a delayed flight and in the air for over 7 hours. I am grateful that I did not have to worry about a thing during my travel.
Food: Who can not be grateful for gajar ka halwa, kulche chole, aaloo ke parathe and all that good stuff. Food is a necessity but it becomes a joy when people around us ensure that we get what we like. I am grateful for having all the food that I like on my plate this month. Fish curry and kada prashad too, made by yours truly.
Work: This month, I also took a step to expand my horizons at work. There were interviews and I was selected for this new role. As I start this role on February 1, I am grateful that my company provided me the opportunity to take up a new career experience. A career is made up of a lot of things and if you get a chance, take some risks and learn. Comfort zone will always be your zone but shaking things up will bring out some exciting new things.
Blogging: This one made me smile and feel so good. I never expected to bag the Runner-Up prize for LGBTQI writing. It was so encouraging to have my favorite bloggers break the news to me as I wasn’t around. This month I also completed four years of blogging and I am grateful to all my readers for their love and support.
Like you have read many times on this blog, I share things that make me happy. When things go wrong, I turn to self or my close ones for support. Life will continue to play games but it is up to us to pick ourselves up. We need to keep running with what we have got.
Linking to Vidya’s Gratitude Circle for January 2017.
happiness and food 
Congratulations for this career move and 4 years of blogging!!
Very proud to know a woman of substance as your self!
P.S: One of the truest joys of life is there in your life as your supportive wonderful husband. And drooling over all those foods treats!!
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Thank you S! Yes, I agree to that.
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What a lovely month you’ve had. Heartwarming to read about your loving and supporting relationships! And food! 😀
Many many congratulations on the new job role and the LGBTQIA Writing award. Well deserved, dear!
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Thanks Aditi!
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That is such a happy post. I’m like that too. I find it difficult to blog if I’m not in a happy frame if mind. I hope you keep finding happiness and keep connecting here.
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Yes, exactly what I do. Thanks much!
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Grateful for renewed ties- met Manjari, an ex-IMTian doing her Ph.D. at Nirma Univ, along with her husband and cute daughter. And December…for a Hole-in-one at Golf. Someone up there is keeping an eye out for me! Congrats on becoming a four-year-old, and wish you a long blogging life!
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So good to hear. Thanks Sir.
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You had a perfect month… Touch wood touch wood… It’s amazing to have family and friends so supportive.. . They make every moment worthwhile. Congratulations on new opportunities 😀👏👏 I am sure you will soar high.
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Thank you so much Raji! I need the wishes. 🙂
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Congrats on your new role& the award. Sharing the old memories with others is so much fun. Bless you both 😊.
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Thanks Shilpa.
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Dear Parul,
Such a heartwarming post. Congratulations on the new role and the blogging award. You deserve all this and much more.
Am grateful for some changes in my life that I made this month.
Keep writing!
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Congratulations for your new role and the award and blogoversary too. Here’s to more such exciting and interesting times. Cheers!
PS : I am yearning for some hot jalebi now!
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Health is definitely a gift, a fact I’m realizing little by little this year. The first month of this year is done, and it passed by in less than a blink!
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Some lovely things to be grateful for. Kudos for all the blogging goodness…you deserve it! And congrats on the new role on the work front!
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I am grateful for continued health, a warm house (I think we got down to 5 – Fahrenheit, I mean) and a well stocked refrigerator and freezer. Congrats on your four years. In blogging years, that’s a lot! I continue to enjoy reading you.
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Congrats on your work and 4 years of blogging! Such milestones and I am sure you will go even further this year, Parul. Amazing, strong and capable woman and looking forward to hearing more stories from you soon. VT must be very proud 🙂
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Such a warm and inspiring blog. Heartiest congratulations for the new role and the award. Indeed a very well deserved one
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Today is 1st Feb and you start your new role at work. My best wishes to you. I am sure you are going to excel in this new role as well given the level of commitment and hardwork you put in every endeavour of yours. Congratulations for the Orange Award. We discussed once – when we do not figure out ourselves in things in which we want to be, it means there are much more bigger avenues waiting for us. The key is gratitude and you are an inspiration for keeping gratitude in vogue unfailingly with your monthly posts.
January and gajar ka halwa have become synonymous for me too since last 2 years with my parents visiting every year during this time. They also bring with them a lot of other goodies and I am grateful for winters for this. I identify with you when it comes to writing happy things on the blog and turning inwards when things don’t go smooth. I wait for things to get better before writing about them.
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I forgot to wish you congratulations on completing 4 years of blogging 🙂
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Congratulations on completing 4 years of blogging! You’re doing a wonderful job with this one. And I’m glad to have met you through this virtual journey. My best wishes for your new role at work. May success be yours in all that you do. 🙂 January didn’t start on a good note for us. Glad that it’s over. I’m just hoping that things turn around for good starting February.
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Such a cute and happy list this is 🙂
Congrats to the 4 years of blogging! Cheers to 40 more 😀
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So so lovely! A post filled with warmth and joy. God bless! Yay for the promotion and the award and so happy for all beautiful blessings in your life, Parul. Hope February is even more satisfying.
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Congratulations, Parul – on the Award (as good as winning, I say!), your new job role, and your blog turning 4! 2016 has been a very eventful year, no? Your post left me craving for a jalebi. Friends are the best 🙂 Hugs and thanks for being in the gratitude circle! I appreciate you very much!
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Congratulations for completing 4 years! That’s sheer happiness, I’m sure.
And so much of good food! I too had but now I’ve gained a considerable amount of weight that I need to lose it and I’m trying to be on diet these days, or trying to have the right diet, to be honest! And now, at this moment, I’m craving for all of it!
It was happiness to read your Gratitude post, Parul!
Cheers
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congrats on the new role. Wishing you a great February. BTW whats the new HR role now?
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That’s a lovely round up of the month parul. Firstly congrats on being a runner up…everyday such award is a indeed a morale booster for a blogger. Four years is the time i personally believe a blogger maturea into a fine writer understanding the nuances of blogging.
Agree with you on health. Its in our hands to oil it well with the right food and fitness… Your schedule seems hectic with calls going on till late at night…
Hope feb is a more relaxed month and you have more love and food in your life.
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Congrats on your new role at work. I am in college full time at the age of 50. I just got a job offer to work in a local restaurant. I need the cash so say a prayer. Jackie
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Right? We complain about so many things when we don’t know we have so many things to be thankful for as well.
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Hello Parul
I like your post, gratitude is more than just saying thank you. It is, first of all, recognizing and realizing what you have and how good it is… and it is about gaining satisfaction over the things that you have in your life no matter how simple it is. You have to be happy that you have done the right things and have everything you need. It is something that comes from within a person, and one should not be afraid to give it away. The best way for you to enjoy the things you have in life would be to relish every moment that you have. Enjoy your life to the fullest, by savoring every minute that you have. That way, you get to appreciate it even more.
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“Happiness & Food” is what drove me to check out this blog… I love your gratitude towards life…Wish u more happiness!Good luck!
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Loved your way of feeling gratitude for all in your life. Prayers for your good health. Best wishes for your new career. Congrats for 4 years of blogging. You always inspire me to the core, Parul !!!
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I always love reading your gratitude lists – you organise them so well and yet there is such lovely spontaneity to the way your happiness flows through the words. Congratulations for the award! And I like how in the opening of the post you speak of what growing old means 🙂 The mention of jalebi in cold winters was mouthwatering! Keep smiling, always!
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