happiness and food

I say this time and again but trust me, there are no better words. Can you believe, July is already over?

As I pen this gratitude list from Minneapolis, various thoughts are clouding my mind. I am away from home, tucked in a comfortable bedroom at my hotel room and writing this at peace. A visit to what I have been calling – the Mecca and Medina of Target, is a great learning opportunity for me. I can talk at length about why I say so, but the point isn’t that. What it is, is that July has been good to me in more ways than I had imagined.

Can you believe, I had my foot in three countries this July? Okay, that includes India and the lay over in Paris. Add to that, things I think and analyze. Without any further rambles, here are a few things I am grateful for this July.

Helps at home: It’s hard not to worry about home and what’s happening there. I am glad that VT has all the support he needs back home and that things are being managed well. I am grateful to my support system who ensure that food is on the table each day.

Blogging: I am happy that #ThursdayTreeLove is being loved more than I had imagined. Every week, I see some new folks and some regular ones chime in to share trees from all around the world. The connection speaks for itself. What surprises me the most, is the fact that simple things make us all happy. Thank you, everyone, for your love and support. I am not sure if I would have been able to keep the momentum going without your presence.

Friends: CK and AZ made the trip to the States so much comfortable. From picking us up from the airport to the drive up North was something that I hadn’t even thought about. The cherry on the cake was meeting SM and RJ in Chicago. We had close to 36 hours together and we made the most of it. Spirit Airlines was on-time and Chicago turned out to be more fun than I had expected. A few touristy things and then a lovely time with my friends made it awesome-er. I am grateful to life for giving me friends who are family. Evanston and the NW University beach was beautiful. More to come on the city and highlights.

Travel: The travel to Minneapolis was long. Close to 24 hours is a long time even with the two-hour journey break mid way in Europe. What kept me company was SH and movies. I am grateful for a safe travel up the air and that I was able to sleep and brush off any jet lag that could have hit me.

Food: One thing that I found about myself on this travel was that I can adjust to any kind of food. Here in Minneapolis, I am not missing Indian food and I am okay with my daily share of bread, eggs, cheese, and sausages. Add mashed potatoes, greens and salads to it. Did I say, raw vegetables and dips are great options too? I am grateful for this discovery about myself.

Steps and walking: You know what’s best after eating all that bread and cheese? Walking. I am walking a lot each day and that is keeping my system active and energetic. There is more to it – I was able to beat WG last week on a Workweek challenge. Let me be honest and share that it was a deal I thought was unachievable. This guy has been the king of 10,000 steps every single day for over 365 days now. Phew! So much fun that I am on his home-ground and walking as much as he does. Take a bow WG. You are awesome and I am grateful to know you. 

Me-time: Not that this travel has given me a lot of me-time but being on my own has told me a few additional things about myself. I am grateful to these inward insights. If you are wondering what am I talking about, watch this space for more.

All in all, you can see that my July was exciting and on the flip side there were a few moments of despair. I lost my way a few times here and there. Got annoyed for not having a network to call but I also realized how dependent we have become on technology. Understanding how location change changes us is critical to many things. Food, people, and the environment is what’s on the outside. Isn’t it?

So, what is that one thing you were grateful for in July?

Linking with Vidya’s Gratitude Circle and with Sanch for monthly reflections.