Rain and my jade 
Smoothie 
The Storyteller 
Views of the city 
Us
July this side was a month that I will choose to remember. A month that I can’t sum up in a word. It swung from one side to the other and there was no in-between. There were days that I was elated and then days when I was too anxious to sleep.
Looking back at July, I know that the things that could go wrong, did not go wrong. And the things that could be right, they were. I sailed through and to me that matters. My mantra was one day at a time and that helps when times are hard.
On most days, I counted my blessings and also turned to God for additional strength. Here is my list of things that made me happy and I am grateful for.
♥ I worked out for 23 days of the month and physically stretching myself has helped me stay strong mentally. Live classes are sure a blessing and workouts have given me a routine and a good start to my day.
♥ I read two books in July – Beneath the Scarlet Sky by Mark T. Sullivan and The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult. Both on the premise of WW II, the historical fiction genre has been my favorite for the last couple of years. I am grateful that my Kindle can save as many books as I want.
♥ The weather in Bangalore has been heavenly. There are days that I think of Bangalore as my favorite hill station. The blankets are out, the geysers are on, the dark clouds and the downpour on and off makes me happy. This is also the time of the year that rains are enough for my plants and I don’t need to water them.
♥ I love my mornings. I love watching the world waking up, the birds chirping and the Sun warming nooks and corners of the Earth as it rises. My mornings start at a decent time, then comes the ginger tea that VT prepares, live work outs at home and then getting ready for work (from home) is how things look like at my end. On those days that I don’t have a early morning meeting, I walk around to arrange the house, soak in the quiet and feel grateful for the roof over my head.
♥ To work on things that make you happy is a blessing. I am grateful for my job and I love what I do. My organization takes care of me and in turn, there is no reason why I would’t do all that it takes to show up and deliver. There are days I wonder that work is also such a good distraction from what’s not right in life.
♥ We came closer to owning our own house when this month, we got the possession of our flat. We had gone to the apartment to inspect but it was ready so we took the keys and became owners. Later in the month, VT and I along with friends who are family, got a small pooja done. That day was my favorite of the year so far. The family joined over a video call, we were with friends and the small ceremony felt like the Gods were willing to bless us. It was a memorable day. We are yet to move but that will happen too.
♥ Every night post dinner, VT and I spend sometime watching shows. I have come to realize these are little things that we enjoy during together. This month of the many we watched, Luther and Defending Jacob were good.
I am in a zone where I know every day will be different. Things at my end change fast and I don’t have any control. As I think of August – I want to stay courageous, calm and hopeful. We will move to our new place so that part makes me excited. But honestly, I want to see good days and long stretches of them. I also know that I can only hope for light at the end of the tunnel. The length of the tunnel is something that I don’t know.
How was your July? Is it raining where you live? What has kept you busy and what are you grateful for?
Linking up with Vidya’s gratitude circle for the month of July.
happiness and food 
Congratulations on your new home!
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Thank you!
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Congratulations on your new own flat.. i could echo your feeling when we had bought the flat close to three years back.. that’s heavenly feeling and blessed.. you are looking gorgeous in the puc Parul..Have a great month ahead..take care.
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Once again lots of blessings for home sweet home .
I pray , wish and I know that August will be also awesome with tons of happiness, and success.
Love u
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Congratulations again on the new home! It’s so exciting! July seemed like a lovely month for you despite all that’s going on around. I’m glad your work is going well as your workouts too! Sounds like you are having a good balance of things despite all the uncertainty. I hope August is good to you especially with the move. That is exciting and I can’t wait to hear more about it!
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Your gratitude list is very intriguing and very unique . Congratulations for everything.
Hey
Recently I have started writing blogs and would like to know your review about it . Here is the link : https://motivatepeeps.com/inspiration-in-life/
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Thanks Neha. I will be happy to look at it. Glad you stopped by. See you around.
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First off a very big hug and hearty congratulation for becoming a homeowner – I think it would rate as one of the most secure feelings in the world. I hope you move in soonest and yes please do send me your latest address to update my address book 😉
Bangalore weather sounds awesome and I wish I could say we are being blessed with rain showers here in Gurgaon too – sigh every year the rains lessen.
23 days of workout is just SUPERB!!!! I have joined the online classes to but somehow I havent been able to get into the groove yet. Started with morning walks and hoping to build from there.
Wishing you a blessed and beautiful August ahead Parul – XOXO
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Well said Parul, I am saluting you for the writing and for bringing this up and opening the discussion about gratitude list. Something to think about. Thank you for sharing your expirience with us and many more congratulation on your new home.
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Thank you so much Radha! I am glad this post struck a chord.
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Yes, congratulations! I am inspired by your gratitude to clarify the things in my life I am grateful for. Having a job where your organization takes care of you is a treasure something some people do not have. I worked for 30 plus years in a job where our mission was to help people. Taking care of staff happened occasionally, but less as time went on and corporate interests became more important. I am very grateful to be free of that now. I’m going to make a list!
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Congrats for new home! My July was more of a routine and we miss our family travel more. Schools start in the coming weeks and we might not get much time to travel then. But, Iam relaxing a lot due to work from home, cooking healthy food and watching netflix sometimes which is a blessing.
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Moving to your own place must top the list of good things this year. Wishing you everything wonderful in it, Parul.
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