As always, it is good to look back and reflect upon the good and bad. For that reason, I love doing these monthly gratitude posts.
September started on a great note as we whisked off to Coonoor for a beautiful family holiday in this quaint hill station. That the younger son was turning 10 was the proverbial icing on the cake. Little did we know that our journey back home would be fraught with fear and uncertainty. But as always, there is a ray of hope in despair. My friend, Shailaja, came to our rescue when we were stranded in the middle of nowhere among rioters. I wrote about that harrowing incident earlier. The memories still shake me with anger and helplessness but Shailaja’s warm family reiterated our faith in human goodness. Thank God, for friends like her.
September has been a hectic month with the kids having their terminal exams. As a work-from-home mother, it is especially tougher on the routine making sure that the kids study, revising and putting up with their tomfoolery on their study holidays. Tomorrow is the last exam so well we are all looking forward to that. Meanwhile, the younger son scored full marks in his English paper and how delighted we all were! Looks like he is not as disorganised as I thought he was. We all did a bit of jumping around and hooting as he came home excited about this news. Little triumphs go a long way.
On the work front, I took on the responsibility of digital marketing for a not for profit, Beyond Carlton. This is a citizen’s initiative which came into being after the Carlton Towers fire in which 9 people lost their lives in Bangalore. This initiative came about to spread fire safety in India. They are doing some excellent work in liaising with the fire department and Karnataka government to make our state safer. They hold workshops and seminars spreading fire awareness in schools, offices and apartment complexes. I am proud to be joining them in this noble initiative. Do follow them on their FB and twitter pages to stay updated.
And last evening, I coordinated a twitter chat for @MyMoneyView where we discussed Financial dreams. This will be a weekly affair every Thursday at 7 pm. So if you are on twitter do join in for some fun conversation.
Healthwise, there have been a few niggles this September, from a bad cold and allergy troubles to a stomach bug and fever yesterday, it has been a rollercoaster. But, I’ve kept up with my fitness regime doing a combination of brisk walking and strength training and taking care of nutrition too.
September has been a troublesome month for Karnataka with the Cauvery water issue rearing its head again. We had a bad day of vandalism in Bangalore on September 12 when arson and violence happened in various parts of Bangalore. Grateful that the police and other forces cracked in and brought the situation under control. Since then there has been peace in Bangalore. Hope that the states can reach a peaceful settlement.
Grateful for the friends I can reach out to and message when I am cranky.
Also grateful for my blogs which make me reach out and engage with so many lovely souls. One comment from a young girl really lifted my spirits.
And finally grateful for my family who I may crib about liberally but who put up with my moods, provide me immense joys, hugs and love on a daily basis and keep me sane.
So that’s about it for my September. How was your September?
What are you grateful for today?
Join in for the September 2016 Gratitude Circle bloghop at Vidya Sury, Collecting Smiles
Pics courtesy: Shutterstock
The bandhs and the vandalism really made this month stressful. Glad you guys were safe and thank God Shailaja’s family was there to help. September has been a month which has been physically and emotionally draining for me. All I want now is to go to mom’s and just recover from this. A lot of takeaways from this month, mindfulness being the biggest of all for me
I recall your entire month thanks to your regular updates, of course 🙂 And woo hoo! For the younger son 🙂
So much to be thankful for, really, isn’t it? Except for the health, of course. Hope you bounce back soon. My last 2 weeks have been stressful and I hope things ease up soon. Blog wise things are good and I am happy so that’s always my biggest silver lining. Gy has also become more organised and responsible so double joy 😀
🙂 I would have loved to see your pretty face at the top, Rachna! Congratulatons on the full marks! What a joyful feeling! Congratulations on your new assignment too. I will try and join you on Twitter for that mymoneyview chat.
As I write this comment, the news doesn’t look good on the Cauvery issue. The audacity of the people involved is so sad. Let’s hope for some kind of truce.
I still shudder to recall your troubled return from your vacation. So glad you all got home safe.
Thank you so much for joining me Rachna. I love how the feeling of gratitude multiplies. Love that girl’s comment on your blog! Truly wonderful!
That was a harrowing time indeed. I followed it on news and was so worried. I have a few friends from army also based in Bangalore so was doubly worried.
Congratulations for your son’s birthday. God bless.
We are indeed grateful for peace around us.
Thanks, Inderpreet. Yeah, it was quite terrible and things are quite fluid even now.
It isn’t so hard to be be grateful, yet we tend to underestimate its power. Interesting post, the mix of feelings – always gets me! My September? 🙂 It was and it is (day isn’t over yet) a colorful one – with glorious moment and tender ones, feeling vulnerable yet at peace…long story…30 days long to be precise. But it was my Birthday month and in that way so very special 🙂
Absolutely. No matter what happens in life, there is something to be grateful for. Practicing gratitude has made me happier, I notice. Yep, your birthday month. 🙂 I hope all that introspection will only make you stronger.
If we sit down to enumerate our blessings, we will be astonished to find that we have so so many of them to be grateful for. The best thing is that even when we have the worst kind of experiences we find something silver in them to be grateful for. Yes, my September was also one which was laced with the best along with some bad stuff.
Shucks! the comment got posted before I completed it. Congrats on your new assignment and the Twitter chat that you are moderating. Way to go and wish you speedy recovery from your health niggles.
Hey Rachna congrats for all the accomplishments ! Both your and family. I didn’t know about your return journey. Glad you got back safe !
I know about your troubles and so glad, Shailaja’s family was around and extended help. A 100 in English? Wow! He is a rockstar. Congratulations!
Good luck on your new assignment and take care of your health.
Have a good October! 🙂
Thanks, Parul. Wish you a fabulous October as well.
I could recall my September through your post. It was a challenging month for me too with all the depressing health issues.
I could sense that September was heavy for most of the people but all well that ended well.
May the coming season of festivals bring smiles and grace in everyone’s life.
Thanks, Swati. I wonder why. Is it the changing weather? Wish you a great October too, Swati.
September gave a good starting but at the end suddenly things started mashing up same is happening with others if i give reference of the reviews , that was a hectic month indeed . well get well soon !
September wasn’t too good for us too – something seriously wrong in that month. I do hope you’re feeling better. Colds and stomach upsets can take a huge toll on you even though they seem inconsequential. So so happy for your son – I really do know what an achievement that feels like since I’m still in the middle of the kids’ exams.
That’s a lovely way to look back and cherish every moment that has passed by. So glad that you guys escaped unhurt, all thanks to Shailaja and her family. Also, congratulations for the assignment at Beyond Carlton. My best wishes to the boys for their assessments. Do take care of your health. It’s been pretty bad for us too as the weather is playing tricks and mosquitoes are on a riot.
Glad you all reached home safely. Btw, the 10 Re offer on FB was the icing on cake…LOL…September was decent enough. I went to one girls’ dinner, a movie with the husband, another movie with a friend..all courtesy of having mom 🙂 Kids school is ok…back to routine and I am grateful for that. Ahh..S changed his current job..that’s new 🙂 Hope you have a wonderful October.
Sounds like a good September. Oh and how is the new job for S. October will be busy with Diwali preparation, a family vacation and things in between.
He is doing ok 🙂 Slowly getting adjusted…you must have started the house cleaning, right? 🙂
Too bad that your holiday was a bit jittery in patch but,thank God you had friends to help you out.I have yet to read your previous post.Been lazy a while.
Thanks, Indu. We all have our lazy patches.
Liked your post like anything and adore your philosophy of gratitude. Being ungrateful is the biggest sin to me and hence one should be grateful for all the good things happened and bad things avoided, come what may. ‘Be generous with gratitude, for it is contagious’. I consider this quote as the quote of a lifetime.
september was ok, busy busy busy as always.. been travelling around a bit and participated in a competition ..
That incident was surly bad , remember reading it .. and that was indeed a lovely comment ..
heres wishing october and all other months are wonderful for you and family 🙂
What competition? Hope October is good for you as well.