30 Days of Gratitude
Oh Universe, You Beautiful Thing
I started my writing challenge in April this year with the intention of sharing what was on my mind and to create a routine for myself. It’s been almost three months since I started and I’m inching closer to the end, poco a poco. The 30 days are long over but I do want to publish 30 posts. Around the same time, I also started another project that I hoped would help me change my perspective and make me appreciate life better. I maintained a gratitude journal and noted down things I was grateful for, for 30 days. This was a project that I did religiously and not only did it help me with my discipline, it also made me realise that there were things that I was thankful for despite feeling otherwise most days. It’s a list that I’d like to hold on to and remind myself on days that don’t feel right.
- Day after day, I wrote about how grateful I was for my parents and their selfless support. I was at a place where I was uncertain about many things and they were always there, to talk, to listen, to share a laugh over something silly, in supporting me, and in making me feel loved.
- My friends — the fact that I had people to talk to that I could share my uncertainties with gave me hope that things would be different someday. I continue to be inspired by the way my friends have shown up for themselves and how they much effort they invest in themselves. Finding that there we still shared a strong connection with some of my old friends was a lifesaver and it’s beautiful to see how we play the role of catalysts in each other’s lives.
- My evolving relationship with my extended family. Since my return to India, I’m finally connecting with them as a person and not just a niece, a sister, or a granddaughter. Making new memories with my grandparents especially has been very special.
- Therapy and coaching continue to make me meet new versions of myself while reconnecting with my inner child. I’m so grateful for the support that always has my back.
- Beginning to do more projects as a freelancer and learning the ropes of being my own team and boss. And I still remember the first time that the possibility of teaching came up and how excited I was about it. And the fact that I teach my first class tomorrow makes me recognise my strengths and believe in myself.
- The interactions I have with strangers on metros and buses and the conversations with Uber drivers. They always make me forget what I’m going through and for those few minutes, I get a chance to enter somebody else’s world and take a peek into their lives.
- Traveling within India with friends that traveled very long distances to be here. While the places have been great, it’s the people that have been incredible. It’s been eye-opening to meet other Indians and see it through their eyes. And traveling in India by myself has changed the way I look at it and how I associate with it.
- Youtube, Netflix, and Amazon Prime for the countless worlds that I became a part of.
- The writing challenge for giving me something to look forward to and how much it has changed my life for the better.
- My spirit for believing in myself. For creating new routines to root myself when I felt uprooted and continuing to place my trust in the routine while accepting that it was okay to take the time off and concentrate on taking care of myself. I showed up for myself day after day in little ways and that has changed everything.
I know I wasn’t really grateful for the things I was struggling with at that time, but I know that one day I will be grateful for them. They’ve taught me a lot and they made me a stronger person. A few months on, I’m still dealing with them but I do feel like the darkest times are past me. As I write this, the one thing that I am certain of is that the universe has my back. She’s going to take care of things as long as I show up for myself. This was all a part of her plan and I can’t wait to see what she has in store.