How apt that I write my 13th post of AHA! Moments on the 13th of this month. And what a beautiful theme too – one of my favourite topics in the world – Gratitude. Such a small word with such big heart, and just as the Joyful June calendar reminds us about it by prompting us to write a Thank You letter to someone… So what or who are you grateful for? And most importantly, when was the last time you took some time to just acknowledge or pay gratitude to something or someone?
A few weeks ago, I received an out-of-the-blue message from one of my high school teachers – one of the biggest influencers, inspirers and mentors in my life. She contacted me to tell me that she had lost a book that I had gifted her a few years back, but had randomly found it during one of her spring-cleaning sprees and relayed her immense joy at not having just found this special gift, but the handwritten note in it in which I expressed my deep and sincere gratitude to her and the role she played in shaping not just my life, but my mind and spirit which is a major part of who I am today.
I was truly touched and taken aback that such a small simple gesture had had such a profound effect on her.. It’s so interesting how we take a simple thing as saying “Thank You” and expressing it fully so lightly and often end up not doing it at all. And then it’s too late…So who has inspired you? Changed your life in any way big or small? Did something really kind and awesome for you at some point in your life? We all have to at least have something or someone who has played that part…
And if you’ve just had to rely on yourself for the larger part of your life – then write that letter to yourself. And pay tribute to how far you’ve come.. As I wrote a few months ago in my blog at the time, “a grateful heart is a happy heart” – Read here if you missed it! It was a game changer for me in another way, as I had allowed myself to become so caught up with life that I failed to pay gratitude for those things big and small in my life! I have since started a gratitude journal and am proud of the fact that to date, I end my day writing down 3 things I’m grateful for…
So today, I challenge you – help to make someone’s day/week/month or even life that much more meaningful. Write that letter of gratitude – even if it’s just to yourself. Or else, maybe consider starting a new habit like I did – a gratitude journal where you just begin or close your day by listing things you are thankful for. It’s amazing how much you start realising that no matter how bad or tough or hard or crappy your day was, there is always always ALWAYS something to be grateful for….
Sending much love, and huge gratitude to ALL of you for reading my posts and encouraging me to keep going through your comments, likes, shares and wisdoms… Till tomorrow then!
Poonam, 13 June 2022