Ten Things of Thankful – A Beginning (#1)

Written as part of Ten Things of Thankful.

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Ten Things of Thankful

A Beginning…

Gratitude seems to be the theme of this year. I’m doing the theme on 52 weeks of gratitude every Tuesdays, and now there’s this meme I found thanks to Ilirian Wanderer, which is called Ten Things of Thankful.

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“Babies should be classified as an antidepressant. It’s pretty hard to be in a bad mood around a five-month old baby.” – Jim Gaffigan.

I’m glad for the babies around me – my darling neighbor girl, who runs into my room and talks to me about her dolls; my colleague’s daughter whose voice echoes through the halls when she laughs and my friend’s one month old son, who is absolutely handsome and makes me smile just seeing his face. They’re the small things in life, but definitely those that matter.

“That’s the thing about books. They let you travel without moving your feet.” – Jhumpa Lahiri.

If a day goes by without reading at least one page in a book, then that day to me, is wasted. I’m glad that I have this love for reading and a bookshelf that is the result of the best addiction I’ve ever had. An author puts a bit of themselves into their work, I know this to be true, and I’m waiting to read more of Jeffrey Archer after meeting him recently. It’ll be an understatement if I say “I enjoyed the book launch”.

“One loyal friend is worth ten thousand relatives.” – Euripides.

If I had ten thousand relatives, I’d still prefer a friend, for a friend can understand some things that a relative cannot, or will not. I’m glad to have not just one such friend, and I’m hoping that I am such a friend to someone.

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“Silence is a source of great strength.” – Lao Tzu.

I’ve known silence to be very helpful at times and very hurtful at other times. I’m thankful for both. It’s the helpful silence which makes me introspect and find the calmness that has been drowned by whatever form negativity takes prior to that moment. And it’s the hurtful silence that truly tests my strength, to get past that and find a moment of joy.

“The more you try to hide something, the more is the attention drawn to it.” – Streisand Effect.

I’m thankful for this phenomenon called The Streisand Effect when it comes to one particular thing that has shaken the country today. I don’t want to go into detail on that event, for I’m trying to keep this post as positive as I can, and my words will get the better of me if I do.

“Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them, humanity cannot survive.” – Dalai Lama.

They aren’t luxuries, as Dalai Lama says, but they certainly seem on short supply when they’re needed. If there was ever a time for a call for compassion, then I’m pretty certain it would be today. I’m glad to have been a part of the blogging voices from around the world that came together on February 20th to share posts on compassion, and the need for it to make the world a better place.

“When the solution is simple, God is answering.” – Albert Einstein.

I’ve often been asked if I believe in God, and what is God to me. Honestly, it has not been something that I’ve given a serious thought about, but agreeing with Einstein, I feel that He’s the one who guides me to that simple answer. It’s my belief that He watches over me, and it’s He who I thank every night before I go to sleep.

“I believe the greatest gift you can give your family and the world, is a healthy you.” – Joyce Meyer.

It’s my belief that “a healthy you” is the greatest gift you can give yourself too. I’m thankful that that, after a bit of a scare, I’m healthy again. It makes things around me seem happier and nicer too.

“A smile is happiness you’ll find right under your nose.” – Tom Wilson.

I’m thankful for that happiness, as I am every single day. It can come from even the smallest thing, a story or a blog post, talking with a friend or listening to a song that you heard in your childhood. Yesterday, moving randomly through Wikipedia, I remembered a song “The Bare Necessities” from the 1969 movie Jungle Book. I had the tape when I was in school, and I remember humming to the tone. I’m happy to have found it again.

“Writing is a form of therapy; sometimes I wonder how all those who do not write, compose, or paint can manage to escape the madness, melancholia, the panic and fear which is inherent in a human situation.” – Graham Greene.

It definitely helps tide over sadness when I write it out. Jeffrey Archer mentioned something in his talk about storytelling being a God-given gift. I am glad to have got that gift, and I hope that I make use of it more than I have been doing.

Image Sources (via Wikimedia Commons): Bee | Baby | Quote Images Sources: Lao Tzu Quote | Einstein Quote

(© 6th March 2015)

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Poetry & writing are to me, a breath of fresh air in a life that is sometimes covered by the smoke of sorrow or self doubt. They also become the sweets I share to celebrate when life offers me a reason to. But most of all, they are to me, my life. For each word I write is a piece of my heart, a thought that just had to find its way into the world.

26 thoughts on “Ten Things of Thankful – A Beginning (#1)”

  1. Yippeee Yay!!! You are here!!!!!!!!!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂

    That was an awesome entry post!! 🙂

    I loved your list! Every one of them I could relate to in some way or the other. I know what you mean about friendships. I do have such a friend too but have no clue whether I can ever be to him or to anyone else what he has been to me. Every moment I am bowled over by the deep affection people around me shower me with and it is something I dare not and hope I will never take for granted.

    I know what you mean about being thankful for good health. We had a bad scare ourselves and have been thanking our lucky stars ever since…

    The way you wove your TTOT post with quotations is simply beautiful! 🙂

    I’ll be looking forward to more from you every week! 🙂
    (Ilirian Wanderer recently posted… A life showered with love – Ten Things Of Thankful: 08)My Profile

    • Yippee yay!!! I’m here! 😀 😉 😛

      Glad you felt it was an awesome entry post, Pooja. :mrgreen:

      I guess even that doubt is part of being friends, and I hope even I don’t take it for granted. Sometimes I do.

      Hmm. Yes. It takes a scare to realize the importance of that perhaps.

      Yeah. I loved the quotes too 🙂 So used them into the post. It was fun doing it.

      Not sure if I’ll do every week, but yeah. More to come 😀
      (Vinay Leo R. recently posted… The Last of the Letters…)My Profile

  4. Love the quotes – what a great way to do a TToT post! I especially love the Joyce Meyer quote. Health is a gift we give ourselves and all those we touch. Have a great week!

  7. I love how you tied in some very powerful quotes in with your thankfuls. Brilliant. I’ve lost a lot of my faith in God over the years due to my circumstances and the way how the world is and how life can be so cruel to its people. I’m always in awe of people who go through so much and can still love and believe and pray. I needed someone and something to blame and be angry at and he was it. I’m sorry to dump that on you!!!
    Anyways, I really enjoyed reading this and I hope that you have a wonderful week.
    (Kimberly recently posted… The Poo Flu)My Profile

    • I think it’s human, that when circumstances and situations don’t go our way even after praying. I’ve been in that position, so I understand that very much, Kimberly. It’s okay, you don’t have to apologize for that 🙂

      Hope you have a wonderful week too, and I’m glad you enjoyed reading this post.
      (Vinay Leo R. recently posted… The Last of the Letters…)My Profile

  8. So the lajavaab one holds a hop for no less than 90 weeks, and it is the lovely Pooja who finally hooks you in, you vagabond! I’m glad you’re here Leo, and I do like your list. The quotes are especially beautiful – the one about a smile being happiness right under your nose made me laugh.

    I’m glad your health scare is over.
    (Considerer recently posted… Ten Things of Thankful #90)My Profile

    • Umm. I haven’t known the Lajavaab one for 40 of those 90 weeks I guess, Lizzi 😉 And I didn’t feel much thankful in the last year I guess 😛

      Glad to be at the TToT, and glad you like my list too, thank you 😀 Well, there you go, you had happiness under your nose as you laughed 🙂 and I’m glad for the scare to be over too.
      (Vinay Leo R. recently posted… The Last of the Letters…)My Profile

  10. waaahaaaaay very clever with the quotes! I enjoyed this quite a bit. Welcome! I’m happy you’ve found some goodness in your world. And YES to the beauty of silence, and the imperative-ness of reading and writing.
    (Beth Teliho recently posted… prepare to be tackled)My Profile

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