Continuing and everpresent gratitude series - 1

Have been wanting this series for a long time but never managed to...but all happens for a good. On this auspicious occasion of Vinayaka Chaturthi, getting it started.

As I googled for the header image, Arianna Huffington post came and took the image from there which she had posted earlier. Thanksgiving as she says is not the only day/time when we express gratitude but it should be ongoing and continuous every single day possibly many times during the day...

Quoting her - //We just have to remember that the greatest antidote to stress is gratitude//

I cannot agree more. My journey of getting introduced to this concept of gratitude started about 10 years back

https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/from-gratitude-happiness-productivity-finally-kartic-vaidyanathan/

Although I started I slipped at times, recovered but once again slipped. It has happened multiple times... But there is one pattern I did notice. During the times I have gotten disconnected, it has been a tough and stressful phase of life. And the moment I get connected back, its abundance and contentment back again.

I hope to start once again.. on this auspicious day...with the blessings of Lord Ganesha.

I have often expressed gratitude to outside people, my friends/business folks but I realized that I have often taken for granted the support from my family and home. So starting this dedication for this post and also continue with many others.

1) My father - A big mentor and guide during times good and bad. He is a thoroughly organized person, very meticulous, and also follows religious rituals and prayers prescribed every single day and encourages us all to follow. The little I know and practice today I learnt thanks to him. Of course, it's impossible to meet his standards but I have reconciled to it :-) but certainly a very big gratitude and thanks to him

2) My mother - Simplicity, Compassion to the core. Minimal expectations in life and the only focus is how to be of service to others. All prayers for other family members and friends, very rarely if at all for others. She is the perfect alarm clock - reminding everyone of their promises and tasks. God has gifted her the ability to surrender to the divine, this is a big inspiration. Any ailment, any difficult situation at work or home bothering any of us, she will make a promise to God that she will write 1000 Rama Nama or names of God and will do it continuously for days and weeks, and in most cases, it gets resolved.

I have tried using "my logic" and "brain" to solve problems..some I have but many I have not been.... but with age, I realize that many problems in life are not solved and/or easily left to the divine.

Just a few minutes back read this quote...

"The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing." ― Socrates

It's so true....

By The Way, curious to know what are you grateful for when it comes to your parents/family members ?