Joy of Giving - Rahmath's Gratitude List

Rahmath went into Gratitude mode (Card 10) and wrote down all the things she was grateful for on bits of paper, every time something struck her. Such a wonderful post!!!!

I am sharing it here, but you must go to her original blogpost to see the pictures she's posted!

Joy of Giving Week 22-23 card that Ritu posted was to avoid plastics and clean out your cupboard and donate the clothes you don't use. I have recorded my experience on Week 22 card here and as I already had decided to donate clothes every Christmas Eve to Goonj as I have recorded in this post I thought I will follow an older card.

Week 10 card - Start a Gratitude Diary, seemed to be a perfect choice.

The times I have an organized form of prayer,(which means standing in one place , lighting agarbattis and reading scriptures sort of thing) it normally starts like this, 'Thanks dear God for all the happiness you have given me and my loved ones. Thanks for the food we eat, for the roof on top of our head and the love that you shower upon us through our friends and family'.

At this point my hubby always quips in saying "why have you forgotten the walls and columns, after all if there were no walls the roof wouldn't be on top of our heads". I have learnt to ignore that sentence. It's almost a family tradition now. I say that prayer and he says this sentence cheekily :)

So in March, I decided to start one. Whenever I felt thankful about something I just wrote it on any piece of paper I got my hand into. I wrote so for around 8 days. I wonder how does one write a gratitude diary everyday. Does it not start repeating??? that's a genuine question. But I loved writing it. Helped me stay positive. Just to sum it up

What Am I thankful for right now?
1. My husband.

2. Stability - the roof on top of my head and the walls and the columns :)

3. Financial independence.

4. Love from friends and family.

5. Health.

6. Education

7. Work that I enjoy.

8. Hope that everything will be ok.

9. Happy memories old and new.

10. Belonging to a Democratic Secular Country.

Joy of Giving - Gratitude Diary - Jae

My friend Jae Rajesh shared his Gratitude Diary with us on FaceBook. I am sharing it here with his permission.

When I was prompted to record my gratitude, as an exercise in the ‘Joy of Giving’, my mind was overloaded with a flurry of thoughts of different people, different times, and different places. And the one thing that gives me the most discomfort is disorder, may be a side effect of the times I spent in a regimented life. My mind was a total mess of memories crisscrossing with no connection with each other. I needed give some kind of an order or index to my thoughts. How do I prioritise them, give them the correct due? In terms of importance and value, each has been of equal relevance to me. Therefore, I decided I’ll do it the way my life happened…in a brief summary.

I want to convey my gratitude to:

Early years

My parents, for the pampering I received as a toddler (can’t remember before that), being the youngest of five relatively older siblings. I don’t recollect a single moment of unhappiness during those years or anything that I was denied that I really craved for (except for the occasional ‘Fanta’ which used to be my constant demand during any outing)

My mother, for teaching me to read and write Malayalam before I even started school (I used to read the weekly episodes of novels from weeklies, as she went about her household chores), and ensured I got admission into one of the best schools of the time.

My maternal Grandmother and Great Grandmother, for instilling in me my cultural values, teaching ‘Ramayana’, ‘Mahabharatha’ and scores of other stories, told and repeatedly told. (Even as a small kid, I knew all about the problems of keeping more than one wife or husband)

My siblings, my sister and brothers, for the unlimited affection and partiality shown to me as the youngest, for letting me win when I’m losing and bearing with my tantrums when they didn’t. Teaching me the alphabets and words and reading the clock, as I was preparing to join school, with no formal preschool learning.

My father, for gifting the environment of a happy childhood.

School years

To my teachers, especially Mrs Rodrigues from the primary years, who taught me the Queen’s English as my English Teacher (and almost succeeded in removing my ‘mallu’ accent) and subsequently groomed me to be a leader at a very early age, giving me the confidence for a life time.

To my school friends, who to this day, remain as close and loyal, for the happy and rollicking time I had in my schooling years.

To my Scout Masters, for instilling in me a love of the sea and everything associated, which eventually led me to join the Navy.

Early Adulthood

To my course mates, my brothers-in-arms, for helping me endure and enjoy the rigors of the training days and giving me a new family to be a part of.

My Physical Training Instructor at the Academy, then POPTI B Singh, who taught me to swim. (Well, at least not drown)

And the long list of various other instructors and seniors who went through personal discomfort to impart me real education on leading men and serving the nation.

Adulthood

To my wife, for the wonders of the courtship days, for loving me with all my faults. For the gift of limitless love. For our lovely sons. For standing by me and supporting me through the tough times and then make them seem insignificant.

To my sons, for their perfectness as children.

To my close friends, with whom I’ve shared the good and bad times, whose company and presence have become part of memories I treasure.

For the grace of God, in letting me appreciate the right from wrongs and helped me give the correct priorities in life.

And a whole score of others, whom I cannot name individually, since I had mentioned, this is just a summary. Thank you all, none of you will be, none of you can be forgotten for the duration of my life.

Joy of Giving - Gratitude List - Abhilash

Perhaps the youngest follower of my blog, Abhilash P has penned his Gratitude list in response to Joy of Giving card 10. Coming from a teenager, it is an amazing list. I wonder if my own children would consider thanking us as parents :-)
Abhilash, do show this to mom and dad. They will sure be proud of you!


1. i am grateful for being alive at this very moment, when millions of kids are dying of hunger,thirst,disease or anything else.

2.i am grateful for having 2 of the best parents in the world,for loving and taking care of me even when i do something they hate.

3.i am grateful for getting a good education.

4.i am grateful for being a good photographer,because it might get me a job one day.

5.i am grateful to God,for giving me hope.

My Gratitude Diary - Joy of Giving

I have started my Gratitude Diary in response to the Joy of Giving Card for Week 10. And I hope to continue posting my thoughts in it. For starters,

I am grateful for the gift of good health, for when I didn't have it, I realised its worth.


I am grateful for the love and care my near and dear ones (family and friends) have shown me; in my weak moments, mentally and physically. I can never thank them enough, in words or in actions.


I am grateful for the joy of waking in the morning, each day renewing my hope...


I am grateful for the love and adulation of my beautiful children, who inspite of my working hours, schedules and crazy routine, remain connected with me at many levels


I am grateful for today. I am alive. I am healthy. I am loved. So I can learn to be happy too. And I will try. I will. 

Joy of Giving - Week 10 - Card 10

Another week. Another card.


I did not travel in a rickshaw the whole of last week, but when I do, I will recall the card of Week 9.


This week the card is:

I have been on a roller coaster recently. It has made me question my beliefs, value systems, the sanctity of relationships and even the very purpose of living. 

I have started my gratitude diary and I am not afraid to share it. I will post it in detail soon.

Once again, a short revamp of the Joy of Giving if this is your first visit to the blog/page.

To join the Joy of Giving just follow the cards every week and post your experiences in a public forum - your own blog, note on FaceBook - or leave your story in the comment section of this blog. 

To know how it started click here. 

To track the Joy of Giving through the past ten weeks, click here

DO spread the message of this unique movement. Encourage your friends to start following the cards and spreading joy... Do remember to tag me in your posts...