March Gratitude -2025

March Gratitude -2025

March was busy, blessed and favored month, I can’t believe that we have reached the last day of the month – celebrating Ramzan and Ugadhi –holiday for both the days, giving me time, not just to rest, relax but also could blog and post just on time; here are some of the things that I would like to be grateful for in this month:

I am thankful to the Lord Almighty for His Protection and Care – for in this month there were times, I had a narrow escape of being hit by vehicles, while commuting to work; speeding vehicles without warning, sudden U turn by autos, racing RTC buses and other vans sending a chill down my spine. I feel blessed for despite all of this I am safe,  singing praises to God for His Divine Protection,  eternally grateful for the gift of life; not just me but my family too. We had gone to bed every night and have got up without any discomforts and have had a routine where we could get to our respective work places.

I am grateful for my guide Mrs. Hannah Jessie, Project Counselor for helping me with the research work to complete my Diploma in Nutrition and Health Education. She continues to give her inputs and I love the way she looks at every small thing and gives her feedback; I am happy with her help I am able to bring quality to my work. –There was so much learning,  taking the feedback and incorporating by getting back to the basics of excel J doing pie charts, bar charts and(which I have not done for some time) working on excel sheets, coloring and continuing to reach my target of completing 100 reviews, feel so good for the work done.

I am glad to be able to edit a couple of  thesis of two of our  students who are scholars in Psychology – doing their thesis on two different topics, one related to disability and another with stress, coping mechanisms and influence of stress on quality of life. I went through the chapters, research design and checking the objectives and hypothesis. I found  some new skills emerging out of meJ. I am grateful for so much learning happens while helping out to the students.  

I am grateful for the gift of my friends – and this month on the women’s day we could go out for a short break- we went around and explored a new joint and after which went on a window shopping to the other part of the city – it was a refreshing experience after a busy week.

“He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not but rejoices for those which he has.” Epictetus

 I am glad to connect with a good old friend who has been constantly in touch and wanting to take me out for lunch J I was postponing due to  my schedules. So this month I took a break from my work during the lunch hour to meet her; in the nearby restaurant. I was happy that finally we could make it. I am grateful the time spent, the encouragement and affirmation I receive, and most important she gave me some Vitamin C & Zinc multivitamin supplements.

I am grateful for another friend who came back to the city after spending some months with her kids and grand kids in US. She suggested that we meet for a Dosa treat; so one of the holidays I went out for a Dosa Delight and loved the chutney, sambaar and coffee. We sat in the quiet place, there were not many people and she spoke about her experiences and we chatted for a while, being a holiday there was no stress so came home and rested.

This month I am also grateful for the opportunity to attend First National Prison Conference 2025. It was a two day conference organized by an organization called Prison World at MCHRD Jubilee Hills. This conference was inaugurated by our Governor of Telangana Hon. Shri Jishnu Dev Varma – who was inspiring and spoke about the Prison reformation. There were other speakers too who highlighted the importance of looking at Prisons as reformation centres; some shared the experience of prisoners, their families pain and how change can happen even behind the prison walls.

I am glad to be associated with Prof C Beena who had implemented the Unnati programme in Telangana Prisons, wherein I got opportunity to visit the prisons and also help the inmates to continue their education. I feel blessed that I could teach them a couple of papers for those doing their Masters in Psychology. I could also listen to some of their stories as to how they landed in the prison. These experiences are priceless and it also changed my perception of prisons and prisoners and made me value my own freedom and privileges in life which has lead me to a fulfilling career.

I am grateful that I have been included in the Women Cell at the University College of Science; the objective is to enable and empower women students. This academic year we have an increase in the girls and the percentage of boy students have dropped drastically. So the management wants to have other programmes for the all round development of students other than just academics.  So this year the women cell is conducting the women’s day celebration with staff and students in the coming week – wherein the students are encouraged to come up with posters, some cultural items of music and dance and also sessions on mental health, women’s health and women’s safety. 

There were so many meetings with regard to the students; and I am grateful that our Principal at the Science College is taking a interest in the students well being – helping them to grow in other areas of life and not limiting to academics. He held  a meeting with the class leaders of the 18 departments and staff- invited me to orient them on Psychological Counseling – what is it? When does one require, what is the process followed and the details of our centre.  I am happy to interact with the students who showed interest and took our numbers to connect.

This month there were so many issues dealing with the students – other than the regular fears, anxiety, adjustment issues, relationship issues, there were some serious legal problems where the students take impulsive decisions leaving home and parents taking help of police to identify them and bring them for counseling, influencing me to talk to them. I gave a lot more time to parents in listening to them and helping them understand to be gentle and kind towards children. I am grateful for being able to mediate between the children and the parents to resolve issues.

This month I also watched “Adolescence” web series on Netflix which had 4 episodes – I sat through and completed watching all the four episodes in one day, which was done brilliantly, some of the scenes were powerful especially the interaction between the child and the counselor, kept me glued to the TV J A lot of take away from this series which I found was relevant.  As parents we have huge responsibility of being involved in our children’s life and be aware of whats happening to them, what are they watching and how are they feeling.

There were other entertainments too – for a break I was watching stand up comedy by Zakir Khan, and I liked the comedy which was relatable. I  watched a Tamil film DRAGON in the nearby mall – which is also in Telugu; but I preferred Tamil as its been a long time since I watched a Tamil movie. It was nice refreshing as it focused on the problems of younger generation, the choices they make and the consequences they face and no matter what, one can always take a U turn to come back to make the right choice in life; it has enough drama, comedy and sacrifice and parental love – catering to all types of audiences.  I am grateful to my daughter Dorothy for taking me out for this movie.

I am grateful for everything in my life – the service providers who regularly supply milk, groceries, help me in domestic work, the basic needs that I enjoy. The regular water supply in our area, no cuts in power, for the WiFi, the computer which helps me make this gratitude post J and people who care and show concern, who regularly keep in touch – all of these and many more blessings – I am thankful, grateful, favored and blessed.

Wishing all my friends Happy Ugadhi & Eid Mubarak !

Thanking for reading my post J