50 Happy Things

This is a list of 50 things that made me happy in 2015. 

50 things that I was deeply grateful for. It was Dawn from Tales of the Motherland who got the idea to initiate this. She invited bloggers to blog about the 50 things that made them happy in 2015. 

So without any further ado, as they say, here's my top 50. There were others, but these are top-of-mind:

1) The Husband: We couldn’t be more unalike, and from my perspective, he can be a stubborn mule at times. Truth be told, so can I, so at least we have that in common. All the same, I love him very much, and I am grateful for his presence in my life.

2) My children, La Niña and El Niño, as I call them here. Their affection is open, refreshing, wild and uncontainable, and I feel privileged to receive it. The speed with which they come bounding towards me every evening when I get back home makes me feel honoured. I am grateful to God for the privilege of being a mother.

3) Compliments from my kids. The other day, El Niño told La Niña, “Mamma is very sweet, isn’t she?” Wow, I’m still basking in the warmth of that one.

4) My home: My heart aches when I see the homeless on the pavements in our city, their lives starkly open and vulnerable, their kids and lives exposed to the elements, and to the seedy underbelly most of us will mercifully never hear of.

5) Food to eat and water to drink: Clean and plentiful. It might not be gourmet, but as an ad on TV says, “It’s better, no?”

6) My parents: I am grateful that they are still healthy and able-bodied, still leading an active lifestyle. As they get older, I am grateful for each day. It’s a daily bonus.

7) My nephews: Their fierce affection brings me joy.

8) My brothers and sister-in-law: I’m grateful for the bond we all share. In particular, I’m grateful for how my sister-in-law has made herself a part of our family.

9) My in-laws: They look after my kids while the Husband and I are away at work. Thanks to their support, I have never suffered a moment’s uneasiness regarding the well-being of my babies.

10) Y and A: Two of my oldest friends. Not in age, but in the number of years, we’ve been sisters born of different mothers.

11) The other meaningful relationships in my life: Too many. Some of them I have lost touch with, but they have sustained me when I needed the propping.

12) Restored friendships: I nearly came close to losing the friendship of two very good friends last year. Fortunately, we got away from the brink before we fell over the edge. I’m grateful that our friendship has moved passed the rift.

13) Getting in touch with good friends that I haven’t seen or heard from in decades: Towards the end of last year, I was able to get in touch with two friends I hadn’t seen since school. It felt good to catch up on the lost years, and I’m glad they’re just a phone call away now.

14) Michael Maam: My beloved uncle, my mother’s oldest brother. He passed away on March 31 last year. He gladdened the heart of my childhood. May God rest his soul.

15) Christmas, Easter, birthdays and other reunions with loved ones: I cherish these times when the entire family gets together.

16) Health and able-bodiedness: I’m grateful that sundry body parts haven’t started to creak yet. I am healthy and able to give myself to my family and their needs.

17) The education I have received: School and College. It has made me what I am. The learning and experiences forged the person I am, independent yet pliable, and confident too.

18) My love for writing: A blank page, a pen in hand, and the muse inspiring me faster than I can write. Ah, that is bliss! Thank you, God, for the gift of being able to express myself and to be able to touch other’s emotions through my writing.

19) My blog: My little corner of the Internet, uniquely me.

20) The city I live in: It’s crazy, crowded and chaotic. But I’m not leaving.

21) My job: I edit and write, and they pay me for it. Totally win-win.

22) The group I work for: The most ethical minded group in this country

23) My office – the physical space: The high ceiling, the burst of colour everywhere, the wide windows, the ornate pillars, the spiral staircases. The sheer sense of openness feels good.

24) Kindle: So many books on my Kindle, and so little time.

25) The Internet, Pinterest, blogs: For all the goodies, ideas, patterns, recipes, opinions on the Internet. Thank you for sharing.

26) The joy of baking: Hmm, nothing like the aroma of freshly baked goodies filling your house. Inhale. Plus, I have two assistants who are always ready to help.

27) The joy of crochet: One curved needle, and endless amounts of coloured yarn. I love crochet.

28) A crochet scarf project I completed recently: As a gift to a friend during an office Secret Santa. The jinx of the UFO (the many unfinished objects that clutter my life) has been broken.

29) The Great Railways: So they’re slow, and crowded. But hey, at least they’re moving. And they’re faster than any other vehicle in the city. At least until the Metro comes to my part of town.

30) The art gallery on my walls: I’ve run out of walls on which to display La Niña’s handiwork.

31) The baking shop I discovered last year: I was like a kid in a toy shop.

32) The rains that the city received last year: It wasn’t as much as much as the city has received in previous years, but at least our taps aren’t dry.

33) The rare occasions when I get a seat in the train on the morning commute

34) That I was able to fit into a new pair of jeans. I’d bought it after El Niño was born but had never managed to fit in.

35) That the alphabet cookies I made for my nephews’ birthdays were appreciated and polished off

36) For the daily conversations with my mom over the phone. If I don’t call, she worries and calls back. I am blessed to have her worry and fret over me.

37) That Dad and I have a relationship of affection and friendship between us.

38) Mayfeelings: It’s a website where people share their concerns and fears and everyone prays for everyone else.

39) Peace and harmony at home

40) Peace and harmony at work

41) A work-related promotion

42) The well-wishers in my life, and all those who’ve prayed for me.

43) Success in the 6-km Dream Run during the Mumbai Marathon last year. So what if it wasn’t the Full Marathon. I beat my own time by 5 minutes. Isn’t that worth celebrating?

44) That the nail of my big toe grew back. Simple joys are mine.

45) That El Niño began to pronounce the g and k sounds. Earlier gorilla used to sound like dorilla, and catch would be tatch. How delighted I am to hear the right sounds now! Now we only need to conquer the Rs.

46) That the intensity of my hair loss has reduced. These days I actually have good hair days. And that’s saying a lot. Not by Tresseme standards, of course.

47) The two baking sessions I attended last year. It helped to watch experts ace the cake décor bit. That’s been an area in which I’ve struggled ever since I started baking.

48) The gift of prayer and the many, many prayers that have been answered.

49) The healing sense of peace I experienced through the Catholic Sacrament of Reconciliation

50) The restlessness I feel ever so often, the reminder, from the Universe, that I have yet to achieve my life’s goal. It keeps me from feeling complacent.