Gratitude One Word, Many Wonders- Guest Post by Akanksha Singh!
The freezing cold waves, the non-existent Sun, the non-availability of vegetarian food and the gloomy 4:00 pm darkness was more than enough to make me miserable after my first day at office in Manchester.
When I half-heartedly entered into my not so favourite fast-food chain, Subway, I only wanted to just stuff myself with whatever veggies I could find and run back to my hotel room. I paid the cash and when was just focused on grabbing my sub from the hands of the person on the other side of the counter, “Thank you love, enjoy your sub” said the person with a smile and in a royal English accent.
For a second, I was still but rather in a happy way. That one smile and a thank you actually made me sit at the table in the café and eat my sub. That unexpected gratitude from a total stranger in a foreign country made me feel a little at home.
I guess I am somehow have been able to convey what I am trying to say here, A good gesture from your side, an honest smile and a little gratitude you never know can make even a stranger’s day. In-fact I felt welcomed and warmth by almost every stranger I met during my one year stay in United Kingdom.
People smiling whenever our eyes met, asking me if I needed help whenever I was with heavy luggage, are a few expressions of gratitude that made my stay memorable and cheerful.
Well don’t you think being a little more compassionate and a little more grateful to our surroundings and people would make a better world for all of us. Today we are so busy in our own world that we have almost forgotten to acknowledge the people around us.
Do you remember how many days it has been that you have smiled to your neighbour or said thanks to a courier guy or appreciated the storekeeper of the grocery store who just showed you the item you have been looking all around? If you haven’t, try it and see how it immediately makes up your and the other person’s day.
Now when we are surrounded by so much stress, that mental health is the biggest of all the health concerns today. How can we not help our future generations by teaching them to practice gratitude?
Since I became a mother my perspective towards looking at things is almost always is futuristic and that is why I am more determined that having gratitude is going to be the most important thing that I will be teaching my child.
Thus, in all my experience of life here are a few practical actions what I think can be taken to be more grateful and merrier-
Appreciate unhesitatingly
It is easy to be a critic than being appreciative. Well can’t blame anyone because it is deeply rooted in human nature. Although it certainly doesn’t take much effort if you ever wish to try.
Also it usually happens that if you like any efforts made by someone or a certain aspect of someone, though you talk about it to others or even you love that aspect so much that you inculcate the same in your lifestyle; You miss out telling the same person about how much you liked it.
Do appreciate the aspect about the person wholeheartedly to him/her and see how happy this move of yours will make both of you. Who doesn’t love to be appreciated and you see what the intellects say, “you reap what you sow”? Wouldn’t it sound amazing to hear about your merits too? I wish I could have learned this before; I would have made a lot of friends surely.
Express your mind
When you care about someone let them know. If something hurts you let it out, as simple as that. I do not suggest speaking without thinking but choosing your words wisely to express your true feelings.
“I should have told her this”, “Why didn’t I tell her before”, “only if I had the courage to tell him”, haven’t we all pondered upon this thought ever for once?
Isn’t it better that from now on we keep doing things at that same instant when it is required and do not repent it later? And you know what it is never too late, when it comes to letting it out what troubles you or makes you feel good. Keeping your feelings to yourself isn’t going to help you, but expressing them out would definitely.
Stay Connected with your well-wishers
It is very rare to find people who care about you, so if you find one stick to them like, forever. I often scroll through my phonebook and find so many names that I used to love talking to or hanged out with and had great memories of them, but with time have lost touch with them. I am sure that also happens with you too.
No matter how much we criticize technology for keeping us away from the real world; it actually lessens our efforts also in some way or the other.
Well if you try, it just wouldn’t take much effort to pick up your phone and once in a blue moon call the person to check upon, also if possible, plan to catch-up on a coffee or tea date. You know it is always good to be surrounded with friends and family for a healthy lifestyle. I have recently started doing this and it has helped me to gradually recover from the guilt of leaving my job.
Let go
Let go off that negativity strictly from your life. Be it a toxic human of a troubled past/present or a saddening memory of any horrible experience, keeping them with you will only pull you back and will affect your mental and physical health. I very much understand that it’s not easy to forget things so easily but all we can do as a human is try our best.
Also, I strongly believe that the company you keep is what makes you or breaks you. A friend who can’t appreciate you is better than a friend who constantly demoralizes you. Your tribe is where your vibe is. So, if your vibe doesn’t match with another person, get rid of them.
Letting go of above things will keep you mind clear for better adventures in life.
I had done a thorough research on how to practice gratitude, there are many ways described all over the internet but combining both my experience and the fact that the approach needs to be more practical, these are the only four ways which I can put my money on.
So share and spread love and warmth for life is too short to not be merry.
Here is another one of my article on the same lines where I talk about a mother’s dilemma of deciding on the right values for her son considering his self-worth. Check it out here if that sounds worth a read.
About the Author of this Guest post
This post has been written by my dear friend Akanksha singh
Akanksha Singh is a Software Engineer by profession and currently a stay at home mom with her 2 year old baby boy. She reinvented her love for reading and writing post motherhood and loves to express her mind often on her blog at https://mominprocess.co.in . You can also checkout her instagram page at https://instagram.com/mominprocess.”
This post is a part of “How to become a profitable blogger” blog train. hosted by Neha and Surbhi. I am growing my blog and learning to be profitable with
I am growing my blog with Surbhi from
http://www.prettymummasays.com/ and
Neha from
https://bloggingmadeeasier.com/ and https://www.sharingourexperiences.com/
With this post, I am starting “Guest post series” on my blog. if you are interested in writing for my blog, please drop a mail at ritu.prapanna@gmail.com
or DM me at Instagram @surbhiprapanna https://www.instagram.com/surbhiprapanna/
50 Comments
Pr@Gun
That’s a beautiful post full of positivism, a simple gesture of being thankful and gratitude work wonders. and well said it’s our duty to teach our future generations about gratitude and staying connected too.
alpanadeo
That’s a lovely post. I completely agree with Aakansha’s reaction and thoughts when the person at Subway said those kind words to her. Have experienced and still experience it every other day. Infact, after coming to the USA this has become my habit as well to say honor atleast smile even if I meet some new at public places. “Ek smile krne me Kya jata ha”.
admin
Agree with you alpana. I am glad you liked the post.
simritbedi
Such a beautiful post. A simple thank you can change so many things. We don’t realise but this small gesture goes a long way.
admin
hanks dear for stopping by. i m glad you liked the post.
admin
thanks pragun, I am glad you liked the post.
Mayuri6
Such a well written post. Little gestures and words truly go a long way.
admin
thanks mayuri
ritecontent
You are so right, a smile doesn’t cost a thing and we can make someone somewhere happy with just that! Love the way you have brought out the importance of a positive attitude!
admin
thanks brinda ji for your visit. i agree a smile does not cost any thing.
rashmi
aww.. such a touching post by Akanksha. i know how in the past compliments and gestures of help have brightened my day. I try to extend the same to people i come across.
Blogaberry Foo
I’m generally quite an expressive person though I prefer talking only sometimes when I feel the need. But keeping in touch is something I don’t shy away from.
Pinal Shah
Yes….absltly….what you give, you get back…A smile given is a smile received or a good gesture makes you also feel good.
MeenalSonal
The pointers are really a great way to spread happiness and make this world a place to enjoy and live together peacefully. Very well thought and expressed post.
admin
thanks dear for stopping by. i m glad you liked the post.
admin
hanks dear for stopping by. i m glad you liked the post.
Archana
Such a positive post makes my day, there is a very famous say by William Shakespeare. “A smile cures the wounding of a frown.”
and I truly believe in and make sure to practice it in my daily life, well written post by Akansha!
Debidutta Mohanty
Gestures and kind word comes free but goes long way. A nice post on positivity. It’s also sad that we practise less in our country but this gestures take away our heart when we are in foreign land.
admin
thanks debi, for stopping by. i m glad you liked the post.
admin
thanks archana, for stopping by. i m glad you liked the post.
Amrit Kaur
This is a well written post about gratitude and.positivity. I also believe that we should have the habit of gratitude
preety85
That’s really heartwarming post, filled with positivity. We all should show gratitude towards people who help us everyday in any way. She is beautifully penned down her feelings, love the write up.
admin
Thanks preethy for stopping by. i m glad you liked the post.
admin
thanks amrit for stopping by. i m glad you liked the post.
lifewithmypenguin
Loved the post Akansha. So true a little smile from strangers and kind words often stay with us. Just like this memory. Thanks Surbhi for getting Akansha and sharing positivism.
Deepika
Totally loved the memory. Full of positivity and gratitude. A positive gesture which comes from a stranger always takes a special place. Well written Akansha!
Arushi
What a lovely and positive post. The post is much needed in today’s time where hatred is seen more than love. Gratitude is important but often neglected. Thanks for the reminder
admin
Thanks Arushi, i am completely agree with you, thanks a lot for stopping by.
admin
Thanks Deepika for stopping by.
admin
Thanks Dear pragnya for your visit. I am glad you liked the post.
Ruchie
There is noone in this world who don’t deserved to be appreciated and we should always do that ..it brings so much happiness and positivity around. I remember recently while asking a road on the way one old uncle explained us in such a funny and with full energy that still bring so much smile on our face.
admin
Yes Ruchie sometimes small cute gesture changes our mood. thanks a lot for stopping by.
nooranandchawla
Staying positive and expressing gratitude for everything in our lives is truly the key to happiness. Great post!
admin
Thanks Noor, I am glad you liked the post.
ginia
I have always felt a bit nicer and happier whenever I have had a random chat with a stranger, a small smile exchanged in the lift.. Human beings are truly social animals and these gestures are super important for overall wellbeing.
admin
Yes Ginia, I agree sometimes random chatting takes away our routine stress and make us feel refresh and positive.
Supriti
positivity is the key to happiness in today’s stressed times. I miss my childhood days where stepping out of home meant greeting atleast a couple of uncle and aunty or bumping into someone who would help u lift the heavy bags till home. We need to smile again and make people smile. LOved akansha’s way of expression.
admin
Thanks Supriti for your visit and I agree with what you had said.
Varsh
Beautiful post. Gratitude indeed goes a long way. I do thank taxi and auto drivers, courier guys etc after I pay them. Least we can do.
admin
Yes I agree Varsha and I also do the same. thanks for stopping by.
Tina Basu
its important one appreciates things and people around and when it’s time to let go we should be able to do that. very nice post.
admin
Thanks Tina for reading the post and share your thoughts.
Preeti's Panorama
One smile can do wonders. One word of gratitude can heal a person. How true this fact of life is. The gratitude towards people who continuously work around us in making our lives easier is something I always make sure to be thankful of. And this habit should be inculcated in the kids from a very young age as well.
Beautiful post. Very well written
admin
Yes preeti we should try to inculcate this habit in our kids as well.
Bushra
Indeed Stay in connection with well wishers should not be ignored and it gives us emotional support
admin
completely agree with you Dr. Bushra. thanks for your visit.
jhilmildsaha
this is such a beautifully written post about gratitude, loved how you have expressed it. it is full of good vibes and positivity
admin
Thanks Jhilmil, I agree post has lots of positivism.
Fareha
Positivity in life is what keeps us all going. Practising gratitude always comes back manifold in ways one can’t imagine. It’s a wonderful post.
admin
thanks faraha for stopping by.