Mine, Travel Tales

I am Grateful to Life.

February 2016 Gratitude Circle bloghop!

I am happy to be participating in this special blog hop started by our very own, Vidya Sury. I have written my post as a response to this week’s gratitude practice tips and queries 🙂

Now, for this week’s gratitude practice.

Reflect on a happy moment in your life that you remember distinctly-

Getting a tattoo of my baby Dalmatian, Sparky’s name on my arm while I was in Goa last month for my brother’s 50th birthday.

Bought it from the Mario Gallery at Calangute, Goa

She is always with me in my heart but sometimes I need to see her, this tattoo makes it somewhat possible.

Sparky’s name tattooed on my arm

Cuddling with my Sparky, hugging my kids, strolling in the Kasauli hills with my hubby on our 25th anniversary.

View from my hotel’s balcony at Kasauli, India

My parents blessing me, in-laws treating me like their daughter, enjoying our family outing to Goa for my younger brother Naughty’s fiftieth birthday.

With my Mom and my siblings. The next generation adding to our tribe 🙂

Traveling to Varanasi and sitting at the Dhamekh Stupa at Sarnath where Lord Buddha gave his first public sermon. Standing under the Bodhi tree where Buddha gave the first sermon to five of his disciples.

Dhamekh Stupa, Sarnath, India

Sitting in a boat at the Ganga ghat at Varanasi and watching the evening arti being performed at sunset, the lighted diyas and their reflection on the waters of the holy Ganges.

Ganga Arti at the ghat at Varanasi, India

Experience it in your mind again, in detail-

Did you feel gratitude? What made you feel grateful?

I felt grateful to be loved and cherished by my family.

Thrilled that Sparky’s name is tattooed on my mind and body, felt her smelly breath and heard her happy and excited woofs.

Humbled to be at Sarnath, the place Lord Buddha had visited, sat under the tree where he had shared his knowledge with his companions, meditated at the base of Dhamekh Stupa. I felt privileged to be there and glimpse a part of sacred history. I felt enlightened.

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Sarnath

“In Banaras, my soul crossed over from being an idle observer to an ecstatic participant in the evening Ganges Arti at the famous ghats of the holy river.”- I wrote this in my article here.

I am linking this post to the February 2016 Gratitude Circle bloghop at Vidya Sury, Collecting Smiles

9 thoughts on “I am Grateful to Life.

  1. Wow..! The tattoo looks wonderful.. and the family trip in Goa couldn’t be any better.. The pictures are lovely!
    Even I had a lot of stuff in February and I am only thankful for all of it 🙂

    Cheers

  2. Sulekha, so blessed to have you join me. I love how you wove the gratitude practice questions to write your post. And what a post with such beautiful experiences! I just adore your tattoo with the paw print and my eyes misted over. I’ve never visited Varanasi and hope to, some time this year. Thanks for sharing the fabulous photos! Wishing you and your loved ones happiness always. I am so glad I started my day reading your post. ♥♥

  3. This made me smile and tear up all at once. That tattoo is very beautiful and yes, she is always going to be a piece of your being. Stay blessed, Sulekha!

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