30 for 30! … Gratitude

Hey all,

Yesterday marked my 30th birthday. Usually I’m not really affected by birthdays and they’re just another day. But for some reason this one has moved me ever so slightly. Although 30 seems like a big number, I felt unbelievably grateful for my life. Preetam and Arjun made it very special.

I decided to put a different spin on “30 for 30” and choose 30 things I’m grateful for – a perfect way for me to start the rest of my life; by reflecting on how far I’ve come and how thankful I am be it for life’s simple pleasures or for the slightly deeper shizzle!

1. I am grateful to God for my life. You put me in a life threatening car accident where I fractured my skull but anytime you put me in sticky situations, you always send me my knights in shining armour and angels to protect me. All that is left to remind me is the scar on my face which at first I hated, now it’s a reminder of my strength and that I’m still here. Thank you for giving me the strength to get through.
2. I am eternally grateful for my faith and religion (Sikhism) for always providing me with balance and calmness and for providing me with such basic yet fulfilling goals in life. For providing langar (free food) to all regardless of caste, religion, wealth or gender. For the food for my soul – paat and kirtan.
3. I am grateful for an incredible family that I don’t know what I’d do without – my backbone, my strength, my everything. I am always reduced to tears when I think of them and what beautiful souls they are in their own way. My father for being my role model – so kind hearted, hard working and so loving. My mum for being so incredibly dedicated to her religion – waking up at 2am daily to pray for us and go to the Gurdwara to do Simran. I hope one day I can be like her. My sisters Harv and Goov, for being so patient with me and for being there for me unconditionally and for being the most amazing second mums to Arjun.

4. I am grateful for my husband for being such a hardworking and strong man and for being an incredible father. I am not the easiest person to live but you manage it so well. You have accomplished so much in life and we are grateful for your determination and how well you take care of us. Preetam thanks for being so hands on with Arjun – he adores you and I realise how lucky I am on a daily basis to have you as Arjun’s papa.

5. I am eternally grateful for God’s greatest blessing – our beautiful baby boy Arjun. He is my biggest blessing and I’m so grateful to God for making this miracle come true. I pray that God keeps him happy and healthy always. I am grateful to be a mummy by 30 – something I’d hoped for.

6. I am grateful for socks – I live in them at home! They are my comfort.
7. I am grateful that I managed to qualify as an accountant just two weeks before my car accident – I don’t think I’d be able to sit an exam now.
8.I am grateful for my consultant through my pregnancy, Mrs Galea – thank you God for sending me a consultant that was so patient with me. Instead of getting frustrated with my anxiety, she humoured it and ensured I was comfortable at all times.
9. I am grateful to all our beautiful family and friends that made such a huge effort to come to Goa for our destination wedding – you helped us create fun filled memories and I’ll never forget the effort you made to be there with us.
10. I am grateful to have travelled to so many new places especially in the last three years since I got married including Goa, Rome, Paris, Dubai (3 times!), Jamaica, Malaysia, Punjab, and I’m sitting on my sun deck with a gorgeous view of the glistening calm sea in the beautiful Maldives at such a stunning hotel as I write this feeling so very blessed.

11. I am grateful for my phone (iPhone 6 plus) my BFF 😐
12. I am thankful for the blog – my personal space to unload my feelings, my personal platform which gives me my “me” time and a little bit of my identity and most of all a hub to meet so many other lovely mummies and daddies from whom I’ve learnt so much already!
13. I am grateful for the food I have on the table at every meal and hope one day poverty ends and that every human being on this planet has at least a basic meal.
14. I am grateful for Baby TV to help me through our not so good days!
15. I am thankful that I have matured (a bit!) with how I deal with situations (although I do slip up sometimes!).
16. I am grateful for having such fun loving in laws – my mother in law never fails to put a smile on my face and a sister in law that I can laugh with about the most random things

17. I am grateful that I have not yet needed to dye my hair! Although a few white hairs have made an appearance, they are well hidden for now!
18. I love all our dogs – definitely a (wo)man’s best friend. They love unconditionally and they never answer back! Haha

19. I am grateful for the amazing midwives at the Hillingdon Hospital that walked me through my pregnancy and held my hand tight when I needed them to. They are angels from above.
20. I am grateful for Nutella – my first love! You make everything taste so good. I also love pizza and chilli paneer – my guilty pleasures!

21. I am grateful for my handful of best friends, who are like sisters. Some I speak to daily and others not as often, but we all share a special bond. I’m so thankful for each and every one of them – we laugh together, we cry together, we celebrate together. We are there through thick and thin and I’m so grateful to have them in my life.
22. I am grateful for the country I live in – the NHS has never failed me (touch wood).
23. I am grateful for nature – the different shades of colour nature has to offer often puts a smile on my face. The ocean, the trees, the sand, the sky, the leaves – Mother Nature has provided us with a whole palette of beauty wherever we look for which I’m grateful.
24. I am grateful that I live in my dream house thanks to Preetam’s hard work and pray that one day every human being on this planet has at least a shelter.
25. I am grateful for being able to experience motherhood – something that has helped me learn to manage my what was quite selfish nature prior to Arjun being born. Although I’ve not quite given up my “loves” I’ve learnt to do them a little quicker with a baby – eg apply make up 😉
26. I’m grateful for breadsticks – they are my saviour when out with Arjun!
27. I am grateful that I have been blessed with a good job (for me anyway) and an employer that has always been good to me.
28. I am grateful for being able to have met people that are no longer in our lives including Vadi Masi, Grandma and Pua Ji. So thankful for all the family DVDs we have to be able to see their smiling faces again. We miss them all dearly and are so sad that Arjun never got to meet them. I hope they are all smiling down on us.

29. I am grateful for my hair straighteners – they even travel with me in hand luggage when we fly just in case my luggage gets lost!
30. I am so grateful to all my blog followers – the amount of love and words of encouragement you have given me has been so overwhelming and totally unexpected. I originally started the blog for myself but I’m so taken aback by how many people have been following our journey! Thank you for reading so far! I love you all x