ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE
In continuation with the theme of appreciation that’s on this month, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for the founder of The Wonder Women World, Charmaine Timothy.
To begin from the beginning, I used to relish the weekly columns that featured in various newspapers and would wonder if I could ever have one like that when I grew up.
Then life took over and I got busy with its little businesses until I received a mail from Charmaine. When she offered me ‘Saturdays with Shivani’, that little childhood dream of mine was fulfilled- to have a weekly column of my own.
I know very well that mine are not even a patch on those weeklies that I used to admire. But what I appreciate most is that she has given me complete creative freedom to speak my mind.
I don’t recall a single time in all of these six months, that she may have so far as even suggested to edit/delete/ change a single word of my write up. Never have I received frantic SMSes urging me to hurry or having someone peeking over my shoulder to see what I’m up to. And this I say because there have been enough instances where I’ve mailed my write up on Friday nights for what’s supposed to be up on Saturday (this one included).
Her patience has been put to test and yet her Zen like calm seems to overrule every single time. My only wish is that if the world had more people like her it would be a much better place. People are just too busy tearing each other down. What no one seems to realise that a little appreciation, a little freedom, a nudge that conveys ‘I have your back’, goes a long way.
In every role of our lives, be it as a parent, as a friend, as a boss or as colleague, gratitude and appreciation are THE two most important things we need to imbibe if we expect success. Try appreciating the people and the little things that life offers us and see the difference it brings in our perspective and productivity. Let me quote Mokokoma Mokhonoana here- “Unhappiness is a contagious disease caused by a chronic deficiency of gratitude.”
Let’s make a collective effort to make each other happy. Its not as hard as it sounds. It just might mean something as simple as a smile, a few words of appreciation or a pat on the back for a job well done. Little gestures like these take us a long way to lead more fulfilling lives.
Coming back to where I began, allow me to share the lines that I came across recently:
“Somewhere in this small world, you can find a place where everyone appreciates you more than you think you deserve.” (-M.F. Moonzajer, Love, Hatred and Madness)
All I want to say is that ‘The Wonder Women World’ is that place for me. Thank you for trusting me always, especially when I didn’t trust myself.
-Dr. Shivani Salil
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