I have a lot to be thankful for. I am healthy, happy and I am loved !

Dear friends, my inspiration and my go to people,

I would like to thank you all for being in my life one way or the other. Whenever I have opened my heart here, you all have encouraged and inspired me through your beautiful comments, likes or sometimes by just visiting my page.

Thank You.

"Some people are always grumbling because roses have thorns; I am thankful that thorns have roses." ~ Alphonse Karr

This post is my last post of this year and I want to finish telling everything that kept me away from you all for few weeks.

My new beginnings started for me in September 2020. Yes, I wasn't even expecting as my life was moving on peacefully. But if you ask me, was I happy? You may not get the answer in yes, but it didn't do any harm to me and it did keep me and my family happy. 

But tell me when you think of Your happiness, what You want in life, there has to be something that should keep you sane and happy because that is what is going to keep your mental health stable and your inner-self peaceful. Believe me its not money that is going to give you that but if that comes along too, then no harm.

"The first step towards getting somewhere is to decide you're not going to stay where you are." ~ J.P. Morgan 

I was working in this company but I always felt my potentials, my experience was not fully being utilized though I am getting paid well but is that what we all want? No, at least not me. I want to learn new technology that is going to be our future and be part of programs that will make the world a better place through the products, process and engagements.

A scientist reached out to me in mid-September after reviewing my profile on LinkedIn. As I said above I was not looking for any opportunity outside but I was open for all possibilities and hence I responded to her message and we decided to talk on the phone for thirty minutes.

That thirty minutes of my meeting took me through an entire loop of interviews. Did I try my best? Oh heck yeah! I studied hard for this and all other interviews.

"Someone's sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago." ~ Warren Buffett

By the time it was result time, I got a phone call saying everyone liked me and wanted to offer but the position itself doesn't exist anymore. C'mon!!! I tried to get the real answer but that was the real answer and guess what I was so good that they asked me to pick positions within that company so that they can hire me.

I felt this is blessing in disguise. Indeed something new was waiting for me and it had to come through. Finally, with everything going I accepted the offer and joined this amazing company on December twentieth of this year.

I hope you understand why I was away and was not regular. But, yes you all are always in my heart and mind.

Thank You All.

"For the yesterdays and today's, and the tomorrows I can hardly wait for - Thank You" ~ Cecelia Ahern

We all know 2020 was a chaos monkey and 2021 was literally like this squirrel - we were trying to balance life through out one way or the other. Vaccines and Boosters were giving hope, people were getting out meeting family and friends, partying for the time that we lost in 2020 and what not. We were balancing life by wearing mask and yet do everything that we did pre-covid.

Until this very end of 2021 another variant started threatening people's health and life across the globe and once again it reminded human race to stay at home and be safe.

Yes, it has been tough and I believe together we all can bring it a bit easier for all of us by taking the vaccinations, the booster and by wearing mask all the time when we go out. We all are responsible and we must take that seriously because here it's not about who is strong it's about who is ready to be a human.

"Celebrate endings, for they precede new beginnings." ~ Jonathan Lockwood Huie

Dear friends for me when I think of 2021, my best times was when I was with nature. I still feel my Half Dome hike is still the best highlight for me from 2021.

Let's hope we all get to be sailing safe into 2022 and yet create many beautiful highlights that keeps us happy and sane and safe everyone.

My best wishes to all of you in this 2022 New Year, may you all be happy, healthy and peaceful with your loved ones.

Think of the under privileged ones and help wherever you can because we only become successful when we take everyone along with us.

Happy Healthy New Year 2022

"No matter how hard the past is, you can always begin again." ~ Buddha

with love

Dawn 

Note: Now you can listen to the audio version of my blogs in Hindi on the UshaDawn Hindi Podcast on Google, Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Check it out and new episodes uploaded every day 3 AM Pacific Standard Time.

Because of you, I laugh a little harder, cry a little less, and smile a lot more...!

This year has been a bit different than last year for sure. Because last year we were all 'stay at home' and some countries were in lockdown situation. This year at least we got a breather with vaccination doses and then the booster shot.

I hope you all have taken the right precaution for your and your loved one's health sake. Only we can bring that change by practicing it and that means everyone must take the vaccination as covid variants are getting tougher on us.

"Hope is important because it can make the present moment less difficult to bear. If we believe that tomorrow will be better, we can bear a hardship today." ~ Thich Nhat Hanh

SO, this year it was all about meet and greet friends and family. I think this year after my two doses of vaccination I am partying all the way till now. It's wonderful time of the year but with proper care and precautions!

Yes just after Halloween, I got busy with Thanksgiving celebration with friends and in no time the plans for Sagittarius birthday celebrations and then Christmas.

It feels good when every day is a celebration day and its true. We often forget all our miseries when we see others happiness and be part of the celebration. 

I personally have so many reasons this year to be thankful and show my gratitude. 

I lived in Canada for almost ten years and being a big fan of ice hockey team #Mapleleafs from Toronto, I never had a chance to watch this game live, sitting in the stadium because of expensive tickets and those struggling days as an immigrant, I was only able to enjoy the game by watching it on television. This year I had the opportunity to watch the game live in SAP Center in San Jose California. 

When my daughter said can we go? She also knew the answer before even I responded to her. I cannot tell you my emotions and frankly speaking how can one even write about emotions? Those are different for every individual and so is for me. 

"You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough." ~ Mae West

As we were walking towards the stadium everyone was wearing Shark jersey and me and my daughter were in Maple leaf jersey and imagine how we must have walked from parking lot to the stadium which was full of Shark fans and few here and there Canadians who were supporting by wearing the jersey of their team.

I remember when we were just getting into the stadium one guy drove yelling F*** Maple Leafs and I only said in my mind, I hope we win this game and guess what ? After all that humiliation from guys sitting at the back who were talking loudly bad about Maple Leaf teams and how they will cry and go after losing to Shark, team actually won the game. That day Shark didn't play good.

I was cool, I think life has taught many things and one of them is not to get too excited even when things are going well for you and believe me I am not saying not to be happy if your team is winning but I am saying, don't degrade your opponents ever.

Its like that turtle who focussed on his pace and won the race against the bunny. 

"When someone disrespects you, beware the impulse to win their respect. For disrespect is not a valuation of your worth but a signal of their character." ~ Brendon Burchard

Life teaches us to be humble and calm in so many ways as while all this was happening around the world due to climatic conditions. So many families were suffering either losing someone or losing everything in flood, volcanic eruptions, and of course covid cases to be frank, is on the rise but we hardly get to see the true numbers these days.

It's small things that we see to embrace and be happy. Imagine last year we were not even able to shake hands with friends or families who are not living with you. And now we are not loosing any moment that gets us to be together to laugh and be merry.

"Keep the ones that heard you when you never said a word" 

These are all small blessings telling us be humble, be considerate, help others wherever and whenever you can. What I love about this season is that there are so many voluntary effort taking place either it is for the homeless people, or orphan people or cancer research and cure related charity programs - all this is to help those who are in need at such time when everyone is having their holiday times with family.

Life can be sometimes full of surprises and some of them can be wonderful too.

~ Dawn

Note: Now you can listen to the audio version of my blogs in Hindi on the UshaDawn Hindi Podcast on Google, Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Check it out and new episodes uploaded every day 3 AM Pacific Standard Time

It isn’t what you have in your pocket that makes you thankful, but what you have in your heart..!

It's been a while since my last post on Halloween. I can say I was busy but I was busy mentally too. There were lot of things that were going on and even though I wanted to come and share here, it kept slipping to tomorrow and then you know how things happen.

It was my birthday on November seventh and because of my sweet friends the celebration took place through out the month. I am just filled with gratitude and thankfulness for having such loving friends.

Sometimes, blessings come in different packages, forms and shapes. 

Because right after my birthday I was given a free show ticket for Snarky Puppy by #SFJAZZ as I am one of their leadership circle member it was like a cherry on the cake. Such a blessing.

While all this was happening, I was making plans to go watch Bryan Adams who was performing live in Las Vegas. This was a dream come true for me as I grew up listening to Bryan Adam's music and it was such a nostalgic moment when I heard him live in that same manner how I have heard his voice in cassettes those days.

One thing that people were talking about is that Bryan is sixty two years old and don't know if we will get to see him performing again - I have only one thing to say to them, he will sing even next year and next to that too. His voice, his energy everything was just like how it was when I was growing up listening to him. It was amazing to get a hi-fi from Bryan and then sliding away the hand saying see you inside the auditorium. I can't say anything about that experience and happiness that I got from this legend.

When I was taking off for Vegas, I had so many things in mind, my emotions were gushing and rushing and after watching Bryan Adam performing live, I thought I have so many things to express and here I am so full of him that I am unable to put anything in words that will do justice to my emotions and feelings for re-living my childhood moments.

"Somethings are better when you experience it "~ Dawn 

After I came back from Vegas, it was thanksgiving dinner at our friends place and my gratitude has no limits. I take this opportunity to thank each one of my friends, family and my friends here.

Thank You, for the love.

"I have a lot to be thanksful for. I am healthy, happy, and I am loved." ~ Reba McEntire

~ Dawn