Thank You !

As I was about to cross the road during my evening walk, I stopped short when I saw the signal turn red, and stepped backwards. Just then an auto rickshaw driver drove past, but not before he said: "Thank you for stepping back madam!” smiled, and drove away.

It made me smile too! 

Thank yous always make me happy, and, when I use this simple expression for someone else, it makes me happier!

The joy on my chef’s face, at the office last week, when I thanked him for a tasty daal and Roti was a mix of surprise and a huge sigh of relief. It's like this: he would always put chillies dabaa ke (full on) and I would run to fetch that extra glass of buttermilk to douse the fire within. After many polite pleas, he had finally got it right. I smiled and said a wide grin wala thank you and since, he has been a happy wala Chef.

I think feedback is necessary but more important is the thank you that accompanies it. 

Like the other day, when my maid walked in with a guilty look after a couple of days’ hiatus, she was greeted by a song and a thank you. She had a puzzled look - but then the whole atmosphere turned all fun and madam worked that day with a happy jig and a gait that could put a sprinter to shame!

All thanks to a simple Thank you!

Practice the art of gratitude that books preach, that God-men speak of, that Holy Books write - but you know what, it has to come from within.

It all begins at home when you take that one extra moment before you rush off to school, college, office and say thank you to Amma/ Appa  - or in my case my Mom-in-law. The entire morning kasha-masha (chaos) which could have almost ruined the rest of the day is miraculously turned around and the feeling is priceless.

As I stepped into a cafe in the course of my walk this evening, to have a coffee, I was in for a surprise. They gave me a card which says that the drink on my 10th visit to their cafe is free.

Well, some might say it's a marketing gimmick but it was as if  the Universe was giving me an ishara (hint ) that I need to visit this beautiful zen-like cafe more often as I need to complete a couple of tasks for myself which have been buried under the label of procrastination !

And in that moment, I said a big thank you to myself for I had at last succeeded to be with myself and my thoughts.

As I said a big Thank you, Dinesh at the Cafe wondered what that big smile was all about!

After all, I was just paying forward the Thank you I received from the auto rickshaw driver :-)