I count my blessings

When I sat down to pen a Christmas message my mind drew a blank. The computer screen waited for my fingers to fly over the keyboard; I tapped out a few words, deleted them, tapped some more. Nothing was working. I am so used to having multiple images jostling to get out of my mind that this new silence was frightening. This wasn’t writer’s block; a thing I have never believed in, anyway. So then what is it? I asked myself letting my eyes roam the length and breadth of the backyard through the glass pane of the patio door. A sudden gust of wind raced between the fences setting them shivering in the mid-morning sun while the dark furry tail of a lone squirrel vanished into the neighbour’s yard.

I gave myself a mental shake deciding to take the situation in hand. And this is what happened.

I began to count my blessings:

My family – their incredible capacity to turn even the dreariest situation into something valuable. Always ready to listen, laugh, joke, and cheer.

My friends – their wisdom, courage, love and care.  

My writing – as essential as breathing and just as demanding. Each day starts in anticipation of spinning thoughts into words and watch them transform into fantastic shapes and sizes. Somewhat like the old man in the market of my hometown who spun sugar into fantastical shapes and colour. How gorgeous is that world! And I too get to do it. That’s freedom. I am grumpy if I don’t write.

Creation - godly, everlasting, generous to a fault.

Reading – fiction, non-fiction, poetry, essays – you name it and I read it.
 
My books – the characters in my novel Moonlight – the Journey Begins are well-settled and hopefully residing in homes far and near. The next book will be out in the spring of 2022. I have lived between their pages for a very long time; it’s due to them I get this hankering to write even more.

My writing desk – just a small corner in the living room facing the backyard. Squirrels, their fur grown dark in winter, are fun to watch providing moments of hilarity with their daily antics even on the grimmest day. An overcast sky, fat clouds filled with water, or dark and threatening, presaging a storm, transport me to impossible highs. High treble of childish voices float across the sun-drenched air on a hot summer day.

Walking - in the hush of dawn when the sun waits behind giant trees before making a dramatic appearance and I pretend I am the only audience in nature’s auditorium.

Each day is a blessing. You are with me. I am blessed because of you.

The year is winding down, concerns over newer viruses keep growing, but we are gearing up to live our lives to the fullest, aided by technology. That’s something to be thankful for, I imagine.

We are on this road together and my prayers are with you and your family, now and always. Blessings and joy from our family to yours. Stay safe. Be well. Peace be upon you.
Happy Christmas.
Purabi

​#peace #joy #christmas2021 #amwriting #amreading #life