THANKFUL THURSDAY

Why it’s Important to Remember Vivekananda #Thankful Thursdays 50

By Dr.Amrita Basu(MBBS,MS) on January 11, 2018 3

This year I made a promise.This was helped by someone who said, you don’t ever need permission to be thankful

Thankful Thursdays not only gives me a chance to write something in the middle of the week, it also helps me tick off to do list.While I am okay with reporting occasional misses, it breaks my heart if I am not as productive as I plan to be.

This week I have good news to report.

I am drinking more water.Yes in cold weather its a challenge for me too!That’s one of the reasons I decided to make that the first health topic I wrote about in 2018.

I was finally able to start my content in audio form as a podcast.It’s a slow process.Guess why?Because I am a mompreneur and I juggle all roles.

Check out my podcast Health tips with Healthwealthbridge.

I plan to do a weekly podcast(there I said it ), for now, and see where it goes from there.

The biggest reason I wanted to start with this is, I want to reach more people.Many busy moms are not able to spend hours reading on the laptop. But they can listen while doing housework and cooking.I listen to my favorite podcast by Amy Porterfield while making the bed every day.

It’s a wonderful start to the day.Motivational and gives me extra info about stuff I really need for my blog -biz.

I am also taking my sleep and dreaming seriously.No joking If I don’t get good sleep I seem to stop feeling creative.That’s no good.It makes everything a chore.

I also started working on two other things but more about that later.

I will start with the book reading challenge by Corinne. .My post is in the draft and I will link up this week.I have started reading and reviewing in 2018 already.

Today I plan to share with you a few of my favorite quotes from Swami Vivekananda’s teachings which have inspired me (His birthday is tomorrow).It’s a good opportunity to remember and relearn from his wisdom.

One good way to set your own inner good-bad thermostat straight is to read books and quotes ,which makes you think.Self-improvement is the most difficult journey.

Why it’s important to Remember Vivekananda: favorite quotes & my two pence!

[bctt tweet=”Society does not go down because of the activities of criminals, But because of the inactivities of the good people. Swami Vivekananda #ThankfulThursdays ” username=”misra_amrita”]

Is there a better time to talk about this than now?You and I have so long let things be that now water has run over our heads and we are left crying for basic rights like air and water.With air, water, and sound pollution making Indian cities and towns unlivable, when will we say enough?

Everything is easy when you are busy. But nothing is easy when you are lazy.

Oh yes, procrastination is sneaky.You and I both are victims.When you cry you don’t have time think about the 5 important things you got done today.If you can’t list 5.Please rethink!

Take Risks in Your Life If you Win, U Can Lead! If You Lose, You Can Guide!

You win either way right?All failures are stepping-stones to success!Its all about mindset.

Purity, patience, and perseverance are the three essentials to success and above all love.

This is so true.Persist dear readers!

The power of concentration is the only key to the treasure-house of knowledge.

True concentration will come from practicing meditation

Meditation can turn fools into sages but unfortunately, fools never meditate.

He didn’t think of being politically correct.The calmer we are and the less disturbed our nerves, the better we will live.To be calm is one of the purposes of meditation.

Learn everything that is good from others, but bring it in, and in your own way adsorb it; do not become others.
You cannot believe in God until you believe in yourself

I believe this deeply.God is inside all of us.So the first step to faith is to believe in ownself

Do not lower your goals to the level of your abilities. Instead, raise your abilities to the height of your goals.
When I Asked God for Strength He Gave Me Difficult Situations to Face.

When I Asked God for Brain & Brawn He Gave Me Puzzles in Life to Solve.

When I Asked God for Happiness He Showed Me Some Unhappy People When I Asked God for Wealth He Showed Me How to Work Hard When I Asked God for Favors, He Showed Me Opportunities to Work Hard.

When I Asked God for Peace, He Showed Me How to Help Others.

God Gave Me Nothing I Wanted He Gave Me Everything I Needed.

Arise awake and stop not until the goal is achieved

Remember this when you want to snooze five more minutes.

Talk to yourself once in a day.. otherwise, you may miss meeting an excellent person in this world.”

This is really a wonderful way to promote self-love and sel believe.

You have to grow from the inside out. None can teach you, none can make you spiritual. There is no other teacher but your own soul

Inside out.That’s the goal.

Experience is the only teacher we have. we may talk and reason all our lives, but we shall not understand a word of truth.

That”s not far from the truth.

Take up one idea, make that one idea your life. Think of it, the dream of it, Live on that idea let the brain, muscles, nerves, every part of your body be full of that idea, and just leave every other idea alone. This is the way to success.”

The focus of all energy should be your goal.What is the bigger picture?Don’t get caught up in the myth of perfectionism.That’s not here nor there.But what exists is your capacity to try.

“If I love myself despite my infinite faults, how can I hate anyone at the glimpse of a few faults
The mistake is that we want to tie the whole world down to our own plane of thought and to make out mind the measure of the whole universe
We are what our thought has made us; So take care of what you think. Words are secondary. Thoughts live; They travel far.
Do not hate anybody, because that hatred which comes out from you must, in the long run, come back to you, if you love, that love will come back to you, completing the circle.

That’s profound and very difficult!

You are the creator of your own destiny.

A deep believer in this one.Do you believe the wisdom of the ages can help you?What did you do this week which made you feel thankful ?Share in comments below and link up your thankful posts here.

Read the rules of participation here.

5 Things that Made me Happy & Thankful:Thankful Thursdays

By Dr.Amrita Basu(MBBS,MS) on January 4, 2018 6

Thankful Thursdays last year was all about thanking the universe.

This year too I will continue to thank the Universe for the sparkling of Unicorn dust, that God blesses me with.

But this year I want to do a little more.Of all the joys of the world joy shared is best.So too thankfulness.

A very famous quote

Your beliefs become your thoughts,Your thoughts become your words,
Your words become your actions,
Your actions become your habits,
Your habits become your values,
Your values become your destiny.”― Mahatma Gandhi

If you believe this you will know why I like saying thank you.

This week I am thankful for a lovely staycation I spent at a beach resort.The bird spotting, the sea, the seashells made me very happy.

Tiny shells I picked up with my daughter are proudly displayed in cute glass containers still smelling of the sea.Seeing them every time I wash my hands makes me happy.

I was happy seeing my daughter’s dance performance.Even happier when I remembered how many times she practiced by herself looking in the mirror.

I was happy seeing my Pinterest analytics and plan to share my updates with you soon.

I was happy to see the mums and marigolds jostling for the winters sun with the impatiens, dianthus, and petunias.

Nature and family has a way of making me happy that few other things can.

This week on Thankful Thursdays one prompt asks you to list the 5 things that made you feel happy and thankful this week.

Can you do it?Habits are formed to help us.If I can do it.So can you

We will be giving you prompts and share few fun surprises along the way.But we feel you made this possible so feel free to link up your own weekly thank you journal with us even if it’s not on the prompt.

The belief and action are important.

The Prompts for this week’s Thankful Thursdays is

5 Things that made you happy

Thankful for 5 things which made me happy

Something else to inspire you to write.

Prompt 2

Goals you have achieved that made you Happy

Feel free to make these two prompts your own all through the year.You will be listing 260 things which make you happy or 156 Goals you achieved.I am going to try and do both.What about you?

You can also take inspiration from the previous thankfulness prompts which you may have missed.Find them all here.Pin it and write!

30 Reasons I am Thankful

By Dr.Amrita Basu(MBBS,MS) on December 30, 2017 10

As the year draws to an end, I feel a tremendous sense of gratitude for the years that went by. It’s important I remember. That’s why I thought of writing them down and sharing with you.

30 reasons I am thankful: Amazing things that happened

1)I walked 5 km every day for the last 365 days. Give and take a few here and there. Not joking at all. This has been my best gift to me this year.
Hoping to take it up a notch in 2018.Health is my biggest wealth and I will never forget that.

2)I wrote more than I ever wrote before.That has been a gamechanger in more ways than one.

3)My daughter enjoys her drawing doodling and artwork as much as I do.Check this post out to know what I mean.

4)I got gifted books more than any other year.The main reason I want to take up a Reading challenge this year.

5)I traveled.Family vacations just to unwind for few days but mind refresh like nothing else can.

6)I fell in love with the Fade away sleep sounds.Sea noises and white noise will help you relax and sleep anywhere.
I travel a lot.Travel companion in trains can be unpredictable.That’s why your trusty earplugs and soothing sounds can make you fall asleep anywhere.
Never let your beauty napping be hampered again.They are great for putting your baby to sleep (Kevin has a special set of beautiful soothing sound for just this).I also use them to concentrate while writing!

7)I found fantastic friends online.I realized once again that good friends grow with you even if it’s in opposite direction.Only when you respect growth will relationships survive.
All relationships are a balance of good, bad and ugly.The trick is to increase the good and downplay the rest.

Support from unexpected directions made me deeply grateful once again.

8 )I reaffirmed my faith in humanity.With terror strikes everywhere only kindness, good sense and positive actions will help us.
9)Things I learned from the sea:
What goes around will come around.
So be careful whom you associate with.Negativity breeds negativity.An attitude of gratitude is cool.It makes you a good things magnet.Try it and see.

10.Writing is fun, happiness, cathartic soul food, rants, thank you notes, wishlist, to do list and everything else.While good writing needs a lot of practice.It’s achievable. Just measure your success on your own scale.Not with others.

11.Closure is needed.
Maybe not possible physically but you can do it all the time inside your head.

12.Save money earn money, invest, buy your insurances.Health and child education are priorities but rest use for things which nourish your soul.

13.Supporting creativity is wonderful.When you are creative you become more innovative
My post about Creativity and how it boosts Self-confidence in children is a top post this year

14.Women make up half the world’s population but less than 10 percent of policymakers in the world.Being a woman is a challenge in whichever profession you are and wherever you are.
Whether you accept it or not woman face more socio-economic cultural challenges than men.
Is that a good thing or a bad thing.
It depends on how you take it.Remember women are diamonds you are born to shine.So take it on ladies the universe is yours.Embrace it and walk with us to break those glass ceilings.
My Women Entrepreneurs list is a top page celebrating that.

15.As the year draws to an end I need to tell you how being featured as a Top Blogger in the Entrepreneurship and Startup category helped me choose my #Blogchatterproject.

TOP Indian blogger startup and entrepreneurship

By Gods grace, I was also featured on

Vasantha’s blog
On smarty kids parenting
Directory of Top Indian Blogs
Newspatrolling.com among the Top 20 Indian Blogs

16.When I decided to write about 15 Startling secrets about Giving birth in December I didn’t know it will become my most popular post on Pinterest having 17,0000 in 3 weeks.
It’s also my most popular post in December and among the top 10 posts of 2017.

17.I wrote 53 Thankfulness posts in the last year and my #ThankfulThursdays blog hop with Tina is another golden titbit in my life.

18.When I decided to write about the confusion between MR vaccine and MMR vaccine I didn’t know it will have so many parents reaching out to me with queries. It validated my primary goal with my blog.Help as many people as I can with my professional skills and experience as I can.The rest is a result of that.
19.Reviewing products which help you can help many more.

My 2 posts about Mama Earth products (I am not a brand partner anymore) were honest and helpful.
So was the Philips Air fryer review.
The first I used for some time the latter is my partner in my healthy living journey for last 3 years.
These two are also in my top 10 most popular posts this year.

20.People love to travel.
My post on Vizag and Zainab’s post about Around the world with kids is my most visited travel posts.

21.My absolute favorite lipstick this year was smudge me not by Sugar.
If you are a busy mommy blogger who hates retouching lipstick then this will be a lifesaver.Lipstick has secret superpowers.

22.My favorite Nikon camera and tripod changed my blogging life forever.2018 will be all about better pics on my blog.

23.My favorite site online is still Indiblogger.For making so many of my posts top posts.

24.Favourite tools online InLinkz link up tool, Lumen 5 and Recurpost.

25 Favourite plugin Yoast SEO tool the premium version I co-bought with Neha and it takes awesome to a new level.

26.Favorite place I visited Kailasgiri in Vizag.

27.My most popular video was not educational.It’s a tongue twister and was a contest.Made me realize I need to have a fun script for some of my videos.

28.My absolute favorite two books this year are
Tools of Titans: The Tactics, Routines and Habits of Billionaires, Icons and World-Class Performers
Poor Charlies Almanac.

29.The resolutions I broke this year.
I cried about things I promised I wouldn’t.
I am behind folding clothes and keeping them in the right place.I decided to give away everything I haven’t worn for one year.That way less clutter. But goals not met.

30.One resolution I aced.Walking and writing

Tell me your fails and successes in 2017 in the comments below.

Sharing this with #MondayMusings

Thank You for My Daily Bread:#Thankful Thursdays 46

By Dr.Amrita Basu(MBBS,MS) on November 30, 2017 19

Food is what makes the world go around.Most people work to get their daily bread.

When we thank God every day we always thank God for our daily bread.

This bread signifies the love that God sends all his children.

I have written a lot about food and life.I even wrote an ebook on Fruits for Life.

I have written about food memories and healthy food but this is the first time I am getting a chance to formally thank food for being in my life.

I have a sweet tooth and a love for nonveg.Both can cause doldrums in the weight department.After becoming a mommy I realized God wants me to keep enjoying the food and told me to start walking every day.By choosing to eat the right kind of food, my cravings for the wrong kind has reduced.I still love my chocolates, everything else I can ignore.

When I think about food I feel its really Gods love in every morsel.

The nourishment it provides.
The warmth it gives.
The sensory satisfaction we feel.
The memories we cherish.
It can fight disease and improve health.

Isn’t food the main reason we do everything?Only when you have your belly’s full and a roof over your head can you even think about saving the world.

Today when I thank my daily bread, I promise not to waste food.I promise to do my best to help someone get food on their table.I promise to take on my plate only that amount which will nourish me and give me strength.

Dear Lord our angel in heaven, give everyone their daily bread so that they can serve you and follow the path you show without hunger clouding their vision.

In today’s world, the diseases of undernutrition and overnutrition can all be fought if you just ate right.The problem is polluted soil, water,indiscrimate chemical usage in agriculture has bad the nutritional quality of even fresh food doubtful.

What can you do ?can you start an urban community kitchen garden?Can you help farmers farm profitably without compromising on quality?Can you help in making organic eco-friendly farming practices a reality?

Have you ever been hungry?Have you ever felt pain and you couldn’t eat ?what did you feel when you finally felt better and ate well?

Comment below to let me know.Writing this with #ThankfulThursdays

ThankfulThursdays 46 prompt :

Thank you note to food

thank-you-food-thankful-thursdays — Thank-you-food-thankful-Thursdays

Read all about how to participate here.

Don’t forget to submit your social media share urls through this form

Read my #ThankfulThursdays series .

Love,Loss & Fights on #Thanksgiving2017 #ThankfulThursdays

By Dr.Amrita Basu(MBBS,MS) on November 23, 2017 28

I am thankful for family, love, loss and fights included.God gives us a family, our tribe.Our birth, death, and marriages are said to be destined.You are given a set of cards to play with and then Gods says there are no rules.

All families have secrets, most love each other and a few are fated to live and survive away from each other.

Sometimes the circumstances, sometimes our choices and often both, play a game.

[bctt tweet=”You want the perfect family but you get the one you work for. #Thanksgiving2017 ” username=”misra_amrita”]

Relationships are built over years.Shared passion, emotions, hardships, kinship and that special bond which connects survivors.

[bctt tweet=”When everything goes to hell, the people who stand by you without flinching, they are your family. ”Jim Butcher #ThankfulThursdays” username=”misra_amrita”]

A childhoods friend‘s mom told me once. “marry someone who will grow with you”.Because that makes the strongest bond.I think that’s true for all relationships.A family you grow with, becomes stronger and stays together.

My maternal uncles are a shining example of this.In fact, all my aunts and uncles on the maternal side showed a tremendous lot of kinship, family loyalty, and smart money behavior.

I mentioned the last one because I have seen many families face unpleasantness due to monetary issues.

Some people have more and some have less but that’s the way of the world.

It’s also a fun challenge if you look at it right.

I am meandering again.Getting back to the point.

My favorite aunts and uncles always pitched in to help each other for family emergencies.Both in cash and kind.While the kindness can never be repaid, the cash is always returned as soon as possible.But some things can’t be repaid and that’s understood.What they taught me is that you can take it forwards.

How did this help?

Since this was a mutual understanding it never had to be spelled out. Money talk gets icky so that helped.

Since no one defaulted on returning, everyone had a pool of resource to fall back on when there was a financial emergency overriding personal resource.That I think is an awesome model!

I have been influenced by the kindness, clarity, and loyalty my family shows for each other.They fight, but they have each other’s back.

You must remember, the family is often born of blood, but it doesn’t depend on blood. Nor is it exclusive of friendship. Family members can be your best friends, you know. And best friends, whether or not they are related to you, can be your family.” Trenton Lee Stewart, The Mysterious Benedict Society

I also believe I have extended my family to my circle of friends.

On Thanksgiving today I thank you for the blessings, the good and the hardships, because I believe all of them helped me and you.

Happiness is having a large, loving, caring, close-knit family in another city.”
― George Burns

The Universe only gives us the battles we can fight and the family we can survive

Writing this on #ThankfulThursdays #November Thankfulness Challenge.

NovemberThankfulnessChallenge Part 4 :

#ThankfulThursdays Prompt this week :

Thank you family Love,loss and fights on #Thanksgiving2017 #ThankfulThursdays — Thank you family Love, loss and fights #Thanksgiving2017 #ThankfulThursdays

#ThankfulThursdays November Thankful Challenge

Rules

Must write on each of the 5 #ThanfulThursday prompts to be eligible.
Must comment and share both the host’s post.
Must comment and share 3 of the link ups posts
Comment on the posts linked up and on the host’s posts with #ThankfulThursdays hashtag.Use the #for social sharing and tag us.(We are repeating this so that you don’t forget)
Two winners and two gift vouchers are up for grabs.
A minimum of 10 blog post entries will be deemed necessary for the contest to be validated, so make sure you invite and tag 2 of your friends to enter too!
Your performance in this competition will have a score which will matter for the next part of the competition too!
Keep your posts and engagement civil. Adult content/ affiliated links/ derogatory remarks/ hatred towards any religion is not allowed.
Only posts in the link-up written on the prompt will be eligible for the contest and prize.
All decisions of the judges are final and will appreciate your cooperation in the matter.Looking forward to your thank you notes this month.Write with a Thankful Heart!

Fill up this form telling us the posts you have commented on and the links to the social share links.(Very important5 step)
By entering this contest you give us(Amrita and Tina) your permission to tag you on social media and email you regarding contest updates, results and more such in the future.

General Rules of linky:(For those who are doing the challenge and those who are not)

Write on the prompt and Link Up.We have a fun new option.

You can submit tweet links and Instagram posts too.(Not for contest)

You can also link up other posts.Just comment on this post and my co-hosts post and any two of the posts in the link up.Share using #ThankfulThursdays hashtag.
We deeply believe in community spirit.Eagerly looking forward to visiting your blogs.

<div align="center"><a href="https://healthwealthbridge.com" rel="nofollow" title="Healthwealthbridge"><img src="https://healthwealthbridge.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/img_20161103_085749.jpg" alt="Healthwealthbridge" style="border: none;" /></a></div>

Generate your button code

Follow @misra_amrita @twinklingtina, on Twitter
Prompts will be announced every Wed 20:00 hrs IST

Linky opens on Thursdays 00.00 hours.
The linky closes the following Wednesday 23.55 hours.

Write the post and Link Up with Amrita, Tina

5 Secrets to Finding Friends Who Grow With You #ThankfulThursdays

By Dr.Amrita Basu(MBBS,MS) on November 16, 2017 12

I don’t know whether it was in class seven or eight when I read an article about how to improve your own self.Hanging out with people who inspire you to be good, is the first important step.Peer pressure, in this case, can work miracles.I have a curious nature.Whatever is interesting, makes me want to explore more.The problem of random exploring has mixed results.It’s a lot of unnecessary drama, headache, and heartburn. With experience, I am hoping my ability to choose between good exciting and bad exciting will improve.

Friends are the family you choose Jess C Scott

Today as I thank my friends I share my secret to finding my own Justice League .

5 Secrets to Finding Friends Who Grow With You

Your choice of friends says a lot about you.They reflect your dreams, aspirations and your personality more than you ever could.I believe this so deeply that I married my best friend to make him my family.

That may not work for all. But friendship is the cool breeze on a hot summer evening.It’s like the deep crimson in a progressively darkening sky in the evening.It’s the fragrance of life.You may never meet, you may never talk, but you will always remember how he /she made you feel.

They influence you in more ways than you think.Try to find friends who have the qualities you admire in others. Having good friends is the first step to self-improvement.If you believe you are a work in progress, this is a must.

I admire, kind, thoughtful, compassionate, positive inspiring friends who don’t believe in giving up.If you don’t respect and admire the person you spend time with, that friendship is doomed.

Avoiding people with bad attitudes have helped me do my thing without getting caught up in trying to change how others think.I have realized only you can help yourself.No external force can help you if you don’t help yourself.

Ask yourself one question.Would you want your child to be friends with the person you are friends with?As a parent, you will want the best for your child, and you will know the truth.

Every day you have a choice.To surround yourself with good people, so choose carefully.

When I say thank you to my friends.It’s for many reasons.

They let me be me.I don’t have to put on a mask, give an explanation for my actions.They understand the little bit of crazy in me and they love me because of that.They understand.

They are there whenever I reach out.They don’t demand.They don’t impose.They believe in being kind and thankful too.

They let me grow .This one came with a lot of experience of making the wrong kinds of friends.The people in your life be it friends or family who don’t give you space to grow, pull you down and believe in being ruthlessly truthful have their own issues.Be careful if you have people like that around.They can be emotionally and creatively draining you, while being honest or what they think is being honest.

Friends are full of sunshine and a light drizzle.

My good friends don’t encourage negative talk.They don’t believe in believing the worst and they definitely don’t let me drown myself saving the world.

They support me and help me find my feet in the quicksand of life.They make me believe in the intrinsic goodness of people.They let me hope that all will be well and the whole world can be friends again.As long as we respect each other, give space and maintain boundaries life will be beautiful.

[bctt tweet=”You are the average of five people you spend most time with-Jim Rohn #ThankfulThursdays” username=”misra_amrita”]

Writing this, to thank all the friends in my life who know what I am talking about.Thank you, dear friend, I would not be writing if not for your kindness.

Each and every one of you who read my blog and remain in my life is my friend.Because you make me want to write more.

Thankful Thursdays 44 prompt

Thank you Friends!

Thank you friends #ThankfulThursdays — Thank you, friends #ThankfulThursdays

Rules of #NovemberThankfunessChallenge

Must write on each of the 5 #ThanfulThursday prompts to be eligible.
Must comment and share both the host’s post.
Must comment and share 3 of the link ups posts
Comment on the posts linked up and on the host’s posts with #ThankfulThursdays hashtag.Use the #for social sharing and tag us.(We are repeating this so that you don’t forget)
Two winners and two gift vouchers are up for grabs.
A minimum of 10 blog post entries will be deemed necessary for the contest to be validated, so make sure you invite and tag 2 of your friends to enter too!
Your performance in this competition will have a score which will matter for the next part of the competition too!
Keep your posts and engagement civil. Adult content/ affiliated links/ derogatory remarks/ hatred towards any religion is not allowed.
Only posts in the link-up written on the prompt will be eligible for the contest and prize.
All decisions of the judges are final and will appreciate your cooperation in the matter.Looking forward to your thank you notes this month.Write with a Thankful Heart!

Fill up this form telling us the posts you have commented on and the links to the social share links.(Very important5 step)
By entering this contest you give us(Amrita and Tina) your permission to tag you on social media and email you regarding contest updates, results and more such in the future.