The Highest Thought is always that thought contains joy. The Clearest words are those words which contain truth. The Grandest feeling is that feeling which you call love.

——  Neale Donald Walsch <Conversations with God book 1>

I vividly remember saying that turning 30 is so old whenever I was thinking about 30somethings during my 20s. Now at the age of 34, I realised that what a wrong perception I was holding at that time. Having being in 30s for the past 3 years, I have felt the growing pain of achieving bigger visions; I have felt the awareness of who I want and chose to be. I have felt the power of self-love and self-acceptance. Most importantly, I have felt the liberation of being grateful and appreciative.

Here is the birthday present I gave to myself on my 34^th Birthay– a list of things I am most grateful for at this very moment, right here, now.

I am most grateful for

• My heart which has been beating for 34 years non-stop without taking a single holiday. I have taken you for granted all those years; now I thank you every day for your hard work for keeping me going strong and living brightly.
• A good night’s sleep without being interrupted by any of my children. Sleepless nights are part of the package of parenthood. We forgive our children for their cuteness. There are days they are extra kind to us. It’s just like Christmas for us on the days they sleep through the night.
• The Girl gang I have in my life who I love, respect and care for. It always makes me happy whenever I received replies from girlfriends saying everything is ok with them after my check-in messages. We share our stories and inspire each other to be the best version of ourselves. They give me the opportunity to experience another kind of Love — friendship.
• My husband — my life, parenting and business partner and the mentor of my life. He never gives me up even in the darkest time of my life when I was on the edge of giving myself up. He is the supporter of my biggest vision and dream. His presence in my life constantly reminds me of Mother Teresa’s quote on caring for those in your life — “Spread love everywhere you go; first of all in your house. Give love to your children, to your wife or husband, to a next door neighbour. Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier”.
• A good book — reading has become my best way of relaxing. Through reading, I learn the power and freedom I holds. Through reading, I contemplate that we are all perfect in our own way and the most remarkable, the most splendid being God has ever created. I am grateful for all the good books having been enlightening me in the past and all the books to come.

As the German mystic Meister Eckhart once said so eloquently: “if the only prayer you say in your entire life is thank you, that will be enough.”

What you are grateful for, this moment, right here, now?