Thanksgiving & Gratitude
As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words but to live by them. — John F. Kennedy
Thanksgiving is a time of year to gather with loved ones and enjoy a meal together. It is also a time to reflect on the things and people one is most grateful for. Love and cherish the friends, family, blessings and everything one has got.
The more we express thanks, more gratitude we feel and more we express thanks. It is circular and leads to a happier life.
This morning I was thinking about what all I am thankful about. The thought took me back to my journey, my river of life.
Family & Friends
I am thankful to my parents for supporting me to get education, and learn and achieve whatever I have today. I grew up in an era and environment where girls were having to go through a lot of biases and let go of their dreams. In that time they stood by me and gave me the best they could. Even today my mother is my first go to person to discuss anything under the sky and take her advice. It not only reduces the burden but her advice always is most sorted out and focuses on the positive way to handle situation. She sees good in everyone. Thank you Mumma, Papa for all you have done and are continuing to do for me. I have once penned journey of this little girl (thislittlegirlisme) that they nurtured to grow in a confident woman.
Thank you to all my friends who believe in me and be with me all madness, seriousness and hell in allness.
Gurus
I am thankful to all my teachers, mentors and coaches who have played such a pivotal role in my life. I have been blessed with great Gurus.
Here is a note I penned once the importance of Learning, Perseverance and Grit that I learnt from some of them. Since this note also I continued to get guidance from new Gurus. Renuka Ma’am, Urmila Ma’am, Vikas Gupta, Chhavi Bajaj, Ashwin Karkala, Hemant Khandelwal, Rahul Goyal thank you for your guidance during my journey so far. Thank you Hemant to initiate technical writing, social profile building guidance. Thank you Ashwin and Rahul to build confidence in me that I could write more than technical content. My first post content on 3Ps will be always memorable.
I am thankful to all the team members and everyone with whom I have worked. Each of them brought unique learnings, and flavors with them. It has been an enriching experience that became more memorable and fun with them. Read about some of my previous teams. Horizon Cloud Connector, Workspace One.
Thank you to everyone who showed Empathy to me and tried to understand. Thank you for making me learn to dream big and then be together in those dreams.
Communities
Thank you to Shwetha, Lakshmi, Preethi, Harjeet, Nishita, Stita, Sreekanth, Siddharth, Divya, Sonali, Parul to introduce me to the power of communities. I started my journey on CSR with my 1st job itself and witnessed the power community driven by volunteers can achieve. However, my journey with D&I started after my maternity break, when I faced biases, and had to prove myself again to and after come back to work. This is when I started to encourage more and more women at my level to believe on self and don’t listen to others who say — “Are you sure you can balance work and home and kid”? “You are out of touch”. and so much more. The key to come out of all of this is — “Self Confidence”.
I joined WomenWhoCode Bangalore chapter as a volunteer and then lead. I drove various events and Kubernetes Study Group. The transformation journey of others was so encouraging. I started advocating for VMware Taara — focused on upskilling women on break. I then worked for Nakshatra — A program focused on providing 6 months internship to women who are coming back from break. Nakshatra was another step in my DEI Journey where I witnessed power each step, each conversation can bring. With WomenWhoCode Connect event I got introduced to many women leaders like Preethi Guruswamy, Lakshya, Usha, Kalpana, Neeraja, Sudha, Kala, and so many more.
I learnt about LeanIn WITI group and joined as a silent member. This last year I joined my 1st LeavelUp Event in person and it was so good to meet so many talented, amazing women leaders. I truely believe in Power of Communities, Networking and Lifting each other up. I get to learn and share. LeanIn when I can and LeanBack when I need to. Divya Rao covered this aspect so well in recent LevelUp event. There is so much to learn from communities in every role you play in those.
I am thankful for all those who have been touching lives and making a difference to someone everyday. My journey with Technology, Leadership, Mentoring, and Communities will continue to get more richer create stronger bonds and networks for life.
Someone once said — “Give me something to believe in and passion will be in abundance!!!!” I believe in magic of lifting up, LeanIn, Giving, Communities and Gratitude.
A simple but so powerful “Thank you” goes a long way to make a difference to someone . Let’s continue to spread the culture of appreciation and light up someone’s day everyday with a simple expression of gratitude.
Happy Thanksgiving!
