<p>This pandemic brings to my memory lanes that were filled with joy, laughter, cries, screams and shouts. The everyday interaction with the grocer, regular visits to the vegetable vendors, the ever-smiling flower seller who would give that extra length of "free" jasmine, the humble tender coconut seller. Visiting all of them would mean negotiating with everyday traffic. Driving my children to classes by the evening would mean meeting my friends as well. It was a race against time. Life has changed so much, now I stare at the needle of the clock, sometimes wondering if it's stuck! I wonder if all is going to be well, and soon my nostalgia prompts me to deep dive into the past. The one event of my life, that I ever cherished was the 'Guruvandana' --a thanksgiving to the teachers of my school, an event that I do not forget to recall even a single day.</p>.<p>It was something that came into my life, as if a miracle, had never dreamt of, but brought a lot of joy. More so, in this pandemic period, I also had the opportunity to meet our childhood teachers and take their blessings. In our times, I was scared of my teachers, unlike now. The Guruvandana gave me an opportunity to talk friendly, shedding that fear. I also felt pride to talk about my teachers to my children. More than the gratitude that my heart feels, their reciprocation of care and kindness makes me happy. I always felt like writing to them, thanking them for their presence in my life. It has been delightful also to visit my college and meet my teachers there as well. With a prayer in my heart for the well being of all my Gurus of both past and present, I shall ever grateful for the life lessons that they have bestowed on me. Last but not the least, this phase has honed and polished my culinary skills, and I wonder how I haven't thanked my mother every morning for having granted the essential life skill: cooking.</p>.<p>Sometimes, mere words are just not enough to be thankful, but when we do it with heart, I have always believed that it would go a long way in convincing the other what we truly mean. The calendar does have specific days and dates where we offer our salutations to our revered gurus and teachers, however, I feel that every day, in our deeds, in our actions, in our learnings, we are someway connected to what has been inculcated in us, and this has made me eternally grateful! </p>
<p>This pandemic brings to my memory lanes that were filled with joy, laughter, cries, screams and shouts. The everyday interaction with the grocer, regular visits to the vegetable vendors, the ever-smiling flower seller who would give that extra length of "free" jasmine, the humble tender coconut seller. Visiting all of them would mean negotiating with everyday traffic. Driving my children to classes by the evening would mean meeting my friends as well. It was a race against time. Life has changed so much, now I stare at the needle of the clock, sometimes wondering if it's stuck! I wonder if all is going to be well, and soon my nostalgia prompts me to deep dive into the past. The one event of my life, that I ever cherished was the 'Guruvandana' --a thanksgiving to the teachers of my school, an event that I do not forget to recall even a single day.</p>.<p>It was something that came into my life, as if a miracle, had never dreamt of, but brought a lot of joy. More so, in this pandemic period, I also had the opportunity to meet our childhood teachers and take their blessings. In our times, I was scared of my teachers, unlike now. The Guruvandana gave me an opportunity to talk friendly, shedding that fear. I also felt pride to talk about my teachers to my children. More than the gratitude that my heart feels, their reciprocation of care and kindness makes me happy. I always felt like writing to them, thanking them for their presence in my life. It has been delightful also to visit my college and meet my teachers there as well. With a prayer in my heart for the well being of all my Gurus of both past and present, I shall ever grateful for the life lessons that they have bestowed on me. Last but not the least, this phase has honed and polished my culinary skills, and I wonder how I haven't thanked my mother every morning for having granted the essential life skill: cooking.</p>.<p>Sometimes, mere words are just not enough to be thankful, but when we do it with heart, I have always believed that it would go a long way in convincing the other what we truly mean. The calendar does have specific days and dates where we offer our salutations to our revered gurus and teachers, however, I feel that every day, in our deeds, in our actions, in our learnings, we are someway connected to what has been inculcated in us, and this has made me eternally grateful! </p>