This is in response to Esther’s Weekly Word Prompt.
This week’s prompt: Family
From Grief To Growth
Epilogue
As my nephew and niece-in-law have been blessed with a baby girl on the 12th of this month my sister is with them at present.
December is the month in which, apart from all the festive occasions, most birthdays in our family fall.
23.12.2025
My birthday and also sadly the day my mother left for heavenly abode. To spend the day without family, to say the least, was taxing!!
I wanted to do something different and meaningful.
As pre-planned, I took a two hour journey by cab for a three day visit to my school buddy.
***
My friend’s place is big and beautiful.
She is a renowned danseuse and teaches kathak to girls of various age groups.
After lunch and a short rest, we attended a powerful and effective session of meditation accompanied by a series of positive affirmations in the evening.
We returned healed and at peace.
24.12.2025
An enriched evening of an hour long dance recital choreographed by the students.
The programme, attended by the parents and senior/former students, ended with the participants and their seniors talking about their journey of learning Kathak and various other life lessons and skills.
25.12.2025
We undertook an hour and a half long drive by cab to an Ashram which shelters girls belonging to the economically weaker section of society. Some of them are orphans too.
Spread over six acres and supported by many families, the Ashram is run by a well known spiritual cum philanthropic organization.
We had a long interaction with Sadhu Maa – the administrative head.
The Ashram facilitates the girls to get educated and employed.
Before leaving we handed over packed boxes of assorted snacks and a few other items which were required for the inmates.
The atmosphere of the Ashram was peaceful but we felt a bit depressed.
However, it was also very satisfying that we could do some good deed on the auspicious occasion of Christmas.
Prologue
Family is like a vast umbrella covering under its shade immediate blood relations, friends and also other like minded people with whom we share a bond of mutuality.
At my friend’s, I interacted with some very lovely people and of course dear old Dhatin , my buddy’s gentle and peace loving Golden Retriever.
The stay, though brief, the calming company of my friend, our joint efforts at healing and our humble endeavour to give back to society helped my personal grief to be channelized into a spirit of upliftment and growth.
Such a heartfelt post ❤ and happy belated birthday! Dhatin is beautiful and special … may you be surrounded with comfort and love, always. 🙂
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Thank you so much. Soo kind. Have a great New Year
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What a beautiful way to turn a heavy, lonely time into something warm and meaningful.
Family clearly showed up here in many forms — a friend, shared silence, dance, service, even dear Dhatin.
Grief didn’t disappear, but it softened, and that itself is a kind of healing.
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Yes, Mr. P.
Grief can also be a motivator, an enabler and a new beginning.
I hope those like me, still coping with grief, can find some way to channelise it into positive and constructive action.
Thank you for reading, commenting and being there with me.
Regards
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Welcome, GC.
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Geeta ji…
Belated warm birthday wishes 🌷
Your words serve as a gentle reminder that while we cannot change the dates on the calendar, we can certainly change how we inhabit them.❤️🌷
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Thank you very much Aparna.
I find solace in your words.
Thanks a lot once again.
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Means a lot to me ❤️
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Belated Birthday blessings, Geeta! Thank you for the interesting story!
Joanna
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Thank you Joanna
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You are always welcome, Geeta!
Joanna
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Two of my grandchildren share your birthday date
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Oh! How nice. Wish them a very happy though belated birthday 🎉🎂
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Thanks
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Thank you so much for sharing this with us. A belated Happy Birthday ❤️
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Thank you very much Esther
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Belated happy birthday! Glad you found peace & solace.
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Yes, Jaya. Thank you very much 🙏
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What a wonderful gesture Geeta. A very happy birthday dear friend
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Thank you very much Sadje. It was a very satisfying journey
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You’re most welcome
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Dear Geeta
In continuation of my earlier post in which I has said that writing is a persona created by the writer though on the first instance one might perceive the writer and the persona to be one and the same. That’s probably the reason there are likes to the post but very few comments. That’s ok. Happens!
Thanks for your precious like and happy new year.
🥰😍🥰😍❤️
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You are most welcome.
Thank you so much for the revert.
Wish you a very Happy and Creative Year ahead
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My pleasure
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It takes immense strength to navigate a day that holds both your birthday and the memory of your mother’s passing. Choosing to spend it seeking peace, meditation, and giving back to society is truly inspiring. I’m glad you found healing in your friend’s company and with dear Dhatin.
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Thank you so much 🙏🙏
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Happy belated birthday Geetaji.
Also Happy New Year 2026! May God bless you with peace, health, and happiness.
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Thank you very much Rupali
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What a heartwarming gesture from you, Geeta. Joyful birthday wishes.
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Thank you very much 🙏🙏
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[…] I have written in my earlier post, my friend, who is a Kathak exponent, organised a Baithak at her residence where her students […]
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