The health benefits of gratitude enhance both your physical and mental well being. It was not difficult to be encompassed with this feeling when I recently visited an old friend and her husband in India. While I had not seen her in years, we first met about 59 years ago as Freshmen in college. Our life paths didn’t cross again for a long time but Facebook kept us up to date a bit. I knew she spent half the year as an ex-pat and that she welcomed visitors.

Upon hearing about her proximity to Pakistan and her experience with the famous Wagah border ceremony I pretty much invited myself to “stop by”. She was so gracious that she sent me a possible itinerary, offered to pick me up at the airport 5 hours from her home, and invited me to stay with them.

I was aware of Benjamin Franklin’s adage “guests, like fish, begin to smell after three days.” But somehow she was able to tolerate me, entertain me, feed me and made my week long trip most memorable.

Serenity was also a presence during my stay. The morning routine started with a guided meditation, followed by a congruous reading while we looked out on the white capped mountains. This peaceful respite and their unbounded generosity was indeed above and beyond.