gratitude.... abhaar

– Kabir

Life has presented me with many teachers and many lessons, from a very early age on. My journey from India to Barbados, then back to India and finally to America, which I now call my home; exposed me to many wonderful mentors. Each and every soul that crossed my path has taught me a precious lesson, either by imparting a nugget of wisdom or a morsel of bittersweet challenge. As the canvas of my life was being painted, sometimes I became the brush, sometimes the color and at other times I became the artist. I realized that the choice was always mine, to accept and surrender or to walk away. I thank the Universe for those who shaped me, polishing me with love and for the ones who grated and shaped me for the good. For every painful rub and harsh grate only allowed me to shine with grace and serve with greater love.

I offer my saadar pranam or respectful gratitude to my spiritual Guru's; Sai, Satya and Amma for their grace and blessings.

This book is a shradhanjali or a homage my paternal grandmother Sugi Boolchand Masand. Thanks for embracing me, nurturing me, inspiring me, and loving me; I love you.

Hardik dhanyawad or heartfelt gratitude, to all my readers who have chosen to read this book.

Thanks to my Grand Uncles, Bhai Sahib Arjandas Masand and Kaviraj Kishinchand Punjabi; for introducing me to the wonderful world of Ayurveda and the power of prayer at a very tender age. Very sick and ailing, I had returned from a long summer vacation in Haridwar, where I was diagnosed with severe jaundice. A physician trained in modern medicine, my uncle Dr. Vishno Wadhwani joined hands with Dada Kishinchand a traditional ayurvedic doctor. Together they nursed me back to good health. A beautiful marriage of ancient wisdom and modern scientific advances unfolded right in front of my eyes as I healed my body.

In gratitude to my beloved father Late Ratanlal Masand for inculcating me with a love of History and Herbology. My incessant queries about herbs, elements, nature, prayers, rituals or lack thereof were always answered. Sometimes they were answered with a smile and in a very playful manner and at other times with solemn seriousness. Woven into this tapestry of my life, is the love of many paternal aunts, uncles and cousins; Sugi's children. I would especially like to thank Nanik, Ashok, Jawahar, Anil, Kamu and Omesh Masand for their unconditional love.

Thank you, Meera and Vinod Lal, my parents for welcoming me into your life, with a gift of two loving siblings and their families. I express my gratitude also to our late grandparents, Pesumal and Indira Satdev, for blessing us always.

I am in debt to Melanie and Robert Sachs, who dusted the cobwebs off my knowledge and brought forth many time tested Ayurvedic beauty therapies for introspection and integration. Somewhere in modern day to day living, lessons learned earlier but hidden in the childhood memory resurfaced many years later. Thanks for guiding me with your love, kindness and wisdom. I offer you, Infinite love and gratitude, my beloved teachers.

My journey into healing was guided by Dr. Deepak Chopra, Dr. David Simon, Bri. Maya Tiwari and Debbie Ford taking my yoga and meditation practices to the next level. In gratitude for their wisdom, workshops and books which helped me understand the connection between mind, body and spirit and the scientific application and validation of Ayurveda in modern times.

Enthralled by all this exposure, I learnt about Institute for Integrative Nutrition®. Meeting Joshua Rosenthal and enrolling in his program, was a Déjà vu! as well as a Eureka! moment for me. His teaching was simple yet profound; it resonated with me and reminded me of my days in Sugi's kitchen. I was able to learn from teachers like Dr. Andrew Weil, Marc David, David Wolfe, Annemarie Colbin, Dr. Mark Hyman, Dr. Walter Willet and Dr. John Douillard to name a few. Thank you Joshua Rosenthal, I was finally home with my tribe!

My aadar or sincere respect to my Hay House guides; Louise Hays, Dr. Wayne Dyer, Doreen Virtue, Marianne Williamson, Dr. Brian Weis, Dr. Christian Northrup and Cheryl Richardson whose work I have loved and admired for many years. In gratitude to the Balboa Press team, Reid Tracy, Nancy Levin, Mollie Harrison, Nicole Osbun, Shawn Waggener, Andrew Carter and Maneli Reihani. Thank you for creating this space in your publishing house for my little book.

I express my devotion or anuraag to my friends, my support system. Dr. Shalini Saksena, my friend, philosopher and guide, I thank you for your constant love, support and encouragement. Mary Mahabir, I thank you for accepting me in my financially torn and mutilated condition and having faith in me. Fred Badalli, Nizara Juman my dear friends for standing strong besides me when I needed you, Sundri Mahtani for your nurturing care during my first pregnancy, Kala and Rashmi Hathiramani for sharing their love of cooking, hospitality and home. I am in gratitude to Piyush and Avanti Majmudar, Vinod and Puja Hiranandani, for being a solid example of love and commitement in a marriage.

Thank you, Michele Caws for being my accountability partner as we both wrote our books. I cherish our working remotely, yet together at four o'clock in the morning. Lindsey Smith, thank you for joyfully leading the writing workshop. Christi Molinari thanks for sharing your knowledge of skincare ingredients and techniques.

Last but not the least, I offer my Prema or utmost love to my beloved husband Sandeep, children Swati, Angad and Rangan. Without your love, support, critique and compassion this book could not have been penned.

Above and beyond all, I bow down to the most important teacher in the Universe that dwells within us and is not separate from us. The journey from me to myself was a very long one. But when I met myself, I instantly recognized a long lost soul mate within, I said I am Pratibha Masand Sachdev and I am a radiant being of love and light. Aham Bhramasmi! Kun Fayakun! I am that I am! Thanks for living with me and...