Being thankful

Recently I have been thinking about being thankful in life.

I am thankful for everything in my life - thankful in general, thankful to the Universe I suppose.

Because, you know, my life is actually quite excellent.  We are all healthy and happy.  We have a nice home and good jobs.  We always have good food on the table and can buy nice things if we need them (or want them).  We live in a really nice place, only 10 minutes to the river and/or bushland.  I have a beautiful family who love each other and support each other and we have lovely friends.

How lucky I/we are.

This doesn't mean that we don't have our days where we have challenges - I have plenty of these and this week has been a bit challenging.  These are the times when I am really thankful for all of the things I listed above.  It gets me through the occasional tough times.

Things I was REALLY thankful for this week:

• Finding out that my job is safe because we are not merging with another organisation.  I wasn't particularly worried anyway, but it is still good to know that things will be fairly stable for a while longer, rather than wondering what may be if the merger had gone ahead.
• I got VERY ill this week with a virus bug and couldn't take the kids to school because I couldn't stop vomiting.  They played together all day really nicely, looking out for each other, while I was dying in bed.  No fighting, no whinging, no naughty behaviour.  I was SO very proud of my boys.
• I went out with some friends from work and I took Jemma along (she was a bit hesitant).  We had a great night out and she seemed to really enjoy the mother/daughter night.  The friends from work were so welcoming, which helped immensely to help Jem relax and have a great time.  Such fun!

You know, it is really interesting to see how some people are not thankful for much in their lives and it really puts someone into a space/place - both inwardly and outwardly - where I hope I never get to.  Sometimes I just shake my head in wonder at how ungrateful and dissatisfied people can really be. 

Lucky for me, I also know some people who have warm loving personalities, lovely children and/or furbabies, have good jobs, are working their way to paying off their homes or becoming financially secure, lead quite simple lives, have some challenges BUT are VERY HAPPY people and are very satisfied in all parts of their lives - even those that are challenging from time to time.

The energy surrounding these wonderful positive people is truly amazing and I am really "thankful" that I know them.  

I have been super duper busy of these past few weeks.  Working extra shifts, getting sick, kids appointments, catching up with paperwork - it has been crazy.  I have been quite organised through it all though (other than when I was sick because I couldn't function in any capacity).  I have decided that my health has to be a priority, because if I fall down then everything else does too!

Have a great week!