Bloganuary – Day 10

What are 5 things you’re grateful for today?

Before I published what I’d written today, I asked Dean what five things he was grateful for.

I’ve included his responses, in blue, italic font, and in the order in which he gave them to me.

Dean’s responses gave me goosebumps – bigtime.

II had not told him what my list was until he’d given me his.

–⋅ o ♥ o ⋅–

I’m grateful I woke up this morning. Not only am I grateful I did I wake up, I’m grateful I woke up next to my husband and also grateful that he woke up.

This seems like a simple enough thing to say, and a primary aspect of life to appreciate, but with age comes wisdom and a sharper sense of your own mortality. For me, it also comes with a deeper appreciation for the simpler (more important) things in life.

Of all the people in the world, we were destined to find each other and are blessed that we did.

I’m grateful I woke up this morning,

I’m grateful I woke up next to you,

and I’m grateful you woke up too.

–⋅ o ♥ o ⋅–

I’m grateful for our three beautiful daughters and the amazing women they have grown to be.

Although I’m not a God-fearing person, I’ve always said my children were a gift from God. An amazing honour not afforded to all, and my job was the nurture them, love them and teach them so they grew to be responsible, law-abiding adults.

A lot of our friends have children who are much older and their advice would be along the lines of “Just wait until they’re older”, “Just wait until they start school”, “Just wait until they’re teenagers”, “Just wait ____________”. You can fill in the blank with whatever you like.

Apparently, after all that waiting, that’s when all the trouble and heartache would start.

It didn’t.

Yeah, Dean and I scored in this department.

I’m grateful for our three girls.

–⋅ o ♥ o ⋅–

I’m grateful that when I woke this morning the Sun was shining (and it still is, yeah), the birds were singing in my garden (they’ll be back again later this afternoon), and a whole day was ahead of me to do as I pleased (within reason, naturally).

I grabbed my shoes and went for a walk around the neighbourhood as I usually do, wishing other walkers a “Good Morning” and basking in the glory of another day as the Sun crept higher in the sky.

I’m grateful the Sun is shining and I could go for a surf.

–⋅ o ♥ o ⋅–

I’m grateful that I had the day off today and didn’t have to go to work.

That’s not to say I didn’t have any work to do today. I’m the one who ‘does the books’ and the business admin for our (little) cleaning business takes time – as does all the ‘life admin’ I have to attend to.

There’s always washing to be done. There’s always something that needs cleaning around our own home, and there’s always, always, always food that needs cooking.

I’m grateful I didn’t have to work today.

–⋅ o ♥ o ⋅–

Finally, I’m grateful that I’m healthy and able to do all the things I like and want to do. Although I have a few minor health issues to deal with, they are just that – minor – and are under control.

I’m grateful that, finally, I realise that exercising every day is all it takes for me to be happier and healthier.

I’ve always struggled with exercising despite knowing how important it is and I could give you a thousand reasons, or a thousand excuses, as to why I couldn’t exercise.

Yet a little piece of technology that Dean gave me for Christmas in 2020 (an Apple Watch) was the catalyst to seeing me finding my bliss and giving myself an hour each day. A year ago that was only 30 minutes, but I’ve realised I’m more important than that and deserve more than just ½ hour. Some days I give myself 90 minutes.

Each morning, I plug in my AirPods, start a podcast, and take off – sometimes around 4:30 am – just before the Sun gets up. (If it’s raining, I jum on my treadmill.) I love the wee hours of the morning because, at this time of year, it’s cool and quiet. (Even though I’m listening to a podcast, there’s very little traffic and that makes the neighbourhood quiet.)

Before I get home, I usually get to see the Sun peeking over the horizon.

What a wonderful way to start the day.

I’m grateful for my health.

–⋅ o ♥ o ⋅–

I think Dean and I are two peas in a pod.