One of my favourite things to do is to sit back and reflect on the good things in my life. Sometimes it is easier said than done - as most of us know, adulting sucks every now and then. For me it is a very worthwhile exercise that clears my mind and wipes away any self-pity or self-doubt that occasionally tries to creep into my head.
1. I am thankful for writing
I love to write. I guess that is one of the reasons that I have this blog!I love the freedom I get from transferring my thoughts and ideas onto a piece of paper and then watching them grow into more solid characters when I start to piece everything together on my computer. I have always loved storytelling. I think it is an Irish trait to enjoy stories. I remember listening to the great Eddie Lenihan when I was about ten years old. He was telling us a story about the death carriage and I hung on to every word. At the end of the story he leapt from the stage and landed in front of me and my friends. We screamed in fright. He had us that engaged in the story. From that point on I wanted to know more about faeries, and legends of Ireland. My imagination began to grow more fertile and in my early 20s ideas began to blossom into short stories. I would never imagine myself to be on a similar level to Eddie but I hope someday my stories will enchant children as much as his enchanted me at a young age.
Not only do I enjoy the story telling aspect, I find writing has improved my mental health. It has a wonderful cathartic effect as I project my thoughts and feelings of old on to my fictional characters. For someone who loves to talk, I don't really like to talk about my feelings so it is a wonderful outlet. It does affect my bank balance as I am totally addicted to pretty notebooks and pens to jot everything down in!
2. I am thankful for my family
I just spent a wonderful week in Ireland where I got to meet up with a huge number of my family. It is so lovely to get back over the water and spend time with my sprouting cousins, my aunts and uncles and of course, my wonderful grandmother and my dad. It is so hard to be far away sometimes, even though it is my choice to live abroad, and I love my life here in Scotland. I know that my family are always here for me, or there for me, whatever the correct phrase is for this situation. It is a very comforting feeling to know that there is always a bed for me if I want to visit, or arms open if I need a hug. I couldn't imagine not having them in my life. Without a doubt I am all the better for having them.3. I am thankful for my friends
What is the world without friendship? Very boring indeed.Friendship is a weird thing when you think about it. You meet someone for the first time, and think to yourself 'Hey, I like you more than other people. I think we should go on adventures together'. Then, time allows the relationship to evolve, and that person is the person you decide will be the one to listen to all your scandal and inner woes etc... I just find it all a bit strange.
My friends are fantastic. Time is not an issue for us, it passes and rather than complain about lack of contact we just catch up with the time that has passed. One thing that moving to Aberdeen has taught me is that friendship is not damaged by distance. I have had a number of people come to visit me over the past few months, and with each visit I feel the friendships enriched a little for me. It is a wonderful feeling to know that people will trek however many hours just to see me. It is nice to know that people care.
Obviously, some friendships don't last forever. That is not a bad thing. That is just a consequence of life. I believe that we meet people for a reason, the length of time that the relationship continues is uncertain but there is a purpose in every relationship that we form.
4. I am thankful for the people I work with
Odd one, huh? I had a roller coaster week at work not so long ago. It could have knocked me hard. Instead, my team rallied around and supported me and each other to solve the issues at hand. Not only in my store but outwith the store. As a team we bounced back, and have continued on towards our end goal, but the resilience was a result of how we as a group work together. I am a year into my new job. I know, where did that year go? I still have the same excitement in my belly that I did when I walked into Elgin in May 2016. It is excitement for different reasons, but I am without a doubt so lucky to get so much enjoyment from my job. I am not a fool, I get the enjoyment because of who I work with. Retail is retail. I sell goods, and try not to kill people. My team is just that, a team and I am very grateful to have them around me. Even if they are scallywags some of the time.5. I am thankful that I took a chance two years ago and moved to Aberdeen
Now, this one is a shock, isn't it! Who would have thought that I would be thankful to live in Aberdeen? I know now that I will be here for a couple of more years. Now that I know, I am actually looking forward to it. It will nice to have a little bit of stability, without waiting for news that I am moving away. Aberdeen has been my chance to start again. It was the start I was always looking for. I got my job because I moved here, I have met some new people that I adore because I moved here, and I have my own space in a cosy little flat that I probably wouldn't have if I still lived in Edinburgh. I have learnt a lot about myself since I moved here, some good, some opportunistic, some damn right scary. It is a frightening thing to pack up your life and move, alone. Well, I wasn't alone really, I moved here with my best pal's other half Craig but I was. Every experience in this life is a lesson. My lesson from moving here is to be proud of who I am, be proud of what I have achieved, be proud of how I have overcome the obstacles that got me to this place, and remember that the past is just a lesson to make the future so much brighter. I don't know what the next two odd years will look like. That is an exciting prospect if I am honest. Will I be married? Doubtful! Will I have kids? Only if there is an immaculate conception. Will I be content? Yes. I will. How do I know? I know because of one of the two mantras that I live by, 'What is meant for you, won't pass you?'
- My other mantra for those of you who don't know me is 'Fuck it, or fix it'. Also a philosophy I highly recommend!Five thankfuls is enough for today, I have work tomorrow and am now very aware of the importance of beauty sleep in my life. Have a great week folk and why not have a thought on what are the things that make you thankful?
Lu xx
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