Thankful Thursday # 16

Here we are again, ready for this week's final boost!

1. My partner. Throughout the last few years my boyfriend has put up with a lot of craziness and weirdness from my side and yet when I wake up every morning he is still there! I love him to pieces and I'm really grateful to have him by my side.
2. Netflix. Watch it anytime, anywhere. Yesterday I was feeling in the mood for Ratatouille, so I watched it all around the house, every new device picking up where I paused it last. I mean, why do I even leave the house?
3. Pretty lanyards. I found I keep changing mine constantly because I'm spoilt for choice. And they're perfect if you need a little pickme up and don't want to spend too much money.
4. My lunch. Vegetable yakisoba, anyone?
5. Chocolate free days. Yes, I've decided to cut down before the Christmas craziness settles in. I shall order in my diet, I say!
6. Going to work. I lead a blessed life; I have a decent commute every day, not too long, but lenthy enough to justify breaking up the books! I like my short stroll from the bus stop to work, just enough to wake up and to listen to my favourite podcasts. And then there's...
7. Work. I love my job and most of all I love the people I work with. And that makes all the difference to my day.

The season that never was

As I've grown older I've learned to appreciate and enjoy the seasons in an leisurely manner, without rushing from Summer straight into Christmas and from New Years straight into Spring. Because in the end we see too few of them; why rush?

So it saddens me to see Autumn so neglected. Everywhere I look there's this obsession, this urge to jump straight into Christmas. Too often I catch people around me saying things like "Oh, isn't it funny how fast Christmas has crept up on us this year?" and... well... that's because it hasn't! It is not Christmas yet, it's not even December, for crying out loud!

Don't get me wrong, I am a self-professed Christmas fanatic. Truly! But that's during December, when it's reasonable to welcome to Christmas cheer. Up until then I love my Autumn. Here's why:

1. The crunch of freshly fallen leaves
2. The start of the school year helps reaffirm my yearly resolutions and make up for the lazy months of Summer
3. Cosy nights in
4. Long sleeves and snuggly socks
5. Lovely seasonal produce, such as butternut squash to roast in the oven, or apple to make lovely spiced cider with!
6. Conkers!
7. Thinking of new craftsy projects - knitting season!
8. New seasons start, so you can welcome your favourite shows after the summer break

And that's just to name a few! 

Autumn is a lovely, charming season and it's a shame people don't cherish it as much as they can. We celebrate Spring with it's sunnier weather and blossoming everydamnwhere, we cry for joy at the coming of Summer with its barbecues and longer, warmer days, we cheer for Christmas and the dream of a Winter wonderland!

But what about the season that we never allow it to be?

Thankful Thursday # 15

So another week has flown by! I have started looking into way of rewiring my brain to help me overcome the effects of things I've lived through when I was little, and I'm glad to see this has been a healthy habit I have maintained on a fairly regular basis for about two years. One small step done, a bazillion left to tread! But, anyway, here we go:

1. My boyfriend. Through thick and (very, very) thin he has stayed by my side, rooting for me, even when that meant rooting against me and my bad habits. My boyfriend is my hero, and I can only vow to do my hardest to make up for the time I didn't listen or didn't show I was committed enough.
2. Sunny days - can I get a hallelujah? It's been so gloomy for so long it really makes you appreciate the sunshine. Happy days!
3. Leftover lunches - saving me money and fuss on most workdays.
4. Recognition - today I'm going to be presented with an award for my hard work at my job. I have never expected this and I've done the work with a smile on my face because I believe in it. It is wonderful to be fed tea and cake for it too!
5. My book. I'm currently reading The Marshmallow Test that I grabbed from my local bookstore by chance and on a bit of a whim and it has been a godsend. It has marked the start of what I believe to be a very long but fulfilling and successful journey to recovery from things I thought I had no other choice but to learn to live with. 
6. My co-workers. They make the day so much better and the job so much easier. 
7. Apple and peanut butter. This I have found is the perfect pre-gym snack; it fills you up just enough, there's no carbs to make you feel full and sleepy, and you get a jolt of energy from the peanut butter that propels you to work out harder. Mind you, you can't dip very slice of apple in the peanut butter, but it is still deeply satisfying and it does feel like a treat (that you will quickly burn away like it never happened!)
8. One bus commute. I have had jobs where I had to take a multitude of buses or a combo or buses and trains to get to work, and it's not fun. So I'm thrilled my bus now stops right at our doorstep!
9. My boyfriend. Because I'm so grateful I should mention it again. My boyfriend is the best person I've ever met.
10. Change. Now that I can see that it's possible, I'm getting some of that! And I can't wait to incorporate healthier habits in my life and kick my traumas out of the driving seat.

Thankful Thursday # 14

So here we are again! Full of hope and promise, trying to revive this space and rekindling healthy habits. Here's what I am grateful for today:

1. Today I buckled up and went to the gym (for the fourth time this week) even though I was feeling like roadkill this morning
2. Autumn - fallen leaves, long sleeves, hot beverages - it's a magical season!
3. My Harry Potter pyjamas and how particularly comforting they feel when you get home from a rainy commute.
4. Butternut squash is in season and there's loads of yummy recipes to try.
5. I love the people I work with that make the job so much fun.
6. Tomorrow after work I have tickets for Jesus Christ Superstar with a great mate.
7. Journaling: I'm really getting into it and I hope it's a practice I can incorporate into my routine.
8. Hot lemon tea!
9. My (extended) family and all the support they've given us while being so far away.
10. I have the best person by my side and I pray that I never take him for granted.

Don't you just love Thursdays?