Reason 365, August 26. Gratitude 365 Project.

Finishing what you started..

It is with feelings of both relief & sadness that I today conclude my Gratitude 365 Project. I am simply grateful to myself that I originally (on a whim) undertook the project, and that I have now completed it & 'finished what I stated' - something that always feels good! There is no doubt that the Gratitude 365 Project has had a resounding positive impact on my life, and has to some extent neurally re-wired me back into a more positive & happy mindset.

At times I hated the project, it felt insincere & sometimes a bit like school homework that had to be completed. Sometimes I felt like a complete wanker for being so open & exposed about our lives & the ups and downs and ins and outs of it all. But for the overwhelming majority of the time I was able to get over myself, not give a shit what others thought, and as a result it has mostly been beautifully cathartic and has been something I absolutely needed - most often when I least felt like doing it - as those were the times I most needed to see the good in my life & take a moment to acknowledge & appreciate it.

I never intended for the project to turn into a blog, nor did I anticipate that other people would enjoy reading it & it would inspire them a little, or just give them a laugh. Over the 365 days of the project it grew into a means of expressing positivism, and that felt good. I felt like I was making a little bit of a positive impact on something other than my own little world, at the same time as making a very positive impact on my own little world!

After 365 days of the Gratitude 365 Project I can absolutely report that it has very much had a positive impact on my mindset. It has made me acknowledge and appreciate all the good that I have in my life, and it has taught me to twist all sorts of situations into a positive. I'm sure that stopping & recognising the good in life is a skill I will take forward with me from this point onwards - and it was something I had started to lose pre-Gratitude 365 Project.

Anyway, I do hope any/some of this inspires you to more carefully consider the factors in your own life that are known to relate directly to your own happiness & wellbeing. I've enjoyed having you along for the ride.

Reason 364, August 24. Gratitude 365 Project.

The end of an era, the new phase beginning.

Tim & I were talking this morning about the strong sense we both have at the moment of being part of the beginning of a new phase, a feeling like we've moved on from where we've been for some time now.  We have weathered the most almighty storm.  During the past 12 months or so we've endured an interstate move, the sudden death of Tim's Dad, the birth of our second child, Tim's work commitments/responsibilities increasing dramatically (along with my own work/responsibilities after the birth of second child), managing a full-on toddler combined with a newborn/baby with Reflux, and many many many long months of sleep deprivation & it's associated mental drain & immune malfunctions....  It has been tough, but as Tor would say, "WE DID IT!!"...  I feel like we've climbed one hell of a mountain.  There is collateral damage - but we're working through that slowly but surely.  The good news is that we both feel a strong sense that we have, ever so slightly, turned the corner.  Life should only get easier & more enjoyable from this point forward.  I feel now like all of those things we've endured are a part of The Past, not The Present.  And for that I am EXTREMELY grateful.  I think we are insanely lucky that this last 12mths is as hard as we've had it in life - I appreciate that what we classify a really hard year would be considered a great year in the context of others peoples lives.

Reason 363, August 23. Gratitude 365 Project.

Currumbin...

Ahhh how I do love Currumbin.  Today I randomly came across this pic taken from the balcony up the top at the Currumbin SLSC.  Currumbin is an incredibly beautiful & extremely special place.  The very first time I ever visited was in 2004 - in a training row with Jan Juc at Currumbin Alley.  Not too soon after I was to move to the Gold Coast, and shortly thereafter - to Currumbin.  Every day when I'd drive home along Thrower Drive back into the lush green rainforest/ocean environment after work or uni I would feel an amazing sense of peace & sense of home/place.  I loved being part of the Currumbin SLSC & as such the Currumbin community.  Love it to this day.  We still have our house on Woodgee St.. rented out to some lucky buggars.  Unfortunately I doubt we'll ever return for more than an extended holiday now - but I do look forward to showing off this slice of paradise to Tor & Loki in years to come.  Gratitude for Currumbin, the only true Gold on the Gold Coast..

Reason 362, August 22. Gratitude 365 Project.

The last days in the last month of another long winter....

How grateful I am that winter is again coming to an end.  Weahter is warming up - I can actually feel myself coming back to life.  How it is that I am a child of cold cold Ballarat is beyond me!?  It has been a fairly crappy winter - with an excessive amount of sickness in our household... a virus that seemed to linger for 8 wks & smash us each time we attempted anything outside of the minimum life requirements. I am so glad we are through it, and so glad Loki is finally sleeping through (well til 5-5:3030am anyway).. and we are F I N A L L Y getting a bit of unbroken sleep after three years of the broken variety.  With spring just days away, I can feel life about to get significantly better.  Fast.  SO GRATEFUL!

Reason 361, August 21. Gratitude 365 Project.

One of the nicest letters I've ever received...

Felicity St John is simply one of the most inspiring people I've come across in life.  And I think it's fair to say I've come across some pretty amazing people in my 35 years.  Today in the mail I received a letter from her - in a sort of celebration of her own 35th birthday this year..  She is writing a letter to 35 women who have made "an extraordinary and positive impact on my life".  I am incredibly grateful to have been included on her list.  If I have had an extraordinary & positive impact on hers - it is a rare relationship - as it goes both ways.  I met Felicity on a uni exchange type program where a group of Griffith Uni students were sent to Sth Korea for 4 wks.  We had a blast & instantly hit it off.  Our lives not too soon after once again merged where we both went through a pregnancy & birth in 2008 in quick succession of one another.  Felicity is the person who inspired this blog - she has her own beautiful version of a 365 Gratitude Project ticking away daily too.  I always think her posts are much more thoughtful, intelligent, sincere &poignant than mine - but that's what I love about her.  Anyway Flick - thanks so much for the letter.  It made my day.  I feel special and appreciated.  You have a way of making people feel like that.  And that's a pretty good skill to have. xx 

Reason 360, August 20. Gratitude 365 Project.

Freshly baked bread..

Katie loves to bake.  Katie loves to bake bread - beautiful wholemeal linseed & sunflower seed bread.  Regularly.  Like, we never need to buy the crappy Australian version of bread anymore, regularly like whenever one runs out - she bakes another..  What't not to be grateful for regarding fresh bread?  It tastes fresh & amazing, it's infinitely better for you than the store-bought version, the kids love it, it makes the house smell divine.. it looks beautiful..  ALL GOOD.  Thanks Katie..

Reason 359, August 19. Gratitude 365 Project

Everything just 'falling into place' at the right time...

Following on from yesterday, today was even better weather.  Some of the best weather I can remember seeing ever in Perth.  We were at the park near the beach late this afternoon when it occured to me that it would be criminal to go home & be inside for sunset on a night such as this.  Quickly I walked the kids home (Tor riding his bike, Loki in pram), grabbed a picnic blanket & Carolin - texted Uncle Will, Katie & Grandma to let them know our plan to have fish n chips at the beach between 5-6pm.  Everyone showed up within 10 minutes, there wasn't a queue at the fish shop, everything was perfect..  one of those killer evenings when everything just fell into place & we all were able to maximise the beauty of being alive!  Grateful...

Reason 358, August 18. Gratitude 365 Project

As good as it gets winter weather...

Perth is turning on a show of absolutely amazing winter weather today..  calm, warm, sunny - soooo nice.  We spent most of the day (in between the sleeps) outside playing in the backyard, or down at the park near the beach, or walking the pramfull of rugrats to the Chiro & back via Grandma's.  So so so nice to be out & about & in a line of work where you can make the most of the good weather (however that same line of work suffers disproportionately when the weather turns sour I might add).  Grateful to the Winter Weather Gods.

Reason 357, August 17. Gratitude 365 Project

A beautiful start to the day, but a not so beautiful photo sorry...

It was a bit of a shock to be up & at it at 5am.  Loki did however provide the 4:50am alarm, so I wasn't really 'just rolled out of bed' like the old days.  Had a surf row this morning at 5:15am with a crew at North Cottesloe.  It has been so long since I've been in a surf boat & I just loved it.  I can actually remember how incredibly sick of surfboats I was when I found out I was pregnant with Tor just after Aussies back in 2008, but several years have passed & now it seems like an absolute luxury & a joy to go out & be on the water at sunrise & actually cracking waves!  Yes, that's right - there was actually swell at Cott today after the mad windy weather we've had of late - and we actually cracked two nice big glassy numbers with a full trail all the way in.  So much fun after soooo long.  Very grateful for the opportunity for the paddle, and who knows where it will lead?  All I know is I gotta get some fitness back!... and toughen up the hands if I'm to get out there again on Sunday morning!....

Reason 356, August 16. Gratitude 365 Project.

 

Another one down!

My old rowing pal Lutzy popped out her first little tacker today!..  It seems to finally be raining babies in our world, and many more scheduled to arrive in the coming months!  Welcome to the world Tommy Cook. Can't wait to meet you. So stoked for the Lutz/Cook new-parental-team.  And so grateful that finally many more of 'my sorta people' are joining me on Planet Mum.  It'll be a better planet for having Jo Lutz on it.  Welcome!