The Importance of Gratitude

Recently, I seem to have been getting so caught up in the negatives, in the worry and the what ifs. So as I lie here having a rest day (because my dodgy knee has gone again) I’ve been thinking about how lucky I am. I keep forgetting to take the time to just stop and look at where I am and what I have.

I’m so lucky to be surrounded by an amazing community of friends and family. They continuously support me along my bumpy journey. They’ve had to put up with a lot of moaning and tears, but they are always there for me. Some of these are people who have only come into my life very recently through social media, but they’ve helped me more than they know.

I am grateful for having a roof over my head and enough in the bank to not have to worry day to day. I may not currently have a ‘career’ , but I’ve got myself a part time job and have enough coming in to keep ticking over without having to eat into my security savings. I don’t live extravagantly, my parents taught me the importance of being frugal and the difference between being able to afford things and justifying buying them. For this, I am eternally grateful.

I am thankful for my health. Yes I have a slightly dodgy knee that gets in the way sometimes, but it certainly doesn’t stop me from doing the things that I enjoy. I’ve finally taken steps to getting it treated and hopefully it will eventually no longer give me grief.

I am so lucky to live where I live, having the sea so close and being able to go for a dip whenever I feel like it. One of my aims moving forward is to live a more sustainable life, to make sure I do my bit in looking after everything around me. Reducing my waste, easting less meat, travelling in more eco friendly ways and avoiding fast fashion. The majority of my clothes are now bought second hand, but there’s still more I can do.

It can be so easy to get carried away with the negatives and thinking about where you want to be, that you can easily forget to appreciate all that you have. I am making a conscious effort whenever I feel those negative thoughts creeping in, to think of a few things in my life that really make me happy.

So today is about gratitude and being thankful for the life I have.