Daily: Reflect on 5 things for which I'm grateful.

Four days off. Three days at work, sans boss. Four more days off. Who wouldn’t be happy? :o)

Spending lots of time with someone special, and the prospect of doing it again very soon.

Seeing a spectacular fireworks display.

Going to the funfair! Boingy-boingy-wheeee! :D

Long lazy talking cuddling mornings.

DIY gingerbread men and ensuing helpless giggles :o)

Sleeping really well and waking up smiling out of pleasant dreams.

A surprise cheer-bombing from Serenity – thank you, beautiful! :o)

Little Bro organising a family get-together for tomorrow evening.

Effervescent vitamin tablets. Fizzy-frothy-tasty-healthy.

A quiet, hassle-free workday.

A very sweet text message from my mom.

A brief call from my mom a few minutes later, to share her “collywobbles of delight” that an art project she’s been working on had turned out really well :o)

Cream-filled chocolate eggs. Mmmm.

Rich skin-soothing hand lotion.

A really good laugh with my work friends.

Having a really productive work-day and actually enjoying it.

And now it’s only 15 hours to go :D

Wow, my heart is full today. I’m happy about everything. :o)

For feeling like myself again.

For moments of inspiration.

For a chatty, no-reason call from Little Bro.

For positive feedback from the boss on a small project I’m overseeing.

For hot chocolate to warm up after getting rained on last night.

That I got home before the weather turned really nasty.

For the relaxing, happy-making sound of my kitties purring.

For unexpected goodnight phone calls.

For the prospect of a fantastic long weekend ahead.

That there’s less than 18 hours to go. :o)

An unforeseen development which has thrown me a bit but which may well turn out to be for the best.

A new-ish friend who turns out to know (and care about) me enough to be able to take one look at me and ask what’s wrong even though I’m smiling.

An unexpected chance to spend time with someone special.

An absolutely wonderful surprise package in the mail this morning.

Everyone’s plans coming together for this evening so that the whole gang will be there after all.

I’m grateful for the way relationships can develop in unexpected and wonderful ways.

It’s being a great day today. I’m in wonderful form, and everyone else seems to be too. There’s a nice cheerful atmosphere in the office – most uncharacteristic for a Monday!

I’m particularly grateful…

that the sunshine is back after a dull weekend (have I mentioned how much I love sunshine? :o) )

that I got a lot done at home yesterday (must post about that, actually.)

for a lovely visit with my mom on Saturday.

for afternoon coffee – I don’t usually drink caffeine after lunchtime, but it really hit the spot today.

that I’m in a productive mood today and getting lots done at work, preparing…

...for the prospect of a couple days off later this week.

that I get along well with my co-workers. I know I’ve mentioned that before, but I’m constantly glad for it – it makes up for a lot that the job lacks in other ways.

1. Sunshine

2. Sunshine

3. Sunshine

4. Sunshine

5. Sunshine

:o)

Seriously, it’s an absolutely glorious day here. Spring has made a grand entrance – in fact, it almost feels like summer today! And the sunshine has lifted everyone’s mood and made the world a lovely place to be.

Laughter

Kisses – passionate ones, affectionate ones, silly tip-of-the-nose ones

New experiences

Snowdrops and crocuses blooming in the park, daffodils budding, hyacinths (my favourite!) just coming up

Having a healthy inner child, and getting to let her out to play

White chocolate espresso, and the associations it now has :o)

Noticing and being thankful for the little things is pretty much an ingrained habit for me, but I want to start recording them more often again. I like sharing them, and hopefully some of them will bring a smile to other people’s faces too; and it’s good to make it a conscious and deliberate part of the day; and not least, it’s lovely to be able to read back over them (which I’ve just done) when I need a bit of a boost.

So today I’m grateful for:

my previous gratitude entries, which have cheered me up and recalled some lovely memories

getting to spend time with a special friend

laughing so much my sides hurt

hot chocolate with vanilla and Baileys – mmmm

my electric radiator – I miss central heating but it’s so much better than nothing

cuddling up under a big fluffy blanket

seeing springtime references in my gratitudes from as early as March last year, and remembering that Spring is on the way even if it doesn’t feel like it in this bitter weather

having two new experiences – salsa class and ice-skating – to look forward to this week

For a wonderful phone call from a dear friend that pulled me out of the dismals this morning.

For free tickets to a comedy show tonight.

That I get on very well with the new girl at work.

For the camaraderie between our whole department that makes work so much more enjoyable.

For a lovely evening with Little Bro last night.

That I have so much to look forward to in the near future.