practice 'Happiness Manifesto' periodically

I was today told that I have a job until the 31st of December – it seems our entire team will be another casualty of the recession…

• that I now know what is going on and no longer have to worry about panicked rumours from scared colleagues
• that I have 3 months to try and find another job
• that I have money saved up, should I not find a job before my time is up
• for therapy that has better equipped me to deal with this sort of situation – a year ago I would probably have offed myself as soon as I’d heard the news…
• for supportive colleagues and friends
• for The Boy, my rock and my love. I don’t know what I’d do without him. Life does send us what we need, and I’m not as scared as I thought I’d be in this situation because I know he’s by my side
• faith

• Delicious fresh fruit and veggie salads
• Visits with good friends
• The weekend hike Quen’s been planning has been moved by one week so now The Boy and I will be able to go along – can’t wait!
• Long walks and jogs with the dogs. _{More walking than jogging at this stage, but we’re working on it…}
• Baked scones with strawberry jam and cream for The Boy – he was very very happy :)
• Lying in bed last night, listening to the first rain of the season fall outside
• Our beautiful vegetable garden

• Beautiful summer dresses
• All the seeds we’ve planted are sprouting!! It is the greatest joy of my day to walk around the garden and watch the little green heads push through the soil :D
• The return of warm weather
• The Boy taking a morning off from work to help me sort out a very costly problem with the municipality (the words corrupt and incompetent beyond measure come to mind…)
• Greens from our own garden
• It seems one of our friends who was recently told that he has multiple sclerosis might have been misdiagnosed – holding thumbs…

• A 3-day weekend with lovely sunny weather.
• The Boy and I, working side by side in the garden. That amazing feeling hard physical labour brings.
• Quiet evenings home, reading, eating strawberries, talking til late.
• Not having to dress like an eskimo any more :D

• I’m thankful for the raise my bosses gave me.
• Delicious persimmons and oranges. Helps take the bite out of winter.
• We’ve bought a new bed, and I was able to give our old one to William, our gardner. He was sooooooooo happy and couldn’t stop smiling :)
• A great visit with my brother, grandparents and my mom.
• Lazy weekends with my angel, watching DVD’s, taking the dogs for long walks… _{I’m so thankful that we are enough for each other and don’t need to be around other people all the time.}
• The new mall which opened up about 2 blocks from our place has a Bread Basket !! Now we won’t need to travel so far for the goodies we both love :)

• I’m almost sure I can feel Spring slowly creeping closer…

• I’m thankful that I still have a job in these trying times…
• I’m grateful that Otto’s eye healed so well. _{I was so afraid that the vet might have to remove it…}
• The Boy bringing home dessert last night to cheer me up; holding me when I get sad; sending me little messages all through the day… I don’t know what I’d do without him _{and I don’t know what I did to deserve such an angel…}
• The sunset tonight. So beautiful I couldn’t stop looking.

• The Boy reading me The Butter Battle Book by Dr. Seuss :)
• Making Mother’s Day special for my mom.
• Nursing The Boy through a nasty little cold.
• Afternoon snuggles with Otto _{the Basset.}
• Beautiful sunsets in the cold winter sky.
• The Boy loving me even when I’m impossible to deal with…
• Books, books, books… :)

• Yet another 3 day work week.
• For once my salary was paid on time and without my having to beg/moan/cry virtual tears about it :D
• A fridge filled with chicken soup ingredients… _{Can’t wait to cook this on Monday :)}
• My adorable dogs and their little daily adventures…
• The simple fun of PopCap games :)
• I finally got to see Perfume: The Story of a Murderer this week after having read the book earlier in the year. For the first time in my life I dare say the movie is better than the book!
• My brother and his little family came all the way from the farm today to visit with us. I took them out to dinner – it was so nice to spend time with him. My little niece is so cute and was full of laughs.

• Loads of public holidays. Even though I don’t get paid for these they are a treat…
• I’m happy and proud to report that ALL of my friends did their duty and voted in our national election this week :D
• Some much needed winter clothes shopping. I love my new soft pink jersey :)
• Delicious chocolate and cinnamon croissants.
• A warm body to curl up next to on these cold nights. Good books, hot chocolate, kisses.

• I’m very happy the ANC didn’t get a two-thirds majority in the election.

• A relaxing Easter weekend with The Boy. Lots of reading and sleeping and a nice visit to Quen’s. Talking politics like in the old days – it was good fun.
• The absolutely delicious meatballs recipe I got from my mom – I made it for Sunday lunch and we munched on them all day long :D
• The Boy drew the cutest cartoon of the dogs! _{I’m so glad he’s drawing again!!}
• I’m happy that my friends and fellow South Africans abroad are able to vote today – this is a right that’s been denied them since our current government came to power and I think it’s about time something was done about it.