Last day of the Year 31Dec 2011

Been a while......................
My life has changed dramatically.
New job - new attitude - new peace within

So today I say thank you for my life
For all that I am - for all that I have been through - for all that I am yet to be

I sit here knowing finally that I am enough. That all is good right now. And that I have a bright and wonderful future, yet to come.

Yes it has been a year to be grateful for and  a life definitely worth treasuring. So fare thee well 2011.

Cheers to the past, cheers to the future but best of all cheers to today.................

Day 17 - New Job

Well its the start of my last week at the first design job I've ever had. It is with excitement that I look towards my new job and all the possibilities it holds but I can't move on without acknowledging what has come before.

I started on a journey to change my life. I was miserable, in a job I hated and some part of my said enough. Some part of me decided to dream and then decided to reach for that dream. And I ending up grabbing that dream with both hands. I still sit here years later with wonderment that somehow that dream was mine. I think of my family and the part they played in me achieving that dream, in reality I wouldn't have done it without them.

Firsty Yol, Bas, Evynn and Shaan who opened up their home and their lives to me when I had nowhere to go. Not just me but my dog as well. And even though me "temporarily" living with them turned to over 7 months of me taking over their lounge room it was never a hassle. And then Di, Jero, Amy and Charlotte welcomed me into their home when I was trying so hard to break into the design field. Never saying to me just get any job, knowing how important it was to keep trying for that dream.

I've nearly come full circle, when I buy my house I will have come full circle.

But today I'm grateful for my first design job that started out as a 3 month contract and after over 2 years has led me to the next stage of my journey.

So excited - so grateful - so blessed

Day 16 -Charlotte

Well it was Charlottes birthday last week. The youngest of my nieces.
A true Gemini is Charlottle - stubborn as a mule/sweet as sugar and she was definitely born as a girly girl cos it seems to be ingrained in her. She definitely hasn't learnt it from anyone.

I think because she is the youngest and the last of my nieces I am cherishing every moment she wants to spend in my company. Whether it be on my lap watching a movie, a gloriously long hug or a sleepover - every day is precious.

Before too long she will be too big to sit in my lap, too busy for sleepovers or just grossed out by too much smooching and hugging.

Let me just state I look forward to the ever growing, ever changing relationship I will have with her as I do the rest.

But just for now, at this time in her life, I will give thanks that its all about hugs and kisses and sleepovers, all things sparkly and painting nails..........all the joys of being around a 5 year old.

I am especially grateful and blessed that she wants to spend time with me, so for now that is what I will enjoy whenever I get the chance.

Day 15 - Second chances

So today was my 2nd photoshop test. My 1st test was horrendous. I worked myself up and as a result didn't do basic corrections. Yep I really stuffed it up.
But then, by the grace of God, I have been given a second chance at a job I want. Who would have thought it.

And today.... I nailed that photoshop test. Yes siree I did.

Whether I did what they were looking for or not remains to be seen. But I am happy with what I created - yep - I can walk away with my head held high this time and for that I am truely grateful.

Day 14 - Creativity

So as part of the giving up smoking campaign I decided I needed a big project to keep me occupied during the evenings to take my mind off it etc.

And this it is has done but more importantly I've achieved something. Admittedly its only paper chandeliers but the joy of working with my hands, creating something pretty/cool/interesting/challenging - it has re-awakened all my creative juices and opened up my world of possibilites that I seemed to have closed down for a long time.

Oh the joys of creating - art, images, life - one moment at a time, one decision at a time, one day at a time - how powerful it seems when all the little things add up - one by one by one

Day 13 - Smoking and me

Well hard for me to believe but its been over 5 days since I've had a cigarette.
I was so scared of giving up - thinking being a smoker defined who I was. Or maybe because last time it felt like a friend dying and the fact I didnt even last 24 hours.

Grateful to have made it to day 5, and so grateful for the willpower to say no.

Day 12 - new hot water service - Yeah

I am so grateful that our wonderful owner has now installed a gas hot water service. I guess you never realise how bad something was until its replaced.

I've gone from having a choice of really hot shower or cold shower to just right shower. Nothing is better than a just right shower to set your mood just right for the day.

And lets not forget that we now have constant hot water in the kitchen - no more boiling kettles to wash dishes - yeah yeah yeah.......

Day 11 - Learning

It seems Im always being given new direction or the universe paves the way for new ways of learning to come into my life. 


I'm always one for self development. I am intrigued by and grateful for any new tool/technique that I can learn that might make understanding myself just a little bit easier or dealing with whatever life throws my way.


So today Im grateful for the fact that I know myself, that I am myself and that I continue to grow as a person. I say thank you to the universe for being able to always welcome something new into my life - be it about myself, about developing relationships with others or even just manifesting something wonderful. Be it about change or acceptance. Be it about over coming procrastination or addressing the reason for the procrastination in the first place. 


Tools for everyday life. Tools that I may one day day be able to share with others. 


Roll on self discovery and learning - it's seems to be a very powerful thing.

Day 10 - The Sun

It always amazes me how just a little bit of sunshine can make the smile just break out of you and change your whole outlook on the day.


Well its already a good day - being Friday - roll on weekend. But then the sky clears up and its not just about the weekend - its about a whole load of possibilities.


Yep I just lurve the sunshine.

Day 9 - Doctors that dont make you feel bad

I must take time today to say how grateful I am for my doctor. 

I've not been feeling well and haven't really done much about it as I didn't want to seem paranoid. But upon going to doc, not only did he not make me feel bad, but he just listened to me and started a list of this, this and this to do and then we'll just see where we are at so we can choose our next option.

Hopefully it will turn out to be nothing or minor but thank god for doctors that listen to how you feel about your body.......

Day 8 - Shaan

Well today is the first birthday of the year for my immediate family. And how grateful I am that this beautiful little girl graced our lives and decided against all odds to hang out for a while.

She brightens my day and also drives me crazy. She makes me laugh and at times she makes me cry. 

She has amazing gifts and passions that she follows such as her dancing and art. She's funny and she knows it and she's growing up way too quickly... and she knows it!!!! She has far more fashion sense than I do and way better hair (which I am still working out how to steal from her in the middle of the night!!)

My life would be so much less without her in it.  How grateful to God am I that he has graced my life with such an amazing Shaan. One of a kind and a kinda nut that I love and adore with all my heart forever more

Happy birthday my darling niece.............

Day 7 - Chili

Well I must admit that I'm hooked. Yep absolutely hooked on chili. Some days I absolutely crave it. Now let me also state that its not just the heat of chili but the taste itself that I love.


I'm definitely not one for hot til you cry only sort of heat. Its that burst of flavour that is followed by the heat that rises up and warms you inside and out.


Oh lordy -  gotta thank the food gods for this one. 


Yeah to chili.........

Day 6 - Big occasions

I love a good party. I love getting ready for one, the excitement and anticipation and I even like the clean up afterwards. I like the decorating and the cooking and the setting up. I like catching up with people I enjoy spending my time with. I love working with my family and spending time with them and these grand occasions just provide us with the excuse to do exactly that.  I like the pre-planning and the rehashing afterwards. 


Yep - just love a party I do.......

Day 5 - Moving on/ taking chances

So recently I've been trying out the whole oasis thing. Had some misses and then some misses........... but I've kept on trying. So now its a new boy who I was talking to last night and he just decided to have lunch with me today. 
It was last minute, my hair wasn't done and I seriously don't have a 'date' outfit on and I was stressing but it turned out to be quite nice and non stressful. 


So it is a lesson learnt with gratitude that maybe being yourself really is what its all about and sometimes the things that take you by surprise can be quite pleasant in the long run

Day 4 - Di and I

Well on Sunday I got to spend a whole day in or around gardens. Weeding, digging, clearing, looking at plants. Oh what joy it brings. 


And the day was made even better as I got to do it all with my sister, Dionne. 


It all started back at Christmas time when I needed to get creative with my KK present. So I instead of something bought (plus my budget was stretched to the max!!!) I decided to give of my time. The present was for 2 hours of my time once a month to work on their garden. 


I must admit that this present was also a gift to myself - a way to reconnect with my sister. Once upon a time we knew all their was to know about each other and shared most things in our lives. But due to life and I guess us growing up and changing somehow that relationship changed. 


But I cant live with that so I guess I was looking for a way to come back to the start and build something new, maybe even something better. And since we both share a love of the garden and all things gardening I figured that maybe this was the best place to start. 


So Di, my secrets out. This was as much for me as it was for you but if day 1 of our gardening time is anything to go by I cant wait for the next time and the time after that and the time after that................ love ya sis xxx

Day 3 Bargains

When moving into my current house I went searching for a fence to keep my dog in the backyard. Went to the demolition yard and couldn't find anything so decided to buy a fairly cheap roll of wire from Bunnings to put up. Unfortunately this did not keep her in. 

So I have been living in worry that she is going to be run over or kidnapped or something when Im not home.

But then along came ebay and a bargain that has her locked in tight.

Cheers to bargains that look great and serve a purpose and ensure the safety of my little darling.

Day 2 - Harvesting

Being an earth sign I love nothing more than pottering in the garden and getting dirt under my nails. In short life is out of kilter unless Im able to get my hands dirty at least once a week. Although at the moment the garden is not what I want it to be/look like Mum and I managed to plant vegies back in October - not long after we moved in. And in the last few weeks, after tending and watering and in general caring for these tiny seedlings its now been a few weeks of continual harvesting.

So it is with much gratitude and joy and a huge sense of wonderment and achievement that I can harvest. A tomato here - a chilli there. A sweet cucumber or eggplant. Oh what joy these little things bring. 

And now if I can just find a way to keep my darling mutt from eating all the zucchinis before we can acutally pick one................... 

If I actually put some in her bowl does she touch them - I think not - but raw off the plant she just cant seem to leave them alone.

But still the harvesting goes on.

Day 1 - Grateful for being led here!!!!

So today being day 1 of a commitment to 365 days (oh boy.....) of gratitude for this life of mine I would firstly like to say thanks to she who inspired me!!!!! 


Yes Shaz - that would be you. Being a lover of all things esoteric, spiritual, etc etc I was quite excited by the concept of the blog you started. And seeing the life that it is leading you on I cant seem not to start one myself!!!!


So about Shaz - one of the funniest people I know - hands down. I love, love, love spending time in her company - not just for the laughs but for the days when we don't laugh too. I have laid claim to Sharon being family - although technically she's not. But in the family of my heart she has definitely cemented her place.


Yes I am grateful that I have in my life - by association of marriage or otherwise someone that I can speak to without barriers, that can laugh with me and cry with me. Someone who champions me - not only me but my family as well. 


Thanks Shaz - for your beautiful friendship and this amazing journey that you have allowed me to be a part of, get excited about and see the amazing results of what a little gratitude can bring.


Cheers to the next 364 days..................