Celebrating 2023: A month or gratitude- Day 21

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Earlier this year, a friend asked me how I always noticed the seemingly little details around me that seemed to pass her by. I was humbled by the question. I didn’t realise I did it, to be honest, and had to think about how I got here as I didn’t always notice them.


If I think back, it probably started when I made the choice to be more grateful for the things I had rather than waste time only desiring the things that I didn’t have. I had made a list of all my achievements, big and small, and all the things I owned that I was really grateful for and why. That exercise blew me away. I was so proud of myself and, at the same time, humbled by all that God had given. I don’t have a whole hoard of stuff, but I have a lot, more than most, which humbles me.


Being a mother to a toddler also made me see the world through a kid’s eyes again. Mother Earth is an absolute marvel through a kid’s eyes. The trick is always keeping that child’s sense of awe and wonder when looking at a sunset, sunrise, centipede, or simple tree. I now sit by a window at work that at least has a view of the greenery outside. I had an ocean view for a while but had to move desks. The best part is that even though I sit at the same desk every time, the view outside is never exactly the same. God blesses me with a new picture every day.


I guess the lesson is that gratitude can bring a sense of awe and wonder into your life and help you appreciate the things you would generally take for granted around you. It will even help look at people differently. You will see the positive in them without even trying.


I love this way of viewing the world and life in general. It has allowed me to finally comprehend that “this too shall pass” when bad times try to overwhelm me and that there is always something good to hold on to, even in the middle of what may feel like a hurricane. Always!


Oh, and today, I am most grateful that the book I ordered arrived a week early! I have been waiting for this book to be published for almost 10 years!!! It’s finally here, and I can’t wait to get started! I loved “I Am Pilgrim”. It was the first book I enjoyed reading when my son got a little older, and I had a little time to read again. In fact, I enjoyed it so much that I couldn’t find a book that I enjoyed as much for a few months after that. The publisher has been pushing the book’s launch out every year since about 2015. I had given up on it, so you can imagine how thrilled I was to see it exists! Have you read it yet, or “I Am Pilgrim”? What did you think?

Image: Author’s own

Well that’s it from me today. Thanks for stopping by. Be blessed.

Celebrating 2023: A Month of Gratitude – Day 7

I passed my exams!!! I cannot begin to tell you how grateful I am to have achieved this! I needed to complete just 2 more subjects this year in order to graduate with my BA Honours in Psychology. I earned a distinction for one and scraped through by the skin of my teeth with the other but I will take it! A pass is a pass!

I also what to say thank you to all who have congratulated me and especially to my friend, Gayle, who went out with me to have a coffee to celebrate. Alcohol is not really my thing anymore but coffee is definitely life!

I am grateful for the privilege of being able to study a little later than most. As I mentioned in a previous post, I am a bit of a late bloomer. My curiosity around why we do what we do only became apparent to me when I joined the R&D team. My desire to learn about and understand psychological principles only became apparent to me 10 years ago. I would really love to spend the rest of my days doing tons of academic research especially around the psychology of consumerism. I suspect there is a lot to uncover as well as the mind, body and spirit connection. Watch this space…

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Celebrating 2023: A month of gratitude – day 6

Hello again. Welcome back. Can you belief that it is 18 days to Christmas! I need to get my Christmas tree up! Have you put yours up yet?

Today I am grateful for my newfound confidence. I have spent my whole life second guessing myself and not believing that I was capable of great things. Clearly God had enough of it because He has sent me people over the past year and a bit who have helped understand that:

  • No-one is perfect
  • Perfection is over-rated
  • It’s ok to make mistakes
  • I belong in rooms and spaces I find myself in.
  • I am worthy of all the good things God has in store for me. I have been limiting Him.

A bit late to figure this out but rather late than never. I am very grateful that I have.

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