I was chatting to my cousin the other day over a cup of coffee and we were reminiscing not only about how quickly life is flashing past, but also about the art of gratitude and how to be happier as you age.
“It wasn’t so long ago that I remember my mother saying to us cousins: It really doesn’t seem possible that you’re all grown up now and having babies yourselves,” she laughed.
And now, those very babies are getting married and may soon be starting families of their own.
Where did the time go? Was I paying enough attention I wonder?
Good Gawd – have I shown adequate gratitude for my blessings?
You know what though – There’s a whole lot of #grateful #blessed #gratitude stuff on Instagram and social media that gets my goat. Sometimes it comes across as a little insincere. You know. It feels a little like, well, boastful. ‘Look at me, I’m so lucky and one step ahead of you,’ type of thing.
Gratitude is a slippery beast. There’s a subtle art to being grateful I reckon.
I’m probably not going to achieve it today.
I don’t want to come across all #sobloodyblessed in my measure of being thankful but probably that’s how it will seem.
For the Lovin’ Life link up I thought it was high time that I reflected a little on how grateful I am for the good things in my life, particularly the little things, the small everyday things which make up the fabric of a happy and fulfilled life, just so that I remember to stop and smell the roses, and encourage you to as well.
Yes some of these little things are necessarily part of bigger things – like a safe and happy flight from Australia to England. Yesss, I know – don’t go there. That’s a big thing, but it’s essential in my life as an expat if I want to visit my Mum who can’t travel anymore.
Well, here goes. I hope you take me at face value and don’t think I’m being supercilious. These are the things that I’m grateful for this week.
Spending time with loved ones
Happy to be married to the most wonderful man, and about to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary.
So fortunate to be on good terms with my two grown-up children, and to be included in the celebrations to wave my daughter and her boyfriend “Bon Voyage” as they set off in their converted coaster to travel around Australia.
Revelling in being able to spend precious time with Mum and her partner in England.
Thankful for good health
Grateful that I’m still active and healthy, and so too Dave (that’s the Diamond fire look out tree he’s climbing near Manjimup below).
Appreciating Nature
The drive home from Denmark (Australian version) in Springtime was so beautiful last week – enough to make our hearts sing. I’m grateful for all of my senses so that I can fully appreciate this exquisite scenery.
Grateful that my flight from Perth to Heathrow, although long, was uneventful and I slept most of the way, and when I arrived in England I awoke to jewel like Autumn colours in Hertfordshire.
I think we live in one of the most beautiful parts of the world. I’m thankful for the safe, wide open spaces and beaches of Western Australia.
Thankful to have spent a weekend in this simple little getaway cabin just a stone’s throw from a deserted stretch of beach near Denmark. Mazoletti Beach Retreat if anyone’s interested.
Happy to be able to get up close to some of WA’s most characterful residents and spend time enjoying wildlife in outdoor settings over the last week or so.
Grateful for birds and bees. Just generally ๐
And really really truly grateful for anyone who’s got to the end of this post without gagging ๐
THANK YOU!
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Until next time … What are you grateful for?
Christie Hawkes
Beautiful post, Jo. I didn’t gag even once. ๐ Maybe that’s because I’m feeling particularly blessed in my own life right now as well. Your photos are beautiful, and one day I hope to make it to Australia in person. That’s one of the first trips I would like to take when I retire. XO
Johanna
Haha! Thanks Christie!! I’m so glad that you are feeling blessed in your own life, and how lovely it would be if you made it to Australia in person one day and we could meet up ๐
Life Images by Jill
This is a lovely post Jo, and a great reminder to us all that we have much to be grateful for, and they don’t have to be big things. Just simple things, like time spent with a loving family, health, a walk in the garden, the sun on your face, freedom to participate in what you enjoy, what you read, what you see or do. That’s a lot of gratefulness. Thanks Jo. Enjoy your time with your Mum in England. Safe travels. xx
Johanna
Thanks Jill ๐
Jo@JoSimplyWill
No gagging from this reader Jo! The SW corner of WA is truly spectacular and all of your photography is wonderful. Yes we all have so much to be grateful for. For me it is a happy marriage and family relationships, work that I love, time to pursue hobbies, and the freedom to safely choose how I live my life. In the words of Joe Walsh ‘I can’t complain but sometimes I still do’!! (From his song ‘Life’s Been Good’)
Johanna
Ahhh, thank you Jo. I love your list of gratitude too, so pertinent. That’s a great quote too ๐
Cat
I am grateful for good friends who prompt me to keep going! I love the photo of the pretty blue bird! xo
Johanna
Love that Cat ๐
Kooky Chic
Ah that tree! Those photos! Fabulous!
Johanna
Hi Kooky, thank you. Yes the Diamond Tree is an amazing tree!
Leanne @ Deep Fried Fruit
Oh my freaking Lord!! Look at you on the top of that mountainous rock. I’m just grateful you didn’t fall off!
Gratitude is good. It’s the secret to happiness (at least that’s what I keep reminding myself). Every day may not be great, but there is something great in every day.
#teamlovinlife
Johanna
Hi Leanne, yes so true – there is always something great in every day.
Kathy Marris
Yeah right. Being grateful is one of the biggies at present. However I do think it helps to give yourself a positive mindset by learning to awake each day and be grateful for at least one thing. (Even waking up each morning can be a reason for being grateful as we age!) I think I’m extremely blessed (there’s that word!) too. I hope you have a lovely time in England with your mum. #TeamLovinLife
Johanna
Hi Kathy, thank you ๐ Yes, you’re right. I woke up with what we call the ‘un-named’ dread last night and this morning first thing on waking I thought of three things I’m grateful for and the dready feeling went away ๐
Lyndall @ SeizeTheDayProject
I agree Jo, time passes so quickly! There is so much to be grateful for and we need to acknowledge that every day. Thanks for the reminder. By the way, Mazoletti Beach retreat looks stunning! #TeamLovinLife
Johanna
Thanks Lyndall. Yes Mazoletti was such a cute and away from it all retreat.
Vanessa
Haha I like Jo’s comment, didn’t gag once! Now that’s how you know it’s genuine gratitude in the post ๐
And lovely photos!
Johanna
Haha! Thanks Vanessa ๐
Sydney Shop Girl
What a beautiful and heartfelt post! Thank you for sharing all these wonderful things from your life right now.
SSG xxx
Johanna
Thanks SSG ๐ I’m glad it didn’t come across as supercilious ๐
Leanne | www.crestingthehill.com.au
You’ve certainly had (and having) a fabulous time Jo. Looking at your hub climbing that tree in Manjimup made my stomach lurch – it was the one thing I put my foot down over when our kids were younger – watching them plummet to their deaths from a tree was not part of my parenting 101 agenda! Enjoy your time with your mum and I didn’t gag at all ๐
Johanna
Hi Leanne, and thank you ๐ Yes, those fire lookout trees make my tummy lurch too. I wouldn’t have let my kids climb them if I’d been around WA when they were little. It’s bad enough watching Dave shin up and down them. I’ve climbed one, but I had to chant like a monk all the way up and down ๐
Deborah
Stunning photographs Jo and yes, so much to be grateful for.
Does your daughter have an Instagram account? I’ll have to follow her as I have a ‘thing’ for the #vanlife stuff although I can’t imagine doing it myself! (I can live vicariously through others instead!) #teamlovinlife
Johanna
Hi Deb, yes she does. It’s @emmcastro
Janet
Gratitude is good for our mental health. Although like you, I do get a bit sick of the #blessed hashtag. I agree – south Western Australia is a beautiful place! I have a very similar pic of my hubster climbing the lookout tree from our trip in 2001. And how lucky is your daughter to be doing the big trip – what a wonderful time she and her partner will have!
Johanna
Hi Janet, great that the Manjimup lookout tree brought back memories for you too ๐ Yes, she is very lucky and they are having the time of their lives at the moment ๐
Min@WriteoftheMiddle
Loved this post Jo! No gagging at all! So many beautiful things to be grateful for. Gorgeous photographs too! Those beaches over in WA look amazing! It’s the simple things that I’m most grateful for too. Though if we didn’t have those things I doubt we’d say they were simple, probably more likely to say ‘special’. #TeamLovinLife
Johanna
Hi Min, and thank you. Yes – I like that – special is a good word ๐
Jo Tracey
I love your gratitude post – & didn’t gag once. I think sometimes we are so busy looking for the tiny things that aren’t quite right in life that we forget to celebrate the things that are absolutely so right for right now.
Johanna
Thank you Jo ๐ Glad you didn’t need a sick bag, LOL ๐ Yes, I believe gratitude takes a bit of focus really.