Grateful - For Choice

 
This week has made me realise, more than ever, how lucky I am. And the thing that I have (and most of us as Australians have) that many people around the world don't have is choice. 

 My life is full of choice sometimes.

Should I go back to uni? What should I study? Should I get a job? Should I be a full time mum? Should I try and be a consultant? Should I try and do the couch to 5k? Should I home school? Should I save for private schools? What should I have for dinner?

Sometimes the choices scare me. Sometimes it feels overwhelming.

But I am SO lucky. Because I have choice.

The women who work overseas and only get to see their children a couple of times a year, and miss out on seeing their children grow up do it because they don't feel they have a choice.

People risk their lives fleeing their countries - because they feel like they don't have a choice.

Many people around the world live their lives without choice.

I am so blessed to have so many choices, and today I am very grateful for that. 

Do you feel that you have choices? 

Are you grateful for them, or do you find them overwhelming? 

And have you ever realised how weird the word 'choice' looks when you look at it for too long? 

Hope you all have a lovely weekend!

Linking up with Kidspot the home of Maxabella Love's 52 weeks of Gratitude Project.

image credit

Grateful - A Letter to my Mother

Dear Mum,

Thank you for the gentle start that you gave me in life. I am so grateful for your strength, in letting me be little.
I am so grateful that you didn't push me into things that I didn't want to do, that you always treated me with respect, treated me as a person.

I am so grateful that you didn't force me to be a 'Big Girl', that you allowed me to have a childhood, gave me the gift of being little.

I am so grateful that you had the confidence to let me have a dummy, and that even though there were negative comments, you didn't push me into giving it up before I was ready. You had the confidence in me, to let me decide when I was ready. You understood that it was important to me, and that it was important to my development to do it by myself, when I was ready, rather than being pushed into it.

Now, as a mother, I realise how strong you were, in letting me be quiet, and shy. That you provided lots of opportunities for me, but never pushed me into things. You seemed to know that I would do things when I was ready.

I remember 7 years ago, when Zander started preschool, and was so clingy. I couldn't understand why this was, and why I hadn't been clingy when I went to preschool. I couldn't remember any separation anxiety when I was at preschool, in fact I couldn't remember you leaving at all! I remember your calm reply 'I never left you alone at preschool'.

You were always by my side. You were always there for me. You let me grow; you let me understand that people would be there for me, that they wouldn't let me down.

Thank you for the wonderful beginning you gave me. It has made me who I am today. It has made me the Mother I am today. Each day my strength as a Mother grows, and that is because of you.

Love from your Daughter,
S.

* image credit

Linking up on Kidspot, the new home of Maxabella's grateful.
Also on FYBF

Grateful for SO much

I am so grateful for all the wisdom that I find on a daily basis through the internet. With a quick flick of my fingers I can contemplate quotes from amazing philosophers, and read inspiring blogs.

I thought that I would like to share a couple of the things that are inspiring me this week, and that I am very grateful for:

Finding Debra Dane and her site Home Life Simplified and an old post of hers about conformity

Soulemama for her story that resonated with me about being authentic, and how it is important to be able to sometimes say No.

I feel like I am making baby steps to the person I want to become, figuring out the life I truly want to live. This is happening because I am starting to be able to let go a little, be more mindful, more joyful, think less about tomorrow and more about the present, and be less fearful about making the 'perfect' choice.



Joining in with Maxabella, head over here for many other grateful posts.

Grateful - For Dogs...

Dear Bear, when we brought you home on January 15, you were a tiny pup;

You were interested in your new home, and your new family, and they were interested in you

You weren't so sure of the cardboard box we had for you to sleep in

You didn't mind the pats though,

But you were happier when the other puppies got in the box with you.

Your new big brothers were so excited to have you at last,

They had been pretty sad about leaving all their friends in Adelaide, but you made it better,

You were so loved, from the first moment.

There was even another toddler in the house to play with, who knew you preferred your food out of the bowl,

And would share her dummy with you, until you started chewing through them,

You grew so quickly, and became a close companion, part of our family,

You liked to look after Molly as she played in the bath,

and liked it when she gave you drinks of water,

We all grew to love you very much, and we are so grateful that you are part of our family

And you were grateful we took you to the beach, even if you got car sick on the way.  You are such a handsome boy!

We love you SO much! Happy 1st Birthday Bear!!

(joining in with Maxabella's Grateful List)

This week I am grateful for... family (and giggles and snorts)

This week my husband and I celebrated (a little prematurely) our 10 year anniversary. So this week, I have been thinking about our relationship a lot.

I am grateful that we are still happily married after 10 years

I am grateful that we had the confidence in our relationship, and ourselves to take the plunge when we were surprised by finding out we were pregnant while still at Uni

I am grateful to all the people who backed us up and supported our decision

I am SO grateful that we have 3 beautiful, healthy children. So grateful.

I am grateful for their sweet little laughs, the warmth of their little bodies, and the scent of their fuzzy heads.

I am grateful that they find joy in everything - and this week, they found a lot of joy in this pear that looks like a bottom. Their giggles and snorts were contagious.

joining in with *Maxabella Loves