Day 27...

DAY 27 - I am thankful for... Afternoon walks

It's getting to that time of the year when there's enough sunlight after work to exercise outside in the afternoon. Today was definitely one of those days! We are in the middle of unseasonably warm Sydney weather and I intend to make the most of it! I do go to the gym at work, which is great, especially in the winter, but there's just something so much more invigorating exercising outside. For me I think it's the constant change of scenery rather than staring at the wall. I love just grabbing my ipod and going wherever I feel like around my neighbourhood. I use this time to just try not to think about anything in particular, most importantly the stressful stuff. It's like mediating through exercise, if you understand what I'm saying. And even if Im tired, I find even going for a short walk makes me feel so much better than before. We as humans were designed for daily activity, not to be sedentary day in and day out. Its how you stay young! So I encourage you whether you are young or old, fit or unfit, get outside and go for a walk. You might surprise yourself and actually like it ;)

Day 26...

DAY 26 - I am thankful for... Messages :)

To be honest, it was difficult initially to think of something for today. Driving home I was trying to remember something that had happened that was extraordinary enough to mention in today's blog post. Work was good but normal, weather was nice, Chiropractor appointment was good. Nothing terribly 'wonderful' happened today. Then I remembered waking up to a beautiful message from my boyfriend on my phone. And then this afternoon, a surprise message from my cousin in Brisbane to say hi and have a quick chat, then I got Facebook messages from my besties on their honeymoon and another friend from Brisbane. Isn't it just a wonderful feeling that a simple message can mean someone is thinking of you? Its like receiving a letter in the mail from someone, or a phone call. Technology today allows messaging to be the equivalent of that. Of course, I mean this should be reserved for people who you are away from (not messaging people sitting in the same room as you!). I'm totally against people on social media when in the company of others - it's just plain rude! But when you are away from someone, a simple message can make all the difference. This blog exercise allowed me to explore every little thing that happened today to show me, there is a little extra in an ordinary day.

Days 24 & 25

Sorry everyone! Due to illness and technical difficulties I was unable to post yesterday's blog, but I'll do yesterday's and today's as one :)

DAY 24 - I am thankful for... Circular Quay

If you're catching the train, there's something about going through the tunnel to have it open up to the view of Circular Quay. It's quite spectacular! Especially on the sunny day, views of the Harbour Bridge, Opera House, crystal blue waters and sometimes even a cruise ship are beautiful and something to behold. The quay has a great atmosphere, usual lined with buskers and home to fine dining and museums. I usually am there on a Saturday morning as I walk from there around to where I do my Zumba classes. I never seem to get sick of the place and find it calming and yet lively. I would definitely put it on the 'To See' list if you haven't been there already.

DAY 25 - I am thankful for... Light

As long as the world has existed there has been light. I don't know anyone who can live without it. From the lights in your house or office, to candles and lamps that helps us to see, from the sunlight has sustains life on our planet. It's essential. Tonight at church the gentlemen who did the sermon spoke about light. Being a light in other people's lives, putting your own needs aside to be there for them. Now, whether you are "religious" or not, think how great the world would be if we all decided to be a shining light in peoples lives! He used these candles shown to emphasize the point, if you start with one candle, you get a little light, but the more and more you light, the brighter the area becomes. If more and more people lived a life where they were there for each other, imagine how bright our world could be, how bright our future could be. I'm not meaning this to sound like a sermon as well, but just an opinion on how one person does have the ability to change the world. I think this is really important especially in the world today that's full of hated and violence that has been emphasized by the acts of terrorism by a certain group. You cannot win the war on terror by spreading messages of hate and abuse, but instead banning together, showing love and compassion for one another. So I am thankful that we have light in this world. Both physical light and spiritual light. Choose to be a light for the world, to light the path for a brighter, better future.

Day 23

DAY 23... I am thankful for... Football! (NRL to be precise)

Tonight I went to my first NRL game in Sydney since moving from Brisbane over 3 years ago. It was just as good as I remember it. Again, it's not the greatest photo as I just had my phone, but it shows we had pretty good seats! I like watching it on TV, but there's just something about the atmosphere about being at the game in person. Whilst neither team were "my" team that I support, I still enjoyed it nonetheless, watching passionate supporters from both sides going crazy. My favourite time of the football calendar year would most definitely have to be State Of Origin. Now, I would not consider myself and extremely competitive person (maybe others do? I'm not sure) but my competitive streak most definitely rears its head for State of Origin but I look forward to it every year. Its great that we have the opportunity to watch so many different sports - if you're that way inclined. I believe that I will be watching football for a long time to come.

P.S. Thank you to the person/people who seem to 1+ my blogs! Whoever you are!

Day 22...

DAY 22 - I am thankful for... Staying Dry!

 

Walking back to my car after work today with a colleague, we thought we felt it start to spit. The weather has been pretty glum all day so we weren't surprised it might rain, I was just hoping to get to my car before it did. A few steps more, a few more drops of rain. I remember thinking "please just wait until I'm in the car!" and as soon as I shut my door, the heaven's opened! I thought that was very considerate of the rain to hold out for me :) Don't get me wrong, I love the rain and getting rained on and wet doesn't usually bother me. But anyone who knows what a wet car smells like would know that it was pretty important I stay dry! It also reminded me of a friend's wedding a few years ago. It was a dawn ceremony on the beach. The whole drive to the beach it poured rain. As soon as I got there the rain stopped and the sun came out for the entire ceremony. It was just beautiful. As soon as everyone was seated inside the reception venue, pouring rain yet again. Couldn't have timed it more perfectly if they tried! So whilst Im thankful for rain as its needed by our earth, Im very thankful that on occasions like today I didn't get wet from it, occasions where the timing of whatever it is, is just right and works in your favour. Besides, I'm prone to getting sick and I don't particularly feel like spending my weekend or next (long) weekend with something like pneumonia!

Day 21...

DAY 21 - I am thankful for... Parcel Lockers

Today wasn't particularly remarkable. I went to work, work was pretty good, nothing too crazy or unmanageable. Chiropractor appointment went well. Just chilled out at home tonight. This afternoon though I received a text from Auspost to say I had a parcel waiting for me at my designated parcel locker! For those of you who haven't heard of it before, its exactly what it sound like, a locker where Australia Post puts your parcel and you can go and pick it up, at your convenience, within 48hrs of delivery. Its easy to use, you sign up online and they give you an address of your nearest parcel locker, then you receive a text when your parcel arrives with a code to activate and unlock your locker. Its easy, convenient, available 24/7 and free. Like having a public PO Box without the fees. Its great for me because my post office is only open the hours I work, so its near impossible to get there if I need to. I know this isn't (again) a very deep and meaningful thing to be thankful for, and I could most definitely live without it. But its important to be thankful for all aspects of your life, including the small stuff. I'm thankful I live in a country where I have this luxury and convenience at my fingertips. No matter how much people might complain about things like this, we are truly blessed to have this kind of service. So thanks Auspost for this new and innovative way of delivering parcels. Its a great idea and works really well!

Day 20... already!

DAY 20 - I am thankful for... the Power of Positivity

I saw a patient on the ward today, an elderly gentlemen, to check his pacemaker. Even though he was ill enough to be in hospital he proceeded to tell me how lucky he was. How he'd never really been sick his whole life, except the pacemaker up until that point. How he attended church every Sunday and really got on well with the congregation there. How his 2 children were coming from Qld and Vic to visit him and he felt well loved and looked after by them. How he was married to the most wonderful woman he knew and even though she died several years ago, he told me how great a mother she was and how she kept him in line! He then told me a few terrible dad jokes that put a laugh and smile on both our faces and then I was done and left. On my way back to my office I passed our hospital outside eating area and a group of people had pulled a few tables together, draped a table cloth over it and filed the tables with soft drink and chips and lollies etc... a little party! I noticed a elderly couple who seemed to be the centre of attention. I'm not sure if the occasion was a birthday or anniversary but I could tell it involved one or both of the couple and at least one of them was an inpatient. Both of these made me think of how powerful being positive is in whatever circumstance you find yourself in. The above picture was taken after I completed my first city to surf race earlier this year. Its a 14km course, the biggest race I have ever done in my life! And the whole way through I just had to keep telling myself that I was capable of finishing, telling myself how well I was doing. All the people around me both racing and spectating were full of encouragement for all those participating. A very positive atmosphere indeed! My mother, for as long as I can remember, has ben an advocate of positive thinking. Its quite amazing how you can think more clearly and make better decisions when your in the right frame of mind. From the elderly gentlemen believing how good he has had life, to the couple celebrating with family and friends in a hospital, to myself finishing what for me was the biggest race of my life, none of these could be done if any of us were in a negative space, as is also a focus of me beginning this blog in the first place. So next time you find yourself in a slump or dark spot, try to turn it around. You might surprise yourself at what you can achieve ;)