FRIDAY FEELS....focus on Gratitude

Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah & Merry Chrismukkah from me to you.....

This weekend, like many people across the globe, my family will be putting up our Christmas tree… minus the baubles hidden in the couch or stuck in the toilet. We will also be lighting the first candle on our Menorah, or pretend lighting, given I share a house with 3 mini pyromaniacs. The Holiday season is here and for me at least, it’s a time of reflection, which really does bring with it an enormous sense of gratitude.

This same time last year, I was struggling. It wasn’t life threatening, but life certainly felt more like razor blades than rainbows. I wasn’t achieving the usual success I was known for at work, I was struggling to manage “a terrible 2”, a kinder kid transitioning into prep, and a 7-year-old going on 25. At the same time, I began toilet training & attempted to end co-sleeping with my toddler, while managing my wilful middle-child with a penchant for very public melt-downs. And let’s not forget routinely placating my super- sensitive eldest, in any given situation. These issues would be enough for any self-respecting parent to embark on a pity party bender.

Fortunately, my husband was there for me every day, for the most part lovingly reassuring me and encouraging me to “toughen up”. Thankfully, when January 2018 rolled around, everything changed at work. Things started falling into place as easily as they had shattered the year before. I was taught the valuable lesson of impermanence, perseverance and that ultimately, failure is part of life and needs to be your teacher, not your executioner.  

As yet, I’ve still not mastered the art of tantrum diffusion, but researching FBI siege negotiation techniques has proved a lot more helpful than not. (If you think I’m joking check my browser history).

So here is a list of my top 10 things to be grateful for; in no particular order of course.

1)  Coffee; elixir of life, giver of energy… enough said.

2)   Netflix, Stan, Foxtel..; when I was growing up, we had 5 channels and a blockbuster video store. Now you can binge watch quality TV shows in your underwear without EVER having to leave the house.

3)   Music; my playlist runneth over this year. Its sheer volume has swelled with a plethora of quality new Aussie and International releases, most recently Hilltop Hoods, “Leave Me Lonely” on high rotation. This is also the year my kids started introducing me to tunes they like, and despite my best efforts, I realised, I can actually vibe with Jonas Blue & 5 Seconds of Summer….go figure?

4)   A good book; recently I discovered the author Augusten Burroughs and I’m steadily working my way through his collected works. Literally bearing his soul, with honesty and humour, his work is a much-needed contrast to and respite from all the highly sanitised and manufactured social media garbage saturating our daily lives. (Insert pic of Victoria Secret Model here).

5)   Running; neighbours who see me running the neighbourhood beaches, tell me how fast I fly by them. I often feel slow and encumbered…. and that’s why I love running. It looks so easy, but it’s hard work; - resulting in the release of all those amazing endorphins into your body, causing you to sing in the supermarket and smile at strangers.

6)    Kids; they destroy your house and belongings, shriek and cry in decibels that decimate the ear, embarrass you in public at every opportunity. But they are also awesome. The scream your name and hug you so tightly when you walk in the door after work, as if you’ve been gone a lifetime. “Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer” belted out by a 3 year old (OMG!) will melt the hardest of hearts. You can even forgive crayon Picassos  in exchange for an Eskimo kiss. They make you proud one minute and destroy you the next….and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

7)     Husband/Partner/Best Friend/Confidante; I'm incredibly lucky to have met my match 14 years ago. He makes me laugh so hard I spit out my drink. Hoping to be able to book that babysitter and celebrate our last anniversary before our next one comes around.

8)     Parents; I’m one of those lucky kids who grew up with unconditional love, never waning in all my years on the planet. Truly better than winning the lottery.

9)      My work; I may complain at times, but the truth is I love recruiting. Granted, helping lawyers achieve their career goals isn’t curing cancer, but it certainly has significant meaning on a personal level.

10)      My clients; I wouldn’t be in business without them. I now call many of them friends. We have shared laughs, milestones, problems, and triumphs over coffee. Not a bad way to spend your days. 

Now that I’ve shared my list, what would be on yours?