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This week’s Grateful theme is nature.

Back in December 2010 when I started my current job I posted a grateful post about my beachside commute, and I still feel that exact same gratitude each and every day.

There is something immensely calming in being surrounded by water, no matter where I am, and it feels very much a part of me.

The quote above comes from this E.E. Cummings poem:

maggie and milly and molly and may

went down to the beach (to play one day)

and maggie discovered a shell that sang

so sweetly she couldn’t remember her troubles, and

milly befriended a stranded star whose rays five languid fingers were;

and molly was chased by a horrible thing which raced sideways while blowing bubbles: and

may came home with a smooth round stone as small as a world and as large as alone.

For whatever we lose (like a you or a me)

It’s always ourselves we find in the sea.

Linking up with Maxabella Loves 52 Weeks Of Grateful

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This week’s grateful theme is food.

As you know, my past relationship with food has been somewhat toxic.

But now that we have officially broken up,  I’m ready to start ‘dating’ again.

Or in this case…

Eating real food.

For the first time in my life, I will be in a healthy, monogamous, loving relationship with food.

Monday is our first official date (12wbt), and this weekend I’ll be primping and preening myself in preparation to make a good first impression.

I’m expecting as with most new relationships that we’ll have our initial ‘honeymoon’ period, which I’m guessing will last for the next 12 weeks.

And hey, I may move fast, but I have a feeling after that we’ll be ready to take the next step and commit to a more serious, long term relationship.

So this week, I am grateful for the first stages of love as I embark on this new food relationship.

And on the same theme, I’m also grateful to reminisce tomorrow as Mr G and I celebrate five years since we met and went on our first date.

Here’s a pic of us two weeks later.  Definitely in the first stages of love right there!

Linking up with Maxabella Loves 52 Weeks Of Grateful

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This week’s grateful theme is smiles.

What’s making you smile this week?

Well, I can tell you, I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face this week when I realised, finally, I’ve done it!

I’ve invented a time machine!!

I can hardly believe it, but there’s just no other logical explanation for it.

You see, this week I’ve managed to fit so much more in than I would ever imagine that I could do in a day.

Time for everything that I want to do!

How is that possible?

I’ve been telling myself forever that I am so busy and there’s never enough time to do everything, and my ‘to do’ list is always getting longer, and then BAM!

Just like that,  suddenly I’ve discovered there is enough time in a day, and I can get through not only all the things I have to do, but also find time for some of the things I want to do.

Sure, I would have enjoyed more of it, but I’m not overly greedy.

This little time machine I’ve stumbled across is just perfect for me!

Oh, who am I kidding?  Would I really just be writing a grateful post if I’d made such a discovery?

Wouldn’t I be a bazillionaire and accepting a Nobel Peace Prize?

Well, I have definitely stumbled onto something related to time…

…but methinks it’s actually a little thing called time management.

Either way, it sure feels good to have discovered it!

Linking up with Maxabella Loves 52 Weeks Of Grateful.

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Sometimes, we’re trying so hard to be heard that we don’t stop to listen.

And these past few weeks, as I’ve listened more and talked a whole lot less, a great weight has been lifted.

I am learning and understanding so many things around me in a whole new light.

I am no longer preoccupied by my own thoughts and voice.

I am listening, and in turn, I am being heard.

 Are you a good listener?

Linking up with Maxabella Loves Grateful Blog Hop.

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There are so many amazing things that happen in our lives based purely on timing.

If you just take a little moment to think about that right now, I’m sure something will spring to mind that brings the biggest smile to your face and the warmest feeling to your heart.

And this week, I am especially grateful for that.

This post is part of Maxabella Loves Grateful Blog Hop.

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This week, I’m grateful for my Mojo.

Because my Mojo – the one that makes you get up and go?

Well, it got up and went for a while.

I’m not sure where to exactly.

Perhaps like of all us, it just needed a little break, some time to relax and unwind.

Maybe I was neglecting it, not nurturing it enough or making it feel appreciated.

But boy oh boy, it’s back baby!!

And my advice to anybody that may have lost theirs?

I promise you, it will come back – most likely when you least expect it.

And you’ll realise that it’s always there, even when you can’t see it or feel it.

And when you do feel it come back?

It’ll be bigger and better than ever!

This post is part of Maxabella Loves Grateful Blog Hop.

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This week, I’ve remembered to slow down and take a breath.

I’ve stopped looking to the future.

It’s such a simple concept really, but sometimes you can get so caught up in things that you are constantly looking forward.

And yet, when you are fully present in the moment, there doesn’t seem a need or reason to think beyond it.

Right now, I’m only thinking about the next hour as I wind down to sleep.

I have four days off stretched out before me, and I haven’t planned a thing.

Normally, I’d have the days broken up and segmented and have ticked over in my mind what, when and how I’m going to do all the things that I want to do on an ever growing ‘to do’ list.

But not this week.

I’m grateful for slowing down and remembering to just take things one day at a time.

And the future certainly looks a whole lot brighter for it.

This post is part of Maxabella Loves Grateful Blog Hop.

This weekend, I am grateful for five minute walks.

Because that’s all the time it takes to get from The Shoebox down to these stunning red cliffs that overlook our  backyard beach.

And I plan on enjoying this view quite a lot in the next two days.

Thank you to the lovely Brenda from Mira Narnie for hosting our gratefuls this week, while Maxabella continues her ‘Special Guest Tour’ of the Blogosphere.