The good ole gratitude challenge!

I got nominated on Facebook to do a 'Gratitude Challenge' which involved listing three things I am grateful for on five consecutive days.  It really was a beautiful, life affirming exercise.

Here's the list:

1. The Sun
2. The Sea
3. My two beautiful, passionate, fiercely intelligent children.
4. Despite being so absent minded, (I lost track of my cinnamon between the supermarket and my kitchen), I’m still compos mentis enough to beat my son at chess. 3-1 to Mummy…woohoo (although he’s since been playing on the computer so my moment of glory is likely to be really short lived.
5. I was able to empower two adults to use email for the very first time, one in his twenties and the other in her sixties.  It was truly an honour to be able to spend the short time it took to open the door to a whole new world…
6. My childish wonder at the natural world….seeing a monkey, or a turtle or a stingray, or a snake…. while I’m out training fills me with such joy I remain happy for weeks.  Looking to hang onto that!!
7. When my students exuberantly proclaim: “That was the best PE class ever!”
8. That my mother taught me to bake cakes…both through years of delicious examples and by buying me a baking ‘bible’ back when I was inundating her with pregnancy related cake-craving requests…
9. I’m getting to end my workday three times a week by meeting and facilitating a range of delightful of six-year-old readers
10. My ability to talk to anyone who crosses my path…
11. My sense of humour, which usually allows me to choose laughter over tears…
12. The many wonderful people who have come in and out and back into my life at myriad intervals…creating, restoring, enhancing beautiful connections, which I value above almost anything…
13. I was able to complete a duathlon this morning, trapped nerve and all, very slowly (...although got a little pace on the bike)....and for the first time knew I wouldn't be falling into a health crisis directly after!
14. I can nearly always conquer anxiety with optimism.
15. I absolutely love teaching...and have a wonderfully collaborative, encouraging & supportive working environment.