Weekly Gratitude Linky 2014-01-13

Happy New Year!

I've decided that 2014 will be my year; fabulous things will happen this year!

Welcome to the Weekly Gratitude Linky. The idea of this linky is to remind all of us to be thankful. Spending a little time being grateful for what we have - however much or little - is proven to make us feel happier over time. And I like being happy. Also, if you're feeling a bit shitty, it can be nice to read through posts like this and realise the things you have to be thankful for.

Here are some things I am thankful for:

• My lovely friend Linda, who had S and I to stay with her for New Year so that we could escape the shouting, drunken loons who've been disrupting our sleep here since mid-December. We had a lovely, relaxing evening and it was fantastic to catch up with a dear friend I don't see often enough.
• My friend Anne, who bought S the most wonderful and thoughtful Christmas present ever. Expect photos when I've finally put it together. It is simply outstanding, and exactly the right thing for my daughter. I have no doubt she will go bonkers when I finally put it together for her to see.
• The people next door to us. I complain a lot about living around here; it's noisy and dirty and people have no consideration for who might be trying to sleep or wanting to walk their toddler down the stairs they've just covered with broken glass... but the people next door to us are actually lovely. Plus they have the most gorgeous dog you ever did see, who is very friendly and loves to say hi to S.
• It might sound odd, but I am grateful for my depression. It has taught me valuable lessons; not least to appreciate small moments of happiness that I might otherwise have overlooked.
• I am also grateful for my recovery. It may be wobbly at times, but depression kills people every single day, and I'm so glad I wasn't one of them.
• I am grateful for every single person who reads this blog, comments, tweets, leaves comments on Facebook. Never underestimate the thrill I get when it becomes evident someone has read and appreciated what I've written.
• I'm grateful for the Damsels in Success community; on paper it sounds a bit fluffy - and it is - but it is also one of the few places I feel genuine acceptance. There aren't many places you can go and confess to a massive crisis of confidence, and receive overwhelming, 100% support. Advice, videos, book recommendations, people saying they've felt the same. Not one person telling me to pull my socks up and get on with it.

Now it's your turn. You don't need to have written a post like this; you can link up any post that is positive and uplifting. I'd also love it if you'd like me on Facebook and/or follow me on Twitter.