ront-mundu: This is my life

Aaand winter is back...how time flies! The last time I blogged, we were enjoying a fab Indian Summer and the first weeks of school were slowly unfolding.

Well, that's over, these have been the most intense weeks of university in my life so far. For 8 weeks, starting just after my birthday, I was going to try the impossible and cram 6 courses into one term.

I had all these plans of blogging and reading for fun before the crazy 8 started, but now as we are nearing the end of week 5, I only now finally got the inspiration for this post.

As I was procrastinating yesterday, cleaning out our closet, with some very special folding coaches (nope, that's not folded right, let me throw down the stack so you can do it all over again!) and some music on, Shirley Bassey came by with This is my life. You know it, it was used in this brilliant commercial: Apeldoorn

I was belting along at the top of my lungs (only way to go about this song): It's funny how a lonely day can make a person say: what good is my life?...[ ]...Sometimes when I feel afraid, I think of what a mess I made of my life. Crying over my mistakes, forgetting all the breaks I've had in my life. [ ]...Guess I'll just add up the score and count the things I'm grateful for in my life....

And I thought: Yes. I will count the things I am grateful for in my life. Everything else is fodder and will pass. All my problems are first world problems. So here goes, in no particular order.

I am grateful for Life. I wake up everyday on a bed, in a house, in a country not devastated by war. I did not have to do anything to deserve that, it just is and I am deeply grateful.

We have health, nothing can make up for that.
I have both my parents with me on this earth, albeit on the other side of it, but I can still call and speak to them any time I want and am lucky to see them every year. They have provided me with a home growing up and the skills to cope with everything that life throws my way and I am intensely grateful for that. And then double, because of Joris' side too.

I have two sisters that I love and miss, both of whom have given me nieces and a nephew to spoil and hug to pieces. And on top of that sisters in law, doubling up to make us aunt and uncle 5 times over (going on 6).

I have a large extended family that binds together like no one's business when push comes to shove.

I have friends I can count on and that count on me, with whom I share good food, good wine and good conversations.
Words can not express how thankful I am for having a husband, best friend, room mate and travelling companion like Joris, that challenges me and pushes me in all my endeavours (and does the dishes too). There is no better provider and baasje to our cats than my Soeks.

I am grateful to have choices in life, even if sometimes the choice is just the daily stuff like what to make for dinner.

I am thankful for a lot of stuff, give it a try, you will feel a lot better about your life when you really think about what you already have. Practice really does make perfect, I find I have to remind myself less and less of how blessed we are.

I wish you all a great Thanksgiving!