Good Reasons to Be Thankful

Over the last few months I have compiled an interesting and life-changing list of the many things in my life I SHOULD be, COULD be and WILL be thankful for:

Things I should be thankful for:

These are the solid, already-in-my-hands realities. The stuff that’s quietly doing the heavy lifting.

I am alive, functional, and mentally sharp – no small thing at this age or after this much life.
I have children, and a relationship with them that still matters, even if it isn’t daily or simple.
I run my own business and answer to myself, not a clock or a supervisor with a clipboard.
I live on Kangaroo Island – space, nature, quiet, and perspective baked in.
I have multiple creative outlets – writing, photography, radio, visual art – and the skill to use them.
I can articulate my inner world clearly, which many people never learn to do.
I survived the end of a long relationship and did not harden into bitterness or blame.
I am physically capable enough to work, create, move, and look after myself.
I still have curiosity instead of resignation – I still ask “what next?”
I am no longer pretending to be someone I’m not. That was rare to achieve, and hard-won.

Five things I could be thankful for:

These are present but optional. Gratitude here is a choice, not an obligation.

I have the freedom to live simply without needing to impress anyone.
I have quiet nights where nothing is demanded of me.
I can start again without asking permission.
There is an absence of drama in my life that I didn’t realise was draining me.

Five things I will be thankful for:

These are coming. Not fantasies – trajectories.

One day I will look back and realise this “in-between” period was the foundation.
I will have deeper, calmer relationships built on truth rather than habit.
My work will feel lighter because it’s aligned, not because it’s easy.
My creative output will outlive the moment it was written or made in.
I will feel a sense of peace that comes from knowing I did not abandon myself just to stay comfortable.

That covers them all very nicely. This will be formatted into a PDF version, soon to be freely available to download.