I Appreciate You
100 things (and people) I'm grateful for... and why!
I appreciate you. Three words. Just three words, and, to my mind, the very best compliment.
‘I appreciate you’’s cousins, ‘I appreciate that’ and ‘I appreciate what you did’ are always welcome at my place too, but the simplicity and directness of ‘I appreciate you’ carries so much gratitudinous weight and connection. There’s no running away from it, no brushing anything under the carpet, no hiding behind a behaviour or act. No asterix here.
‘I appreciate you’ means all of you. Regardless. Unconditionally. YOU.
While gratitude is a hot topic in many of the gorgeous circles I’m lucky enough to be part of. It’s a catch-phrase encompassing all forms of thanks. It’s a self-love ritual. It’s imperative to manifesting all the magnificent things we want in our lives, and what many believe will set us free.
As we look fear in the face and stand up to it, we can also open our eyes, look at the people - and things - in our lives and give them some love. I appreciate you.
Like all of us, I have a million things to be grateful for, so why is it so confronting to come up with 100? Here’s what tops my list!
100 Things I’m GRATEFUL for...
My children Zev and Ilse are my favourites, ever and always
Their health even when they’re sick, they’re healthy
My husband Glen, I love you with everything I have
Being healthy and excellent healthcare when I’m not
My mum you are brave and gentle; the BEST combination
My dad thanks for your advice and adoration
My sisters Leila and Emma… my #Inspo
My friends every - single - one
My best friends you are my rocks
My old friends even if we don’t talk very often
My home even the word itself is inviting
… and knowing that I’m welcome in many others thank you for the open doors
My dog George, my first-born
The internet can’t live with it, can’t live without it
Date nights especially the quiet, spontaneous ones
Great books and stopping at chapter 1 if it’s not a great book
Average books if it’s well-written or at least a good story
Coffee table books makes for a pretty coffee table
Funny books like rabbits in toasters
Pinterest how else would I know how to style things
Air-conditioning I’m a nicer person when I’m not sweating
Childcare I take my hat off to you
Block out blinds because 4am is a swear word
My business because it’s easy and aligned and helping people I love
My clients you teach me on the daily
My failures you teach me on the daily
My experiments and the confidence to try
Chocolate just chocolate
Good Music to match the moods
My Biz Besties you know who you are
Financial stability and the ability to give
A nice car with aircon (see #21)
Nice clothes especially stretch jersey
Compliments they almost all count
Online women in business community #LadyBosses
Sleep and my comfy AF bed #Cloudland
Perfume and thank goodness we’ve graduated from Impulse
Travel you are defs my fave
Tarot Readers for the mystery and the not-so-mystery
Indoor plants for the oxygen and the aesthetics
Pedicures you don’t want to see those tootsies otherwise
Foot rubs and people generous enough to do them
Cheese because it’s made from cheese
Walking on the beach it makes everything ok
Water you are mighty useful
Beautiful homewares hello cushions
Coffee ‘go get ‘em, Tiger’
Wine ‘we’ll go get ‘em tomorrow, Tiger’
Girl’s weekends the real life #LiveLaughLove
Being able to read & write literacy is truly a gift
Creativity and being encouraged to express it
Freedom of speech or I’d be in trouble
Peace and quiet and safety
Cuddles can fix everything
RomComs Jen, Jude and Julia
Living on a cul-de-sac that is safe for my children to play on
Body love advocates you make this muffin top ok
Blu-tac for sticking pictures to every wall
Mangoes the only fruit I won’t argue about eating
Art class I didn’t learn much art, but i did make BFFs
Yoga I’m dreadful at it, but I love it
Facetime my kids will never know a time where they couldn’t talk to and see their family
My kids’ laughter it means you are happy
My kids’ crying it means you are alive
Online shopping although the #ChardonnayEffect is deadly, retail trauma is no longer an issue
Old work colleagues I miss you
Makeup you make me feel like dancing
Hairdressers for turning blue-black to blonde #WWIT
My driver’s licence so I can go places
Indoor play centres holiday sanity
Netflix binge watching and baby-sitting for ten bucks a month
Parenting coaches so I know I only have to aim for 30%
Democracy to have a say in things like #LoveIsLove (finally)
Swimming pools weightlessness, coolness and fun
Good advice things could have been very different
Bad advice I needed to hear you, if only to exercise my eye-rolling muscles
Being able to tell the difference usually
Common sense less common than dollars
Critical thinking and question asking and the grade 10 class that introduced this as an occupation
My feet they’ve taken me some freaking incredible places
Comfy chairs to take a load off those awesome feet
Nutella runny toast chocolate
My teachers you’ve all taught me at least one thing
Imagination overactive though it can be
iPhones for all your procrastination enablers
Stand-up comedy Danny Bhoy you are a legend
Snuggly blankets to stay warm in that crazy cold airconditioning
Mirrors where else could I practice my hairbrush-microphone singing?
Recyclables #SaveThePlanet
Discounts I’m thrifty AF
Handicrafts I love to have you and sometimes make you
Round towels you guys are like TLC… Crazy - Sexy - Cool
The hygge concept look it up… you’re welcome
Spelling and being 99% fab at it (and being ok with not red-penning everything)
Stationery and pretty stationery stores
Excellent photographers to capture all the memories
Fresh herbs you smell good and make everything taste better
Blue skies and grey skies and fluffy clouds and storms
Instagram for inspo, info and a creative outlet.
YOU. I appreciate YOU.