Author: Wendy Garrett

I am so grateful for so much in life. As a true believer in ‘things happen for a reason’, (even the bad stuff), I learn from each experience. Each situation shapes the next chapter in the book of Wendy.

Here are my three reasons why I am grateful.

1. Dial-up internet! 

When studying at college/university I didn’t have social media as a distraction!

In our shared house, only one person could access the internet via a lead trailing into our bedrooms! We had dial-up, AOL and MSN Messenger. There was no endless searching and scrolling or getting lost in a rabbit hole.

I had that internet lead for approx sixty minutes before needing to pass it on to my next housemate.

I’m grateful as this taught me to be extremely organised, logical, manage my time well and take a break from the internet!

2. Influential people. 

I am eternally grateful for those people who have influenced my life by:

• Not stopping me in my tracks
• Inspiring & sharing their encouraging nature
• Opening my eyes to a bigger world
• Have opposite qualities, values and opinions to mine
• Being honest and providing truthful feedback

Throughout life, some people have been and gone. Others will continue to inspire me throughout my life.

Where possible I have learned to shake off those with negative energy and surround myself with positive people; it makes me feel great.

3. I’m grateful for being ME!

I am responsible for how my book ends! No-one else.

I am accountable for all my decisions. If things need to change I need to take control to make it happen. I have the final say. Yes, I can consult those influential people, however the buck stops with me.

I am ultimately responsible for my own happiness, success and what I achieve in life. If the journey in life takes a different direction, I’m the one in the driving seat. Me and only me.

How about you?

What are you grateful for and why?

 

Image from flickr.com

 

 

I set myself a goal to post a blog once a month. It didn’t take long for that to slip! I am only on blog number three. I understand why I’ve been a bit slack!

I received some feedback saying I’m extremely positive, almost too positive sometimes. It started to feel wrong that I was bright and cheery whilst in a pandemic. I toned my approach down and tried to find a balance. I respect and appreciate that everyone’s journey through life is different.

During my training sessions, I encourage people to ‘bring their whole selves’ to work. Whoever we are, whatever we’re experiencing, share it, talk about it, everyone has a unique background and experience. There were many social media posts saying ‘It is ok to not be ok’. Here I am, hiding myself away because of my happier outlook on life. Then a friend shared a post ‘It is ok to be ok’. I needed to read that.

It took a few months to really figure out why my glass is pretty much full. It is simply because I’m alive.

In 2007 I received some news that my cousin had been involved in a terrible accident and died. I was devastated. Aged 32, he was too young to die. Since that day I live my life the way I do because he is not able to.

Whatever our journey/purpose is in life, we only get one chance to live it. I’m going to make sure I enjoy it as much as possible and bring my whole positive self into work.

As we find ourselves in the third national lockdown, I have used the time to learn new recipes (there is only so much banana bread you can make!) and binge watching TV (thank you for the escape to Bridgerton & immersing myself with Married at First Sight Australia!). Most importantly I have discovered myself. The real version of Wendy.

The life I lived pre-March 2020 didn’t feel like it was mine. It was a work schedule with 4:30 am alarms and eating dinner on the train. Paired with a ‘leisurely weekend’ that was always full on. Rarely did I prioritise the necessary rest. I felt I couldn’t pause or stop life and I was often too tired to enjoy being in the present moment. It’s sad really. I clock watched thinking ‘what is next?’. If my life was a fairground ride, it was definitely the waltzers!

Now I’ve stepped away from the fairground, I’m in a better place, perhaps I’m now riding more comfortably on the carousel. The choice may have been forced upon us under the extremely devastating circumstance, however I’m truly thankful to have this opportunity to slow down.

I use my commute time to have a longer morning walk rather than rushing the dog to do his business! I have a manageable diary that allows my mind to wonder to seek new and exciting opportunities. My leisure time is just that. I look after myself, enjoy having the time to be extra kind to others and let my creativity streak run wild (if knitting is wild?!). I’m enjoying being a Wendy in an uncertain world, there are parts of my life I can control and I am learning to let go of those areas that I can not control or influence.

I will embrace a future where I feel more in control of what I want to do, learning to say no and not feeling selfish for doing so.

Lockdown will not last forever. I am looking forward to the day when I choose to buy some tokens to ride the bumper cars and see what happens!

 

Photo by picjumbo.com on Pexels.com