In an attempt to self-actualise and fight anxiety and depression I have decided to regularly post about something I am thankful for. This might be something small like chocolate or something on a far larger scale, like sunshine.
Join me (or don’t) and comment on your own ‘thankful things’ in the comments section below!
Thankful Things
This week I am thankful for my tea, dog groomers and music.
Tea
Shortly after my gallbladder operation, I was presented with a cup of black gold – that’s coffee to those of you who don’t know. I sniffed my delicious old friend… and nearly vomited. My once most beloved partner had become an enemy. Fearing life without caffeine I turned in desperation to its poor cousin; tea. What surprise when I discovered I actually really enjoyed the humble cup of tea. In fact, I hadn’t enjoyed a hot drink as much in years. Now I truly look forward to a cup of tea to get me through the morning, charge me up for the afternoon dirge or warm me up before bed. I’m thankful for the humble cup of tea… maybe I should be thankful for the operation for making me realise how much I enjoy tea!
Dog Groomers
Once upon a time my husband and I used to waste a whole weekend every 6 – 8 weeks fighting with our dogs to try and clip them. This involved sweat, tears, blood and errant hairs getting all down my bra for days on end. To say I hated this job is an understatement. I loathed this job and what’s more, my dogs didn’t think much of me and hubby as groomers either. About three years ago we decided to outsource this particular task to a professional dog groomer… and have never looked back. The utter bliss of dropping off my stinky, hairy mutts and getting back some clipped, pampered princesses is something I could never describe. I am so, so, so thankful for dog groomers.
Music
Music is a massive part of my life. One of my four tattoos is a six-inch piece declaring my love of music. Music moves me, soothes me, lifts me up, pulls me down, takes me away and brings me into the here-and-now. I love a lot of different styles; country, bluegrass, rock, blues, folk, whatever the hell Pink Floyd is, crooners, fifties……. Without music in my life there would be a huge gaping hole, my writing would suffer and car trips would become utter hell. On the plus side, without music, my husband would be thankful in the car… he wouldn’t have to hear me sing! I’m thankful to every one of those talented artists out there who create audible beauty.
What about you? What are you thankful for?
Jessica Bakkers 
I’m thankful for GHD hair irons. After struggling to bind my Hermione-esque hair in buns and braids all through the 90s, and resorting to cropping it all off in the early 2000s, it’s a daily relief to be able to flatten out this unruly mop.
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I remember the buns, braids and crop 😏
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Hahaha loved the term Hermione-esque
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Thankful for food processors when shredding 50 lbs of zucchini! Most grateful for talented Jess and her beautiful soul!💚
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Awww! Thankful for Roda and her way to make me feel amazing!
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Three more wonderful things to be thankful for!
I love tea, especially peppermint tea for when I have a bloated stomach. I’m on the flip side of your situation, however; I loved all kinds of tea disliked the bitterness of coffee (but I love the aroma), until my Chinese doctor banned me from black / green tea because of my constitution. Since then Ive learned to enjoy cappuccino and latte, but I have a long way to go before black coffee. ☕️
Also, hope you’re recovering well from the surgery. ❤️
The horror of grooming a dog is one reason I don’t have one! But I’ve watched my mum struggle with the family dog (okay, so it was a small dog, a Shih-Tze, but it was a horror nonetheless!) for years and am thankful for dog groomers too. 🐶
And yes, music! What am I going to do without some music to brighten up my life? 🎼🎧🎹
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WOW! I didn’t know anyone could be banned from TEA! I miss coffee, I really do, but like you, I wasn’t all that keen on bitter coffee. It had to be loaded up with sweetner. And milk. Maybe I AM better off on tea!
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Haha, sound like you are! 🍵🍵🍵
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I am also thankful to so many things in life and I keep thinking about them. It makes me feel so blessed and makes me feel strong in the face of some tough time. Beautiful post ❤️
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Thanks Pooja! 🤗
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Tea trumps coffee 🙂 Have you tried chai? It’s Indian and amazing. They serve it in Starbucks.
I think it’s a great step towards living a better life with or without depression, Jess. I should do that exercise more often.
This week I’m grateful for my cousin, who has invited me to join her rollerblading squad. I can’t wait to recycle this skill ☺
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Thanks Renata! Yes I quite like chai, especially vanilla chai. Yum!
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I’m thankful I have such a great relationship with my mom.
I’m thankful for the existence of so many books to read (even though the thought that I could never read every single one in my lifetime does cause some sadness, haha)
I am thankful for good friends and sunny days.
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Beautiful response Kristen! Well said!
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Funny, I got hooked on tea after gallbladder removal too. I drink it all day at work, but drink coffee on weekends. My bulldogs have short hair, so we get a reprieve from grooming.
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Yay! Someone else who experiences the tea thing! Bullies are great when it comes to hair, though I remember our cross used to smell something awful without a regular bath! That could’ve been the terrier in her though.
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I think they all need a regular bath.
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I like both coffee and tea, but nothing gets me through a day like coffee. Drinking a huge mug now. Tea is for later in the day…
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I used to be like that with coffee. Now I look forward to my tea with the same gusto.
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Thankful for WordPress and the great people, like Jess that it has brought into my life! ❤
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Awww! Back at you honey!
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I was a tea drinker for many years and then Keurig came on the scene and I got hooked on coffee (my favorites are the flavored ones). That said, I still love tea (herbal) and drink it every so often for a change of pace. I’m thankful for both.
And although I don’t have dogs, I do have a cat. She doesn’t require a groomer, but I’m thankful she lets me brush her.
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Keurig? You might have to explain that one to me!
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Keurig is a coffee maker. They were the first to come out with the single serving coffee pods. They come in endless roasts (light, medium, dark), brews and flavors. As I type this I’m drinking Jamaican Me Crazy by Wolfgang Puck. It’s an Arabica medium roast coffee with coconut undertones. 🙂
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Aha! Now I feel you. Yup. I am a bit of a coffee pod lover. Or WAS.
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This week, I am thankful for not having to work at any of my jobs for four whole days and got to spend some time in Newcastle Upon Tyne with my wife and two of our granddaughters.
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Great things to be thankful for Mike!
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Thanks 🙂
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Aw thanks hon!
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