What am I grateful for? | #BlogtoberWithBoa Day 18

Photo by Gabrielle Henderson on Unsplash

So it’s day 18 and I wanted something a little less planned and prepped. Something that is low key, calm and honest for a slow Sunday. So the big question for todays post is “What am I grateful for?”. I’ll keep it to Autumn themed but also the situation with lifes changes this year with the global pandemic.

Nature

I always have and always will adore nature especially during Autumn with the lessons we can learn from it. The colours of nature are truly magnificent during Autumn and I love walking through a forest of huge trees transitioning. The leaves crunching under my feet, the air fresh and crisp, the temperature dropping and weather changing. I admire nature all year round but there is something about the Autumn air that brings me so much joy

Family and friends

This year has been so tough on the world and so many families. Loved ones have fallen prey to the virus and have had their lives cut short. Those with struggles have found coping with their mental health difficult. Many people have lost their jobs, homes and are in a very hard place in their life. I’m grateful to have both of my brothers after many of their suicide attempts. I’m grateful for a loved one pulling through the deadly virus too. A friend of mine were also victim to the Birmingham stabbings last month and thankfully she has pulled through.

Family and friends are precious. I realise this each and every hour!

Time

Although the days fly by, I have been granted just as much as many, so much free time during lockdown to learn, expand my knowledge and skills and do more with my life since time seemed to stop around us. I have had chance to work on my blog, my home, my photography and so much more. Time with my household has proven our strengths and love for one another.

Work

Although I don’t get paid for most of my work, I have had many opportunities since lockdown although It seems backwards! I have done all of my volunteer work meetings online and have helped many companies with work from my laptop and the comfort of my own home. I have dedicated more time to focus on my emails, campaigns launching online and work for great causes with mental health.

I have been even more focused on my blog and have won multiple challenges doing work with Blogosphere Magazine as part of their community which has been amazing. I have attended many virtual webinars, festivals and networking events and it has been so fun, educational and validating.

Many people, including my mum have lost their jobs, been made redundant or have had their hours cut by severe amounts losing money they need to survive. Again, I do not get paid for most of my work but am so grateful to still have work to dedicate my life to for the better as I know so many do not have those chances to remain in jobs they are passionate about.

Speaking of passion, the government have Kindly degraded creative workers by creating a quiz to help them retrain and consider new roles. I am grateful to stand by what I believe in, my passions and taking control of my own life! The retraining quiz and creators can go and take their opinions and stick it where the sun don’t shine! I stand with my fellow creatives! The world needs us!

Freedom

Not all people will have freedom to be who they want, do what they want and live the life they dream of. Although I have had a severe traumatic event in my life that has forced me to change drastically and reconsider my life plans, I still have the freedom to be me. I have the freedom to create the life I want to live, do what I please and follow my creative passions. I have a family who embrace my choices and push me to be free. I have support that overrides the negative people in my life. I have a strong mindset that allows me to fight back at criticism, rise above downfalls and get back up when I’ve fallen hard. I embrace that freedom because there are so many people living in constrictive families, held down by faith or religion, cannot follow their passions and have a very rocky household they fear.

These things may be small to be grateful for and the kind people don’t consider, but I think about them all the time and like to realise how lucky I am.

Autumn as a whole

To some, this may seem silly but as you may guess by my blog name I am super grateful for the season Autumn! It brings me joy, happiness, cosiness, contentment, fun, satisfaction and warmth. I struggle with warmer seasons as my body is just naturally warm (I’d say hot but that would sound like bragging) and I find it hard to cope during our heat waves. My skin burns very easily and my eyes are extremely sensitive to sunlight. Yes It means I get to wear super cool sunglasses but still…hehe. One of my favourite things to be is cosy and since I struggle with heat, I cannot seem to snuggle up and get cosy during Spring and Summer so when Autumn arrives and the colder weather is upon us I can finally wear jumpers and enjoy being inside with the candles lit, films on and cuddled up with my soft throws and my other half for snuggles. The warm seasons make me struggle to snuggle (That’s a cool sentence) with my partner as I become so warm that I get agitated, all on top of my Autism too which can cause a sensory overload.

I love the colours of Autumn, the crunchy leaves, the metaphors of seasons changing, the colder temperatures, the candle scents, Autumn coffee shop flavours and the atmosphere that comes with the season. I feel ME. I was meant to be an October Autumn child but was 2 months premature so ended up being born in Summer, so I feel that has something to do with my weird connection to the season.