What ordinary thing will you never take for granted

[kannnet96]

Health is a given but besides that

For me is a warm comfortable bed. Wasn't always something I had as a child so now every night no matter what else is going on in my life I remind myself to be grateful for it. It puts things in perspective.

Cars. We live fairly remote and need vehicles.

A garden, I was stuck in a small flat through lockdown and I feel grateful to be able to sit in the sun now.

The roof over my head. We were so lucky to get it (HA property) and I dread to think where we would be now if we hadn't. We were homeless for a while and it's not something you forget easily, my home is not perfect and the area leaves a lot to be desired but I feel grateful every time I close the door and know we're safe.

Being able to turn on a tap and have unlimited clean water.

My washing machine!

With all the bad stuff going on on the world it's so good to be grateful for small things

I already love this thread.

a good relationship with my family. Seems to be a rarity these days.

to have some savings so I don’t have to panic if something goes wrong. I’ve had times in my life when that very much wasn’t the case and I feel grateful every day that I’m not there now. Though I know things can change in a heartbeat so I try stay remain focused and grateful and mindful that not everyone is so lucky.

The internet.
I've been able to work from home and choose my own schedule since 2012 and I will always know how lucky I've been for that.

Hot bath. Man how I love a hot bath.

That's quite sobering. I'm glad you have your home now.

Mine is good health. Someone I'm close to nearly died last year and has been given a second chance at life after a life-saving operation.

Being able to walk. Arthris flare ups sometimes mean that I can't leave the house and sometimes I can climb a mountain. When I'm out for a hike I breathe in and close my eyes listen to the silence.

Clean, running, hot and cold water. Almost every time I turn the tap on I remember how lucky we are.

Family!! That's a good one. Mine isn't perfect by any means but not a bad some some

My very up to date hearing aids - free on the NHS. They have Bluetooth, which goes onto my phone and tablet, meaning that l get the voices directly into my ear. As a music teacher, this is especially important as I teach on Zoom for some lessons. I can also play high notes on my violin without my hearing aids whistling in sympathy, which happened previously.

My sense of smell/taste.

A good relationship with my adult DD. As a teenager we had some really difficult times, and at one point I found it hard to believe that we would be close again. But we came through it and I am so proud to be her mum.

Also - a washing machine! My mum and dad didn't have one until after I left home. Sunday was launderette day!

My job and colleagues, I actively look forward to going to work and seeing them every day, they are an amazing team. WFH during lockdown was awful and I have had jobs in the past where the culture was terrible.

@Drews yes, being able to walk. I have become more disabled over the last 5 years, and yearn to be able to just go for a walk.

Just to be able to go shopping without my walking aid that doesn't fit through shop doorways, or around displays.

To be able to go out with my Grandchildren on my own. I couldn't run after them if I needed to so always have to have someone with me. For someone like me who looked after others children as a Childminder for twenty odd years, I feel robbed if not being able to do things with my own grandchildren.

So many things! Had quite a challenging childhood in many ways, poverty, and other things. So I'm often very happy and appreciate that I have a happy marriage, healthy and loved children, our own house and no tension or bad feeling day to day. Oh and more than one bathroom....

Food in my cupboards. We never struggled when i was young but, once i got married and had my two children, mortgage, bills etc i had an ex husband who continually took out loans and on two separate occasions just gave up his job because he 'didnt like being told what to do'. Even though i always worked full time and we always 'managed', the fear was constant. Nowadays i have a different husband and we are lucky enough not to have to work or worry about bills but the fear is always at the back of my mind and i keep a decent supply of food and toiletries 'just in case' and i am grateful and thankful every day for the position i am now in.

Being able to get pregnant, have a straightforward pregnancy and a healthy baby. I have many friends this hasn’t happened for and it’s heartbreaking

As a veteran of Burning Man: clean running water and sewerage. Every year every attendee has to haul in all the water they’ll need for drinking, washing and food prep for ten days, ration it out, and work out how to dispose of the grey water and detritus - you can’t just dump it out on the desert. It teaches you something about how lucky we are in the developed world to usually just be able to turn on a tap and have clean, fresh water immediately to hand in whatever quantity we want.

Getting to see DD grow up. DH died when she was 2 and not a day goes by that I'm not heartbroken for him that he's missing out, and unspeakably grateful that I'm here to witness it.

A home that's paid for. Financial security. Good family network, great neighbours, peace and quiet, contentment with my ordinary lot.

Water on tap.