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.

My washing machine.
My garden.
Our work/childcare situations we are very lucky to not need any outside childcare even though we have 5 kids
maternity leave- while it’s far from perfect here, I always think about the mums elsewhere like the US who don’t get any and have to leave tiny babies at home days after they are born.

Right now being cosy in our home with my babies. Didn't think I'd be using the word cosy in July but we are safe- have good for lunch and food for dinner! Wasn't always the case.

I remember your thread back then. He sounded like a wonderful man. Hope you and your daughter are doing as well as possible now.

This^ and even more if there is a constant supply of hot water.
I always have had heating and water supply all my life but still don’t take it for granted and appreciate it. The same with electricity.

My house.

It was DH's house for years and I have never been in a situation where I would ever be able to afford a house as despite being very well educated always worked in fairly lowly paid 'vocational' jobs. Our home is safe, happy, secure and welcoming.

DH- my previous relationship was extremely abusive. DH is kind, loves me, and we are a partnership. 20 years and counting.

Democracy. The right to vote to express my opinion. The right to live a full life even when/if I disagree with the Government of the day. The right to speak up and disagree with another person - although this is increasingly at risk.

Thank you @readbooksdrinktea , that's so kind – we miss him every single day but we're doing well. DD is an absolutely delight.

Travelling. It still amazes me that I can decide to go to Germany or France and..just go. I grew up in the Soviet Union.

The strong women in my family. I have sisters and more nieces than nephews, and the efforts we put in to be there for each other really warms my heart.
Love my nephews, but it’s definitely the women and girls who hold us together.

Paracetamol

Our ancestors must have suffered so much with every day pain like headaches, period pain etc. Also is so cheap- 32p a packet.

Hot water, kindness and cheerfulness, not having to worry about money, comfy bed.

Very much this as well.

Lovely :)

Just being able to think and use my brain properly- sounds mad but I suffered a brain injury 10 years ago when my kids were little and it affected my cognitive functioning severely. Things I never knew I did automatically such as writing, thinking logically, maths , and some have higher language was affected, such as typing an email, trying to formulate a response, explain things properly, among other things! Also my speech! Was always a brilliant verbal communicator, working with the public - this was affected for a while and is finally almost back to pre injury levels - I thank my lucky stars every day as I totally took this for granted, however, I feel grateful I have it again!!

Independence thanks to good health. Being dependent on others would be my worst nightmare.

Having nice neighbours

Hot water.

Drinking water.

The feeling of safety.

Glasses and contact lenses. Thanks to middle aged presbyopia, I’m really long sighted, and there’s no way I can read or do anything close without them. I often thank my lucky stars that I wasn’t born in a time when such aids weren’t available. It must have been rubbish.

Sunday nights at home. I went to boarding school and at weekends either I’d stay in school or, if I’d been home, then at Sunday teatime I’d be torn away from everything again and re-institutionalised. Every Sunday, even if it’s a shame the weekend’s over or I’m not looking forward to work the next day, I’m so intensely grateful for the cosy domesticity of watching DH iron his shirts for the week, making sure the kids’ school stuff is ready, flopping on the sofa with a cup of tea and going to sleep in my own bed, under the same roof as my family.

A job that I love. I had a terrible professional experience a while ago, and it affected my mental and physical health so badly. I absolutely love work now.

My job. I was made redundant at 50 plus, it took me 18 months to find another job.

My darling cat using the litter. She has megacolon. Every poo is cause for celebration.

Yes to clean running water. And loos. Especially having more than one loo/bathroom at home. We only had one for years.

Asthma inhalers.

Antibiotics - worryingly under threat now.

Sorry to those of you in soggy parts of the UK - but from a region of Europe, not even very far south, that has been in permanent, variously low- and high-level drought for five years now - a lovely, long, decent day of soaking rain.

It always used to be just being able to do the weekly shop with little regard to what the total would be (just a standard shop - I wasn't throwing in bottles of moet and caviar)

Now, it's not so much the case, but still grateful that I can stock my fridge and cupboards.

We had next to nothing growing up, and I get really quite anxious at the thought of not having 'enough'