do you ever feel blessed in life itself??

[lavender2]

I don't mean to be over optimistic because I am very aware that threads are about people's problems and how down they are feeling.(and I am up and down like a yo yo believe me)...but I just wondered if anyone ever felt like this...

do you ever look out of the window, see the birds on your trees making one hell of a racket, glance at the world around us and see such simple things going on, like slugs, the morning dew, the familiarity of seeing the same person each day at work and telling them all about things....the love that is all around us every day that we ignore sometimes and get cross about because soemone has hurt our feelings, or forgotten to return our telephone call from a few days ago...be it the mother, mil etc but you know if this was your last day wouldn't you want as much to give everyone as you could and s** what anyone else thinks...

in a nutshell what I am trying to say is a simple life is a beautiful way of living, appreciating what we have and wanting and expecting nothing more, and anything else is a bonus ...a walk in the morning dew, listening to the radio, having your parents around are the best things in life...treasure them (btw dh and I have one grandparent and she is a part-timer sts, we love her but when I see other grandparents (like tonight at bonfire) I wanted to cry as it's so normal and infinetely better than having star status and big houses...please excuse my open-ness but I feel that somwtimes we overlook what is about every day (apologies if have gone on and go on over old ground)...

Yes I do think a simple life would be fantastic but ultimately how achievable is it? I rejoice when my children cannot contain themseves at the beauty of Autumn colours, the sheer joy on my daughters' faces when they first see their brother in the morning, that first sip of coffee (or wine depending onthe time of day), hearing DH quote Keats' "Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness", and yet....

only by taking a step back once in a while and looking what you have around you (and I don't mean material things) and feeling grateful and taking time to reflect and enjoy the wonders of this earth and all its people....(sounds weird but life is so complicated, full of people wanting so much of us....if we can be happy with what we have...we have a greate chance of attainign happiness)....do read lots of books on philosophy-type stuff but very true...perhaps mumsnet could start its own thread on philosophy and the meaning of life.

I am aware of it every time I look at my dd and know how richer my life is because of her .... although we have been through the ringer with her heart defect and her ds - she is such a soource of fun and joy to both dh and I that we can't imagine our life without her. That smily face that greets you every morning - can't help but forget the morning grumps, the sheer joy on her face when her dad comes home at night, her cuddles and kisses and laughter.......

we think we are soo blessed....

that's lovely eidsvold

"do you ever feel blessed in life itself?? "

EVERY DAY!!!

no

four months ago my daughter had a brain hemerage and was taken into hospital on the understanding that it would be a god send for her to make it through the night, it was the worst thing i had ever dealt with in life [to cling to the hope that god would look down on her]
she underwent a twelve hour brain sugery in london, it was the longest twelve hours of my life.
i had been told to expect the worst, she had been given a fifty percent chance of pulling through, and if she did she could suffer from severe fits for the rest of her life, and total memory loss, it was terrible.
im not holy but i got on my hands and knees that day and prayed my heart out.
Two weeks ago we were given the all clear she walked out of that hospital as the same little girl that she walked in, from that day on i have never taken life for granted, and i love waking up to the family i made

that's a beautiful tale...God bless you all

fairyfly - thats terrible - whats the matter?

vanessa your post brought tears to my eyes. everytime i feel life is rubbish...which it often is, i look at my babies and i know that its all worthwhile. as long as i have them i have everything. ive learnt to appreciate everything i have..(which isnt much)...and im happy.

vanessa what a wonderful story you must feel a very lucky lady!

Vanessa that is amazing - i am so pleased for you!

vaness that really is a wonderful story, how strong and courageous you must have been for those four months

At the risk of gushing, in answer to the original question, I have to say yes. Right now, for the first time n 10 years I feel entirely relaxed and happy and able to live in the moment. Plus it's summer here! Whoo-hooo

how would you feel about becoming monks and giving up everything ie. would you miss you material things.....the greater spirituality a person has the less he/she relies on for feeling good about status symbols (it's hard but think of the no pressure life and calm) (not for me btw but interesting conversation talk)....anyone been to a retreat recently???

You only live once and I want to make the most of it. THat includes lots of material things!

I don't think I'm a particularly spiritual person but I regularly think that I'm blessed and lucky, especially when I see/read/hear about the sad lives that some people lead, usually through no fault of their own.

Just recently a lot of my friends have been through something difficult. A couple have lost parents, three have had breast cancer. One has lost a child. I count my blessings every day. Despite all the bad there is so much to be thankful for. So good to read your story Vanessa.

In all honesty, I am thankful for every day

Sometimes i feel very down but usually a walk in the park with my dof lifts my spirits.
For me, i could just burst with love for my dd, when i watch her eating and she's in a trance with something on T.V and she just IS PURE innocence, i want to cry with joy (and horror incase anything bad should ever happen! )

Another thing to make me feel joy is nature and most of all trees and the sea. It sounds a bit mad but it's in the book (Celestine Prophecies) about energy we get from nature and even before i understood why, i always feel that sitting looking at trees or the sea an uplifting experience.

My DOG not dof!

I always look at DH, and think that some times he's a git, (like all men are) but 99.9% of the time it's all good, I mean I could be worse off (he could be violent or cheat etc..) but he doesn't, and it's the little things that perople do that means the most, like a home made card, or just a simple cup of tea in bed on a morning. Little things like that make you realise how lucky you are to have someone who cares. DH sent me some flowers, teddy and chocs last week to work, I was dead made up as he's in Iraq at the minute. Just showing he cares is enough for me.

If I'm really honest with you and myself - apart from my beautiful children, no.

No, how do you do it?
I have so much to be grateful for, 2 lovely children, a fantastic DH whom I adore and who adores me, nice house, etc etc etc, plus the huge good fortune of being able to take indefinite maternity leave from my self-employment to witness said lovely children growing from babies into little people.
yet I can't raise my head above the sheer bloody grind of it all, the anxiety and guilt about what I am doing wrong, the little things that I wish were different, and i can't stop myself being short-tempered and snappy and impatient. I have even smacked DD three times now and I am so anti-smacking you would not believe it (brings a tear to my eye now just to remember doing it to her).
i tend to attribute this to lack of sleep - like many on MN I haven't had an unbroken night for over a year and recently both kids wake before 5.30am - but I'm not sure it's the whole answer.

I often count my blessings - great DH, two lovely children, wonderful supportive parents and in-laws and family and friends. Obviously, no one's life is perfect, we've had our problems and our losses, but ultimately I do feel blessed. Although I am scared in a way to say it because last time I thought "I am so lucky", my DH got hit by a car, hit and run, and ended up in hospital and off work for five months. So I guess "don't be too complacent" is my by-word too!!

Yes ... and thanks for reminding me.