...ups and downs

Taking stock of the past few weeks I realise I've been more down than up. My get-up-and-go seems to have got-up-and-gone, mainly because I've been in more or less constant pain from aching, arthritic joints, and I'm feeling rather sorry for myself. A small part of me has been trying to look on the bright side, or at least cling to the belief that there is a bright side, but mostly life has just seemed overwhelmingly hard, relentless and difficult. Work is particularly exhausting at the moment - mentally, physically and emotionally. Every week I count the days until the weekend, but the weekend never feels long enough and I'm often too tired to really enjoy it. "Stop the world, I want to get off!" pretty much sums up my recent state of mind.

I don't like being miserable and grumbly all the time so I thought I'd pause for a while this afternoon to cultivate my inner optimist and play Pollyanna's 'just being glad' game. 

Today I've been glad about the delicious things growing in my garden. Nothing tastes better than a handful of freshly picked berries.

Rhubarb, blueberries, the last raspberry and the first blackberries.

I've also been glad of the visual pleasure the garden gives me.

Rosehips, blackberry blossom and faded Honesty heralding
the coming of autumn. Fiery orange Montbretia and one lone
Clematis flower lagging far behind the rest. 

I'm glad that although I'm in pain it's only slowing me down, not stopping me altogether.

I'm glad to have a job that gives me independence and security at a time when many people are struggling to make ends meet. I'm glad that the people I work with are more like friends than colleagues, and that the work we do makes a difference in the lives of others.  

I'm glad to have a husband who loves me and makes me laugh every day, along with an XXSCat dog who reminds me to 'live in the moment' and be happy in it too.