My first ten things of thankful

My very good friend Vince told me all about this today and the moment he did I knew I had to have a go. The premise is simple, each weekend you write ten things you are thankful for, add the button to the bottom of the post and submit the link to the collection.

Now I love looking back on things I am thankful for and figured it was worth giving this a go. So without further ado, read on for my list!

1. The special people in my life
Be that my friends and family, all of the people I hold dear. I wouldn’t be the person I am today without them, and I am forever greatful.

2. My new job!
That’s right folks, I finally did it! I got myself a job this week and got the contract through yesterday and everything! So happy. I start training on the 13th July! So I am thankful to JayJ for telling me about the opening and thank you to my new bosses for taking me on board!

3. The sun
While it may have been so hot that even Satan couldn’t handle it and it may be due to get worse, it has meant I could do something I have been waiting a long time for… I went outside shirtless! Walking through town with the sun on me felt amazing, albeit sweltering. Last summer I almost collapsed multiple times from binding in the heat and I sympathise greatly with everyone who has to go through that now. For everyone who is, please take care of yourselves, stay hydrated and try to wear your binder as little as possible when possible.

My first time out in the sun walking around shirtless post-op!

4. My laptop
Bit of an odd one but without this I would struggle. I do so much on it and of late that has mostly been gaming for stress relief. This week I used it for starting to design a new logo for the Trans Alliance Brighton (I will put a full post up when our fb page is live) which is an umbrella group for all Trans* groups in Brighton & Hove. I am setting up the page and being able to use my graphics program GIMP (yes that is its name) again is great!

5. B&H queer community
Talking about the Trans Alliance brings me nicely onto this one.

One thing I love about living in Brighton & Hove is the Queer community. Sure it can be bitchy a lot some of the time, but when you find the right group(s) for you, things really click. I have made some fantastic friends and learnt so much, I have received job opportunities and made contacts that will always be useful.

6. The UK quidditch community
I have said it before but it is so important to me. The quidditch community has done so much for me while at university I can never forget it. The thing about the sport is that the only requirements to being accepted is wanting to take part (or supporting those who do) and having an open accepting mind. I love that. I have made so many friends. I am not the fittest, or fastest, and I dont know the rulebook off by heart, but I am accepted and that feels amazing. I am so thankful for my quidditch family.

7. The cats
I love these guys. They make me so happy, and even as I sit here writing this they are both curled up on the bed by myself and Tyler, being their usual cute selves. Whenever I have taken a break from university or just come home after a stressful day, they are here to welcome me back. Even when I start with the cold shoulder, eventually they are giving big cuddles and demanding lots of attention. Bless them. Animals are great, especially for mental health and I couldn’t ask for better step-kids in these cats!

Teto, the youngest. He is 7 this year and so freaking loud most of the time. He shouts at all hours and loves to be combed, even brushing himself when he can!

Bebo, the eldest. 8 this year, he normally doesn't like people until he gets to know them. But when he does he is so cute! In his older age he has become such a lap cat it is adorable. Bebe is normally a lot quieter than Teto too.

8. Green tea
Okay, I am british, are you really surprised by this one? Sure, I love my traditional English Breakfast Tea, and a good old Yorkshire brew, but something about Green tea just makes me smile. It tastes so damn good! I am thankful that it exists and my friends had the good idea to encourage me to try it in my first year of university.

Plus it’s paleo, so when I do eventually go the whole hog, I am set drinks wise!

9. My apptitude for knowledge
I am normally very british about it. I don’t do bigging myself up. But honestly I am thankful for the way I can soak up knowledge! I love to learn, and because of that I may not know everything about everything, but I certainly know a little about a lot of things. I am pleased I have that ability and recently it has started to mean I am getting money for practicing things that I enjoy and I am so happy with that!

10. This blog
I know, corny right? But it is true. If I am thankful of any one thing it is that I have finally managed to carry on with a blog for more than two posts!

I have tried so many times to do it but I always fail at thinking of fresh content, until I decided actually, I would just run with it. See what I could do and just hope for the best… and here I am! This blog has given me a chance to really express how I am feeling and get feedback on it too.

So that’s it for this post. I have enjoyed writing it, and I think I will have to do so again soon. I love looking back at things and realising what I am thankful for, now this just gives me an excuse to do so!