Good morning folks! I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. We certainly did as DH and I took our pooch out to have brunch and then unexpectedly discovered this cool new street tucked away from the bustle of Wan Chai called Lee Tung Avenue. It’s a cobble paved tree-lined street of cafes, eateries and shops with red lanterns hanging beautifully above. It feels very European and you won’t feel like you’re in HK here! Our pooch also had a great time and as usual, he was a superstar and attracted many ‘fans’ little and large, who wanted to pet and take pictures of him.
So today, I am posting about Thankfulness. Whilst life is full of struggles and things don’t always go our way, I always remind myself to be thankful for everything that we have. This has been an important mindset that has helped me through the last few years and it really does put everything into perspective. Here are the things that I am thankful for:
DH – Whilst we’ve had our ups and downs and struggled at times, these experiences have only made us stronger and more resilient. I’m incredibly grateful that DH has been by my side through this entire TTC journey, attended 99% of doctor’s appointments and hospital visits with me and taken care of me when I’m sick. He continues to dote on me, has been converted into a ‘dog lover’ although he won’t admit to it, and he never fails to humour my silliness and my impossible to answer “what if” and “what would you do” questions. I’m very much looking forward to spending with you whatever life has in store for us going forward.
Family – I have a wonderful and loving family and am also incredibly lucky to have in-laws that love me like their own. Family don’t judge and no matter how many times we argue, they’re always there. We talk and laugh about the silliest of things and I am so grateful that they (including my 87 year old super granny) is generally in good health. I can only wish that they continue to be happy and healthy. I am also grateful for a super cool and caring brother-in-law who takes great care of my sister, as well as her in-laws who feed her ‘Michelin’ standard meals all the time! Yes, we’re talking snowy garlic cheese crab and the likes!! This matters because she is now living thousands of miles away in Australia and it’s nice to know that she’s being well looked after (not that she needs looking after though!)
Friends – Friends come in different groups and I am grateful for all of them. The laughter and tears that we share, the disagreements that we overcome, the advice and the perverted jokes that we crack are all things that form our friendship. As we get older, it’s no longer about quantity but more about quality. Some of my closest friends aren’t based in HK and in fact, we don’t even talk on a regular basis. But I know that if I ever needed them, or vice versa, we could just buzz each other on Skype and it would be like we were never apart. They would listen, they won’t judge and they’d definitely keep what I told them confidential. In recent times, I’ve also found friends who are on a similar journey to me and being able to share our most personal issues with people who get it ‘first-hand’ is incredibly helpful.
Health – I can’t emphasise this one any more. Life is meaningless without good health to enjoy it. I recently had a close friend recover from cancer and it just reminds you how fragile life really is. I’m grateful that she is ok now and hope that she’ll be forever healthy. A basic thing like this reminds me that no matter how bad things get, as long as my loved ones and I are healthy, that’s all that really matters. Everything else comes second, third, or fourth.
A roof over our head, a full belly, freedom, equality and peace – With all unfortunate crap that goes on in the world, they act as a constant reminder that many people out there don’t even have the most basic things in life. I am so so thankful for a comfortable life where I don’t have to starve, live out in the cold, feel repressed and I am free to pursue my dreams. It’s very sad that even in 2017, half of the world’s population still lives in extreme poverty and many still live in war 😦
Dog – Ooh yes. Life wouldn’t be the same without my gorgeous, doe-eyed, greedy, needy and musky smelling pooch. This post would not be complete without a dedication to Rexy, my Beagle-Basset rescue dog. He came into my life when I needed it the most and has given me nothing but love, cuddles and kisses. I always say, it’s not me who rescued him, it’s he who rescued me. He is my stress buster and whenever I feel down, all I have to do is spend 5 minutes with him and everything just goes away. I love him to bits and wish that he is forever happy, healthy and never grows old. Here is a pic of him. Who doesn’t want to kiss that happy face?! 😀
Love, Hope, Jabs and Probes Copyright 2017
Love, Hope, Jabs and Probes 