Writing, for me, has always been a way of honing in on the beautiful, the hopeful and the wonderful. I like to write to notice and name. I often write ‘in praise of…’ things.

I do write to express and process pain, questions, sadness and anger, and this, too can be very helpful, to myself, and sometimes to others.

This post, though, is my way of finding my way back to my writing roots: Today, I am writing to remember my joy, my gratitude and my enthusiasm for life.

It is true – perhaps now more than ever – that we sometimes need to read creative expressions of anger, disillusionment and protest. But it is also true that there is still joy and hope to be found, and writing of these can spread light too.

So, this evening, these are the small things I am thankful for:

• Time with family: We visited my grandparents and my children played with the same old fashioned phone I used to play with, and we looked at old photographs, played games and watched the birds on their feeder. Later today, my father-in-law came home from hospital after three months! We ate together and celebrated quietly and deeply.
• Play: In a day full of mood swings, there were times today when I struggled to appreciate my children’s noisy play, but they dragged me out with the skooter and skates and I couldn’t help but have a bit of fun.
• Animals: The cats are relishing their newfound freedom of being allowed outside for short bursts, and have celebrated by swiftly learning how to climb trees. Meanwhile, the goats continue to amuse us with their antics, the praying mantis has settled in well and the dog took advantage of my father-in-law’s return to beg for copious amounts of biscuits.
• Lent: Our challenge today was to pray for someone we loved. I prayed for my children and it felt like an act of love and optimism.
• Journal: I needed some journalling time to get myself out of my head and realise that I do not write for substack subscribers, nor for instagram followers, nor for facebook likes. I write because it gives me freedom and joy and because it reminds me to love my life.
• Area we live in: We visited a local countryside centre today, and I loved seeing my children enjoy all the natural wonders on display, from kingfishers, to kestrels, to sea life to butterfly wings.
• Friends, who, at the last minute, helped make my husband’s birthday special.

What are you thankful for this week?