Gratitude

This is a great idea by my friend @conradt and I was delighted to be nominated by another great friend @mariannewest.

This is day 3 of what I am grateful for.

You can see @conradt's initial post here to get a background of what this is all about. The general idea is to spread positivity here on Steemit for 7 days, by posting each day about something you are grateful for, and in doing so promote a positive mental health outlook and to show we all have things to be grateful for, even in the face of adversity and struggles, there is always a chink of light, if we look close enough.

What am I grateful for today?

This one goes without saying, and is of course be my number one thing to be grateful for. So, I will call it out and it probably sounds a bit cheesy, but I am so thankful for my family.

Family

I really do have such a wonderful, warm, thoughtful family, who would do anything for me, and the opposite is also true.. I'd walk to the ends of the earth for each and every one of them. I am lucky to have a very tight knit family which extends right out to my first cousins. I have forty eight first cousins and I know them all very well! Yes, you heard me right, FORTY EIGHT - contraception was illegal in Ireland until 1978 :o) and thank goodness for that, or I may not be here, as I was number seven of eight kids.

I often wonder when my own two boys are running amok, how my own parents did it with eight of us running around the place!! And to make things even more impressive, neither of my parents drink alcohol, so no sneaky glass of wine after getting the kids down to bed. My parents are two amazing people, who I draw great strength from, if I can turn into half the person they are, I will have accomplished a lot. Their selfless love and support throughout the years has been amazing, and has been showered on all eight of us, and not content with that the selfless attitude is shared with the extended family, neighbours, anyone they can help. Their own parents, my grand parents were great people too, but I can only speak about my mothers mother first hand.

Granny

I was lucky enough to know her for 25 years, and she lived with us for the last 8 or 9 years of her life. She was what we call a character. She was so funny and had her own way of doing things, and didn't give a monkeys what others thought.. She was always in good form, until she was telling one of her stories. Her stories were a joy to listen to, and I would sit for hours listening to her talking about the years gone by. But inevitably, the stories would eventually find their way to the love of her life, my Grandad. You would see her welling up, as she remembered him. She buried him in 1967, while pregnant with her tenth child, and she had to soldier on alone with ten children to rear, in 1960's Ireland, which is a far cry from today's more affluent Ireland. But, she loved him as much the day that she died, as the day that they were married, and she never looked at another man. It is one of the strongest loves I have ever witnessed, and she was a great influence on me and all forty five of her Grandchildren - and she minded each and every one of us at different times throughout our lives. She is still missed by all who knew her, an absolute legend of a woman.

Starting a family of my own

Then 6 years ago I embarked on my own family adventure. I married the love of my life, and we have been blessed with three children, and we have another on the way in October :o) I am so grateful for them, and they fill my life with happiness, joy, contentment, and the odd tantrum and dirty nappy thrown in for good measure :o) I have had a great life so far full of fun and travel, but this latest chapter in starting my own family is the best yet..

The Olive Branch

I really do feel for those who do not have a good relationship with their family for one reason or another. If there is any chance or possibility to extend the olive branch, why not do it. Pick up the phone, send that text. For me, life is too short to hold grudges, especially for petty things, which blew out of all proportion. Of course there are many many valid reasons for holding a grudge or feeling let down by someone, but by carrying around a grudge, you are doing yourself a dis-service... Grudges are heavy and the longer you carry them, the heavier they become.. So if you have a grudge, with a friend or more especially with one of your own flesh and blood, see if you can see beyond it. It may be one of the best things you have ever done, and the other person most likely, deep down wants to know you again also. Sure, you will feel vulnerable, but didn't we all come into this world vulnerable, and look at how we've grown. Of course they may send you packing, and if they do, what have you lost? Where are you then? You are back where you started and your pride might be a little dented, but you will feel better in the long run, and whats the best that can come of it? You might just regain a brother, a sister, a mother, a father, a granny, a grandad...

Life is short. Cast of negativity if you can manage it and embrace every day. Breathe in the air, fill those lungs, life is wonderful if we allow it to be. Sure we have ups and downs, just don't dwell on either for too long, life is for living, not looking back or forward to far.

Nominations

@bigram13 - I think he would make a great contribution.
@brisby - My nutty little friend is a beacon of postivity.
@wonderwop - A great man for a story.

The rules:

• Write a post about something you have to be positive about today - this could be anything from being thankful for your current situation, someone being nice to you, being thankful for your friends and family, or even being thankful for the opportunity you have been given here on Steemit - just keep it positive :)
• Do this for 7 days in a row if you get nominated
• Mention three people who should do this on each day.
• Tag it with #7daypositivitychallenge and include these rules at the bottom of your post
  Include a picture of something positive (related to your story if possible.)
  

Hopefully you enjoyed that post.

Stop by my page for other photos, writings and musings...

Peace Out

Ablaze 🔥