CFS – Page 18 – make today happy

Day 51: Kindness messages

Being kind by leaving kindness messages around my city:

I took myself off for an Artist’s Date brunch today and to sprinkle some more kindness magic around my city.

I wrote messages on the back of my Kindness Cards, and here’s where I left them:

Message 1: “You are perfect, just as you are 😊. Have a lovely day Xxx”
Hidden in-between the condiments at my brunch café.

Message 2: “You have a beautiful smile 😊. Have a lovely day Xxx”
Stuck on the bathroom mirror of the café.

Message 3: “You are truly loved, just as you are 😊. Have a lovely day Xxx”
Stuck on a lamp-post in the busy city centre.

Message 4: “Make the leap, it could be amazing 😊. Have a lovely day Xxx”
Hidden inside a pair of tights in my fave shop.

Message 5: “You don’t ever have to worry, it’ll all be ok 😊. Have a lovely day Xxx”
Left on a bench in the main shopping centre.

Message 6: “Everything will always be ok 😊. Have a lovely day Xxx”
Left on a bench at the bus stop.

Again, I wrote this blog address on the card, just in case the finder wants to have a peek. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if they did, and even wrote a comment below, oh my!

I was caught red-handed by a lady as I was leaving the last message at the bus stop. She gave me such a big, warm smile; it felt amazing to know that I’ve made one person smile today.

And I smiled all the way home.

So with this in mind, my happy for today is being kind by leaving kindness messages around my city.

Day 50: Family dinner

Being grateful for family meal times and mum’s fish pie:

I love my mum’s fish pie.

Since giving up most meat (ok, ok, I’m still a sucker for a bacon sandwich!) fish pie has replaced lasagna as my favourite meal made by my mum.

Featuring cod, smoked haddock, salmon and prawns smothered in a white sauce, the mix is topped with mashed potatoes and a generous sprinkling of cheese. It’s the ultimate comfort food, and is served with some steamed veggies.

Thursday night is our big family dinner tonight, with my sister, brother-in-law and two little nephews joining mum, dad, and me. Since I’m not a meat eater, it’s the only meal we can all enjoy together. Most weeks, when mum makes a roast dinner – which she does even in the middle of summer! – I replace the meat part with a homemade vegetable burger. Or I have something entirely different.

But when it’s fish pie, we all eat the same. And that feels nice.

I really appreciate our family time together, even if it does get a little bit hectic at times. But it’s a happy hectic and I don’t mind that I feel so wiped out afterwards.

It’s moments like these I will always treasure, and will miss once I’m well enough to move on.

It’s sad how family sitting around the dinner table eating together is a dying tradition. It’s not surprising with how busy life can be, but I think it’s a lovely way to catch up on everyone’s day and enjoy some quality time together.

So with this in mind, my happy for today is being grateful for family meal times and my mum’s fish pie.

Day 49: Autumn days

Being mindful on an early morning autumn soul stroll:

Autumn Days

Morning shadows speckled on the ground,
Rays of sunshine warming all around.
Autumn leaves falling from the trees,
White-feathered angels blowing in the breeze.

Blades of grass glistening with the dew,
Cows all grazing, what a lovely view.
Juicy plump blackberries waiting to be eaten,
All of Mother Nature embracing this new season.

Day 48: My folks

Being grateful for my parents:

I’ve taken to doing the lotto at the weekends. I can’t help but see it as a big waste of money, but then you’ve gotta be in it to win it as they say!

And I’m an eternal optimist!!

Anyway, last week I got 3 numbers and was chuffed to bits with my £25 win.

Giddy with my winnings, I thought I’d use some of it to show my parents how grateful I am.

I’ve been living back in the family home ever since I became ill with ME/CFS.

And two and a half years on, I’m still here.

What a lucky girl I am to be able to have a safe home to live in while I recover, and to have my parents’ love and support – it really means the world to me.

I know it’s not easy on my folks. And for anyone who’s lived at home as an adult will know it’s not an ideal situation for any of us. But we are doing the best we can.

And I am really, really grateful.

So today I made a special ‘Thank you’ card and bought them a beautiful bunch of flowers.

It’s not much but I know they’ll appreciate the gesture which comes from my ever grateful heart.

So with this in mind, my happy for today is being grateful to my parents for letting me live back at home while I recover from ME/CFS.

Day 47: Free parking

Being kind by paying for a strangers car parking by leaving money in the ticket machine:

This morning I took a soul stroll in the rain into my local town centre. As I was cutting through the town’s biggest car park, I decided to put some money in the ticket machines to pay for someone’s parking.

The idea is that the next person coming to the machine to pay would find they had two free hours of parking to enjoy on me! And to help explain this Act of Kindness, they would see my Kindness Cards with the message:

“Enjoy some free parking time on me! Have a lovely day Xxx”

I did this for all three of the ticket machines in the car park, in the hope of making three locals smile on this dreary wet Monday morning.

I also wrote this blog address on the card, just in case they are curious. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if they visited this blog and left a comment…

But if not, that’s absolutely fine too – my intention is to spread kindness in my community without expecting anything in return.

So with this in mind, my happy for today is being kind by paying for a strangers car parking by leaving money in the ticket machine.

Day 46: Life’s magnificence

Being mindful on my soul stroll in between rain showers:

One of my new favourite things is going for a walking meditation in nature just after a rain shower.

There’s something really magical about the vividness of the colours and the intensity of the smells, which even has its own name: petrichor.

The air is fresher, the grass greener, the sky bluer and the vividness and fragrance of the flowers more intoxicating.

It’s pure bliss.

I loved today’s soul stroll in between the showers, my senses came alive and my spirits lifted. I immediately felt lighter and brighter.

I’m so grateful to have taken myself for this wander through such beauty: the fast-flowing brook, the red rose reaching for the sky, and my mum’s double begonia sparkling with rain drops.

And as I gazed at the magnificent trees set against the blue sky, I took a moment to take a breath and appreciate the magnificence of life.

So with this in mind, my happy for today is being mindful on my soul stroll in between rain showers.

Day 45: Turbo Thomas Time

Being grateful for turbo Thomas time:

I. Am. Exhausted.

But, very happy.

Due to the recent family holidays, today was the first time we’ve looked after my three-year-old nephew in four weeks.

And I’d forgotten what a tornado Thomas can be.

He’s just started going to nursery in the mornings, so we now only have him from noon, with his older brother Callum arriving after school at 3:30pm.

After an hour or so inside with his Granddad, Thomas came out to join me in the garden, and it was time for some serious fun.

In the short space of around 45 minutes we covered: chalk art on the patio; hopscotch – going up to 28 under Thomas’ strict instructions, we’d have gone much further if the garage door hadn’t got in the way; blowing and catching bubbles; chasing his own shadow; and running fast around and around and around in circles with me chanting ‘Go Thomas!”.

Phew!

I was thankful for a short break while he devoured one of my healthy ice creams (made with banana, strawberry, milk and love).

I was left feeling completely wiped out, but I loved every single minute of it.

I know I need to pace myself better next week, as I was too wiped out to play with Callum but thankfully I did manage some quiet reading time with him.

I adore these precious moments with my nephews, and make sure I give myself over to them during play time. I’m always conscious about being completely present with them (see Day 22 for more on this). I wholeheartedly believe it’s the biggest gift I can give them and I know they appreciate it as much as I do.

So with this in mind, my happy for today is being grateful for turbo playtime with Thomas.

Day 44: Book heaven

Being grateful for my local library:

Hello, my name is Helen and I am a bookworm 😊

Ever since falling in love with reading at a young age, settling down with a good book has been one of my favourite pastimes. In fact, English Literature classes were my favourite times at school, and was my chosen subject for ‘A’ Level and undergraduate degree.

I find being able to completely escape into a different world simply magical.

And I especially adore it when I connect with a character or two – Precious Romatswe of The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency series, is one of my all time favourites. For me, one of the signs of a good book is missing the characters long after I’ve read the last page.

It was my current financial constraints which initially forced me to seek out my local library and I’m so happy it did! I’ve rediscovered what an amazing gift libraries are to the community, and have realised just how lucky we are to have such a wonderful free public service here in the UK.

My local library was built in 1886, and there’s something so soothing about this charming building. A world away from the hustle and bustle, it’s an oasis of calm. And there’s something so magical about stepping into this sacred space filled to the brim with stories and adventures.

I love slowly perusing the shelves in search of a new title. And as I grab a handful of potentials, I sit in one of the little chairs tucked away in the library’s nooks and crannys to read the first pages to see if I want to read on.

As well as loaning books, CDs and DVDs, libraries run book clubs, kids clubs, talks, and so many other community programmes giving us plenty of reasons to use them more.

And with our libraries under threat, I do so wish they were more appreciated and utilised more to help keep this wonderful service alive.

And of course, whenever I return books I can’t resist hiding a message on one of my Kindness Cards inside for the next borrower to find.

So with this in mind, my happy for today is being grateful for my local library.

Day 43: Broccoli Soup

Being grateful for the best homemade soup EVER:

As the weather turns autumnal, my tummy is starting to crave soups.

Being a sunshine girl, I dread the summer drawing to a close. But one of the things I do look forward to in the colder months is delicious homemade soups.

I find there’s nothing quite like a steaming bowl of goodness to warm me up and lift my spirits; it’s the ultimate healthy comfort food.

A friend forwarded me Donna Hay’s recipe for Broccoli and Lemon Soup and after slightly adapting it to my tastes and preferences, it has become a firm favourite. My mum’s quite partial to it too.

I think adding the lemon at the end is a stroke of genius from Ms Hay, as it brightens up the flavours. And adding a swirl of yoghurt delivers a refreshing tang, completing the yummy factor.

So with this in mind, my happy for today is being grateful for the best homemade broccoli soup EVER.

The Best Broccoli Soup EVER

1 tbsp coconut oil or 50g butter
1 leek, rinsed and sliced
2-3 cloves garlic, crushed or chopped
1 head broccoli, chopped (including stalk)
1 Litre vegetable stock, or chicken broth
100g baby spinach leaves, washed
½ lemon, or to taste
2 tbsp coconut yoghurt, or to taste (optional – can use natural greek or natural yoghurt if preferred)
Handful almond slivers, lightly toasted in frying pan (optional)
Olive oil, to drizzle on top (optional)

1. Melt oil/butter in medium saucepan
2. Add garlic and leek and cook for around 5 mins, until leek is tender
3. Add broccoli and stock, bring to boil and cook for 8-10 mins, until broccoli is tender
4. Add spinach and let the soup cool for a little while
5. Use a hand blender or carefully blend in a blender until smooth (stop here if you wish to freeze)
6. Stir in lemon
7. Season to taste
8. Ladle into bowls and top with yoghurt and almonds, and drizzle olive oil
9. Eat and enjoy!

NB Makes 4-5 portions. Can be frozen at Step 5, before adding lemon, yoghurt and almonds.

Day 42: Frangipani love

Being grateful for my new frangipani hair clip:

Frangipani is my all-time favourite flower.

I fell in love the moment I saw it during my first visit to Australia.

I adore its delicate simplicity, the freshness of its white petals flushed with yellow, and its sweet scent.

Fangipani season was one of my most favourite times of year when I lived in Sydney. I was so excited to see the buds on its gnarly branches starting to blossom around December time, heralding the beginning of summer.

I was always in awe to see a tree in full bloom, and to witness my neighbourhood streets carpeted with freshen fallen blooms was such a treat.

On my walks, I used to collect a fistful to float in bowls of water at home and on my desk at work.

And I couldn’t resist popping one of two of them in my hair.

Recently, I was delighted to find a frangipani hair clip on eBay. I’ve been wearing it in my hair since it arrived, not really caring that I’m only wearing it around the house.

It never fails to make me smile when I catch a glimpse of it in the mirror: my happy flower.

So with this in mind, my happy for today is being grateful for my new frangipani hair clip.