Thankful

Being in Australia has reminded me of how blessed I am. Even in my outside-Australia life, I have so many great things going for me, and I often overlook them with the occasional crap that's happening. I don't know if it's being away from everything familiar, or not being faced with the same problems in America, or if something just changed in me (or maybe a combination of everything?), but I feel like my heart is getting heavier with more love & happiness that I know what to do with! I feel like I say this every time I write in here, but I have been given such an incomparable gift that I have an overload of people/things/experiences to be thankful for!

outside my bedroom window

I am thankful for~

1. my neighbor's fountain 

2. my big pillow that i use for meditation

3. my remarkable view of hillside houses, palm trees, & blooming spring flowers- just outside my bedroom window

4. my big, comfortable, & warm queen bed

5. i live 20 minutes away from fresh ocean air, soft sand, & colorful waves

6. cards, letters, & care packages that my friends & family have generously taken the time to send me

7. my amazing host family

8. my 3 super fun fellow aupairs whom i spend every weekend with

9. my wonderful boss back home who graciously offered me my previous job for when i return

10. phone cards, for they come in handy when my internet doesn't work

11. ace bandages

11. the ellen degeneres show

12. my journal

13. my pink sippy water bottle that josh got me last summer

14. i'm not dead last in fantasy football

15. the honeyeaters, kookaburras, wrens, & magpies who are always singing outside my window

16. my amazing, out-of-this-world companion, other half, partner in crime, & boyfriend, Josh

17. my ability to read, write, see, hear, touch, feel, smell, taste, walk, breathe, digest, think, type, move, & physically/mentally live a 'normal' human life

18. individuals in this world who are making a difference in saving the lives of thousands of factory farmed animals

19. i've never had to go 1 day without food, water, clothing, or shelter

20. i have both of my eyes, my arms, legs, ears, teeth, fingers, toes, & organs and they all function nearly perfectly

21. i have the most AMAZING group of friends back home...i love each of them so very much, there's no way i'll ever be able to show them how much they all mean to me

22. i know too many people who have not lived to see their 24th birthday. i will see mine in 12 days

23. people who i have hurt have had the courage & love to forgive me and give me another chance

24. tea

25. malteesers

26. meditating every morning and/or every night to the sounds of Australian nature (and my neighbor's fountain)

27. my ankle is healing more and more every day

28. i have access to phones, internet, and snail mail

29. my huggy 

30. my LIFE!

I can't say it enough- Australia has really opened my eyes and helped me let go of a lot of negative feelings I once had. I am so so so so so so SOOOOOO thankful to have been given this chance to free myself of my once damaged soul and to have been able to experience Australian life, culture, food, people, places, nature, & life that I will forever treasure <3

xoxo

<33holly