Glass half-full, not half-empty

I am very aware that I tend to pessimism.  I don't mean to, nor do I want to, but such is my character that I must constantly be on guard against negativity.  I have had times in my life where pessimism has taken hold and I have had to work very hard to pull myself out of despondency.

The coreopsis is still flowering away merrily.  They are such bright cheerful flowers and bring a smile to my face.

N and I were speaking about this just recently and he admitted he gets the same way on occasions.  He reminded me, if I needed to be reminded, that we actually have so much to be thankful for.  So much, but we don't always see it.  It's true.  I need to take time to be thankful and to acknowledge what has been achieved even (and especially) when things seem a little overwhelming, or just plain dull.

At the end of this week, I'm going to take stock of the positives.  

• The new raised bed has been built and planted up - it looks great.
• I have made some damson jam from fruit that was being sold from a garden we often walk past - we chatted to the owner about pruning fruit trees and jam-making.  The jam is delicious.

The jars are upside-down to seal them

• Yesterday N and I sorted through the home files and shredded a lot of out-of-date paperwork.  Then we had a clear-out of the bookcase and have two bags of paperbacks ready to go the the charity shops.  And now all the remaining books fit in the bookcase properly.
• We have had our friends round for lunch again - we enjoy their company and it makes us make an effort, although we have realised we only have 3 soup bowls and we could do with 4!

Walnuts we picked up off the ground during our walks in Thassos

• I have made bread, crunchy biscuits and a banana and walnut loaf.

• I have taken some lavender cuttings (admittedly a little late in the season) and will see if I can get them to root.

My glass is half-full (actually, sometimes it positively overflows!) and I intend to actively focus on the good, positive things rather than allowing the negativity gremlins to sneak in.

We have finally decided to do something to nudge us past this indecision about moving/staying put.  I have decided the carpet has to go!  It's dull, badly marked and faded in places, and it makes the flat quite dark and depressing.  I'm beginning to really dislike it.  N has decided that a couple of pieces of furniture in the flat are his 'bug-bears' so they will go, too.  Today we went looking at carpets and wallpaper and have come back quite excited at what we have found.  We have a few decorating ideas which we feel will lighten and brighten the rooms without breaking the bank, although we are prepared to spend some money on a decent carpet.  The kitchen may or may not have a revamp, we'll see how things go.  However, we both feel cheered up at the prospect of giving the flat a bit of a make-over.

Sunsets are getting earlier and earlier.  At the end of October the clocks go back an hour at the end of British Summer Time and we will have to get used to the short dark days of winter again.

I have returned to making lists again - they help me stay organised, focussed and provide good motivation through the week.  When I read through blogs or articles on the internet I jot down things that interest me or that I want to look into further, so there really is no reason at all for me to be bored, or at a loss for something to do.   And I always have sewing on the go - which reminds me that I will put up photos of the 'big project' tomorrow.

Writing this post has been good for me.  It's made me concentrate on the little successes that pepper our lives.  Sometimes it's just too easy to forget all the positives like good health, somewhere to live, food to eat, friends and family; the 'taken-for'granted' things that are just accepted as the norm.  It's sadly not the norm for many people, and I should not be casual in my attitude towards that.  

I shall make a point of being thankful for something everyday - look for the positives that make my glass half-full.