Things I am happy about...

I find that when I'm not talking about the latest travel destination we've visited, most of my blogposts since I've arrived in England are about the things that make me unhappy: the weather, the boredom, the idiosyncrasies that I know are cherished by the English but annoying to this American.

That's a one-way road to depression-ville, though. So I thought I would purposefully sit down and focus on the things that I am happy about - even as the wind howls outside, I have bathtowels drying on the line outside and I know they'll be as stiff as boards when I bring them in, and there are no current plans on our horizon that involve me spending time in a warm climate.

#1 - We have no children. This sounds like an odd thing to be happy about, but seriously, I couldn't be happier. For every status update on FB that is something positive about parenthood, there are ten others that bewail some other stress, drama, problem, or frustration. I know it's not a very scientific way of understanding parenthood, but I think my bliss will be in ignorance on this particular subject.

#2 - We are financially stable. This is probably directly connected to #1, but I also chalk this up to the choices that DH and I make about our lives. Living beneath our means, keeping focused on our long-term goals and having clear priorities about what we value now are all key for us. But mainly it has been because DH has a good, stable job that he enjoys and even though I'm not working at the moment, when I was working it was also in a good, stable job that I (mostly) enjoyed. Is luck involved? If so, is it lots of luck, or just a little? Who knows - I hate to give too much credit to luck when it denigrates the very real choices and work we do to be in our position, but I also realize that circumstances beyond our control contributed to where we are now. Particularly during these times when so many are struggling, this bit is something I'm especially thankful for.

#3 - We have a positive marriage. Again, this is greatly influenced by #1 and #2, but I have been in enough relationships to know I have much to be thankful for in this respect. DH and I have similar values, similar life goals, and while our relationship is far from perfect (who's is, and what is relationship perfection anyway?) at the end of the day (or sometimes, the next morning) we contribute more to each other's life than we take from it.

#4 - I love my car. This sounds so shallow and minor, but it really represents something bigger. Everyone needs something that brings them utter and complete joy without strings, without complications, without drama, without trying. For me, that's my car. It represents the first BIG THING I ever bought for myself that was purely for me, that was exactly what I wanted, and it has never let me down. I can be in the worst mood in the world, but I get into that car and that black cloud evaporates immediately.

#5 - I have my health. I may not be in the best shape of my life, but I think my health is one of the most precious things I have. This is another one of those bit o' luck, bit o' personal responsibility things (don't smoke, don't drink to excess regularly, don't overeat but also have good genes and good fortune on my side). This is definitely one of those areas that could turn in an instant, but for now, I'll be happy about it.

Five things is a pretty good list I think. Some of them are in my control, some of them aren't. But right here, right now, as my two kitties sleep peacefully in the back room, DH is on his way home from work early, and a weekend full of work is in my cards, I can sit back and look at these five things and find a little internal sunshine to counter the dark clouds out the window.