Grateful

You know, I have had to give up quite a few things since I started my own business.  I’ve made the choice to purchase margarine instead of butter, a health risk I know.  I’ve exchanged my double ply for single ply, I still love my bum it’s just half price.  I’ve stop buying expensive salon shampoo and my scalp has complained continually ever since.  I’ve taken up walking instead of driving, which is far better for my health and the environment so I can’t really complain about that.  I have stopped buying sweets, snacks and rubbish from tea rooms.  I have also given up drinking coca-cola and coffee, both having very real benefits to my physical health and probably mental too, but took a great deal of will power and dedication to kick.  I have also gone from smoking Stuyvesant Reds to rolling my own, which can be a little tricky to do, when trying to navigate the pot hole filled roads of Durban.  All in all, I’ve made some very serious sacrifices.  But the funny thing is I didn’t consider any of these choices to be a sacrifice until The Husband decided to have one of his little moans about all he had to give up.  After enduring an hour of repetitive grumbles it got me thinking about all the things I had to give up, which then led me to asking myself if these were sacrifices or simply better choices for my life in general.  After this my brain led to thinking how different he and I are when it comes to looking at our lives.

You see my mother taught me to be grateful for all I get.  I used to get so annoyed with her when she would shout at me for not being grateful and groaning about what I didn’t have.  She used to remind me of all I did have and how much more I have than others; and how much worse my life could be; all I had to do was stop and think about those millions of other people all over the world who don’t have running water, food to eat, clothes to wear or even a house to live in.  I am so grateful she taught me this lesson.  It has helped me to realize that I am indeed the luckiest person in the entire Universe.  And it has also taught me to continual evaluate my life and be grateful and happy for all that I have.  I don’t look at others and get sad because I perceive them to have more than me.  I usually feel sorry for other people, because how could anyone be as blessed as me!?!  How could anyone possibly have as much love, as much support and be surrounded by as many wonderful people as I am!?!  It’s just not possible.

I kind of feel sorry for The Husband now.  He was not taught this lesson.  He was taught that life is horrid and people are not kind.  Everyone is out to get you and every small little sacrifice is not a means to an end but an end of your life.  Going through your life being a martyr and a victim is most tiring.  It saps all your energy and doesn’t allow any room for happiness to grow.  It stunts you and shrivels you and turns you into a prune.  Tasty but you can only have so many of them before your bowels start protesting.

You see, I could sit here and complain about the single ply toilet paper that scratches my bum, my higher risk of cancer due to the plastic margarine I consume or my itchy scalp until I’m blue in the face, but that would be pointless because I know that this is only temporary.  I also know that I have so much more to be grateful for.

I have The Husband who takes care of all the household bills so I can concentrate on creating a successful and prosperous business, yes he has an occasional moan but he does it.  I also have a mother who taught me to always look on the bright side and concentrate on the light at the end of the tunnel.  I have a sister who believes I will succeed no matter what.  I have The Best Friend in the Entire Universe who always makes me feel worthwhile, brilliant, beautiful and invincible.  I have an incredible extended family who believes that charity really does begin at home, not necessarily with hand outs but with whatever help they can give.  I have the most amazing twelve year son who reminds me on a daily basis that love is unconditional and gives me a reason to get up in the morning.  I have Victoria who keeps my flat clean always with a smile on her face and a kind word for me.  I have a Renault Clio that does the work of a bakkie.  I have a roof over my head, food in my belly, warm water to wash away the aches and pains and clothes in my cupboard.  I have a cupboard.  I have so much that really when I make the list of do have and don’t have, I can only smile and say:

I truly am the Luckiest Girl in the Entire Universe.