Thankful Thursday

Today I am linking in with Kate from katesaysstuff for Thankful Thursday courtesy of Coloursofsunset who tagged me (thank you for the recognition).  Thank you also to Lyndal for wanting to tag me but A got in first !!!   I had a very quick read of Kate's blog this morning before the proverbial hit the fan at work and wondered what I could say about myself and why I felt I was awesome - and I couldn't really think of anything so wasn't going to take part in TT this week.  Then A tagged me and I thought that I had better put my thinking cap on and come up with something that I am awesome at and this is what I came up with :

I can achieve anything I want - when I put my mind to it.  For many years I believed I couldn't run - I was wrong, I can run.  And I love running - whether I will ever be able to, or want to, run a marathon, I don't know, but for now, I love that I can get home from work, get dressed in my running gear, and go out and pound the streets whether it is for 4km or (like last night) 12 km.

I care about others - and want the best for them.  I love to help people and will do what I can, whenever I can, if I know that it will benefit someone else.  I love being able to pay it forward.

While I am the least maternal woman I know, I (together with Al) have done a great job at raising our daughter, who is an amazing young lady who I am proud to call my daughter.  Yes, we have been through some difficult times, but we are all that much stronger for what we have been through.

( I have to add here that I have found the above three paragraphs some of the most difficult to write - writers block had nothing on what I have been through trying to find three reasons why I am awesome - clearly I didn't get much thinking done since A tagged me otherwise it wouldn't have taken me so long to think of these !!!  Clearly I find it really difficult to acknowledge myself - maybe I need to try to do it more often !!!!)

In paying it forward, I would like to tag the following amazing, inspiring, encouraging and motivating women except they have already been tagged Coloursofsunset, Lyndal and Kate.  Thank you to all of you for all that give to me - the support from you is amazing - I am so glad that we are friends.  Lucky for  me, because you have already been tagged, I get to choose three other amazing bloggers to tag :

Lisa - Mum of Adult Kids - is someone who writes about everyday things that I can relate to and I find myself reading and nodding my head and thinking "This lady has been there and knows."  Many of the blogs I read belong to Moms with little kids - Lisa's kids are older, like mine, and it is so good to know that I am not alone on this journey with my child.

Jane - Onwards & Downwards - is the lady who got me motivated to start exercising.  I read about her swimming kms in the morning and I became inspired to start exercising more regularly because she just got up and did it.  Her blog is always full of motivational posters and links to exercise programs - if ever I am wondering what I can do exercise wise, I know if I hop over to her blog I will find something to do.

Sonia - Life, Love and Hiccups - writes from her heart and no subject matter is taboo.  There are very few posts that I read that don't make me smile or laugh out loud !!  She tells it like it is - no punches pulled and she has great photos in nearly every single post.

Do yourself a favour and hop over to any of the blogs I have mentioned here - you won't be disappointed with what you read.  There are so many inspiring bloggers out there, it was hard to pick only 3 to pay it forward to, if only there was more time in the day to connect with them all.  While I have not stopped blogging altogether, I have tried to cut back due to a post I read a little while ago by Hands Free Mama so that when I am with family / friends, I am actually present with them and not busy on twitter / reading blogs / facebook.  It doesn't always happen but I am trying to spend more time living with the people around me rather than interacting with my internet friends - not because I don't love all of you - but because, for me, life is about the people around me.

Thank you to Kate for this amazing exercise - I have really enjoyed reading the posts that have been linked to Thankful Thursday.

Have the best Friday possible - take care !

TFTD : What seems to be a dead end may be an arrow pointing you in an unexpected direction - Bashar