I love optimism and positivism and I believe it helps remind our subconscious brain that we have a lot to be thankful for. I honestly believe that each day is a gift but I had to find a way of discovering this as it was not my ‘normal’ many years ago. Every day I find joy in the smallest of things. Today it has been my brave little toddler adjusting to his cast from his broken arm, the bright blue sky and spring blossoms bursting open, the seaweed dumped on the beach for my gardens, teaching the backpacker who’s been prepping our urban gardens for edible garden classes I’ll be teaching in the coming weeks as the weather warms. 

He’s been learning all sorts of things during his stay like how to make a compost heap that will be ready in 6 weeks using hedge trimmings, seaweed, autumn leaves, manure and a soil cap. Catching up with the amazing owner of the land where I am so lucky to be setting up my large edible gardens to use personally and as a teaching ground was a breath of fresh air and her new baby chicks are so very sweet. I am very much in love with life and the precious people I keep in mine. It takes a lot to get me down and when I do I bounce back quickly.

I had the very lucky opportunity to learn how to do so a long time ago. 17 years ago, in my late teens, I completely crashed when my traumatic childhood experiences caught up with me. I got well after two years of intensive therapy to break the bonds of post traumatic stress and depression and I have never looked back.

From that experience I began a career in Human Resources and quickly was educated as a training and development manager – helping others find their happy state and discover their passions so their corporate team life ran more smoothly. I loved teaching gratitude and mindfulness. We all have so much to be thankful for.

As I have been working with our 19 year old backpacker this week, I think back to my messed up 19th year when I thought my world as I knew it was crashing down around me. I think sometimes in life you need to reach the bottom of the hole to begin climbing out and your life from then on will always be better if not exceptional like mine.

Change is not a bad thing if you can find opportunity, and in every change in life there is always opportunity to be grateful.

xx Maria