Dysfunctional Planner

What are 5 everyday things that bring you happiness?

My husbands cancer chained me to the house, especially in the first few months. If I needed to leave I would ask his mum to come over. Complications with his surgery meant he couldn’t walk far so he just needed someone with him. My garden and home was my sanctuary.

Lots of things bring me everyday happiness. Most of it is nature. Most of it with me at all times.

1.my allotment

On cold and dreary midwinter weekends I would head out into the garden, walking out the back to the overgrown allotment where thorns and brambles filled my path. I felt like the prince hacking away at the brambles trying to find my sleeping beauty. I would have my phone on me so Gavin could call me and I could be at his side within minutes.

It didn’t matter if it was raining or sleet, I needed a release and my allotment was it. I chopped back a few meters each week, my arms and face full of tiny scratches and progress I made. My gardens, allotment was my everything during those months. Still to this day it brings me joy every single day. I gave it a little water and the lettuce is coming up! My cabbage is about to flower and the chard and parsley are really prolific.

2.seeds

Although seeds are apart of my garden and my allotment they hold a different joy. A future joy. There is a lot of planning that goes into planting, how many to plan for, how many will grow! Sometimes I scatter seeds and hope for the best. Sometimes I sow them in the green house and monitor them, sometimes I bring them inside.

Vegetable seeds I only buy what I want to grow and know that I don’t need too much of anything. flower seeds again I just grow what I want to see but I love it when they self seed and I love it when they flower the next year. I have only been in this house a year, this is my second spring and my hollyhock seeds from last year are shooting and I may get flowers this year, I plan for a lot more next.

Sitting in an evening arranging my seeds, planning what to sow on what day and planning where they will go is another wonderful escape of pure happiness.

3. Frank and Gavin

I mean if you have a pet you understand how important there love is in your life. It’s the same with our Frenchie.

My husband is healthy now. His cancer journey was a lot shorter than most because he caught it early. He still gets tired and isn’t up to full health yet but 2023 is behind us. And now we have the future to look forward to.

4. Books

I love to read, again it’s escapism, me and Gavin will often sit down and read in the evenings, I try and read everyday. Even if it’s just a chapter. I am currently reading 4 books and I am enjoying them all.

I also collect beautiful books. And look forward to my illumicrate and Waterstones Specail editions. I probably buy two a month but they are wonderful and it doesn’t help that Waterstones sends me emails about them all the time.

5. Where we live

Our house, our home, it’s a mess right now with every room started to be renovated and nothing finished. But it’s a lovely home and I feel safe here. I am so grateful for its wider steps and so much light. I love all the gardens it comes with, I love the street where we live, even though it needs more trees.

Everyday this house brings me joy. I can see how it will look in the future. I appreciate how it is now. We are warm and sheltered.

I try and appreciate everything that brings me happiness. I am a pretty content person.

So tell the people you love, you love them. And check your stool, it may save your life.