Coming 2nd is good, right....???

So, what do you think about coming 2nd ???

That should be a good thing,

Right......??

I'd like to think that coming 2nd is a great thing,

when you have put all your heart and soul into something...

Today, my son came 2nd in a sporting competition...

And he was heartbroken.

And my heart broke for him....

I have always said that it doesn't matter where you come,

As long as you try your hardest...

But, it does matter.....doesn't it ???

And, I know that it shouldn't....

But, there is a difference you feel coming 1st to coming 2nd...

Let's be honest here...

My sporting accomplishments would not have filled a

sentence on this page when I was my sons age.

So, my son has surpassed anything that I could

ever have dreamed of doing as a child....

And I am so very proud of him,

Because he tries hard...and he is a great person - 

Whom I love unconditionally....

I have probably 'won' more things later in life - 

when I have had the maturity to reflect on the events...

He doesn't have this yet....or so I thought.

So, we drove home today with forced conversation...

Compared to the nervous chatter we had this morning...

Later - we talked & he was very upset, 

but then he said "I'm ok, I know what I am going to change for next time..."

To me, that is worth more than any gold medal,

It shows me that he can reflect somewhat....

And as a parent we always want to know that our

Children will be ok.....you know, with 'life'..

I know my son will be ok...

As I write this he is laughing & chattering away....

And, I'm also sure that this will not be the only time,

that he comes 2nd....

But, each times things like this happen they will make him stronger. 

And that's why coming 2nd is such a great thing....

Really....isn't it.......???

Today my five 'small' things that count (in no particular order) are:

1. Walking with friends
2. An understanding husband
3. My fish to watch
4. Our gorgeous son
5. Fresh strawberries

New Beginnings.....

I just love new things.

Like: 

Buying a new dress, purchasing new stationary, new shoes or even moving to a new area......

New things are just cool; they make you feel good, and sometimes they are exciting...

New things are extra great when you have to save up, or work really hard to get them. The reward is well worth it – rather than having something handed to you.....

I have a great 'new' thing........Yesterday, I accepted a new job....!!!

I am very excited!!... And I’m really looking forward to the challenge of learning a new set of skills, and responsibilities.

The thrill of re-inventing myself - to a whole group of new people that don’t know me yet....

With new things though, come old memories;

Old memories of the good times, and some of the bad times.....

It’s Lucky for us that the good memories often take over from any of the bad ones.

I’m really excited about my new job, and also I’m sad about leaving what I have. But lucky for me I get to take those memories with me....

Today my 5 small things that count are:

1.       The amazing stories my son tells me..

2.       My ink nib pen that writes beautifully..

3.       Pink grapefruit..

4.       My gumboots..

5.       Being surrounded by great people..

These are the small things that count.....

A challenging week.....

Its been a challenging week.

Challenging at work...challenging at home...

Not in a terribly bad way, just in a massively busy...'pulled in about 10 different directions' kind of way.

Which made me think, now that I have come out 'the other side'.....

About how 'sometimes' all those small things can appear to be monumentally bigger than they actually are,









and how that stress carries onto those closest to me.....

I tend to retreat into myself when I'm stressed, when my coping skills are pretty much depleted.

Even though I make it my own personal mantra to always try to remember those small things that count - sometimes those other 'big' things just keep on coming in and take up 'space'....

They tend to cloud the way that I am seeing things.....

There are a lot of things to be grateful for...

I know this much is true.....

This week, these are my FIVE small things that count....

1. Enduring love (OK, not really a 'small' thing !!!) ...
2. Music to listen to...
3. Movies to watch...
4. Time to unwind...
5. Brekkie rice...

These are the small things that count..........

The Last of the Firsts....

It's the small things that count......


My Grannie was 85 years young when she passed away....


I remember not so long before that time, she said to me "I'd love to swim in the ocean one more time - to feel the sting of the salt water and the pound of the waves against my skin; even the sand between my toes....I'd love to be able to float again"


I've been thinking about this quite a bit lately, thinking about 'The Last Times'....


We often celebrate the 'Firsts'. For example, the first kiss, the first word that our babies speak and their first steps. But what about the lasts....??

• The last time you slept at home before you 'officially' moved out....
• The last time your child crawled....
• The last time you saw someone special....
• The last time you told someone they mean a lot to you....
• The last time you carried your child, before they have learnt to walk....
• The last nappy change.... (ever)

A lot of the 'lasts' happen before we even realise....

I know that my Grannie wouldn't have thought that day when she was swimming in the surf, that would be the last time....

I have made a commitment to remember and cherish those 'Lasts of the Firsts'..

Trouble is....most often they sneak past before I have even noticed - and it's not until some time later that I realise their absence...

Today my FIVE small things that count are:

1. A child's smile
2. Seeing the wind blow the trees
3. Warm winter days
4. Aloe vera tissues
5. The smell of coffee in the morning

These are the small things that count....

A new day....

It's the small things that count......


Sometimes I forget the good things that are happening;


I shouldn't though.


There are a lot of bad things that happen in this world;


My little world, and the greater world that surrounds me...


But then I make myself stop and think..


Of all the things that are good,


and even great.


Bad things have happened to me of course;


I've nursed my beautiful son,


and cried tears over my sleeping angel.


I've slept alone....


and loved endlessly.


But  it all comes back to me eventually,


As a person....


I can decide on how I should feel. 


So, today my FIVE 'Small things that count' are:

1. My son's laughter that makes me smile
2. An Autumn leaf I found while walking
3. A heater to keep me warm
4. My book - which means I can read
5. Photographs to cherish memories

These are the small things that count...........