Following is my monthly wrap up of things that made me smile during the month. Earlier in the year I made a commitment to myself to make a concerted effort to think about the great and positive things in my life, and in particular, those things that make me smile. These days, most of the things that make me smile are the simple, every day things that many would consider to be unremarkable. No longer do I need big things or big events in my life, to make me happy.
Swimming
For my birthday in January, I received a seasonal pass to the swimming pool that I trained in last year. I hadn’t been swimming for a while, due to issues of time, but had been thinking of getting back in the pool as it would help with my knee rehab. I managed to get to the pool twice each week in February and loved being back in the water. I’m not able to swim until my knee is a bit stronger, but walking in the water, along with a bit of deep water running has been really beneficial for my knee.
The You Project
My February highlight was definitely The You Project Congerence that I attended. This was an all day event with very inspirational guest speakers. You can read about it here: You Project Conference
Image Craig Harper @whiteboardlessons
Photo a day Challenge
During February, I’ve been participating in a photo challenge on Instagram. I always love a photo challenge. Following are two of my favourite photos.
Prompt: half
Prompt: In My Cup
The photo for the prompt In My Cup, shows the Twinings Sleep tea that I’ve recently discovered. The ingredients of this herbal tea are camomile, orange blossom and just a hint of honey. I don’t have it every night, but when I do drink it, I find that it helps me get to sleep more quickly. The downside is drinking tea at night causes me to wake in the middle of the night, for a bathroom visit. The challenge then is to get back to sleep quickly, which rarely happens. But generally, my sleep patterns have been better since I found this tea.
Rain
Finally, we had rain! There were a couple of rare heavy downpours during Feb, which means the garden is looking much more healthy than it usually looks at the end of summer. The rain has had me smiling and feeling that I have my gardening mojo back. My love of gardening had taken a bit of a sabbatical as it was just all too hard due to the drought. Now I’m looking forward to a busy, happy, smiley time in the garden during autumn.
An Abundance of Passionfruit
The best passion fruit vine has loved the rain and has produced a huge amount of fruit. For a special treat I made an Eton Mess with passion fruit being the main ingredient. It was amazing!
What was the highlight of February for you? I’d love to hear about it and promise to reply to all comments.
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Hi Jennifer, I think we all need all the smiles we can get at the moment and I’m so glad to read through yours! My new baby grandson has made me smile but also anxious at the same time if that makes sense #lifethisweek
I understand what you mean about smiles and anxious Deb. Such a beautiful time for you but there are always worries too.
My mother (in her 70s) has had a knee replacement and two hip replacements and done therapy at the swimming pool after each one.
She buys a pass which gives her a few sessions at a discounted price and has exercises her physio gave her. She can’t actually swim but walks in the water and does squats etc.
I can swim (badly) but have been going with her occasionally to walk myself as I’m pretty unfit at the moment so find the water is gentle on my joints!
Deb when I was younger I taught water aerobics to older people who were suffering with arthritis. The pool gives great relief as I’m sure it does for your mum and you. Thanks for visiting
I need to find this sleep tea… Passionfruit are lovely at the moment & super cheap & love your prompt for “half”. Here’s to more healing in March.
Thanks Jo. The tea should be available in most sopermarkets. The prompt for half was my partners idea. I thought it was great.
The Eton Mess looks so delicious!
So glad the pool is helping your knee rehab, I am heading to my local tomorrow to give my whole body a bit of rehab!
SSG xxx
Nothing like a pool workout. Enjoy! And thanks for dropping by
Hi Jennifer – we had a couple of big downpours here too over February – after a very dry December and January. Love your passionfruit mess and all your positive February happenings – I always enjoy upbeat blog posts 🙂
There’s enough distress going on in the world at the moment. We need to look at the positives I feel
It’s the simple things in life that me happy too. The best bits of February were having my brother come to visit and stay. Can’t wait until he moves closer to us at the end of the year. Also having my niece and her boyfriend stay. And of course, I loved the rain.
Hope March is wonderful.
Sandra 🙂 Xx
Sounds like Feb has been kind to you too Sandra
Rain has been great – this summer has had such a turn around. We went from a yard that needed lots of watering to a yard that we can’t keep up with the mowing!
It’s been a strange summer Vanessa. Thanks for popping in
Plenty to smile about in February. That Passionfruit Eton Mess looks the business!
Was amazing Sammie. Thanks for visiting
That was a lovely catch up. Passionfruit is one of my favourite flavours. Been quite expensive here but I still managed to make some little cakes with passionfruit and coconut inside and iced with the passionfruit flavoured icing. Yum.
Thank you for joining in Life This Week. Next week’s optional prompt is Share Your Snaps. Hope to see you linking up too. Denyse.
If you were close by I’d give you some of our passion fruit, Denyse. We have so many. See you at #lifethisweek on Monday