Jen’s Happiness Ten: March 2015

Hola!

This month’s Happiness Ten is late because I packed my bags and skipped off to Malta for Easter for Annie Mac’s Lost & Found festival and I’m still not organised enough as a blogger to schedule a post. Good. But there was glitter. So much glitter. It was also my first trip abroad with the Fembot attached to my person – more on that to come.

This post is all about appreciating the good, but I’ll precede that by saying March was a bit stinky in places. I managed to rip the skin of my shins after a fight with the treadmill (I wish I was joking. No I don’t know how I manage it either), I had a nasty headcold and virus that wreaked absolute havoc on my blood sugars, and my poor cousin has unfortunately joined the type 1 club. He is the sibling of my other type 1 cousin, both of whom were diagnosed at 20 years and 6 months. Crackers.

That being said, the less fun stuff always make the good stuff a little bit sweeter, so with that lets get cracking and choose LIFE.

1. Good things coming from shite situations

Last week I wrote what is seemingly a fairly powerful post about my unfortunate encounter with a rather ignorant individual. It touched a nerve with so many people, and was read by many – both with and without diabetes, which in my mind makes the post not about diabetes, but about compassion. It’s amazing that one idiot can highlight just how many good people there are in the world, so for that I thank her for compelling me to write that post, albeit because I was quite upset. A win for humankind.

2. Re-establishing friendships

Life is busy, and I’ve learned as an adult that friendships take work to keep them up. This month I’ve had some entirely jolly times with old friends from uni that I don’t get to see too much. It’s unbelievably ten years this year since I met these people, and I’m really happy that these Grade A dudes are in my life a little more regularly again. It’s clear to me that you can never have enough people in your life, as long as they’re the right kind of human. These guys are that kind of human.

3. Taking the time to read

I find it kinda hard to consistently wade through the assault of information that’s hurled at us every single day thanks to the world now being so entirely and constantly connected. It overwhelms me how much we’re supposed to know these days, due to opinion and information being so accessible. So I’ve taken it back to the good old novel, and rekindled my love for reading. As a kid you couldn’t keep me out of books, and as an English graduate I’m ashamed to say I’ve neglected this glorious medium for a little while. I’ve just finished Elizabeth Is Missing by Emma Healey and I really, really enjoyed it. Everyone else important did too – it’s a Sunday Times Top 5 Bestseller and winner of the Costa First Novel Award 2014. It’s a very earnest exploration of dementia that had my heart in my throat at times. I loved the emotional depth, but it’s also what made the novel deeply unsettling.

4. There’s a cat in my flat!

Everyone, meet Izzie. Awwwww!

This is Ian’s cat. She’s 14 years old and very tired and no longer has the strength to run around outside all day. So she’s come to hang out with us to basically eat, sleep and have cuddles. But it’s hard to express how much joy she is bringing me. When I left Yorkshire I left behind my beloved Lola, and it’s been one of my only major regrets. I completely forgot how much love cats offer you, and Lola and Izzie happen to be very similar; physically and in personality. I’m happy to sound like a crazy cat lady here – I can’t get enough LOOKATTHATFACE. Although it does mean I’m now ordering Dettol by the gallon. Clean home paranoia will get you.

5. Springggggggg

Ah gad, spring is the bloody best. I love that vibe of newness. Freshness, the feeling that everything’s going to be ok because the sun is making itself known. Stuff is blooming, colours are appearing, life is arriving and England just looks so pretty. Yellow is currently everywhere, which happens to be one of my favourite colours so I’m getting all the feels from our fair land. Go nature.

P.S. Sorry Alice Levine I stole this gawjus picture of Hackney from you… but you’re nice so I know it’s ok. Right?

6. Familyness

We’re a small bunch, my family. I have just two first cousins. That’s it. It’s slowly growing now that my brother is married, and Ian’s been welcomed into my Mum’s figurative bosom after some tough interrogation… (Jokes). But time when we’re all together is entirely rare. So Mum coming down for me and my bros to take her to The Lion King was really nice. I think as you get older and experience more ups and downs, see those close to you lose people and experience so much pain, you really do see how precious life is. No matter what your differences, family just cannot be taken for granted.

7. Sam Smith live

Ohhhhh this was delicious. I mean, obviously it was always going to be good, but I felt a bit at Sam Smith saturation point before this. But his Brixton gig entirely blew me away – emotional, fun, vocally perfect and he just seemed so relaxed, belting out note after note that shouldn’t be in anyone’s range, ever. He could have sold out Wembley if he’d wanted, so being part of a much smaller crowd just felt really special. Although he brought Jessie Ware out on stage the day after I went, so I’m not entirely sure I can forgive him for that.

8. Say Yes To The Dress

This is entirely embarrassing but I cannot get enough of this programme. It’s SO GOOD. Bride walks into New York wedding dress shop, searching for the perfect dress for her special day. Cue a bit of story-telling, the ups and downs, dramatic editing, the jeopardy and warm-fuzzy outcome. It’s like watching three Disney films in 30 minutes. I LOVE IT.

9. Headspace App

As mentioned above, March felt slightly funky at times. I have a (recently established, sigh) tendency to think and think to the point it’s not doing me any favours. Nada. Zilch. This doesn’t sit too well because I like to think I’m a very happy-go-lucky (CRINGE PHRASE) person who can always switch off. After the yoga retreat and for many months after, I found mindfulness to be so so beneficial to my general outlook and life. Headspace has really helped me recalibrate, head back towards all of those wonderful practices and chill the eff out. I’d highly recommend you download this and give yourself 10 minutes a day to clear your mind of all the busy thoughts, the information assault, the whirring of hectic lives and nourish your soul a little in the process.

10. Blog Nod – Nadia @ My Sweet Life

Lovely Nadia Ansari first emailed me back in October and I immediately got all of the warm and fuzzys because she is just such a stunningly sweet person. Even though she was/is relatively recently diagnosed with Type 1, I have learnt so much from her Facebook page which is just a gorgeous, positive place to be. It’s just so nice when something not entirely fun can prompt or create positivity (LIFE MANTRA GUYS) and although we haven’t met in person yet, I just wanted to give a wave of appreciation to someone who is creating all the good vibes.