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Turning Twenty Seven | 27 Moments of Gratitude | Rosie Abigail

Turning Twenty Seven | 27 Moments of Gratitude | Rosie Abigail

I blinked and I suddenly turned twenty-seven. How did that happen? Well, I blinked and now I am twenty-seven plus one week, so close enough…

I’ve noticed that during this last year, I have become much more introspective – I think that’s the journaling doing its work. With that introspection has come a real celebration of gratitude. I’m always scribbling down things that have made me happy or moments that have made me think so I can look back on them later. And you know what? I’ve got a lot to be thankful for in my life. So, instead of writing a deep ol’ blog about the concept of ageing (I’ll save that for my thirtieth birthday), I want to celebrate what I have been grateful for in this year of my life.

Without further ado, I am grateful for –

  • 1. The love of my life. Mr Rory B. The man who makes me feel like a million bucks when I look and feel like a swamp critter. He’s the yang to my yin, my blanket on a cold day, and the personification of home. 
  • 2. Living with my conditions. Well, sometimes I am not so grateful for the hand I have been dealt, especially on those days I am in hospital or in immense pain. But in the long run, I am grateful that these conditions have been given to me, or thrust upon me. They make me a stronger and more empathetic human. I also don’t have the ability to shut up about them, so it means everyone around me is going to get educated too!
  • 3. My wedding of dreams. Almost a year ago now, I said ‘I do’ (do I have to clarify that I married Rory? It would be weird if it was anyone else…). We had a beautiful ceremony (we cried), a stunning meal (we smiled), and an even better party (we drank and danced and cried some more). 
An image of Rory and Rosie leaving a grey/brown church, with onlookers showering them in confetti. On the left, Rosie is a white woman with long brown hair in waves, in a white and lace wedding dress, and is holding a yellow and green bouquet in her right hand. Her left hand is linked through Rory's right arm. He is on the right of the picture. Rory is a white man with light brown hair, and is wearing a black Prince Charlie jacket, with a red and blue kilt, black sporran, and long white socks. The couple are grinning.
Rosie and Rory stood in front of a castle turret, with greenery in the background. On the left, Rosie is a white woman with long brown hair in waves, in a white and lace wedding dress, and is holding a yellow and green bouquet in her right hand. Rory is a white man with light brown hair, and is wearing a black Prince Charlie jacket, with a red and blue kilt, black sporran, and long white socks. The couple are looking at each other and smiling lovingly.
Photos taken by the amazing Tim Beavis at Flux Bros
  • 4. Books. After sliding out of love with reading thanks to five years of academic literature study, this year was when I fell back in love with falling between the pages of a book. A truly magical experience.
  • 5. My family – near and far. This last year was the year I (legally) gained a family of fantastic in-laws to add to the already wonderful family I am so blessed to have. To me, family is the glue that keeps it all together, and I wouldn’t be who I am without the people who made me. 
  • 6. The blogging community. This little corner on the internet gives me so much joy, I can’t even describe. Whether this is your first post or you are a long-term reader, thank you. 
  • 7. My rescue cat, Pearl. What was life like before rescuing this fluffy monster? I honestly cannot remember. My hot water bottle, my anxiety pillow, my sparkle of joy. 
  • 8. My friends. Friends who I see each month; friends who I see once a year; friends who make me laugh almost every single day. Nearby or online, I wouldn’t be this version of me without you. 
  • 9. My fixer-upper home. If you asked me if I was feeling grateful for my Victorian fixer upper in November, when rain was pouring through the roof, and I was staring a £1000 invoice in the face, I might have said something differently (something that rhymes with “duck off”). But even in those worrisome moments, this roof over my head is a blessing and something I should never, ever, take for granted. 
A cream and grey fluffy cat sat on blankets - Pearl the rescue cat. Her fluffy tail is sprawled on the left of the image, and she has her face nestled into crossed paws on the right of the image. Most of the blanket is white with blue squares, but a red tartan blanket rests by her head.
Pearl, our rescue cat
A picture of a hallway. A purple panelled wall runs along tje left, with a white ceiling above it. There is a white arch towards the top right of the image. The centre of the image focuses on a gold mirror above a white radiator cover. The gold mirror says 'welcome to the wedding of Rory & Rosie' in white cursive. On top of the radiator cover is a green plant, a pink glass star, a purple candle, and a bunch of flowers. The floor peeks from the bottom of the image; pink, white, and blue tiles.
The hallway in our Victorian terrace home
  • 10. Our once in a lifetime honeymoon. Not a day goes by when I don’t think about my honeymoon. The sun, the food, the experiences. These thoughts are my happy place.
  • 11. Autumn. The greatest season of all. The crunchy leaves, rainy days, hot drinks and blankets. If it’s not ten degrees and drizzly, I don’t want it. 
  • 12. Education. I’m still getting used to the grown-up concept of ‘not being in education’, despite finishing my full-time undergraduate course six years ago, and my postgraduate two years ago. Education is powerful and magnetic and gives people the ability to do things they never thought they could. Despite not being in education, I make sure to learn every single day.
  • 13. The NHS. It’s not an exaggeration to say that without the NHS, I would be dead. Sorry if that seems harsh for a birthday post, but it’s true. Whilst the world is full of things to be grateful for, anyone in Britain should thank their lucky stars daily for the NHS. 
  • 14. Second-hand clothing. I am firmly a circular fashion girly nowadays and the joy it gives me? I didn’t expect this! I have found so many wonderful, unique pieces on Vinted, Depop, and eBay, that have really shaped my style and my mindset. She’s a thrifty-queen!
  • 15. Oat milk iced coffee with a shot of vanilla. Perfection.  
  • 16. My faith. If you know me in real life this is either an “of course” moment or a “what, wait?!” moment. My faith is a mishmash of experiences and spirituality, grounded in Methodism, and is solely my own practice. It is such an integral part of me that it is not something you can untangle from ‘Rosie’. Think what you want about religion and faith, but my practice works for me and makes me a better person.
An image of Rosie stood in front of two pillars of red brick, surrounded by trees and greenery. Rosie is a white woman with a brown-blonde bob of wavy hair and glasses. She is wearing a black dress with red cherries over it, and black boots. Her arms are behind her back and she is gazing up and to the left, letting the sun settle on her.
Second-hand styling in Winchester
The bottom part of the image is a close of Rosie's face whilst she is wearing an oxygen mask. Rosie is a white woman with glasses, her hair is up and strands of blonde curl around her face. She looks tired and has grey bags under her eyes. The mask is tight to her face via blue ribbon and tubing. To her right is a blue hospital curtain. Above her are white hospital ceiling squares .
Life with asthma
An image of Rosie stood in front of Cinderella Castle at Walt Disney World. Rosie is stood looking over her shoulder at the camera. She is a white woman with a blonde wavy bob and glasses. She is wearing a white mini dress with daisies on it; a purple tartan small backpack; and grey trainers. The castle takes up most of the image behind her, with pink walls, blue turrets, and an iridescent bade that reads '50' in gold letters. Behind the castle is a blue sky with white clouds.
Celebrating our honeymoon at Walt Disney World
  • 17. My body. For the places it takes me, for the things it can do.
  • 18. My mind. For the places it takes me, for the things it can do. 
  • 19. Second-hand bookshops and music shops. There is a smell those places hold, of must and history, that makes me feel like I’ve crossed the threshold home. I don’t frequent them as much as I would like, but I feel wholly myself when I visit, and isn’t that wonderful?
  • 20. The ability to travel. The world is a beautiful place and I am so grateful I get to explore it.
  • 21. The Artist’s Way. This is one of the books I will recommend to you if you are creative because it changed the way I care for myself and my creativity. I am especially grateful for this book for introducing the act of morning pages into my life. If I don’t write three pages in the morning, I haven’t started my day correctly. 
  • 22. Medication. Mainly Sertraline, Seretide, Ventolin, Epinephrine, Cetirizine Hydrochloride, Cocoadmol, Naproxen, Omeprazol – the real MVPs in my life.
The view overlooking the Minack Theatre in Cornwall. The bottom of the image is taken up by the Minack Theatre; grey pathways down a hill, stone fences, grassy rowns of seats; a grey stage with pillars. the top half of the image shows a bright blue sea, stretching out. The sky above it is blue with white clouds, and a grey piece of land cuts through on the left of the image.
The Minack Theatre, Cornwall
An image of the back of Rosie looking at books in a bookstore. To the left of the image is a table of colourful books. To the right is Rosie; a white woman with her blonde wavy hair up in a claw clip. Although we can only see her back, she is wearing a white blouse, blue jeans, and a black side bag. She is looking at an array of books on black shelves. The carpet below her is red with yellow designs.
Waterstones, Winchester Brooks Centre
  • 23. My parents. I know I’ve talked about my family already but I’ve noticed this year that I really am my parent’s daughter. From the way I put a tea towel over my shoulder when cooking like my dad does, to the way my hands look like a smaller version of my mum’s, and the way my politics align loudly and proudly with theirs. I am so grateful to be a mish-mash of these two incredible people.
  • 24. Employment in a sector that means that means a lot to me. Also, once you hit twenty-five, pensions become a lot more important.
  • 25. Lucy & Yak jeans. I have been late to the party but I have been converted. No other jeans come close, no other jeans make me feel this good. 
  • 26. The chronic illness community – particularly the online community. You have made me feel more visible and supported than you will ever know. 
  • 27. The years I have ahead. May they be as full of joy, wonder, and learning as this last year has been. Here’s to twenty-seven. 

Thank you for sharing in this nostalgic piece of joy with me in honour of getting another year older. Tell me, what is something you have to be grateful for today? I think gratitude is such a glorious thing to practice, and yet something we so often forget to do.

Thanks for reading,
Rosie x

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One response to “Turning Twenty Seven | 27 Moments of Gratitude | Rosie Abigail”

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    Anonymous

    What am I grateful for? you ask. Well… You of course! Love, AJ x

    Liked by 1 person

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