Recently I’ve been reading a lot about the benefits of gratitude and kindness on our health, happiness and getting what you want out of life. I used to be a bit of a Cynical Cynthia and poo-poo any hippy dippy ideas about the power of positive thinking or the law of attraction. It was all too Oprah for me. But, gradually I’ve come to see the light and, like a Cyberman, I’ve been converted and now I’m Barb the Believer. So, as part of my commitment to happiness, I am attempting to speak more (barbed) words of kindness and be grateful for all the wonderful things in life. Here’s my thanks for the weekend:
Thank you…to the bar in central Rome that allowed us to take a welcome break from the heat of the day. It was so good of you to allow us to sit undisturbed for twenty minutes, without hassling us about ordering drinks or food. In fact, you were so determined to make us feel comfortable that you firmly ignored all our attempts to catch your attention. What a pain it was when we were rested enough to move to another bar where the waiter greeted us warmly within 30 seconds of taking a seat. What’s his problem??
Thank you…to the Rolling Stones for an amazing show at Circus Maximus last night. I am seriously in awe of Mick’s fitness; he hardly stood still for two hours. I don’t know where he gets the energy. Also, I don’t know where he gets his hair – surely it can’t be real??
Thank you…to the audience, who not only smoked incessantly but also filmed the entire concert on their iPhones/iPads, thus obscuring what would have been an awesome view of the main stage. Fortunately, we were next to the bridge and mini stage so, despite the sea of technology, I was able to get a close up look at ol’ craggy face Mick.
Thank you…to the lovely group of Italians next to us, who told us how much they disliked English people and that, ‘You fucking English break my balls’. Really? Why have you just forked out €100 to watch a fucking English band then?
Thank you…to the lax parking rules in Rome which enabled us to park directly in front of the venue. Usually I complain about the ‘Park anywhere you like/don’t worry if you’re blocking another car or driveway/double parking is fine, why not try triple parking for a change?’ attitude but last night, as we drove off ten minutes after the concert had finished, I was all for it.
Thank you…to the builders who are scaffolding our apartment block in preparation for repairs to the building. I particularly appreciated the scaffolding being delivered by tossing it from the lorry onto the road at 7am this morning, thus waking me up on one of the very rare mornings when both my children were at sleepovers so I didn’t have to be up early. Mind you, I should probably be more concerned that half the building is now being held up with steel supports, which makes me a tad nervous to step onto my balcony.
Not sure if I’ve quite got the hang of this gratitude thing…I’ll try harder next time. Will I become too annoying if I become too grateful for everything?? Anyway, thank you…to you for reading my blog and just, y’know, being you 🙂
I should think that Mick’s pretty thankful for his trainer, yoga coach, dietician, nutritionalist, drs, hair stylist, physio, masseur, dermatologist, zen master and ballet teacher (seriously, he does ballet!) who enable him to keep on rockin’.
Ronnie’s probably grateful for more medicinal assistance 🙂
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Well, they’re sure doing something right!
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Yes, I like this form of gratitude. I could definitely get on board with this! Many of these posts make me want to weep – this one made me want to weep from laughter 😉 Thank you for that 😉
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It’s a form of gratitude, just in a slightly different format…I’m sure it will still bring happiness and joy to the world 😉
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It certainly did to me 😉 You eliminated the cheese factor and kept your edge!
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🙂
ps now I really want some cheese…
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Ha ha! Shouldn’t be too much trouble where you are, I’d imagine! Or just have some wine and take your mind off it 😉
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Too late for cheese and wine (tempting as that sounds), it’s time for bed. I’ve got an early scaffolding wake-up call tomorrow morning 🙂
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Bastardos 😉
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BW! I’m thankful you wrote this post. Likewise, I have thanked my mother-in-law for refusing to make an effort to get better, therefore ensuring that I have the joy of driving 600km to her place every other weekend to repeat myself, smile, reassure her then bang my head against the wall at will on my way out. Always look on the bright side of life, as Monty Python said…
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That certainly sounds like something to be very grateful for; I imagine I’d be ‘thanking’ her very loudly all the way there and back…
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I must confess… I panicked there for a wee little moment during the first para, fearing that you’d not only traipsed over to the dark side, but to the mushy part of it.
Oh, how wrong I was. And how relieved I am! A true Barb special, this one. Glad to have you back 🙂
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Ha! The thing is, I actually do kinda believe in all this but I couldn’t quite stop myself from mentioning all the annoyances as well!
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That’s coz you’re an exquisitely balanced human being 🙂
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Aw, thanks very much. Best compliment I’ve had all year – I might add it to my CV 😉
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So many things to be thankful for. Imagine if you were actually annoyed by the people recording the concert/waiter ignoring you/early morning scaffolding delivery/triple parking – you would feel quite cross a lot of the time…;)
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Now I’m confused – I can’t decide if I actually was annoyed or not?!!
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Ha! If I were you, I’d have been annoyed… However, maybe your new approach stopped you feeling annoyed… Now my head is hurting” 🙂
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Nope, I’ve decided – I was definitely annoyed 🙂
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And rightly so, I would say!
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Brilliant post! You always make me smile! Oh how I wish i had been there. I’m not sure why, but I find Mick Jagger strangely attractive….
Jane x
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I know! How is it possible to find a GREAT grand-father attractive?? It’s something to do with the hips…
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Ok, I think we may need counselling. Or someone just shoot me now. Thank you so much for pointing out that I’m finding great grandfathers attractive. Im off down the local nightclub to pull myself a 20 year old as therapy…..
Jane x
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Ha ha, you could almost pull four 20 year olds for the price of one Mick 🙂
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Oh wow, it could be a good night then….. However back in the real world a) There isn’t a nightclub here, b) it’s a school night, I can’t possibly go out therefore, and c) its WAY past my bedtime, and there is a cup of cocoa and a jammie dodger with my name on it. Ah the fantasy was nice whilst it lasted tho…..
Jane x
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How sad is it that a cup of cocoa and a Jammie dodger sounds way more appealing than the thought of four 20 year olds?? Although I am going to see One Direction next week (with my children, I hasten to add) so I’ll let you know how I get on with five 20 year olds 🙂
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Thank you for making us laugh💋
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Good job some people are easily pleased 😉
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I was wondering where you were going to go with this but I’m all for conforming to this kind of thankfulness 😉 xx
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Fortunately, in Italy I can always find things like this to be thankful for 🙂
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Today I am thankful that I noticed I’d stepped in a huge pile of dog crap BEFORE I left the kitchen and walked it all through the house 🙂 xx
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Ha ha, nice!
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[…] reading Barbed Words post on reasons to be grateful I decided to join her in listing everything I’m feeling […]
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I love this form of gratitude so much more than the ‘I’m so grateful for my family, friends and wonderful husband…’ blah blah blah. Surely everyone is grateful for those things???
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Absolutely! For example, today I was thankful that the freezer needs defrosting urgently so HWW told us we had to eat two tubs of Ben & Jerry’s and a box of Magnums immediately…not a problem, we’re on it!
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Oh gosh, I think we’re living parallel lives perhaps. My sarcastic “thank yous” screamed at offending motorists or passersby are becoming legendary. Italins can do that to you.
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Totally! I find myself saying ‘Grazie mille‘ in my best sarcastic Italian whenever Italians refuse to move on the pavement or let a door shut in my face! Which is pretty much every day 🙂
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You’re hilarious 🙂
So, are you feeling happier already?
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Funnily enough, I think I am!! I’ve also adopted the motto ‘Be Kind’ and that is working wonders – mainly because stroppy tweenagers are so much less stroppy and mouthy when you don’t nag and complain at them, which in turn makes parents less stroppy 🙂
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This was a nice mix of sincerity and sarcasm (after all us British can’t be too Oprah!).
Do you think people who record whole concerts on their phones then go home and listen time after time to the patchy audio and view of other people’s phone and tablets? Bah.
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I really don’t know why people record the whole concert! I can see the attraction of taking a few snaps but, like you say, surely NOBODY is ever going to watch a dodgy iPhone recording? PS I did mean to write a sincere, heartfelt post but couldn’t quite do it! 🙂
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