We’ve started doing this exercise at work in our weekly staff meetings. We all state something we’re grateful for that week.

Now it sounds a little tedious, but it’s opened my eyes to what I need to be thankful for.

I’m turning 26 in a little over a month, I still haven’t booked my learner’s license or gotten a car. Whoops. I’m not married like I swore I would be at 16 (lol).

I don’t have kids or a partner or a pet.

But I do have a lot of happiness in my life.

June and July always makes me a little bit sombre, as the anniversary of Kamo and AJ’s passing comes around.

I’ve lost friends who managed to impact my life in short bursts. It just shows that you don’t need to know someone for years to matter. And that you need to be grateful for the support system you do have.

But, back to gratitude. I’m grateful that I finally like I’m ~kinda~ settling into this adult thing.

I’m not always perfect at it, Lord knows. I’m still learning but I’m also not trying to beat myself up about it anymore. Life is finite and I need to live, goddamnit.

My friends are having babies, moving abroad, getting married, slaying multiple degrees and building lives.

I’m grateful that I get to grow alongside them and see their lives change. I’ve also realised that some friendships come to a quiet end and that’s okay.

I’m grateful that I’m kinder to myself, my body and my health. A milestone in my life, honestly.

I have a roof over my head, people who love me and a job that doesn’t make me want to gouge my eyes out. I feel challenged and inspired by the people I surround myself with.

I’m incredibly grateful for my mental health, something that other people simply take for granted.

I turn 26 in a month and I think 16 year old Alyx would love who I’ve become.

And I’m hella grateful for that.