Have I told you that my kid is strange? Not? Well, my kid is strange. Thanks to him, Alice Cooper’s Poison was my most listened-to song on YouTube Music in 2023. He has since moved on to ACDC’s Thunderstruck and we’re currently on MIA’s Paperplanes. He is an inventor, an advocate caught in the body of a 6-year-old. His humour is somewhat dark and his ability to analyse situations is beyond measure.
Since he started talking, we’ve spent a few minutes doing a 5-item gratitude list every night. His lists contain the most arbitrary things, and I could not help but lie awake at night pondering what he was thankful for. Who am I to judge? We are all grateful for different things, and that is ok.
One evening a little while ago, Rudi and I were lying on the couch chatting about the day in general and he randomly asked me if I could show him pictures of zombie hands coming out of a grave. So our Google search started. The creepier the better. That night in bed, we did our gratitude lists. First Fluffy the penguin, then Rudi and sometimes when there is not too much sleep-dust in our eyes, me. It is amazing how little I get out of my kid when I ask him about his day, but during his list of thanks I pick up details about his day and what he’s been up to. This particular evening our simple Google search was on top of his list. “Thank you for watching pictures of zombies on Mommy’s phone.” It made me realise how easily we take things for granted. Simple things like knowing how to type in a simple search of zombie hands.
The other night, he thanked the little boy at school who opened up his Steri Stumpi for him, and I know now that life is really that innocent at the age of 6. How I wish I could be that age again. Even just for a day. A day where the littlest of things matter and the bigger worries don’t exist.
For a while, I got so caught up in wanting things that don’t matter that much. Things I can live without. Sure, a bigger garden would be great, but we have a garden and that is more than enough. An aha moment struck me as I read something in a book; if you don’t appreciate the things you’ve got and you don’t make space to invite more goodness into your life, you will remain stuck feeling bored with what you already have. Since I have changed my approach to my daily life simply by being sincerely thankful for everything I already have, so many good things have entered. I said to a friend yesterday: I am not sure where exactly I want to be, but for the time being, I am happy where I am. I am content, thanks to a creepy zombie hand coming out of a grave.
Yours in appreciation,
