Silver Linings Search: December!

Here we are at the end of the year. I cannot believe that this is it. The year has gone by so fast. I've been doing this, noting the good things from throughout the month, since January. I began doing this as an exercise in positive thinking. I wanted to somehow record the good things that happen in the month to preserve them. In doing so I do not allow them to be overshadowed by the bad things that happen.

I'll put together a little post with a collection of all of my silver linings search posts so I have a collection of all the good things that the year has brought me. I'll see what I can remember and what still stays with me.

• I booked two weeks off this month from work as paid holiday. From November 30th - December 14th I had time to just chill and work on things that I wanted to work on. 
• For my hard work my boss gave me two tickets to see my favourite play which was super sweet.
• I went to a really cool party and ate free food and danced the night away. What more do you want?
• December 14th was my partner's birthday and we 
•  I finally dyed my hair blue! I've been wanting blue hair since my final year of university and I never got around to it. Once I got the okay from my boss I just went for it. I mixed a blue and a green and I just love it!
• After a meeting at work, I went out for breakfast with some of my lovely co-workers. We had a lot of laughs and then went to see a movie. It was lovely. 
• I spent a lovely few days with my partner. There was one day where for about 6 hours we didn't leave my room. We just snuggled down and hid from the cold for a six hour cuddle.
• Christmassy vibes! It all began on the 6th of December when we put up the tree, decorated it and threw Christmas ornaments everywhere. Suddenly the house was filled with candles and wreaths. Beautiful!
• I exercised my baking/cooking skills and I managed to make some delicious onion relish and goat cheese puff pastry things. They were wonderful. 
• I also did some chocolate crafting and made loads of yummy treats. I had to test them for poison before I gave them to people. Yes. That was the best part.
• On December 8th I got to see my sister perform in a Christmas concert full of great music and winter favourites. That's when it started to feel Christmassy
• I got to spend some real quality time with my sister and we had the opportunity to just talk this month.
• My Dad and I went on a long walk which enabled me to spend some quality time with him too. We got up early one morning and walked through the forest and got a coffee together. I love spending time with my Dad and that afternoon is/was precious to me. 
• I got to spend some lovely time with my partner too. I especially loved having one or two really lazy days where we just worked on our laptops in bed and put no make up on and cuddled. Perfect. 
• I performed in a variety show where I sang 'Let It Go' from Frozen. It's probably a sin but, as I write this, I still have not seen Frozen. That said, I did my best to fill the role of a Disney Princess. 
• CHRISTMASSSSSSSS! Yes, Christmas day gets an entire bullet point.
• I love the general vibe of the month of December: everyone is so charitable and merry. It warms my heart!
• I got to spend Christmas day with my beautiful partner for the first time ever. We've previously spent Christmas with our respective families but she joined me for Christmas. We opened presents together and went to visit my aunt/uncle/cousins together. It was the best!
• I got so many rad Christmas presents. I am stocked up on books for the next few months. I'm so happy.
• I spent Boxing Day with my partner and my future mother/father in law and we feasted. Then I curled up and read a book by the fire. Is that not perfection?
• The day after Boxing Day I went to a really swish but laid back dinner party. I had prawn cocktail three days in a row - no complaints. It was delicious. I've eaten like a Queen this month.

Silver Linings Search: November

Hello lovelies!

Over the past year I've been recording all the little moments of good that happen in my month and the year is almost over! There's a real possibility that I'll continue these posts in 2015 - just as long as I remember to update. Here are the good things that happened this month:

• I got to go to a private screening of Interstellar. It was a midnight screening on the day of the release. We all got to go in once the cinema had been locked, all in our onesies and pyjamas, and had such a crazy, awesome time. We had an 80s dance party in the run up to midnight it was brilliant.
• I had an interview for a graduate job and was one of the final two that was considered for the position
• I was called back for a second interview where I feel I seriously impressed the man interviewing me. Fingers crossed!
• My partner and I took a day to just mess around and watch movies with my sister which was fun.
• Driving through the forest with my loved ones singing along to Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana
• A show I'm in really took shape. I even whipped up a solo in half an hour, two rehearsals before the actual show went to the stage.
• I made an attempt at NaNoWriMo. An attempt.
• I took up a lot of extra hours last month and they paid off this month on pay day. Wow. 
• I also got a bonus from work. I don't get it til next pay day but still, it'll be a nice little extra in my pay packet. Huzzah!
• I was contacted and straight up offered another job. They'd selected me from my skills. I am fortunate enough to be in the position where I was able to respectfully decline as I move to savour my time for other projects. That said, it's great to be considered. 
• One of my close friends came to visit all the way from Leeds. Although it was a quick trip it was good just to see her face and catch up quickly. 
• My partner got a slight promotion at work which will look great on her CV and provide decent job security.
• I've lost a bit of weight - brilliant!
• I got to see my gorgeous partner graduate from university which was a wonderful, truly special moment.
• My partner and I travelled up to Huddersfield for the graduation so I had just under 24 hours in the wonderful town I spent three years in. It was great! We spent time doing typical Huddersfield things from eating and drinking at our old haunts to shopping for silly items. 
• Shopping: I bought some gorgeous things this month from faux fur boots to a new handbag.
• I got to see many friends of mine - old and new! It was a quick trip but it was so good just to see their faces. 
• November: the month of reduced price Halloween goodies!
• My holiday started at the end of the month. From December 30th I have two weeks off work to get stuff done!

Silver Lining Search: October

Hello my little pumpkins!
So, if you frequent this blog then you'll know what the silver lining search is. If not, I shall tell you. Basically, since the start of the year, I've been collecting and recording happy memories. In writing them down I remind myself of all the good from that month. It's far too easy to focus on the bad things so in doing this I am actively searching for the silver lining in a cloud. It's an exercise in positive thinking.
Alrighty, here are my happy moments for the month:

• I joined a gym! For the first time in my life I am a member of a gym and I immediately began using it. I'm already feeling the benefits. By this time next year I want to have a healthy heart and a slender frame. 
• Also the people at the gym were so nice that they gave me a discount because I work in the same building. They also gave me two weeks for free because they're awesome.
• THEN, to make things even better... My partner joined the gym with me and managed to get a discount through me which is cool. I didn't know until one day, as I was getting changed after a swim, I heard her call out my name. I was all, "How are you in here? You're not a member," and then she whipped out her membership card. Awh yeah. We're gonna swim together.
• I started my Christmas shopping. God, am I organised or what? Some of the presents are wrapped and labelled already.
• I bought some new Halloween pots and my mother gave me some adorable house plants to put in them. It really brightens up the room. They are so cute.
• I had a bunch of money left over just before pay day so I figured I'd take myself out shopping. I bought myself a few bits from skirts to snoods. It was rather nice just treating myself to a few bits and really making a day of it. 
• I've really gotten into gardening lately and the shop where I buy my seeds had a 75% off sale so I bought enough veggie and flower seeds to last me the until 2016 for just £2.50! Oh, it's the little things...
• I bought some really nice books.
• I got cuddles from some lovely cats. They often stop for cuddles on my way to work. One day kitty cuddles will make me late to work, I swear...
• When some major plans folded I saw friends and a community come together to keep things running at short notice which was really nice and rather inspiring.
• The other day I was a guest at a wonderful dinner party. Who doesn't love fine wine, good food and a spot of fun conversation? 
• I saw a lot of great movies such as The Maze Runner and Gone Girl.
• I helped to take care of a dog who is the same breed and similar age to the dog I had and lost earlier this year. Weirdly enough this dog even has the same name: Hamish. It was bitter-sweet but it was kinda nice, almost like closure. Also, I got plenty of puppy cuddles.
• I started really cleaning through some of my stuff to make more room and to de-clutter my life. I can confirm that it has been rather therapeutic. 
• I made plans for a new poetry collection.
• I made some real progress at work and apparently such progress is being noticed.
• I have been asked to co-write a novel with someone. Although this is something I said I'd never be able to do I am looking forward to the possibility.
• Someone wants to turn one of my short stories into a short film and is willing to let me write the screen play. AWESOME.
• My Dad made pumpkin curry which is officially delicious and we'll have to make it again next year.
• Halloween. Yes, that gets a bullet point just for existing. 

Motivational Monday: Love Who You Love

So I know the theme of our last Motivational Monday was all about loving yourself but today it is about the importance of loving others. Today we need to remember the importance of our love for others.

Other people add colour and variety into our lives. They bring excitement, adventure and comfort. We establish bonds with them. It's important to find at least one person in this world whom you love. This can be in a romantic way or a platonic way. Maybe it's a family member of a pet. Find someone who makes you happy and remember to make them happy too. Do something nice for them to remind them that they are loved. Go out and spread some love and positivity. Who knows: maybe the love and positivity will come back to you somehow.