Reasons to be Cheerful

…I’ve finished my Masters dissertation!

I handed in my dissertation just over a fortnight ago; a web application, a fifty-page report and an accompanying demonstration video. This week I’ve completed the presentation, which means I’m now officially wrapped up! Fingers crossed for November when results are out.

My Masters was definitely the most challenging and toughest venture I’ve ever undertaken. Blood, sweat and (many, many) tears later, I’ve made it out the other side and I am still pinching myself a little. I’ve been patting myself on the back; something I don’t often do. But I’m proud of myself for seeing it through, when I had many moments of wanting to throw the towel in and feeling terribly out of my depth. Let’s see what’s next.

Autumn and being outside

I am trying to get out daily for a good walk, regardless of the weather and this week, I’ve had a few incredibly lovely strolls. My favourite place to go is a nearby graveyard (which I promise is not as morbid as it sounds). I’ve blogged about it before and it’s a beautiful place all year round, but especially when the leaves begin to change. I love walking along its meandering pathways; I’m usually good with directions, but it feels like I haven’t got – and will probably never get – a complete handle on it. Each pathway and area can feel new, even if I’ve been down it before. Today I enjoyed a sun-drenched walk and I sat for over an hour on a bench with a book in hand, listening to birdsong, the crisp leaves falling around me and the distant laughs of children playing in a nearby kindergarten. It was so peaceful. Although it’s a graveyard, there is so much life.

Appreciating the small, simple things

Now more than ever, it’s important to find joy in the smallest of things. Rather than focusing on all the things we can’t do at the moment, I’ve been trying to enjoy simple, everyday things and draw some meaning from things I didn’t give much thought to before. Dancing around the house with headphones in and pretending it’s a different (and better) era; sitting on the balcony with a cup of tea, watching (and listening to) the rain pouring down; putting on a full face of makeup when you have nowhere to go.