husband | All Things Fabulous

On Christmas morning I remember thinking what a lucky lady I am. Not because I got lots of presents (although I was quite spoilt :-)) but because I’m married to such a thoughtful, caring and considerate man.

Out of all the gifts I received, this one is definitely top of the list. It didn’t cost a fortune, it isn’t dripping with diamonds and I can’t spend it in any of my favourite shops. The reason I love it so much is because it came from the heart.

Let me take you back a year. For my wedding gift, my husband bought me a photo album and for over a year it remained empty, sitting on a pile of ‘things to do’ when I get a minute.

A few days before Christmas, he locked himself away in our study and at the time I actually thought he was being rude and moody. How little did I know.

Christmas morning I was presented with this album complete with photos and captions detailing my husband’s thoughts and feelings for me. Some of the photos are cringe worthy and certainly not taken from my best angle; however that is what makes it even more special. The fact he can look past the bad mornings where I look like a cast member from ‘Dawn of the Dead’ and where I’m being just a little bit silly impersonating a gorilla for the delight of my niece. A surprising number of me with food are included which just proves how much I love to eat!

But in just a few pages, he managed to capture all of the little things he loves about me, both good and bad. And this is why I thought to myself on Christmas morning, what a lucky lady I am.

So whenever I’m feeling a bit down, or need a booster of happiness, I will look through this album and be reassured that I am someone who is loved and cherished.

…is one of the most endearing films I have ever seen. It’s right up there with Philadelphia and Forrest Gump! If you haven’t had the pleasure of seeing it, it follows the story of a father trying to make something of his life, the challenges he faces when things go wrong and the sheer determination to never give up. I felt inspired after watching this film and it raised the age old question, what is happiness?

Is it money? status? power? I have spent many years trying to figure out what makes me happy. I always thought money equalled success, so I embarked upon a career in marketing, moving my way up the ladder, earning more money but becoming ill and stressed along with it. I’m now 31 and have realised this doesn’t make me happy, if anything I became miserable and disheartened.

I recently changed jobs after deciding I needed to move on in my career; unfortunately this didn’t quite work out and following a “lucky” twist in life, I was given the opportunity to quit my job and take an extended holiday with my husband. It was the break I needed to refocus and really think to myself “what would be my ideal job?”

There are so many options out there and for me it’s not about how much it pays, but how much job satisfaction I will get. Because ultimately, that is what will get me out of bed in the morning and look forward to the day ahead.

But out of all this soul searching, the one true thing to remain constant and positive in my life is LOVE. Whether it’s from my husband, my family, friends or even my dog, when times have been hard I could always depend on them for their encouragement and support.

So, when I ask myself the question “what is happiness?” I know the answer does not lie in shopping, cars or new shoes. They only offer a temporary high which fade as quickly as the money in your bank balance. It’s the people who surround you every day without you realising, who are at the end of a telephone when you’ve had a bad day, and the ones who make you smile and forget all your troubles, if only for a little while.

I’d like to leave you with one final thought, which sums up how life’s simple pleasures can really brighten your day. During a recent trip to my brother’s house, my six year old niece and I spent a good 30 minutes using my husband’s face as a canvas for silly faces. This had us and the rest of our family in stitches, proper doubled over clutching our stomachs. We then proceeded to ‘compete’ for who could pull the funniest face. Hours of fun and not a penny spent!

So, what makes you happy?