A non-exhaustive list of things to be thankful for

1. Sinking into a soft couch

You know when you sit down on a mate’s couch and you sink right in and take the weight off your feet and can’t help but let out a huge AHHHHHHH? Channel that feeling today.

2. Handles

Yep, the handle of your saucepan, the handle on your mug. Handles give us something to hold onto, and when life is tough, and it’s hard to get a grip on things, it’s nice to trust in the reliability of the sticks stuck to the side of vessels.

3. The sound of birds

Have you ever walked to the train station at dusk and suddenly found yourself below a great blanket of birds? Cockatoos, usually. SCREEECH SCREECH SCREECH. It’s pretty amazing, looking up at them. Marvelling at what it must be to be a bird.

4. When a stranger’s dog befriends you

You know when you’re sitting in the park, or walking on the street, and you spot a cute dog up ahead? You look at the owner and try to figure out whether they’d be okay if you reached in for a pat, but then the pup notices you and runs over anyway, before the owner has a chance to respond. Probably one of the most satisfying things ever.

5. Fantales

If you’re anything like us, the news that Fantales will no longer be stocked on the shelves at the local supermarket has sent you into an overwhelming state of nostalgic mourning. We love them!! You can’t take them away!!! Be grateful that they existed, pray for a speedy return.

6. Realising you packed a water bottle

You’re out for the day and you’re thirsty. You get frustrated that you’re going to have to spend $4 on a plastic bottle full of water that comes out of the sky for free. Then you realise that in your backpack… you have a bottle of water. You buy yourself a chocolate bar with $4 instead.

7. When your flight is actually on time

It’s crazy that flight service providers have manipulated us into feeling a deep sense of gratitude when their flight service actually does what we are paying it to do. Regardless, it’s a good feeling walking onto that plane at the scheduled time.

8. Walking back to your car and realising you haven’t got a parking ticket

I feel especially grateful for this point when I actually deserve a parking ticket. When I’m two hours overdue and really should be punished for not taking heed of the signs. The look of an empty windsheet is literal BLISS!

9. Hearing a child sing on the toilet

I don’t know about you, but I regularly hear kids in public toilets singing on the toilet while their parents try to navigate the tiny stall and find time to relieve themselves as well. Their childlike delight can’t help but make you smile as you’re sitting there doing your own business.

10. When the no toll road will take as long as the toll road

Surely we’ve paid all these roads off by now?! Either way, when the no toll route is the same length of time, and you realise by going the freeway you save like, 12 McDonald’s ice creams worth of cash, it’s a good time.