Life can get really hectic at times. Sometimes for a few days or weeks, but sometimes it can feel like forever and that there is going to be no end. Today, the world is completely different from what it was in January. It is full of uncertainty, anxiety, stress and a lot of tears. But there is also a lot of love and things to be grateful for if we take a moment to stop and think.

The second lockdown in Auckland hit me hard in ways I had never been hit before. I cried a lot, I didn’t stick to my uni schedule, I didn’t know what to do and essentially I felt like I was falling into a hole that I had no way out of. My life this year has changed a lot with my parents, moving out, getting used to a new team of carers and having my best friend move in. All this on top of a second lockdown increased my anxiety to the point that I was far happier at home with just my best friend rather than going out. I was really in a dark place and to be honest, I still am but I know I’ll get there and I have reached out instead of struggling by myself pretending I’m ok.

There are always things to be grateful for even when you’re so low that you can’t easily see them. Below I list 10 things I am grateful for today as I’ve had a tough time lately and it’s a good reminder.

1. I have a warm house to live in

2. I have clothes to wear

3. I have food and drink to keep me alive and happy

4. I am in good health, which is something to be very grateful for at the moment

5. I live in a country where I have access to resources that allow me to live my life, such as my Invacare TDX SP2 power wheelchair

6. I have a job

7. I am able to study something that I am passionate about

8. I am very determined and don't give up easily

9. I have a family who loves me very much and will always have my back

10. I have a best friend, who, despite my annoying habits and emotions, chooses to stick with me through the good times and the bad 

Life can be extremely hard at times and giving up looks like the best option, but the best growth always comes from the hardest times. It is ok to have a bad day or week or a bad patch, we’re all human and can’t be happy our whole lives. The important thing is that if you’re struggling, reach out for help, it only makes you stronger when you recognise it is ok to not be ok.

Thank you for reading and I hope this helps you if you’re feeling a little lost at the moment. Even the strongest people need to fall sometimes.

About the Writer:

I am a born and raised young New Zealand Māori woman. I was born with cerebral palsy which affects my muscles but not my mind. I am just like any other young person who has dreams, aspirations and enjoys having fun. I am in my fourth year at the University of Auckland studying Criminology and Māori Studies with dreams to one day working in the justice system. I have a YouTube channel called Wheely Wacky Adventures where my friend Leah and I share videos of our adventures such as skydiving and bungy jumping just to name a couple. I am full of life and ready to take on what comes for me.