After writing last Friday’s post, I really got to thinking about my life now compared to a year ago and how happy I am. To put things in perspective, this time last year I was living it up in Thailand with a bunch of great mates and partying my arse off. Now, I’m writing this from my new home of Melbourne while my roommate snores his head off, and yet, I think over the last two weeks I’ve reached new levels of happiness I didn’t think were possible. So I decided to start a list, of all the moments I’ve had recently that have made me feel grateful to be alive and happy I made the decisions that have led me to this point. Because, if you read my last post - you’ll know that this Valentine’s Day I’m taking the time to celebrate being single, independent and the happiest with myself I’ve ever been. Forget giving out roses and chocolates, I’m taking the time to think about and be thankful for all the things that are giving me the rosy glow of happiness.

So what has made me realise i’m in love with my life?

1. Finally achieving something that has been my goal from the very beginning of travelling - I’m living abroad and settled in one spot of my choosing, and Melbourne is a city that I really want to build a life in.
2. Coming home - arriving in Melbourne to a huge, warm welcome from so many of my closest Darwin friends meant the world after three months alone in the outback. They are the family I have while I’m thousands of miles away from my own.
3. I’m technically homeless and jobless right now, but it doesn’t stop me walking around with the biggest smile on my face.
4. I’ve finished working in the worst job of my life and smashed it, got my second year visa and haven’t gone insane - I really can cope with anything!
5. I’ve just spent three months going to the gym every day and am probably in the best shape I’ve been since before I came travelling - I feel healthy and fit, such a great feeling for a backpacker.
6. The other night, I actually chose to stay in instead of hitting the clubs, instead I sat on the balcony and blogged for hours as the sun was setting - getting to indulge my passion and not being afraid to turn down a night out shows I’m confident in what I want to do.
7. I no longer feel even that slight tummy pinch of nervousness when I go somewhere new - now I’ve been travelling so long it is just excitement at change.
8. Linked to above - I’ve never felt more confident in my abilities to travel solo, make friends wherever I go, and to handle this shit.
9. The other day, I made a new friend and was telling him about my travels and my life - through his reactions I got to see myself through someone else’s eyes and realise how awesome my life is. Sometimes we forget to really appreciate what we are doing as a whole.
10. Since being in Melbourne I’ve actually started to make more effort to not look so homeless after Darwin and the outback’s more relaxed style - but I’ve really realised how much I prefer myself without make-up after six months of barely wearing it. I love that I’ve reached a point where I feel confident and happy without it.
11. Despite six months off make-up, I can still do a perfect winged eyeliner on my first attempt punches the air
12. This blog is smashing it right now - shortlisted in the UK Blog Awards, working with amazing brands every week, and a huge response from readers old and new. So great to see it take off in such a big way after all my energies.
13. I’ve ticked off so many amazing things from my bucket list in the last 12 months, many of them I didn’t even know were on there! And I finally got to swim with a sea turtle!
14. I’ve made a decision that I’m so happy doing what I do, that I’m not stopping after the year-mark. I’m not taking a gap year and heading home like some, I’m turning this into my lifestyle and have travel plans for the next year already!
15. I’m also reaching a point where I know in the next six months I will be happy to return home for a short while to reconnect with friends and family - a sign of contentment that I am happy to return to the place that forced me to leave.
16. My head, and my heart are filled with amazing memories of sights, sounds, tastes from along the way, the people I’ve met who have changed my world and my beliefs. I feel so grateful to have experienced so much.
17. I’ve had quite a few messages lately from readers who have said that my blog, and my life, is inspiring. I’m not sure whether I agree, as I think this is something that anyone could achieve, but to regarded as inspiring is something that in turn inspires me every single day to carry on and to keep writing.
18. I’ve realised that I’m nearly 26 years old and I have not a single regret - i’m not sure there are many people in the world who can say that. I feel so happy with every decision that I have made because it has led me to this point and I wouldn’t change that for the world.
19. My values have changed - I realised since arriving in Melbourne and being surrounded by shops and every convenience, that I simply don’t need any of this stuff. Far more precious to me than the latest from Topshop are the memories I’m making.
20. I’m excited for the future, but I’m not stressing or worried about anything - I literally don’t have a care in the world. I’m just excited to see what comes next and totally accept that whatever happens will happen. For a girl who used to worry about and organise everything, this is a huge change.

So there we go, the 20 things that have helped me realise why I’m so in love with my life and if you ask me, that’s by far the most important love you will have. Whether you were in a relationship or not this Valentine’s, take a moment to think about whether you are happy with yourself and your life - its something that is so easily brushed over in the busy day-to-day. Why not take 15 minutes out of your day to make a list like this one about all the positive reasons you are in love with you life, and why you are happy with your lot. You might find that actually you have a lot more love for the way things have turned out than you think - or it might just highlight a change you know you need to make! Either way - take the time to love yourself, your life and everything in it.

Tell me what you love mot about your life - what are you most thankful for?