Hard to believe two years have passed since I wrote my first gratitude list but it’s true…Thanksgiving is only 30 days away! I recently showed a friend my favorite Ted Talk of all time on happiness and was reminded of the power of this exercise in ensuring we don’t move the goalpost of success beyond our cognitive reach. Although my writing skills are rusty and my brain is currently impaired by a slight fever and a healthy dose of NyQuil, I’ve nonetheless committed myself to once again spending the month preceding my favorite holiday expressing thanks for the countless ways I’m fortunate.
10. I ❤️ the schedule I just got for the conference I’m attending on alternatives to juvenile detention…I’m thrilled to be surrounded by so many people affecting real change in our justice system.
9. I 💛 Persian Garden Cafe and heart to heart conversations over lunch.
8. I 💚 watching Corbin give Lelu a bath before curling up next to her.
7. I 💙 hot tea, Vicks, and my netti pot for getting me on the road to normal.
6. I 💜 resetting my internal clocks through lots of rest…I’m so glad falling and staying asleep has rarely been an issue for me because I love to do it. Naps rule.
5. I ❤️ emails from my mama thanking me for helping her with her charity work. It makes me beyond happy that she has found a community of women who not only accept her but appreciate the contributions she has to make. We all want to feel needed but it’s so much healthier when we focus those efforts on people who are asking for help. Hearing about her positive experiences inspires me to volunteer again.
4. I 💛 how much getting sick helps me appreciate my regular good health.
3. I 💚 encouraging words from friends when I need them most.
2. I 💙 intern selection season because seeing the students and hearing their stories reinvigorates my own passion for civil service.
1. I 💜 the promise of live music in my future.