2018: 12 months of Gratitude

 

Dear Avery,

I’ve read/listened to MANY self-care books/articles/blogs/podcasts around this idea of writing down the things you are grateful for.

So last year at this time, I put a daily alarm on my phone. 4pm every day = 3 things you are grateful for.

Did I do it every day? Nope. But I was able to take the time multiple times a month and write them down. Every so often, if I have more time, I reread them. It always makes me smile, and truly grateful for the good things in my life.

I thought I’d share a few each month with you:

December 2017

• White elephant Christmas parties
• Dad’s pancake breakfast
• Movie date with Mom and Dad
• Redwood trees
• Breathtaking views of Big Sur
• Sunsets at Pebble Beach

January 2018

• Inside jokes
• Heart to heart conversations
• When Yoga gives me an hour of peace, and give me positive vibes
• A solo walk around a local lake, and spending time with ducks
• My mom’s birthday
• Hearing my 2 year old nephew say “Megs” for the first time over the phone
• Bubble baths
• Easy access to medicine
• Marching in the Women’s March in San Diego with good friends. Being in awe of the amount of people demanding equality.

 

February

• Girl scout cookies
• 1:1 Lunch with my director (JT) who came to town
• Celebrating the rich life of a coworker who passed away suddenly
• Exploring Laguna framers market; and then finding my new favorite bagel shop in Laguna
• Celebrating Galentines day with great women
• Seeing a whale spout while at the beach for the sunset
• Trip to Dallas with my sister and nieces — celebrating Pepa and Kelli’s wedding

 

March

• Coffee in bed during a rainy day
• Spontaneous 7 hour hangout session with 2 awesome guys
• Sitting in a coffee shop listening to 4 90-year-old men sing at the top of their lung. And having the baristas join in.
• Facial and lazy day
•  Light Festival in the desert, and writing “All is Well with letting it be” on my lantern, and letting it float into the sky
• Movie date with Christina
• Andrew visiting me for the weekend, and trying vegan food with him – which was tasty!

 

April

• Grateful for my dog Evie. After ~13 years of life, 2 strokes later, it was time for her to rest eternally. I will always be thankful that she was mine for 8 years.
• Phone call with Cait, checking in on me after Evie died.
• Camping in the Cleveland National Forest
• Giant vs Angels game with a fun crew

 

May

• Feeling confident presenting to executive leadership at work
• Celebrating Troy’s birthday
• Troy
• Stumbling upon a new Laguna beach while out for my neighborhood walk
• Time with Melissa
• Fresh new hair

 

June

• Big Sur camping trip with my family and friends
• Walking around Central Park with Candice
• Lunch with my brother, Ryan, in New York City – right before I left for Amsterdam. He gave me the quote, “Comfort zones are beautiful places but nothing ever grows there.”
• Hopped on a plane to Amsterdam – a little anxious and shaky before the plane took off, but grateful for the eventual calmed nerves
• Walking around the street market, and finding a corner cafe in perfect weather, drank tea, and watched people ride their bikes past me
• Anne Frank house experience: feelings of sorrow and hope
• Meeting new Dutch friends at a Japanese restaurant

 

July

• 3 hour bike tour around Amsterdam
• Fantastic dinner conversation with my new friends: Vivienne and Megan. We talked about politics, religion, injustice, grief, love, and the fullness of life while sitting outside eating Italian food and drinking wine. (One of my favorite conversations of the YEAR)
• Feeling good about being able to navigate the city on my own
• Breakfast with Megan (a 23 year old who was feeling a little lost and looking for her path). I offered her peace and acceptance, the importance of living in the moment, and trusting the path will come. Here I was talking to what seemed to be my 23 year old self: “You’ll be lost for a while, but it will all be OK.”
• Watching the World Cup with a variety of Europeans in a Japanese restaurant. Being present in the moment with complete strangers, as we enjoyed the game — together. This was one of my very favorite moments while traveling solo.
• Yankees game with Ryan, Ellen, and Brooks in New York
• My family coming to Laguna to visit me
• Enjoying the OC fair with the fam

 

August

• Sharing universe coincidence stories with Jeanie; she is one of the few people I know who truly understands my love for the mysteries of this universe and also feels the same way. I just love her!
• Reading a new book, “The Seat of the Soul”
• Coffee, and mani/pedi day with Mel
• Sharing a beach sunset with a flock of seagulls around me

 

September

• Beach clean up day with Questies; followed by a great rest of the day with my new friend Brooke
• Jason Aldean concert with Brooke and her fun sister Kristen
• My dad’s birthday
• Eating pancakes in the kitchen while talking about the nature of the soul with Mom, Dad, and Andrew
• Moving Andrew into his new place in SF – spending the day together, just the two of us.
• Deeper friendships forming
• Gym time

 

October

• Spending a lovely weekend with Troy’s parents. Going to a play and museum in LA together
• Safe flight to San Francisco
• A great dinner in the city with good colleagues
• Beck concert on AT&T field
• Early birthday brunch with great girlfriends
• Football Sundays

 

November 

• The right to vote
• Exploring Catalina Island. Bison sightings. Glass bottom boat tour. Drinks around the island. Renting a golf cart on my birthday and seeing a thick marine layer above the ocean.
• Birthday gifts and cards from special people in my life
• Massages
• Work trip to Seattle and walking around Pike market
• Road trip up the coast to the Bay Area
• Glamping in Santa Barbara: reading in bed with the cabin doors open with birds chirping, woodpeckers pecking, and a cool breeze coming through
• Exploring Hearst Castle
• Sunset in Big Sur
• Bowling/family time in Santa Cruz
• Hot tub night in a misty rain
• Thanksgiving in Santa Cruz: card games, football, laughing, enjoying
• Dancing with Avery and Bayley
• The Beauty of Yosemite
• Being in awe of the giant Sequoia trees

December

• Decorating for Christmas
• Movies
• Going to Kansas for the first time to visit Troy’s family
• Reading books to his niece’s kindergarten class and building gingerbread houses
• Experiencing a KU basketball game!
• Dinner party at his sister and brother-in-law’s house. Meeting their awesome friends and starting a dance party
• Christmas church service
• Relaxation
• Enjoying the quiet moments
• Giving and receiving thoughtful gifts
• A very merry Christmas

 

Wow. Isn’t it amazing to look back on a year like this? Doing this simple practice helps press pause on your day, puts you in the moment, and then gives you so much thanks later on.

While most of what I shared with you were more unique happenings, I did often write down things like “Coffee and bagel to start the morning”, or “being at the beach”. Simple things that make me happy and grateful for this life of mine are just as important as the big events. They are the small bits that make up the majority of our lives, that we must also be mindful of.

Try it yourself. You’ll be grateful you did.

Just like I’m grateful for you.

With love,

Aunt Megs