Adventures In Life & Gratitude Journal

In 2016, I decided to write down 3 things every day that I am grateful for. Maybe it will help you think about the little things that are going well for you. Also, life is full of adventures - traveling or trying new things. I'll occasionally jot down my latest journey.

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May 24, 2017

I am so grateful for my friends!!!

[geographicwild]

. Photography by © (Iris Braun). The most famous cheetah of the Mara, Malaika, with her cubs. #masaimara #kenya #africa #cheetahcubs #cheetah #wildlife

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March 16, 2017

The news and politics since November, even just since January, make it hard to find the good. Hard to find the gratitude. But because of that, it's more important than ever. So tonight I am grateful for close friends and theater and my favorite food truck showing up on a day when I'm usually not around to get it. For chocolate milk, my coat, my bed and roof and family. These are all important. You matter. You are important.

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February 2017

I was sick for about a week and a half there in February, so wasn't doing much of anything besides getting through the day. I am grateful, though, for a good group of coworkers who let me take time off to sleep and recover, for modern medicine, soup, and my foldout couch, where I camped out for most of that time.

I can’t believe we’re in March now. Stay tuned!

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Feb 16, 2017

I’m in sort of an angry mood but nice things did happen today. It didn’t help that I kept thinking it was Friday for some reason. Gratitude! And attitude.

I am grateful for fruit, vegetables, and my water infuser. For feeling strong during my workout and seeing improvements (so, really, for my trainer). For quiet and tea. For the hotel site visit and feeling comfortable with the auction setup. For my amazing parents who used their points to get me a room at the hotel so I can relax and get ready and not have to go anywhere after the event. Seriously. Way cool parents.

Forrrrr cookies. And ice cream.

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Feb 15, 2017

Today I give gratitude for venting, and a meeting that went much better than expected. For an early day and truly wonderful friends. For my favorite podcast. And hopefully for lots of sleep!

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Feb 14, 2017

Today I’m grateful for the relatively low-key approach to Valentine’s Day at work. For a really interesting book. For the Shakespeare Theatre Company and Michael Kahn. For the woman behind me in line at the grocery store, with simply a bottle of red wine and yogurt to buy.

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Feb 13, 2017

I'm thankful for my Galentines and night out, old friends, new friends, and especially to new friends who give you a ride back to your office and then home when you forgot your keys... Here's to the wonderful women in my life <3

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Feb 9-12, 2017

Yikes. Well, catching up. I am grateful for my alarm, for a company president who doesn't mind when I sit cross-legged on the floor to finish work, for submitting things, for the rest of the office telling me to go home and get some rest for the rest of the day, for new glasses, for buses that show up just when you need them to. For cashing in on vacation hours, for being absolutely lazy (although I really need to get out of this habit). For a birthday party and celebrating with friends and cake and wine. For photo editing and Lightroom and finally finally finishing the edits to all of my photos from Africa. For family and friends and wonderful people. And TV. Sundays. For checking some things off my task list, for activism and friends who host postcard-writing parties, for a call across the nation, for a new dress and earrings from my wonderful mother. For bed.

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Feb 7, 8, 2017

I feel like I have been living at the office. Basically because I have. I am thankful for good long conversations with friends, eager colleagues and an understanding boss. Again. Because this week will never end. But wait, gratitude. Right. I am grateful for headphones and Pandora and hugs from old friends. For getting in on the -only getting a seltzer with lime- at happy hours. For beautiful, if bizarre, weather requiring no jacket. OK. Let's do this. What's next.

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Feb 6, 2016

Oh bother, Monday. Well, I am grateful for getting talked down from putting tons of fault on myself, for colleagues willing to jump on sort of absurd deadlines. For a very interesting lecture that made me realize I know very little, but I am excited to learn. For National Geographic. For good people who spring into action when needed.

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Feb 3-5, 2017

Oops. Well, it's been a weekend. Friday was an absolute whirlwind, so I'm thankful that I didn't actually fall down. I'm thankful for nice coworkers and for a sunrise and sunset and charities and donors and my couch at the end of a very long day. Saturday. Saturday I was thankful for a good workout, delivery, and good red wine. And now it's Sunday. And this New England woman is excited about the Super Bowl results! I admit I was barely paying attention, but those last 30 minutes, man. Pretty amazing. What else. I am literally thankful for the barista at Starbucks who gave me a four dollar card because she had forgotten about my order. I got to use it today. And for finally checking another thing off my February goals list (that had carried over from January). And I'm grateful for you, whoever happens to read. You matter.

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Feb 2, 2017

Grateful for - working from hooooooome - an intense but good workout - good writing

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Feb 1, 2017

Last night I didn't leave my office until 10 o'clock, so I was not really in a place to form actual sentences. For an intense week, though, I of course have so many things to be grateful for, like the sun rising and the sun setting and my apartment and a roof over my head and pajamas and a very comfortable bed. And also for my boss, who let me pull him out of a meeting to have a mini freakout, brought me a cookie a minute later, and then practically walked me downstairs to make sure that I ate lunch that day.

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Jan 31, 2017

Seriously, where did January go? On this last day, I am thankful for overall support, pizza parties, time to breathe, and make next month's to do list.

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Jan 29, 30, 2017

Friends. Honestly it has become harder in recent days to remember the good, to remember the things that I’m grateful for. My country is spinning out of control. For all that we are scared, though, for all that is happening that seems impossible, I am grateful for those who show up, who fight for good. I am grateful to those who march, who call their representatives, who give hugs when they are so needed. Who seek the truth.

Breathe. OK. I remember the little things, the things I’m thankful for. It’s one reason that this gratitude journal is so important.

Jan 29: I’m grateful for my parents, and for old friends, for a delicious brunch and tea, for rallying with others to protect what I think is good about America, for a break to get delightful cocktails, and for seeing a rally turn into a march.

Jan 30: I’m grateful for that squeak of excitement I was able to feel this morning upon seeing snow outside my window. I’m grateful for kind colleagues, and individuals and small businesses that are so eager to donate to charities (yes, this is a theme because I’m wrapping up a ton of outreach this month). I’m grateful for sushi and freedom of the press.

Don’t forget to tell the people you love that you love them. It’s a rough world. You matter.

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Jan 28, 2017

I'm grateful for the ACLU and other organizations who helped this evening, for immigration lawyers, for protesters, for people standing up for what is right