Gratitude notes for December 2017
- I did some spring cleaning today, and I found a lot of things people have given me through the years. I’m very thankful to have them in my life and to have little things I can remember good moments by.
- I’m grateful to have my Zumba instructor back. She was out for surgery for a few weeks, and it felt so good to let loose in familiar fashion again tonight.
- I’m thankful for the ease of access of information on the internet. I wanted to research video game development this morning, so I looked through some documentation, and I now have a mental model for how games are made. That kind of research couldn’t be done in your jammies much longer than 10-20 years ago.
- I’m grateful for the people in my life who care about me. I don’t always see them or even think about them, but they’re there, and I take that for granted more often than I’m proud of.
- I’m grateful that I get to spend time with my family over an extended period of time. I won’t always get the opportunity to do this, so I’m glad I’m taking the time to do it now.
- On my run today, I was enjoying listening to some boogie tunes, and a lot of young people at the beach noticed. I got a lot of people turning heads and smiling at me. One car full of girls fist-pumped along with the hop in my step as they passed by, smiling as they did. It feels good to spread a little bit of cheer just by being happy myself.
- I’m grateful that jogging is a way for me to enjoy myself. It used to suck when I just started…
- I’m grateful that I have a family who wants to spend time with me. Family could mean anything, and I’m lucky to have what I’ve got.
- I’m grateful for the gloomy weather today. I think it helped me relax and really enjoy my run today. There’s something to be said about letting my mind go blank enjoying my surroundings.
- I’m thankful that I got to hang out today and make meaningful progress on my experimental project today. I’m very lucky that I’m able to spend time doing things like this, instead of having to work for survival.
- I’m thankful that I got to spend the afternoon with somebody like-minded today. We both have a similar career backgrounds and interests, and it was great getting to know him throughout the day.
- I’m grateful for meeting random people at the mall today. Everybody seemed really friendly and happy to be there. It was a nice feeling to be in a mall with happy people.
- I’m thankful for movies like Superbad that make songs like “I’m your Boogie Man” a blast to dance to.
- I’m thankful for dance tonight. Eva’s sub has been fantastic. I don’t know if he’s really good or I’ve relaxed my expectations from people who aren’t Eva, but either way, I’m grateful that I get to have that experience on a regular basis.
- I’m grateful for having the tools I need to test out new ideas. Although I learned about being a “product person” for software, I’m applying the same principles to hardware. I’m just thankful for the perspective I have that gets me there.
- I filled up my Spotify with new music (from the 80’s) and found myself jamming in the car today. All it takes is a little variety to bring out a whole bunch of excitement. I’m grateful that I’m wired in a way that I can enjoy that.
- I’m grateful that I’m able to learn whatever I want from the internet. Research about electrical motors spun into learning about circuitboards, electrical flow, and Arduino. Thanks to the internet, I might have a really fun project on my hands!
- I’m thankful that I got to have an interesting conversation with the person cleaning my teeth today. Sure, it tends to be a one-way conversation, but you can learn a lot when you just ask questions in between scrapings.
- I’m grateful for the reminder that I’m enough. I just surrender and resolve that I’m enough, and whatever weight I was bearing that was taking me away from my life just seems to disappear. I’m really grateful that I’m given the tools to address my flaws head-on.
- I’m thankful for a day of learning. I listened to another chapter of Sapiens on my run, a podcast between Tim Ferriss and Vince Vaughn tonight, and researching online how companies handle values internally.
- I’m grateful that I’m taking some time to re-evaluate what I’m looking for and what I’m about. It’s not a matter of choice so much as observing what’s true about myself already.
- I’m thankful for the people in my life who lift me up and spur new thinking. I’m lucky that I’m managing to surround myself with those types of people.
- I’m grateful for taking the time to reflect and figure out what my priorities are. All it took was an inspirational speaker and some self-reflection to pinpoint my intentions. I might not have found those things, so I’m very lucky.
- I’m thankful for my physicality and my health. It’s debilitating to be sick, and I’m so grateful that I’m not bound my illness. I’m also glad that I can still run, even though there’s snow on the ground.
- I’m thankful that I have a mother who wants to spend time with me. Not everyone has that.
- I’m grateful that I’m capable of learning when I put my mind to something. Each new programming language seems to have a diminishing learning curve.
- I’m thankful for comfy pants and eggnog during the winter season.
- I’m thankful for the privilege to spend my time how I like. Some people are bound by heavy responsibilities and others shackle themselves unknowingly. I’m very lucky to recognize just how lucky I am.
- I’m grateful for a good dance party tonight. I’m also thankful that my friend willingly snatched the fanny pack I offered to the White Elephant holiday gift-giving game.
- I’m grateful for all the amazing people I met this week. There are a ton of great people taking on difficult problems because it’s something they want to do. I’m lucky to have spent time with them.
- I really enjoyed talking to many different people today over the course of several different meetings. I’m lucky to find people who are as happy as I am to spend their time with one another.
- I’m grateful that I have my health. It’s been great to be able to walk around the city and to not be bound by some ailment, the way so many people on the streets do here.
- I had an excellent run this morning. For better or for worse, I enjoy running with other people around, and there was a lot of that around this morning.
- I’m grateful for being able to interview for these tech positions. I’m lucky to even be considered for roles that many people can only dream of.
- I’m super grateful that I got to see my buddy tonight for dinner! He didn’t have to make time for me but he did, and I’m thankful for that.
- I’m so thankful for my health. I had motion sickness for most of the day today, and I’m just so lucky that I don’t have to endure things like that any more often than I do.
- I’m thankful that I made a friend in the airport security line. He’s a grad student at the university I attended for undergrad, and hanging with him was a nice way to pass the time.
- I’m grateful for two other friends I made on the airplanes today. I just feel so lucky that I get to spend time with people who enjoy conversation equally in both directions.
- As I left my hotel room to get some food, I came upon a really groovey live band on the sidewalk. They were feeling it and passing solo opportunities back and forth like a jazz band. It turns out they were a mish-mash of musicians lead by Adam Knight that really jived together. Their music was exceptional for dancing to. I’m so lucky that a) I stumbled upon their performance, and b) had the wherewithal to stop and enjoy it.
- I’m grateful for tremendous portions at a korean bbq takeout place. I think I set a personal eating speed record.
- I’m so happy that I decided to run in the snow today. It just felt magical, like I was in a completely new place. Perfect packing snow and a really high tide. Once I got moving, temperature wasn’t an issue at all. I’m really thankful I got to enjoy that atmosphere.
- I’m thankful that I got to have dinner with Mom tonight. We only have a limited amount of time to do things like that together.
- I’m grateful that I got a long, full night’s rest this morning. The day seems to have more to offer when my body’s given its chance to keep itself healthy.
- I’m thankful that my buddy invited me up for lunch at ESPN today. It was really great to see where he worked and be able to spend time with him.
- I’m also thankful that our other buddy got to join us! There was a chance he couldn’t, but he made it happen.
- I’m grateful that I didn’t get in a car accident today. Somebody cut me off on the highway and probably missed hitting their tailpipe on my front fender my inches. That’s all it would take to jeopardize both of our safety.
- I’m grateful that people who are very important to me are safe amidst the fires in LA right now. It’s sobering to see very familiar areas of the city destroyed like that, and I hope the damage is kept to a minimum.
- I had a great meeting with a 2nd-degree connection this morning because of nothing more than a recommendation. I think it’s fantastic we can get together and churn out a great conversation because of that alone.
- Again, I’m thankful that I haven’t lost any loved ones today. It could happen at any time, and I’m grateful that it’s not now.
- I had a great time practicing West Coast Swing with my friend tonight. I’m so lucky that I get to dance for fun in my free time with friends I genuinely enjoy.
- I’m thankful that my technical experiment the past two days turned out well. Google’s Headless Chrome saved me a ton of time and it was a pleasure to use.
- I watched a fantastic TED talk this morning. It put me in a great state of mind. It’s great when things like that float into my life.
- I’m thankful that I’m back into reading when I wake up. It’s a great way to start the day.
- I’m thankful that I got to see Georgie and her dog on my run today. Her dog is adorable, and I love the community feeling of seeing people I know out-and-about.
- I’m grateful for my freedom to choose a job that fulfills me and my wherewithal to know the difference.
- I’m really lucky that I have my health. It’d suck to be bed-ridden or incapacitated in some way. I’m glad I don’t have to be in a hospital right now.
- Had a great Zumba class this morning. The class was huge, and it’s our instructor’s last day for 6 weeks (she’s having surgery). I’m thankful we got to have a wonderful time before she goes.
- I’m thankful that I spend time with Mom while I live near her. Who knows where I’ll be even a month or two from now?
- I’m grateful for being able to relax in my jammies and learn a new coding language today. The freedom that comes with that is something not everyone has the luxury of having. I’m very lucky.
- I’m thankful that I had a really good run today. I got really into the cinematic orchestra music and was able to keep up with a teenager on his bicycle. Felt great!
- I had a moment today where I was super aware of my immediate surroundings and had a visceral appreciation for being alive. It’s hard to describe, but it became immediately clear what I’ll be losing one day, and it made me thankful for the moment.
- I’m grateful for great company at dinner tonight. It’s nice to have deep conversations.
- I’m thankful that learning the Go programming language has made so much sense so far. It’s been a few months since I focused on anything technical, and there’s a real joy to it.