Gratitude notes for August 2018
- Yesterday, I saw a man at the grocery store wearing this jazzy red button-up shirt. He looked like he was straight out of the disco. I complimented him, and he smiled and said thank you. Felt good to brighten his day a little bit.
- Today was one of those action-packed social days that usually come in phases. That flow is impossible to experience and enjoy if I’m too wrapped up in my own head, and I’m grateful that I’m present enough to take advantage of it while it’s here.
- This morning’s run was really good. My legs were still raw from Sunday/Monday, but I was able to get some wings regardless and really take off to some awesome music. I’m so lucky my body keeps up with what I like doing. Stuff could stop working at any time for any reason. I sure am glad I take advantage of it in some small way while I can.
- I’m getting tired of my chicken/steak diet that I’ve had for a few months now. I’ll happily keep my own problems, thank you!
- I got asked today if I’ll be participating in Fancy Friday tomorrow, a weekly ritual that I made up and have been propogating. I love that it’s memorable enough now that others are reminding me about it!
- I found out today that I’ll get to acquire a new responsibility at work tomorrow, and it’s a great example of something that’s in that scary/uncomfortable range that’s going to challenge me. I think it’ll go well, but I’m also thankful for the opportunity to grow in this new way. It actually makes my time spent that much more interesting.
- I’m grateful that I get to be me. I feel lucky that I’ve grown to actually like who I’ve become. Even when I do things I don’t like sometimes, I like my process for patching it and changing it for the future. In that way, I have unlimited potential for growing as a person, and I think that’s a lucky quality I owe to my mentors and role models over the years. Thank you all very much for showing me how it’s done!
- It feels nice to be remembered. I went to a dance studio last night that I haven’t been to in quite a while. As I was leaving, the owner (who’d never instructed a class with me) said it was nice having me back. That’s all it takes.
- A few weeks back, I met somebody who’d mentioned that humor comes from tragedy, or at least that’s what his acting coach had taught him. I’ve been experimenting with that recently (not the humor part, but the tragic part) to see how my perspective is affected. It makes everything seem more “level”. I’m really thankful I ran into that person.
- I’m so grateful I’m not caught in the middle of a war or local violence. Compared to lives filled with those things, I’ve got it really good. That’s an easy basis of comparison if something vaguely uncomfortable happens in my life.
- I don’t live under constant threat of violence or even harassment in my daily life. I’m able to plan for my future with reasonable confidence, and I’m free to work for who I choose. Whether by circumstance or perception, I’m lucky.
- I made beef chili yesterday and chicken, steak, grilled vegetables and baked yams today. I could do this all just by walking across the street, getting ingredients, and cooking it all on my own free will. It’s almost unreal how easy my life is compared to what it could be if I wasn’t living in a first-world country and wasn’t equipped with an in-demand skill set.
- On my bike ride to and from work today, I went a bit faster than usual. I was surprised how comfortable I am riding off curbs now than I was even three months ago. I actually felt a little thrilled! I ought to do that more often.
- I’m thankful that I get to have discussions with people where we both come away with something to be learned. It’s so gratifying when we both learn something and take away something useful from our time together.
- I’m grateful that I’m free to manage my time the way I see fit. Relative to what I could be, I’m not bound my rules of survival or of any tyrant. And even then, I have the opportunity to remove even more of the rules that I am bound by. I’m in a very fortunate position that I’m very thankful to have.
- Today, my standing desk got stuck in the standing position for a few hours. I’m just so thankful I don’t have a job that forces me to anything but sit in comfortable chairs all day. I really love sitting so much.
- I’m really lucky to have people I can have deep conversations with. I got to have a really good one today that actually inspired me to change something about my life. That’s the kind of stuff I just can’t plan for.
- I’m really thankful for air conditioning. It’s a luxury I’ve become accustomed to and owe a lot of my daily productivity. Keep the cold air coming!
- All the time now, I notice when I’m running how much easier it is today than it was a decade ago. Whether it’s because of conditioning or learning to run better, I’m lucky to have this fun thing that happens to be good for me.
- I’ve been on a productivity roll recently, and I’m really loving it. I think it’s because I’m manipulating my diet and not stuffing my face until it hurts anymore. I love that I can try new things and actually reap their rewards.
- I’m grateful for having my health, my freedom, and my safety today. When I look back as if from the future, it’s almost unbelievable that I get to exist in such peace and contentedness, merely because I’m alive in this place and point of time. It’d really suck to be the bug I swatted last week.
- I got to talk to one of my old bosses today, and it was so cool. We picked up exactly where we’d left off and it was just one of those things like old friends do. I really have been lucky with the bosses I’ve had over the years.
- It really does seem crazy that I get to have control of this healthy body with very little obligations holding me down. The problems I have are interesting to me and I find ways to make progress in ways I care about each day. It’s just nice to enjoy my life for what it is, especially because there are so many terrible things that are not happening to me right now. I’m grateful that it’s lasted as long as it has.
- I’m trying to adopt a new perspective on food that’s helping me curb some of my unhealthy cravings recently. I just think of my hunger objectively: how will food help my body? It seems to be working recently, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to carry out these experiments and even have the means to choose the food I at. There are so many good things in my life that I often forget how clean water and reliable shelter are things I take for granted. I’d be such a buffoon to presume that the problems in my life are unbearable or unfixable.