Gratitude notes for August 2019

I really enjoyed dinner with my buddy tonight. I really value that we make time for one another and spend time at our own pace.

On my way to dinner, I caught sight of this guy in his car in my rearview mirror who had me cracking up laughing for blocks. He was in his luxury SUV and sunglasses, and… was he singing? No. He was yelling. I gathered that he was one the phone, and he was yelling like a football coach yells at his players. When I thought he couldn’t yell any harder, he’d take a quick breath and yell even more. There was no sound; just the image of this extremely intense, barely angry yelling man in my rearview mirror. This spectacle made my evening.

My co-worker cooked chicken enchiladas with hand-made tortillas for lunch today, and they were so good. I thought it was super awesome that she made the leap and decided to try cooking for us today, and she really nailed it. I’m thankful I get to be part of her scary/exciting experience cooking for us an for delicious, delicious enchiladas.

When I look back on my day, it really is filled with a ton of people I value and get to spend some amount of meaningful time with while doing something we both enjoy. I feel like lots of people are locked into realities that don’t afford that, and I feel very lucky that I get to experience all of it. One day, sooner than I’ll expect, I won’t have days filled with people who make it fuller, and I’m happy I have them now.

Great dance class tonight. These classes are a little more physically demanding than I’m used to, which reminds me about just how comfortable my daily routine is and how lucky I am that I’m able to enjoy my routine on a regular basis.

I’m very lucky I have a car to drive and I get to drive it leisurely in really nice weather. I used my car five times today, and every time felt kinda like vacation. That’s probably because I’m only used to driving my car to the beach recently. In that case, I’m very lucky vacation is only a walk-to-the-parking-lot away at all times.

I’m thankful for my safety and the safety of my loved ones. It’s too easy to take for granted until things go wrong, and one day they will. Today, I’m very grateful that we’re all living in peace and safety.

I walked out to my car tonight and heard a car engine struggling to start. It was the car next to mine. I asked if the man inside needed a jump start, he said yes, and we did it together, real nice and easy. I’m thankful he gave me the opportunity to help him; it made me feel good and only took two minutes.

I had several conversations I enjoyed in different ways today. I’m very lucky I have space in my day to talk with people. I’m thankful I don’t work in a sweatshop or a factory or somewhere where free will is stamped out. Some people live that way. I’m one of the lucky ones who don’t.

I’m very lucky to have love in my life. It’s equally likely that I would never have had it. I didn’t do anything to deserve it. I’m just lucky. I’m thankful there are people in my life that I love and who also love me.

I’m very grateful that my life is as stable as it is and that I don’t have to worry about my safety or the safety of my loved ones. I’m very lucky that I was able to live today and to spend time with other free people. I’m grateful that I don’t dread each moment, and I know I won’t be so lucky forever.

I’m lucky I’m able to work with so many people each day who are engaged in their work and are patient when working with me and hearing me out. I’m also very lucky for being engaged in my work; it keeps me healthy.

I’m grateful for Ovaltine and chicken. I think my diet is so limited because I’ve found foods I enjoy and am nourished by so much.

I woke up today thinking I was supposed to be at work. I wasn’t. The rest of my day felt like an “extra day”. I’ll be honest, my day did not look enviable from the outside, but I enjoyed every bit of it and was productive and was operating on auto-pilot. I ought to learn from today, because I think I was being my most natural self.

Jeremy Soule Radio had a special place in my day. I love a good playlist to set the mood.

I’m grateful for having the space and freedom to enjoy myself. I’m so lucky I don’t have to be working a manual job somewhere that I don’t like, or that I’m not caught in a war or an unsafe neighborhood. I won’t have this environmental stability forever, so I’m thankful I have it now.

I was walking across the street, and I saw this man wearing a slick white tuxedo sitting at a coffee shop. We made eye contact. I motioned to my invisible lapels and said “I like your suit.” He finished chewing, smiled, and said “I like your personality and I like your vibe.” I giggled gleefully on the inside and thanked him for the compliment.

Tourists at the beach have a particular novelty to them, or they exude the novel experience they, themselves, are having. I like interacting with them and being art of their experience abroad, no matter whether it’s a conversation or a smile in passing.

I’m thankful for each of my parents. I’m so grateful that they have time for me and I find time to spend with and talk to them. I’m very lucky I got paired up with them and not somebody else.

I’m very lucky that I’m healthy today. One day soon, it’ll all be gone.

I really enjoyed eating with my buddy tonight. We got outselves a nice beef meal, some root beer floats, and conversation we were both engaged in. I’m thankful for how consistently yet casually we make time to do this together.

I took the wrong receipt from the restaurant. I had the one I’d signed and left a tip on in my pocket, and when I realized it, it was really easy to just call the restaurant, tell them the tip, and make sure they could process the order. It just felt good to be able to pick up the phone and get that done. It could’ve been so easy to just forget about it and never do it, but I’m glad I noticed my mistake and was able to correct it so easily.

I’m thankful that I have enough control over my time to make room for the things I enjoy and the people I care about. I used to give up my time too easily, and I’m so thankful that I’ve learned how to take it back and spend it deliberately and meaningfully.

I tried a new dance class tonight and really enjoyed it! I really like how new moves don’t intimidate me anymore; I just take my time, learn the feet first, and just kind of feel the rest.

There was this girl in class who was smiling ear-to-ear in the back. She looked like she was both in heaven and in constant disbelief the entire time, like she’d only conceived of dancing as something celebrities do before this moment. Definitely thankful I got to witness that and give her high-fives between songs.

I took the long way home tonight, just because I could. It was nice out. Lots of people were dressed night and going out and having fun. I enjoying being a witness to those sorts of things. It was just a nice way to be part of the city I live in, even if it was just in my own little way.

I’m grateful for people I see during the day that make my day feel substantial. I won’t get to be with them forever, and I’m grateful I have this window of time to enjoy them and see them right now.

I feel very lucky for the people I have in my life. Every one of them were some roll of the dice, and I think the hand I was dealt outstretches anything I could have asked for or even deserve. Thank you for being in my life.

I’m thankful that I live in such peace that I can afford to wonder at how fortunate I am. I’m so thankful that I have as much freedom in my day-to-day life as I do, and that I’m not enduring constant tragedy and terror just to survive.

I’m grateful for my health and for the health of my loved ones. I control so little of it, and I’m lucky that my most imminent threat is currently old-age.

I stepped in gum on the sidewalk today with my favorite shoes. I realized a few things: 1) I have favorite shoes. 2) I’m so clearly priviledged that I would care about stepping in gum with my favorite shoes. It was just so clear to me in that moment how fortunate a position I’m in.

I really enjoyed dance class today. There was one girl who isn’t usually there who was getting all down and into the songs, and it got me feeling like doing the same. I really like when other students own the dances like that; it makes it more fun for the rest of us.

I’m grateful for my quiet, safe home. I’d so rather be here than sleeping on the streets or in a neighborhood where I couldn’t guarantee my safety or the safety of my loved ones.

Very eventful few days just passed. Dinner with several people I value and enjoy, watched some dodgeball, had a really fun dance class tonight; I’m very lucky for the opportunity to enjoy my time with others so frequently.

The park where the roller dancers hang out in Venice is finally complete, and I got to watch them today. One girl was very light with how her wheels touched the concrete rink. A guy was much funkier in his movements, almost flicking his feet up at every beat.

I’m thankful that I’m able to tap into my imagination during my runs. I’ve gotten a little rusty over the past few years, but I’m able to get a kick-butt high from it still. I’m so grateful my body still works this way and I get rewarded doing things that improve my health.

I accidently bought and cooked some dark chocolate pancakes this morning. I’m glad I tried them once and that I don’t have to try them again!

I’m very lucky to be able to go down to the beach on a whim and be safe and happy throughout. There’s a lot to be said for how much freedom I have in my everyday life that was given to me.

I smiled at a dog today. Then I looked up and smiled at the dog’s man, who smiled back at me. I think the man only smiled at me because I smiled at his dog. I wonder if the dog smiled at anyone.

I had several wild conversations this week that caused me to have epiphanies, one after the other, chaining on top of one another. Moreso, I’m even starting to act on some of these new ideas that I’m starting to adopt. They excite me and inspire me. It’s very rewarding to learn something new and put that thing into motion immediately. I’m very fortunate that I have the freedom to implement change in my life the way I see fit; not everyone is in a situation where that’s possible.

I feel very lucky to be alive today. I had a great dance class, an enjoyable ride in the car on the way home, and I’m free to spend my time as I please. I’m so extremely fortunate to have my freedom and to have people around me who bring me up and call me with good news and show me pictures of their funny hair ten years ago. I’m so lucky that I have the capacity to enjoy all these things effortlessly.

One of my favorite weekends in a long time! It was the perfect blend of being productive, spending time with people I enjoy, and having fun at the beach on a beautiful day.

I’m thankful I got to spend time with and connect with a buddy I haven’t seen in a few years. I haven’t done a great job of staying in contact, and I’m grateful things worked out in a way that brought us back together again.

I’m so fortunate I got to spend the day at the beach with a lot of really fun people today. If I could just save today as a snapshot and look at it in the future, it would make me smile. I’m very lucky I got to be part of it.

My buddy is a fantastic host. Thanks for feeding us and having a great little dinner party after the beach! Really ended the day off on a great note.

Great dance class tonight! It took me a little bit to find my groove, but I eventually did and it was a blast. I’m very lucky for the class and the instructor who hosts something fun that I genuinely look forward to.

There was a girl in the front of the class who gave me a double high-five once the class ended. I didn’t see it coming and it was such a pleasant surprise.

There were lots of isolated moments I cherished today. I feel very lucky that there are people who feel comfortable coming to me when they need help. It makes me feel like I make a difference in these people’s lives in some small way, and that means a lot to me.

I’m thankful that I have people I love and who love me, too.