November 29, 2011

For all that has been, thanks. For all that will be, yes. 

~Dag Hammarskjold

I know I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: this time of year is what I live for. I begin my countdown on January 1^st to fall and the holiday season. But somehow, I feel like it’s all getting away from me this year…flying by too fast for me to really revel in it and appreciate it. Or maybe I have just been doing an especially bad job of living in the moment and have been letting it all slip by unnoticed.

This week I’ve been reading through so many blogs and tweets and Facebook updates talking about things people are thankful for. It’s been beautiful and inspiring, and it has also made me realize that I’ve been neglecting keeping up with my own many blessings in all the hustle and bustle and getting ahead of myself lately. I meant to take some pictures over the holiday and give a little update about my own thanks-giving, but, as seems to be my habit lately, I just couldn’t seem to find the time. So instead, I made a list of one hundred things that I’ve been thankful for, or appreciated (or forgotten to appreciate), or loved, or been inspired by in the last week or so. And I really did feel truly thankful when I came to number one hundred, and realized I could have kept going for quite some time…

1. My family: Mom, Dad, Ty, Michaela, Micah, Jasmine, and Honour.

2. Friendships. Those that I’m just building, those that I’m working to re-kindle, and those that have been around for ages.

3. My mom’s homemade mashed potatoes.

4. And her secret recipe apple pie.

5. Yoda, the cat.
6. A big shelf of books.
7. A warm and sunny weekend.
8. A fireplace at my family’s house (and the open invitation to come use it all winter…).
9. Free music.
10. Opportunity.
11. A warm apartment.
12. The fact that the children I teach love using glitter for art projects as much as I do…
13. A job…even if it is really hard sometimes.
14. Endless possibilities…
15. A big sale on Dr. Pepper at Target…
16. And my dad’s willingness to drive me back home after the holiday so I could transport it all after stocking up.
17. Great landlords…a rare thing in this city.
18. Christmas tree-scented candles.
19. Health.
20. The freedom to make my own choices.
21. Twinkle lights in all the New York City trees.
22. Twinkle lights all over my room.
23. All the 146 Poems of Love contributors (update coming very soon…).
24. Art supplies.
25. Netflix.
26. Hershey’s Candy Cane Kisses.
27. Working WiFi.
28. Good poetry.
29. Good writing.
30. Inspiring ideas.
31. Encouraging words.
32. Pizza.
33. Europe…and the dream of being there one day.
34. Good deals.
35. Patience.
36. Clorox wipes.
37. A few vacation days…with more on the way!
38. Common sense (most of the time…).
39. Handwritten letters.
40. Mystery and magic and wonder.
41. Happy memories.
42. Old photographs.
43. Horses.
44. Thick, cozy scarves.
45. Fingerless gloves.
46. Escalators.
47. Christmas tree lots.
48. Apple cider.
49. Advil.
50. The New York City skyline.
51. Snow.
52. Starbucks’ holiday cups…even if I don’t drink their coffee.
53. Christmas music.
54. Christmas movies.
55. Burt’s Bees chapstick.
56. The tiny little (sparkly) Christmas tree from my mom (that I am desperately trying to keep alive).
57. Silence.
58. The sound of bells (especially sleigh bells).
59. Comfort.
60. The stars.
61. Really crunchy leaves on the ground.
62. Goals and dreams.
63. Good people.
64. The color red.
65. Options.
66. Clean water to drink.
67. Children’s stories.
68. The bravery of those around me.
69. The Dictionary.
70. Forgiveness.
71. Staying up late because I’m too excited or inspired or entertained or happy to sleep…
72. …And then getting to sleep in a little late.
73. Board games.
74. An education.
75. Italian restaurants.
76. Discovering others who also hate the Kindle/Nook/fake books…
77. Train rides.
78. Accomplishing something.
79. Sparkly nailpolish.
80. Kindness.
81. Christmas secrets.
82. Clean laundry.
83. Unexpected surprises.
84. Super cozy star pj pants from Gap on a big sale (I could only find them online in the maternity section, but they have them in stores in non-maternity sizes).
85. Funny, witty people.
86. The sound of a saxophone being played on a New York City sidewalk.
87. Another new beginning each morning when I wake up.
88. Inside jokes.
89. Postcards.
90. Deep breaths.
91. Remembering with someone.
92. A really good notebook.
93. Small miracles.
94. Old hymns.
95. Waffles.
96. The giant pile of pillows on my bed.
97. Daydreams.
98. Flip-flops (even in the winter time…).
99. The sky.

100. Hope.