Thursday, November 26, 2020

Breathe in All the Things That Make You Grateful

In place of a High Five for Friday post tomorrow, I'm posting my annual November Gratitude Journal today. Happy Thanksgiving, friends.

stop.
stand here.
and breath in
all the things
that make you grateful
for this life.

~ Ahmad Sanusi Husain

November 1
I'm grateful for the shift back to Regular/Standard Time. I prefer "falling back" and gaining an hour of sleep over "springing forward" and losing an hour of sleep, but I also prefer our four months of this Time (Regular/Standard over Daylight Saving). I feel SO much better waking up to the sunrise and the beginnings of daylight than I do waking up in complete darkness, and the early sunsets don't bother me at all - if anything, they remind me of the holidays!

November 2
I'm grateful we decided to enclose - and upgrade - our back porch, and for the many family dinners we've already shared in this new space. 

November 3
I'm grateful for my right to vote, and for all those who fought to make that right possible.

November 4
some days it's enough
to be grateful
for the air in your lungs
grasping at a promise
that tomorrow will be
better.

~ Wren Wilds

November 5
I'm grateful for these three, and the joy they brought into our home today.





















November 6
I'm grateful for the brightness that follows even just a glimmer of hope.

November 7
I'm grateful that today, when I told my children that character matters...that being a good person matters...I had an example to prove it.

November 8
I'm grateful for a Sunday morning "reset" with friends.

November 9
I'm grateful for medical professionals and scientists, especially those working tirelessly to slow the spread of, heal those who have become infected with, and create vaccines to prevent further infections of COVID-19.

November 10
(I guess) I'm grateful for the moisture in the air, which, according to my mom, is good for my skin. 😂

November 11
I'm grateful for all those who have selflessly served our country. 

Forever may it wave.












November 12
I'm grateful for pumpkin cream cold brews.

November 13
I'm grateful for the spring in Tom's step. After seven months of working almost exclusively from home, this week Tom started venturing back onto campus to work from/in his office and lab. His building is nearly empty so he feels safe, and the change in scenery has allowed him to be exceptionally productive and feel really good about what he's been accomplishing...hence the spring in his step. 

November 14
I'm grateful I - we - made it through the day. Today was probably our busiest Saturday since early March, with one ballet class, two ballet rehearsals, four dance parent-teacher conferences, a meeting with our ballet academy director (which I had been dreading for days), and a soccer game in Houston. Just looking at November 14th on my calendar nearly gave me hives in the days leading up to it, so now that the day - which brought with it a couple of unexpected controversies and conflicts - has come to an end, I feel more peaceful and calm than I have in a while. 

November 15
I'm grateful for fall weather (even if it only lasts for a couple of days), board game playdates, leftovers for dinner, and early bedtimes. 

November 16
I'm grateful for a beautiful answer to the smallest and simplest - but still significant - prayer.

November 17
I'm grateful Tom was working from home today so he could catch for me the rather large lizard that had taken up residence on the office window.

November 18
I'm grateful for brownies, and for my Gal Hal who likes to bake and no longer needs much supervision in the kitchen.

November 19
I'm grateful that a particularly hard and heavy decision was taken out of my hands, that the decision-maker chose - what I consider to be - the right course of action, and for the relief that came when this weight was lifted off of my shoulders. 

November 20
I'm grateful for Thanksgiving Break, which starts today!

November 21
I'm grateful for curbside pick-up, food delivery, air conditioning, and DVR.

November 22
I'm grateful for 42 years on this earth.

"Do not regret growing older. It is a privilege denied to many."





















November 23
I'm grateful for all of the birthday phone calls, texts, emails, and Facebook messages. Social media has its downfalls, but allowing users to make sure people feel loved on their birthdays (and supported through times of crisis) is not one of them. 

November 24
I'm grateful for my girl. She wants so badly to stay little, but try as she might to suppress the young woman she is becoming, I can see a new version of her emerging. I could give at least a handful of examples, but I'll stick to the one happening as I type: a friend is scared about something going on in her life, and rightfully so. Hallie too is scared, as the situation has the potential to impact her as well, but as she talks to the friend on the phone in the other room, I can hear Hallie's calm tone of voice and kind words. She may fall apart often for me, but she can be strong for her friends when they need her. 

November 25
I'm grateful my Thanksgiving decorations are packed away and my Christmas decorations are ready for the next holiday season. I wouldn't usually take down Thanksgiving and set up Christmas until the Friday after Turkey Day, but this year I had the time, the energy, and a helper the Sunday and Monday beforehand. The outside lights (Tom's domain, OF COURSE) aren't up yet, but everything inside is already bringing joy to all of the humans...and all of the kittens (of which there are currently FOUR)...in our home. 
























November 26
I'm grateful for my family members and friends. I'm grateful for my and their relative health and financial security. I'm grateful for amazing moments and awful moments and all the ordinary, mundane, and routine moments in between. And I am grateful for all of you, who make writing about life here on Chasing Roots matter.

Happy Thanksgiving, friends. See you next Tuesday!

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