Welcome to the last installment of 2023’s gratitude series. Following these prompts is immensely helpful to me, and I hope you’ve taken some time to look back on your year with fondness as well.
Day 25: Comfort
I’m wonderfully lucky to have a spouse who values creature comforts and cozy times as much as I do.
Each Sunday, Michael and I make coffee and enjoy an episode of SNL or Bob’s Burgers or something equally as silly along with the cats. This is one ritual that we’ve kept up for years. It’s a small one, but one that’s incredibly comfy and one I’m grateful for.
Day 26: Fun
While Michael and I planned a lot of our trip to Ireland—including touring the Cliffs of Moher, kayaking Dalkey Bay and seeing some James Joyce hot spots—we left plenty of space for wandering and taking in the sights as we saw fit.
On an open-ended evening in Dublin, we checked out The Brazen Head. At the pub, we made friends with a few folks from Germany, Norway and Ireland. That night, we all laughed, danced and saw a part of Dublin that was off the beaten path (though what is pictured above is on a very well-beaten path). It was tremendously fun, and a part of our trip I’ll never forget.
Day 27: Dreams
This year, we made a lot of our dreams come true. Michael and I managed not only to travel to Ireland (a dream years in the making) but also remodel part of our home. I landed a new job too!
All these dreams took time—and much more time than I ever anticipated. I think this waiting was definitely a lesson for me. But no matter the timeframe, I’m so happy and grateful so many dreams came true in 2023.
Day 28: Happiness
I have so many moments of happiness to be grateful for this year, but this photo seems to encapsulate a feeling of unexpected joy.
This was taken in Nashville at the Gallery of Iconic Guitars. I visited back in February as part of a press trip. Now, I’m not a guitarist by any stretch of the imagination (yes, even though I got an A in my guitar course in college 1,000 years ago), but it was so much fun to play around a bit. This trip was full of so many unexpectedly wonderful moments like visiting the Grand Ole Opry, eating at Chauhan Ale and Masala House and catching live music, well, pretty much everywhere.
Day 29: Family
I am so grateful for my nearest and dearest. They make life fun and interesting and rich and warm.
I get an extra dose of this each summer when my mom, sisters, aunts and I visit northern Wisconsin. We spend the week gossiping, playing games, eating great food and floating in the pool. It truly doesn’t get better.
Day 30: Growth
I spent so much of this year thinking about work. I can’t stand that it occupied so much of my mental space, but here’s a little background on why that was:
As the year dawned, I felt excited to take on more work on Taste of Home’s print edition. When spring came, there were major shifts that eliminated so many parts of my job that I loved. I spent the summer searching for new careers in publishing.
But when fall arrived, I realized that my heart didn’t lie in the publishing or food spaces anymore. Recognizing that shift within myself was really significant for me.
So even though I will miss many aspects of my old job, I’ve grown beyond it and hope to grow even more in my new role (more later!). Even though the journey was challenging, I’m grateful for where it took me.
Thanks for keeping up with this series. I appreciate you for reading!
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