I’ll admit it: This week doesn’t make me want to jump up and down with gratitude. Life feels unbearably heavy, and the dread I feel thinking about the political landscape over the next four years is insurmountable. I know that feeling is shared by (and is so much more pronounced for) others. Know that I feel the difficulty of this moment and those to come acutely.
That all being said, I know there is still a lot of good to be cherished in the world (Tammy Baldwin will still be representing Wisconsin in the senate!). To help me put one foot in front of the next in terms of gratitude, I’m going to continue a November tradition of mine: the @positivelypresent Gratitude Challenge.
Since 2018, I’ve dedicated space on this blog to reflect on the year with this gratitude series. As hard as this moment is, I don’t want to stop now. I know there are still wonders to behold and moments to be grateful for. So let’s start.
Day 1: Comfort
In hard times, in busy times, in times when you need some rest, take your comforts where you can get them. Lately, those comforts have been very literal (like finding a pair of very cushy Allbirds shoes at Nordstrom Rack), but sometimes those comforts are nice routines like picking up a mint mocha and taking a minute to read. I try not to let these small treats to myself go unnoticed.
Day 2: Animals
Each year I am thankful for our pets. I still am! But this year, I want to extend my feelings to Daisy, my mom’s cat. After my mom passed away, there was a lot of discussion about what would happen with Daisy. My dad wasn’t up to keeping her, but we all wanted her to have a good home.
I’m very grateful to my aunt who took Daisy in. I’m so glad that Daisy is still part of our family, and that I get to see her whenever I visit (even if she never wants to sit by me).
Day 3: Time
A thousand years wouldn’t be long enough to spend with the people you love, but I’m grateful for every minute I spent with those I love best this year (especially my mom).
Also a major thanks to my friend Brianna of Alternative Bride Photography. She gave a major gift of her time to make lovely photos like the one above happen.
Day 4: Routine
I have off every Friday with my current job. It allowed me to create a routine, for a while at least, of visiting my parents every Friday.
Until my mom died, I spent Friday afternoons playing cribbage with them. While this routine didn’t last as long as I hoped, I’m really grateful that I got this time to enjoy with both of them.
Day 5: Hope
This year has been so so hard. But expecting a baby is giving me a lot of hope for what is to come.
Day 6: Weather
This summer, I had one mission: to float on a raft in an outdoor pool with a good book. That was it!
To make this happen (and to get some much-needed time away from work), Michael and I went on a short trip to Lake Geneva. While it was a pretty rainy trip overall, I’m so grateful the weather held out enough for me to check a good float off my list. I’m also very grateful for taking the trip in general. It was a really good way to spend some time together.
Day 7: Creativity
After my mom passed, I really struggled with creativity. Without my mom around, who was I going to make things for? Who would I talk crafts with? Who would look at what I made with such kind eyes?
But having a baby on the way has re-energized that part of me. After the tiresome work of the first trimester, I felt really excited to tackle all kind of baby sewing projects, like burp cloths, a receiving blanket, and a small patchwork quilt.
Making will never be the same without my mom here, but she definitely still inspires me. I’m grateful that her spirit is never far!
Day 8: Growth
I’ve found a certain amount of calm in surrendering to the physical changes of pregnancy. So much of the process is beyond my control, including the size of my belly and how much rest I need. I’m grateful that during this stage of life, I can just sit back and be grateful for what on its way.
I’ll be keeping up with this series all November long. Stay tuned, and please share what you’re grateful for in the comments.
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