It’s been a couple of years since I wrote a post on gratitude. I was going to write a blog post on healthy tips for Thanksgiving but decided that was a little lame and that it would be better to take some time to really give thanks (stay tuned for an Instagram story later this week). It has been a hard past year and a half and reminding myself of what is important has been key to stay present and sane.
If you read my original Thanksgiving post in 2019, you may remember I have a practice of listing ten things that happened during the day that I am grateful for before going to bed. In honor of that practice, I will list ten things that have happened in the past year that I am grateful for today (in no particular order).
1. A healthy family. Even though we have frequent trips to the pediatrician and urgent care due to runny noses and coughs, this past year has brought a lot of grief and heartbreak to families all over the world. I thank our lucky stars every day for the health of my loved ones.
2. Beach vacations. We have not been able to go on any fancy or long trips for a while but being able to get in the car and drive an hour and a half to the beach was a life saver these last two summers. We have loved watching our children enjoy discovering new homes and get such joy from the sand and the ocean.
3. New opportunities in my job. From getting more training in a new area of epilepsy and pediatric neurology to making bonds with new co-workers (hello Healthy Lifestyles and Whine&Wine groups!!) to finally traveling out of the country, I still can’t believe how amazing my job is. Even though at times I get a little down with some of the administrative side of things, I am so thankful to do what I love most.
4. Outdoor firepits. The beginning of a pandemic created a high demand for spending time outside. I love our outdoor firepit that has allowed us to spend lots of fun time with family and friends, even during the winter time!
5. Our hot tub. This is the one item that came with our house that I never knew I wanted or needed. There is nothing more relaxing than a nice glass of wine in the hot tub after a long week of work, especially with the right company 😉
6. FaceTime (and any other platforms that allow for video calls). Long stretches of time without being able to travel are tough when your family and friends live far away. Thank G-D for all the technology that has allowed us to come together even when we are apart.
7. Science. Do I need to say more? I have been studying science for 20 years and I have never seen such discoveries, collaborations, and amazing advances. Let’s keep it comin’!
8. My inner circle. We spent so much time isolated from one another in the last year, that it is hard not to reflect on how important my immediate family has been, including our most favorite nanny that moved in with us earlier this year. They have been key in maintaining my mental health and I am so thankful for them all day every day.
9. Family and friends. I can honestly say I have amazing family and friends, who have kept me together and also watched me fall apart. Thank you for being there and supporting me when I needed you most and all the other times. I am also grateful for all the new friends we made in the past year, who have become like family!
10. Life coaching. The beginning of the pandemic forced me to face some of my biggest fears and anxieties. I chose to take responsibility for my thoughts, feelings, and actions and to grow from that. Life coaching has allowed me to really dive into this concept and rise above. I can’t wait to keep going and take every aspect of my life to the next level!
I hope everyone can look inside and think of many things to be thankful for. Here is to hoping that this holiday season brings back all the good celebrations that were missed in 2020. Thanks for reading, friends. I am thankful for your support of my blog as well!
