Showing posts with label gratitude. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gratitude. Show all posts

Sunday, June 21, 2015

Life Lately: Friendships & Gratitude


Stable Cafe, SF (taken a couple weekends ago)

Yesterday turned out to be a gorgeous sunny day in the city (& I was in the Richmond, Cole Valley/Haight and Potrero Hill... aka neighborhoods with quite different microclimates.). Today I'll be hanging in the park for a coworker's birthday, and it looks to be as equally beautiful outside. Summer is in full swing and I've been getting to see lots of different friends. Friends from high school and undergrad have passed through the area recently for work and we were able to meet and catch up. I am so thankful our paths keep crossing even as we've each moved around, and know that it helps I live in a major metro area.

Overall I have so much gratitude for the friendships I've developed in the last few years, whether deepening relationships with old friends or forming new friend circles. Making (& keeping) adult friends can be tricky what with scheduling, multiple social circles and other commitments. It's no longer the cliques of middle school but an ever-evolving/expanding crew where everyone is welcome. It helps that many of us are recent transplants to the city and are exploring together. I have always tried to be open to new people but that doesn't mean I wasn't a little concerned about making friends when moving out here (or rather, moving further from a well-established network). Since I'm not sure yet if I'll be settling down out here for good or making another move (though not anytime soon), it's in the back of my mind that I may have to redevelop friendships again down the line.

Other things I'm grateful for: current good health among loved ones, since this hasn't always been the case; upcoming travel plans to see family and friends, including a wedding; the ability to pick up the phone and call a childhood friend to catch up on life; a busy but productive week at work. 

Thursday, November 27, 2014

Thankful

Science says focusing on what you are grateful for (and perhaps those to whom you are grateful) makes you splurge less. I've been feeling thankful all month (November is special for me) but I've also bought a new ring and two sweaters, and gone out for dinner a few times, and ordered takeout a few other times. None of these were 'necessary' so they all count as 'splurges'. Which is kind of a gross word.

Anyway here's why I'm grateful these days (whether or not it keeps me from spending my hard earned paychecks any time soon is another matter):

My current home is the one I've lived in longest (>2 years) since moving out of my family's house a little over 10 years ago. I share this home with my husband and we are coming up on our 1-year anniversary. We both have good jobs, good health, and get to live in California. We have good friends both here and scattered around the world. Our families are further away, but we get to talk to them and face time with the littlest/cutest relatives. We may not have the money to buy everything we've ever wanted right this minute, but we don't have to worry about feeding or clothing ourselves, paying bills, or going on some kind of vacation. We had an awesome vacation this year to Hawaii (first time for either of us) and a weekend getaway to Yosemite (also our first visit).

more reading:
Gratitude/Willpower
The Billfold