Day 202: Thoughts + Coffee & Cats

Today I learned...

...that sometimes people are thinking the same thing and being on the same page, but they don't even know it because they haven't talked about it yet! :-)

Today I am thankful for...

...morning coffee time with Jenn (ahhh that first sip!) and an improvement with the health of a good friend's kitty. 

Day 188: Friend Time + Sleep

Today I learned...

...that a brief amount of time with a cherished friend is better than no time at all. Thank you, Jenn.

Today I am thankful for...

...sleep and lots of it.

Day 181: Navigator + Important Talk

Today I learned...

...that I am pretty good at being a navigator in the car. 

Today I am thankful for...

...an important talk with my hubby.

Day 166: Solutions + NYC Conversations

Today I learned...
...that talking about something doesn't mean a solution arrives... it means the talking can actually BE the solution.

Today I am thankful for...
...a beautiful day of a thousand conversations with Jenn in NYC.

Day 120: Relaxing + Fashion Messages

Today I learned...
...that relaxing is NOT over-rated.

Today I am thankful for...
...hilarious fashion Facebook messages with my grad school crew. :-D

Day 103: Discussion + DVR

Today I learned...
...that talking about things you want might help you get them.

Today I am thankful for...
...me time with my DVR before lots of paper writing.

Day 99: Healing + Field Respect

Today I learned...
...that some people have a real, true gift for healing...and that I highly respect that.

Today I am thankful for...
...a field instructor and field liaison who respect me, have given me good experiences, and think I am ready to be a graduate level professional in a mere few weeks time.

Day 79: Eye Contact + Willingness

Today I learned...
...that making eye contact/communication with my friends across a room is sometimes the only thing that can make a boring 3 hour class bearable. :-)

Today I am thankful for...
...the kindness and willingness of my friends to do something nice. :-)

Day 70: Epiphanies + YOU

Today I learned...
...that there is more to my driving anxiety than meets the eye. New strategies have begun. I shall conquer you, driving phobia!

Today I am thankful for...
...YOU. Yes, all of you. I really mean it. It's awesome to wake up in the morning to a ton of messages or comments or emails or tweets or whatever. It's fantastic to know that you're loving positivity and are learning from gratitude. It's great to have to tell myself to go to bed at night, because I keep wanting to respond to your beautiful words. I LOVE being connected to the world. I love being connected to all of YOU. I love being part of something bigger. I love knowing that we're all part of the human race, leaving our unique impact. :-)

Day 66: Listening + Sibling Emails

Today I learned...
...that even when you think people aren't listening, they often are.

Today I am thankful for...
...the opportunity to email my brother and tell him about a variety of cool things.

Day 64: Sleep + Support Group

Today I learned...
...I need more sleep. So tonight I'm going to bed at 9:00 pm. Rick's orders.

Today I am thankful for...
...the women in the support group I lead. They are strong, they are committed, and they are compassionate. I am proud to walk beside them through their journeys.

Day 63: Lack of Food + Extras

Today I learned...
...of someone who has to stand in a food pantry line for hours once a week just to feed her children. It really broke my heart. I wanted to take her to the store straightaway and buy her groceries...but I remembered my professional boundaries. Well, I never forgot my professional boundaries... but part of me wanted to help her in a more direct way than I was.

Today I am thankful for...
...extra time with Rick due to no class tonight, extra time to email my friend, and the rest of the massive piece of chocolate cake from yesterday's lunch. ;-)

Day 46: Willingness to Serve + Lessons in Politics

Today I learned...
...that sometimes people will get under your skin and make you angry. Being human is part of life. Serving these people even when they have made you angry is how you show that you value them and your role.

Today I am thankful for...
...a husband who has the knowledge and life experience to teach me so many political and historical lessons.

Day 43: Wegmans + Emails

Today I learned...
...that I miss grocery shopping! Rick and I always did our grocery shopping at Wegmans on Saturdays and since I always work on Saturdays these days, he does the errands. I haven't been grocery shopping in weeks. I went this afternoon to pick up a few things for the house and a few things for the graduate school student body (I'm President of the Student Association). Walking in there, purchasing my coffee, and perusing the aisles was like...exciting!

Today I am thankful for...
...great email conversations with my friend, Jenn. You know you have a good friend when Facebook messenger is down and you are horribly disappointed, because you were all set to write to her and she to you!

Day 40: My Message + Nana

Today I learned...
...that I knew EXACTLY what I wanted to say to girls out there. While I was busy writing papers this morning, I received an email from someone asking for advice on how to talk to a 12 year old girl about body dissatisfaction, comparisons to others, and negative self-worth. It got me thinking - like REALLY thinking - so I filmed an 8 minute video, specifically for girls. You know...those wonderful little creatures who grow up to be women. I couldn't even continue what I was doing until I made this video. Do you have a daughter? A grand-daughter? A niece? A little sister? A student? If there is any girl in your life, this is what I want to tell her. This is what she needs to hear. It's not even really about eating disorders. It's about self-love. It's about life. 

Today I am thankful for...
...being able to celebrate my Nana's birthday with her. Most of the family went out to dinner tonight and it was nice to just look at my grandmother from across the table, sitting there in her red shirt and her salt and pepper hair, and just smile...and watch her smile back.

Day 38: Listening + Driving Anxiety

Today I learned...
...that sometimes people just need to be heard. I made a home hospice visit today, armed with resources and suggestions and options for a patient's caregiver daughter. She didn't want any of them...yet my visit was very successful. I listened. I validated. I encouraged. I supported. And though I left feeling like I had not "given" anything... in retrospect I think I gave the woman just what she needed.

Today I am thankful for...
...a noticeable decrease in my driving anxiety. I've really been using gratitude to combat it (sounds strange, but it's private and it works!) and it was tested today. Scale of 1-10, it was mere 1. Yay!

Day 37: Group Projects + Love Notes

Today I learned...
...that a group project doesn't have to be a chore. Normally when the term "group project" is uttered in a school setting - whether that setting be high school, undergrad university, or graduate school - it strikes fear and trepidation in the hearts of most. Maybe it's just the fact that we're social workers and care about each other a lot, but I'm working on a group project right now and it's smooth sailing. There haven't been many times I've been able to say that about group work. Tonight, armed with a laptop, we easily and efficiently planned and planted all our PowerPoint slides into one presentation in less than an hour. There is no worry about one person doing more work than another. There is no fear that a deadline won't be met. Yay! Go team!

Today I am thankful for...
...the note from Rick that was waiting for me when I arrived home after a long day and night. It made me smile, as his notes usually do.

Day 36: Surprise Sincerity + a Nomination

Today I learned...
...that a lot of people really look forward to the letters I leave for strangers that I post about on Mondays. Multiple people have stopped me throughout my day on a Monday to ask me excitedly where I left my letter. Multiple people have told me that my Letters on Monday is one good thing about Mondays now! Multiple people have thanked me for doing it, because it inspires them or makes them feel good. And multiple people have told me that they pretend the letters I leave for strangers (and then post) are for them.

All of this makes me so happy. And yet, I am surprised every time I learn about another person who is waiting for the announcement of the next letter. It's such a learning experience. I am surprised by the sincerity and straightforwardness with which people approach me about this. I am taken aback when they express excitement or eagerness and ARE NOT AFRAID TO SAY SO OUT LOUD. I love that. And yes, I will always tell you where I left my Monday letter - though you may have to wait until it appears on Facebook or my personal blog. And yes, it IS one good thing about Mondays now! That's part of the point. I like to put a positive spin on things that aren't always seen so positively. And yes, I love to inspire and make you feel good. You can do what I'm doing. I'm not special. :-) And yes, the letters are as much for YOU as they are for the people who find them. That's the reason why I post photos of the actual letters I leave instead of just saying that I left another letter. If you read it and it speaks to you, take it to heart. It's for you.

Today I am thankful for...
...the nomination for the Love Warrior 2013 award. The EDRS (Eating Disorder Recovery Support, Inc.) nominated 5 women and I am honored to be among them, because quite frankly, they all rock! The winner will be announced at their annual conference on Feb 7th in California. I was invited to the event, but unfortunately due to cost of travel and crazy schedule, had to decline. Regardless of outcome, I am so appreciative for the recognition and the thanks. I feel so blessed these last few weeks!

Day 34: Effort Appreciated + Sledding

Today I learned...
...that my small effort of leaving an anonymous letter for a stranger was very appreciated! One of the letters I left at Wegmans was found and the person sent a picture and a thank you to www.moreloveletters.com. They then posted it on the www.moreloveletters.com Facebook page. I stumbled upon it because I follow the www.moreloveletters.com FB page...and man, was I surprised! I teared up immediately reading how the finder appreciated my words. Beautiful..

Today I am thankful for...
...FINALLY going sledding (however briefly) for the FIRST time in my 28 years of life. There is very steep slope behind my house and Rick and I took turns sledding down it in the snow. It was fast! I couldn't stop laughing.

Day 32: Saying No + Reassurance

Today I learned...
...that saying "no" is perfectly okay if you're already doing a lot and can't take on more without becoming really stressed...and that people who really care about you won't push you to change your mind.

Today I am thankful for...
...a husband who listens to me moan about directions because of my driving anxiety and helps me navigate my upcoming day over and over.