Day 96: Not Alone + Fun Time

Today I learned...
...that I'm not alone in some of the things I think.

Today I am thankful for...
...a fun time with friends. ;-)

Day 71: Positive Facts + Rainy Day

Today I learned...

...that positive thinking can improve your life expectancy. This morning someone mentioned that regular negative thinking can take 16 years off your life and cited a local news station as the source. I'm thinking I'll live a very long time. :-)

Today I am thankful for...

...hospice home visits that allow for Starbucks stops, refuge from torrential rain, and long in-transit discussions (including Vampire Diaries chats) with a pleasant social worker. :-)

Day 65: ALS + Positivity

Today I learned...
...that people facing the bleakest of fates can be inspirational, motivated, and positive. I learned about ALS (http://www.alsa.org/about-als/what-is-als.html) from someone who has it...and how it affects people firsthand and secondhand. And in turn, I was affected too.

Today I am thankful for...
...the chance to show someone that injecting a little positivity and gratitude into a regular day's events can change outcomes. :-)

Day 62: Knowledge + Study Group Antics

Today I learned...
...that I am more prepared for the licensure exam than I thought. I think our little study group got 90% of the practice questions right this afternoon.

Today I am thankful for...
...3 mugs of coffee, lunch of champions, a massive piece of chocolate cake (with ice cream), girl-chatter, social work discussions, an iPhone app that allows us to study for licensure, and all the other components of today's study group. :-)

Day 58: Sharing + Spring Break

Today I learned...
...(or re-learned?) that sharing good experiences with people is part of what makes them so good! "Shared joy is a double joy; shared sorrow is half a sorrow" has always been one of my favorite proverbs. 

Today I am thankful for...
...spring break from grad school officially beginning! I have no class for a week. YAY! I need the down time. Work and hospice will continue...but no classes at night until March 11th!

Day 51: Rushing + Compliments

Today I learned...
...that the day is only as rushed as we make it. I was going going going since I woke up and work was hectic and I felt like I couldn't breathe or even go to the bathroom for a break...my phone was ringing off the hook, I was being paged every 5 minutes, and I felt disorganized. Then I realized - I can breathe whenever I feel like breathing. And since I'm not performing brain surgery, everything else can wait. Self pep talks are the best kind. :-)

Today I am thankful for...
...a really nice compliment in the form of some recognition from the director of my social work program. More to come on that, but for now I'm thankful for her kind words.

Day 50: Friend Meet-Ups + A Message

Today I learned...
...that my amazing friends were together in NYC having a beautiful day. While my heart longs to be with them, it was so fantastic knowing they were FINALLY together and enjoying every moment. On Saturday I get to finally see this friend from the UK (it's been about SIX years which is a long time coming!) and the dear NYC friend who was with her today. The anticipation is killing me. Seeing photos of them together today made me so happy. It was truly a dream fulfilled... and I'm so eager to get in on that dream!

Today I am thankful for...
...a truly touching and beautiful message from a friend that brought tears to my eyes. Tonight I was blown away. Words cannot describe the selfless generosity she demonstrated and how much it meant to me. Thank you, thank you, thank you. You know who you are.

Day 49: Classmates + Alone Time

Today I learned...
...that some of my classmates think what I do in my "free" time is amazing. I am so flattered by that, but also so encouraged to keep doing the things I do. I love doing all the things I do and hope my classmates know that they inspire me too. :-)

Today I am thankful for...
...some time alone without distractions. Since it's Presidents' Day, I had class tonight, but no work today. So I spent the afternoon at Wegmans in the upstairs cafe...and though I people-watched, bogged briefly, and of course left my Monday letter for a stranger, I also worked on a paper I desperately need to finish. When it's just me and my laptop, I feel more productive.

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 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 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 33: Driving Ease + a Magical Day

Today I learned...
...that driving in the car with a really good friend makes driving to new places SO much easier.

Today I am thankful for...
...a magical day of adventures with my dear friend Jenn. She came to see me via bus, and from the moment I picked her up at the bus terminal, I was giddy. We had a day of fabulousness, which includes her meeting all of my family members - every one of them! She met Rick, my mom, my dad, my brother, his wife, my little niece, and even my Mom's best friend - my other mother - Barb! And of course - she met Juice and Tumbler! Many good talks and hugging and squealing and smiling ensued. AND THE BEST PART IS it's just the first of many visits in our future!

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.

Day 28: Communication + Cancellations

Today I learned...
...that learning how to talk to someone about something difficult and receive the outcome you desire is a true accomplishment. Today I was told, "Good for you" regarding a conversation I had with someone I love. I got the outcome I wanted and I was happy, but I didn't consider that I had played a part in contributing to the outcome. I had placed all the power with the other person. Only when I was told, "Good for you," did I realize that had I approached the situation and the conversation differently, would a very different outcome have transpired.

Today I am thankful for...
...grad school classes being cancelled for the evening. I now have more time to relax and to prepare for tomorrow without getting home at 10 pm.