Day 208: Mac Love + Pasta Date

Today I learned...

...that the MacBook Pro is awesome. Like...even more awesome than I hoped. 

Today I am thankful for...

...a dinner date (with pasta) with the one and only Jenn Friedman. It's like she lives here now. I love it. I could get used to this. ;-)

Day 201: Talent + Quality Time

Today I learned...

...that my friend Jenn is even more talented than I realized!

Today I am thankful for...

...the opportunity to have dinner, Wegmans adventures, and conversations with her.

Day 199: Chance to Understand + Frozen Yogurt Friendship

Today I learned...
...that other people can understand hard-to-understand things if you give them a chance.

Today I am thankful for...
...dinner and frozen yogurt with a friend in the oppressive heat.

Day 176: Known + Dinner with a Friend

Today I learned...

...that my eating disorder recovery videos are more well-known than I thought. Apparently they are watched frequently in treatment centers and residents know who I am. That is so surreal to me. And so cool.

Today I am thankful for...

...dinner at the fabulous Panera with a friend who usually makes me laugh.

Day 157: Problem-Solving + Official Facebook

Today I learned...
...that even when solutions aren't clear, talking to a friend about the problem helps immensely (and gets the wheels turning!).

Today I am thankful for...
...dinner with an MSW friend which led me to the decision to create an official "public figure" Facebook page to separate my personal life from my professional life. The dinner was great and so was watching the "likes" for my new page go up, up, up right before my eyes in a matter of minutes. How powerful! How grateful I am!

Day 137: Perfectionism + Friday Night

Today I learned...

...that perfectionist ways can hold me back, not propel me forward.

Today I am thankful for...

...Friday night dinner and TV with Rick. The little things are the best things. 

Day 126: Sadness + Celebration

Today I learned...
...that you can't take away everyone's sadness, but you can support them through it.

Today I am thankful for...
...a chatty night of celebration at the Copperhead with the best group of social workers I know and love. :-)

Day 115: Thinking the Best + Time with Mom

Today I learned...
...that thinking the best of people doesn't always mean they will do the best things.

Today I am thankful for...
...the chance to be with my mom. We had dinner and saw my friend's production of AIDA. It was a great night.

Day 110: Learning + Dinner Celebrations

Today I learned...
...that I learned A LOT during my crazy 3 year graduate program. After completing a 21 page paper detailing tons of field experience, therapy practice, etc...I feel...accomplished.

Today I am thankful for...
...a delicious dinner out with Rick. We never go out so it was nice to have some time together without having to cook.

Day 88: Closeness + Orange Juice Cheers

Today I learned...
...that closeness breeds more closeness.

Today I am thankful for...
...an omelet and biscuits for breakfast, and an orange juice "toast" with Rick. We clinked cups and he said, "Here's lookin' at you, kid." :-)

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.