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 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 8: Asking + ...Asking!

 

Today I learned...

...that when you really ask, and are truly thankful BEFORE you get what you want, you really do receive. 

Today I am thankful for...

...friends who ask the questions I am so eager and happy to answer! I love when I can pass something helpful along...and I love it even more when things come full circle. And I am finding that they so often do.

THANK YOU.

Day 7: Letters + Education

Today I learned...
...that writing a handwritten letter to a stranger, in the interest of being kind, loving, helpful, and empowering, and leaving it for him/her to find, feels totally AWESOME. Yes, I did it. I wrote a letter and I sealed it up and I addressed it to: "If you found this, this is for you. (Yes! You!)" I left it at an empty table at Panera Bread. I was inspired by www.moreloveletters.com


Today I am thankful for...
...my first day of my LAST semester of graduate school...because it means a) I got to see my wonderful, caring classmates and b) there are only 16 weeks left between me and my LMSW!!!

Day 3: Touch + A Message

Today I learned...

...that when two people are having difficulty communicating, holding each other close is every bit as valid a form of expression as a barrage of words. Sometimes, no matter what you do, words don't come out right...or when they do, they hurt... or they don't do justice...or they are hard to understand... But touch never falls short in those categories. 

Today I am thankful for...

...a beautiful, wonderful, inspiring message meant specifically for me.