Day One Hundred & Fifty-Two

For (1) the birth of M.R. and (2) her surprise party going off without a hitch!

Day One Hundred & Fifty-One

Stale Peeps

Day One Hundred & Fifty

For...

-Chatting with my sister-in-law online
-Homemade naan pizza dinner
-Diet A&W Root Beer
-Leaving work while it's still light out
-The occasional cigarette
-Ani Difranco
-Words With Friends
-Pinterest
-Howie Day
-Emails from the bestie
-Sitting on my balcony, staring at the stars
-Letting myself cry
-Allowing myself to buy Zoolander
-Stupid television
-A good therapy day with one of my kiddos
-The support of some of my coworkers
-Talking to my faux-mama
-Breezy spring air

Day One Hundred & Forty-Nine

For trees budding, flowers blooming, and the energy that comes with the change from winter into spring.

Day One Hundred & Forty-Eight

Apparently it's the week of being grateful for amazing people...

I had an amazing afternoon, post-class date with S.R. today and she lit up my life (like she usually does). She's always funny, charming, and caring, but today I also got to see a very supportive, very loving, very relational side to her as well. At a time in my life where it feels like a lot is going on, she had me laughing hysterically, repeatedly saying "oh my god you make me feel less crazy," and wishing we both didn't have other life things to get to that day. I've always loved and adored S. and my time with her, but today reminded me just how much I missed spending time with her and what a wonderful, wonderful friend she truly is.

Day One Hundred & Forty-Seven

I don't have many words to describe how grateful I am to have a friend like LM: a friend who will step outside of her comfort zone because I need help stepping outside of my own. I felt true, unconditional support tonight and I will forever be grateful for her willingness to take this step alongside me.

Day One Hundred & Forty-Six

For vulnerability and re-learning the importance of it.


“There is a common misunderstanding among the human beings who have ever been born on earth that the best way to live is to try to avoid pain and just try to get comfortable. You see this even in insects and animals and birds. All of us are the same. A much more interesting, kind and joyful approach to life is to begin to develop our curiosity, not caring whether the object of our curiosity is bitter or sweet. To lead to a life that goes beyond pettiness and prejudice and always wanting to make sure that everything turns out on our own terms, to lead a more passionate, full, and delightful life than that, we must realize that we can endure a lot of pain and pleasure for the sake of finding out who we are and what this world is, how we tick and how our world ticks, how the whole thing just is. If we are committed to comfort at any cost, as soon as we come up against the least edge of pain, we’re going to run; we’ll never know what’s beyond that particular barrier or wall or fearful thing.” -Pema

Also:

Day One Hundred & Forty-Five

For surviving the car trip home. For my own bed. For collapsing on my couch.

Day One Hundred & Forty-Four

A great, fascinating, eye-opening trip with lifelong friends.

Day One Hundred & Forty-Three

Post-dinner walks with friends in the warm Arizona breeze

Day One Hundred & Forty-Two

For singing karaoke (sober) at a local-only type dive bar. We ran that show and they hated us all.

Day One Hundred & Forty-One

Floating lazily in a pool all day long. This is exactly what I needed on this break!

One Hundred & Forty

Having a blast playing mini golf! I haven't played in ages and absolutely love it. Came in 3rd too.

Day One Hundred & Thirty-Nine

Walking in the rain. Seeing the brightest double rainbow when I needed some hope.

Day One Hundred & Thirty-Eight

Watching the sun rise over the Grand Canyon is one of the highlights of my life.










Sitting on a rock, watching the sunrise, was like a dream. I sat there crying at the beauty of the world and the fact that the sun rises and sets regardless of people, regardless of me.


"She said she usually cried at least once each day not because she was sad, but because the world was so beautiful and life was so short."

Day One Hundred & Thirty-Seven

We survived 12 hours in the car together!



And stopped at Four Corners, which was so exciting to me. For whatever reason, this is one of those tourist attractions I have ALWAYS wanted to go to. What is there not to love about standing in four states at one time?

Day One Hundred & Thirty-Six

Even though today was really stressful at work, it was actually fun. People seemed to be in a friendlier, more collaborative mood, and were taking care of each other in a real, honest, compassionate way.

Day One Hundred & Thirty-Five

I am very grateful that my darling friend LC was born 24 years ago today!

Day One Hundred & Thirty-Four

I am so grateful that I had the time and the resources to pamper myself a bit today. It's amazing how a new haircut/style can make me feel like a new person. Then I got my eyebrows waxed for the first time, had a meal with a wonderful friend I haven't seen in ages, and bought a new bra and cardigan. It's funny to me, to some extent, that I did some really, really basic self-care things today (I haven't gotten my haircut in 8 months, my bra is like a year old and the underwire snapped, etc) and yet I feel luxurious. I'm grateful I took care of myself today.

Day One Hundred & Thirty-Three

Get yourself prepared for this one....

Are you ready?

No, seriously...

Are you ready?

I am grateful for...






This show is so ridiculous it makes me absolutely bonkers happy. I LOVE coming home from work on Monday and having this monstrosity to watch.

Day One Hundred & Thirty-Two

I am grateful to be reading a book (for fun!!!!) that is so good, I simultaneously want to whip through to get to the end and read it slowly so it never ends.

Day One Hundred & Thirty-One

Water.

Today I am grateful for water.

And not just the fact that I love to drink water and drink about 120 ounces a day. I am also grateful for the ease within which I get my water. That it flows directly into my faucets, that I can make it hot or cold, that there's enough to fill my bathtub, ice trays, glass, toilet, shower, etc. I don't have to haul a bucket down to a well; I don't have to boil my water before I drink it; I don't have to worry about washing myself clean; my water is just there. (I realize, of course, that this is not truly the case and that there are water issues right here in the USA [see the documentary FLOW, if you haven't yet!!]

I am grateful that with how thirsty I am today (it's one of those days where it feels like I can't drink enough), I simply walk to my kitchen, turn on the tap, pour water into my cup, and drink.

Day One Hundred & Thirty

I went up to Fort Collins for the night to do a bar crawl with my friends (supporting one friend's cousin's non-profit) and had an amazing time. It's the first time I've done a bar crawl (ever), first time I've really explored Fo Co, and we all had a blast. It was one of those nights where I felt fine, fancy, and free (as the saying goes). I had fabulous conversations with friends old and new, went to some really cool bars, and supported a great cause. Definitely one of those nights where I felt grateful to be alive and young.

Day One Hundred & Twenty-Nine

I left work a little bit early today to drive down to Colorado Springs to hear my faux-mama read her work at a tiny college down there. I thought the trip would take me a lot longer than it did, so when I realized I would be there early, I thought I'd go to campus and walk around.

Then I saw a sign for Garden of the Gods. I've only been down to the Springs once and saw GOG from far away, but immediately knew I needed to go there at some point. I did something more spontaneous than I usually would and decided to go right then. The sun was starting to set and I didn't have too much time (and was in work clothes), so I just drove through the park instead of walking it, but holy crap it was amazing. I didn't take the picture above, but that is exactly what it looked like tonight. I pulled over at one point and sat there, basically panting in awe, at the beauty of it all and for the second time in the last month said to myself, "Oh crap girl, you can't move away from this place. Your soul sings here."


After my drive, I went to Colorado College and heard Di read. I have always been amazed by her poetry, but I haven't heard her read it in years. There's no one I've ever met who reads like her. Straight up tingles. Head nodding to lines. Tears welling up at classics of hers I've loved for years. The surreal feeling of her being in this place with me. Wishing she could move out here and be a part of it all. How right it felt to have her here. That one hour with her tonight, almost all of it spent just listening to her read feels like it's enough to sustain me for a long while.

My soul felt fed tonight.

Day One Hundred & Twenty-Eight

Melting pot with the ladies to celebrate Restaurant Week and then end of winter quarter; feeling like part of a family of friends; planning Spring Break; delicious, delicious food with the greatest company.

Day One Hundred & Twenty-Seven

Getting out of class early; making new friends; getting drunk while sitting outside on a 70 degree day in March; going to class drunk; being done with winter quarter!

Day One Hundred & Twenty-Six

Finishing finals on my second to last quarter. And finishing before 10pm felt even better!

Day One Hundred & Twenty-Five

I am grateful for the amazing dinner I just made. Fresh shrimp, avocado, cucumber, asparagus, and leeks, with lime feta dressing. It was fun and quick to make and tasted so amazing. I usually eat like crap during finals, so I'm feeling very thankful that I decided to take the time to both grocery shop and cook this weekend.

Day One Hundred & Twenty-Four

I had a really rough night last night, for no known reason, and this morning I got an email from my bestie reminding me that this morning started a "brand new day." This song and its lyrics popped into my head and changed my mood around quickly: "When I woke the world was new/I never had to ask/ It's a brand new day/ the sun is shining/ it's a brand new day."

And a brand new day it is.

Day One Hundred & Twenty-Three

For connecting with a new client pretty much immediately. I've had several kiddos in a row who just were not interested in therapy/me/getting help and I was feeling pretty discouraged. This is my first male client and it feels like we're going to work well together and I'm very excited.

Day One Hundred & Twenty-Two

I'm pretty sure I've posted this one before, but I am grateful for sneaking out of work early and coming home and taking a really long nap. I really needed to get out of work today; I really need to do some good ole self care; I really needed to take a damn nap and listening to that part of myself and doing those things was glorious.