I'm grateful for kitty cuddles

Things have changed a lot for my cat. He’s now got two new doggie siblings and another cat sibling, plus a second mom now.

That’s a big change from when he first moved here to back in February.

So we’re not getting as much one-on-one time as we once did. But he’s adapting well.

(Actually, I’ve been very surprised by how well he accepted his new cat brother, Jack, into his home.)

Whenever he comes to lay with me when I write now, I feel like it’s extra special.

I’m grateful to have this cat in my life, because he’s brought me so much joy since we found him back in September of 2020. Even with our trips to the emergency vet, he’s been a great teacher and friend. He’s also so cute and soft and I just adore him.

I’m grateful for the orchid forest

The first orchid anyone ever gave me was right after I had to put my dog to sleep. One of my clients brought this white and pink orchid that stayed in my treatment room, blooming for months.

Another client saw this and gifted me with another orchid, and shortly after I bought one of my own. That began a small orchid collection at my office that eventually moved home with me when we closed during the pandemic.

After my Dad died, more orchids came. First brought again as gifts of condolences from friends and loved ones.

Then I caught the bug and started buying orchids for myself with the goal to always have one in bloom. I started joking that “orchids are my copy strategy.”

Apparently, I’m not the only one who finds them healing.

Kelly also started caring for orchids in the wake of her own grief last year.

When she moved in a few weeks ago, we blended our orchid family. They now all live together under the east-facing window and we lookout them during our morning writing time.

I’ve inevitably had some peter out and die, but I’m grateful I kept at it because I’ve also sustained the life of many of them. Learning to care for plants takes time and attention and compassion for oneself. These plants are my teachers.

What are you grateful for? What surprising hobbies have you taken up during times fo great transition?

I'm grateful for Kelly

Today as we kick off 101 Days of Gratitude, I want to begin with the gratitude I feel that Kelly has come into my life as a my love and partner.

Even from our first text messages when our mutual friend connected us, I knew she was going to be a special person in my life.

I'm grateful to have found someone that shares so many of my same interests, is so easy to get along with, hilarious, curious about the mysteries of life, and desires to make their lives and the lives of others better.

Plus, she loves me deeply (and the feeling is mutual!).

I'm grateful each day for this woman and can't wait to see what comes out of our lives together.

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What are you grateful for? Who is someone that your grateful is in your life?

Everyday fortune

It's easy to feel like you don't have enough.

There's messages all around telling you all the ways you can have more, be better, more attractive, wealthy, happy, often with the promise that this product/experience/app/person is going to get you there.

But there's a power in finding the fortune that’s around you already right now.

I try to do this everyday in big and small ways.

The coffee I bought for myself, the clients already on my schedule, the pants that look good (even if I wear them all the time), the cute text from my Mom, the fact that my car turned on today.

When everybody's trying to sell you something, finding the ways that you're already rich can make it easier to say, "No, thank you. I've already got what I need."

Chances are, you do.

What fortune can you find for yourself today?