Taking gratitude with me into 2020…

1. My family
2. My friends
3. Full-time work
4. A cozy blue couch
5. A stack of fuzzy blankets
6. Steven (the stuffed bear who sleeps in my bed, and has for over a decade)
7. How running has changed my life
8. How Christ has changed my life
9. Hot tea
10. Cold soda
11. Chocolate chip cookies
12. Macaroni & Cheese (from the blue box, obviously)
13. Tank tops
14. Hooded sweatshirts
15. Tevas sandals
16. Sea otters (especially when they are holding hands)
17. Happy puppies
18. Purring kittens
19. Rides at the fair
20. Drives in the Gorge
21. Safe landings at the airport
22. Portland
23. San Diego
24. London
25. Seaside & Cannon Beach
26. Toes in the sand
27. Angels in the snow
28. Wind in the hair
29. Falling asleep to a rainstorm
30. Almost 10 years as a runner
31. Almost 12 years in my Home Community
32. Over 13 years in Portland
33. Not being a #DoctoralStudentIn anymore
34. Being #RunPhD
35. Not being #WhatsNext
36. Learning about #Next
37. Volunteering with Oregon Road Runners Club (follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter…cause I’m the Social Media Coordinator and I should use every chance to highlight our awesomeness).
38. Writing for Run Oregon
39. Coaching for Girls on the Run
40. Leaving a bad job
41. Surviving a year with five part-time jobs
42. Finishing my dissertation
43. Finishing my first marathon
44. Finishing my 15th marathon
45. Friends who kept texting and calling when I couldn’t respond
46. The friend who came over (and went with me to the doctor) when I couldn’t be alone
47. Healing through therapy (three years and counting)
48. Healing through medication (almost three years and counting)
49. Camp Ghormley
50. Whitworth College
51. The Nowaks’ spare room
52. My sketchy first apartment (and the 24-hour McDonalds across the street that made it feel safe-ish).
53. The music of Sara Bareilles
54. The words of Stephen Brookfield
55. The television of Joss Whedon
56. The worlds of Disney
57. Inappropriate socks (bad words hidden inside boots is so much fun)
58. Cute hats for bad hair days
59. Fingerless gloves
60. The right to vote
61. The right to worship
62. The right to assemble
63. The right to speak
64. A roof that doesn’t leak
65. A fridge with food
66. A bank account with money
67. A hamper without dirty clothes (at least for the moment)
68. Feeling safe in my home
69. Feeling valued at my job
70. Feeling loved by my dear friends
71. “Diamond” tiaras to feel like a princess
72. “Steel” swords to feel like a knight
73. Vanilla chai from Cafe Delirium
74. Sweet basil fried rice from Thai Fresh
75. Pepperoni and pineapple pizza from Papa Johns (with extra cheese)
76. Flourless chocolate cake from Arrivederci
77. The pink blanket from when I was in daycare (it is safe in my trunk)
78. The quilt from my Home Community (it is used every day on my bed)
79. The plaid blanket from Walmart (ready in the car for picnics)
80. The times I got lost in the woods, and then found.
81. The wrong ways I’ve gone while running, and then even more found.
82. Gold stars for effort
83. Christmas presents
84. Birthday cards
85. My daybed, with ivy frame
86. Campfire s’mores
87. Twinkle lights
88. New books
89. New friends
90. Old friends
91. Memories of friends (and prayers they are doing well)
92. Walks in my neighborhood
93. Runs in downtown Portland
94. Real mail
95. “Just saying hi” texts
96. “Just because” gifts
97. Gifts
98. Giving gifts
99. Hot showers after a run
100. Naps
101. Colorful scarves
102. Giggling toddlers
103. Wise elders
104. Accountability peers
105. Running partners
106. Lame (but funny) jokes
107. Making myself laugh
108. Making others laugh
109. Laughing so hard I can’t breathe
110. Newborn baby smell
111. Calling Portland “home”
112. Comforting books (like by Robin Jones Miller)
113. Challenging books (like by Ibram X. Kendi)
114. Hopeful books (like by Brene Brown)
115. Running books (like…I’ve read too many to pick)
116. Little Bird
117. Bright Eyes & Sunshine
118. Short Man
119. Watching movies on my blue couch
120. Listening to Podcasts
121. Ignoring work emails on the weekend
122. Teaching
123. Learning
124. Curiosity
125. Spellcheck (especially because I cannot spell curiosity)
126. Watching the same Christmas movies every year
127. Meeting John Lewis
128. Meeting Robin Jones Gunn
129. Having an airport “moment” with McDreamy (I mean Patrick Dempsey)
130. The Bakers Dozen
131. The EDD Team
132. A window by my desk
133. Unconditional love from family
134. My blue sweatshirt from high school (once barely fit, now a too-big Snuggie)
135. The Singing Butler print above my bed
136. Friends who taught me how to have conflict
137. Friends who notice when I’m missing
138. Friends who will not let me pursue another graduate degree
139. Casual Fridays
140. “2 miles” on Saturday mornings
141. Index cards (my little daily organizers)
142. Putting words onto the screen to find clarity and light
143. My Boyfriend