Month: February 2024

This week I am grateful for

41. View of Boston

42. Dusk in Boston

43. Good Conversation

44. AfternoonWalk

45. Hot Shower

 

#41: View of Boston

I was in Boston this week to celebrate my partner’s birthday. We stopped at the Prudential Center which is the second tallest building in Boston. I had bought a ticket to “View Boston” which entails taking an elevator to the top of the building (52nd floor) and getting a view of the city. The view was breathtaking. It was great to see the city from that vantage point. I could see the Boston common, Charles River, Logan International airport etc. I am very grateful for that moment.

#42: Dusk

While in Boston, there was this moment during Dusk which was very pleasant. The sun had just set, I could hear people having casual conversation in the background, the city lights were just starting to turn on, and people were picking up their pace to get to their destinations. I even saw a brownish white hawk which was very surprising to see in the city and so late in the day. I am very grateful for that moment and that time of day in general. I love that time of day.

#43: Afternoon Walk

I am very grateful for the afternoon walk that I went on Sunday! It was sunny but a bit cold. I was dressed very warm so the cold did not bother me very much. It was nice to see families walking with their dogs at the park. I saw a female, hairy woodpecker.

I am grateful for that afternoon walk.

#44: Good Conversation

While doing laundry at the laundry mat, I started a casual conversation with a teenager from Venezuela. I learned that he migrated to the USA with his family when he was 8 years old. I shared that I also migrated to Massachusetts with my family but I was 15 years old. I also shared that I had traveled to a neighboring county of Ecuador last summer. I was sharing how much fun I had and he said to me “Yea it’s a different vibe.” He said that he felt that people in the USA spend all their time working their jobs and not enough time hanging out. I resonated with that very much. It is very easy to be consumed with work in the USA. Anyway, I am grateful for that casual but insightful conversation.

#45: Hot Shower

One more thing that I also take for grated is hot shower. This week I am grateful for hot showers. It’s great that I can take a warm shower with a flip of a switch. Growing up, if I wanted a warm shower, I needed to boil water in a pot then mix it with cool water in a plastic basin or a bucket. I did not have access to a shower growing up so we used a bucket or plastic basin for showers. So this week I am grateful for access to hot showers.

This week, I am grateful for…

36. One Love

37. Tiramisu

38. Twilight

39. Restful Sleep

40. Quick Walk

 

#36: One Love

I am very grateful for the movie and the song One Love by Bob Marley this week. I had a chance to watch the movie One Love this week. It told the story of the late Bob Marley. What an influential figure in recent history. The music and his story was very inspiring. Additionally, I feel a great sense of nostalgia when listening to the song One Love. I am grateful for Bob Marley to have blessed us with his powerful music.

#37: Tiramisu

I am very grateful for a delicious piece of tiramisu that I had this week. Even the way it was presented was extremely appetizing.

#38: Twilight

This week I am grateful for the movie Twilight. The first time I watched the movie I was a freshman in high school. I caught the last 40 minutes of the movie. We did not have DVR at my house yet so I did not get a chance to watch the full movie for another couple of months. I finally had a chance to watch it and I loved every second of it. I became I super fan throughout high school. About 2 years ago, I traveled to Portland Organ where the first movie was filmed. It was great to see the nature and sites that I saw in the movie. I rewatched the first twilight movie this week and I am grateful for all the memories.

#39: Restful Sleep

This week has been a busy week. I worked 7 days a week and stayed up late working on launching a new site for work. The last couple of days I have finally had a chance to catch up on some rest.

I am very grateful for a restful night of sleep. I slept like a baby last night!

#40: Quick Walk

During my lunch break this week, I got a chance to go out for a walk around the neighborhood. The sun was out and shining on my skin. I love when I get a chance to go for walks during the day. I am grateful that short walk, it is exactly what I needed in that moment.

What are you grateful for this week? Feel free to leave me a comment.

See you next week…

This week, I am grateful for…

31. Basketball and Friends

32. Twilight

33. Nephews and Nieces

34. Stars in the Night Sky

35. Sunlight

 

#31: Basketball with Friends

Last Sunday, I met up with a friend for lunch. It was great to catch up with him. He and I are mentors/volunteers at a local community college. One of the perks of being a volunteer is that you get access to the college’s gym on Sunday evenings. About two hours after hanging out with my friend, we stopped at the basketball court to run a few games with other volunteers. I love playing basketball with Friends. I get in a state of flow and lose track of time. I am very grateful for Basketball and Friends this week.

#32: Twilight

I am very grateful for the golden hour during my evening commute. The sun was setting behind the horizon and the dull yellow glow on tall trees contrasted very well with the bright white snow. I am very grateful for that moment of serenity and natural beauty. Here is one picture I took…

#33: Nephews and Nieces

On Wednesday I went to visit my brother who has a newborn baby girl. My mother and my 2 sisters were there as well. It was great to play with my nephews and nieces. I can never seem to get tired of hearing them laugh hysterically for simple and often silly things. It was adorable to see my 7 month old baby nephew attempt to eat a slice of fruit.

He was trying his hardest to grab the slice which was too big for his tiny hands and attempted to take a bite with no teeth. It was extremely adorable. I am very grateful for all my nephews and nieces.

#34: Stars in the Night Sky

One more thing I miss about the small town in Western Kenya that I was born in is, the beautiful night sky. There is significantly less light pollution in the town and by 7pm, it is typically pitch black. Growing up, I did not truly appreciate that beauty because I did not have anything to compare it to. It wasn’t until I moved to Worcester, MA and now Greater Boston Area that I noticed the great difference. I can barely see any stars at night most nights in Boston Massachusetts. But on Wednesday this week while visiting my brother who lives in a more rural setting, I saw beautiful stars at night. I am very grateful for that moment.

#35: Sunlight

On my lunch break this week, I got a chance to go out for a walk. All last week we had grey dark clouds and we did not see the sun at all. But this week we mostly saw blue skies without a cloud in sight. I enjoyed going on those walks and the sun felt great on my skin. I closed my eyes and fully soaked up that warm glow of sunlight . I even heard some birds singing which is unusual for the winter month of February. I am very grateful for that moment of warm sunlight on my skin.

What are you grateful for this week? Feel free to leave me a comment.

See you next week…

26. Rain and Snow

27. Diving Hawk

28. Kenyan Tea

29. Brunch

30. Finding Parking Just in Time

 

#26: Rain and Snow

Last Sunday morning, I got a glimpse of a mix of rain and snow while I was working out at the gym. It was a beautiful sight that I don’t get to see so often. I could not look away for a few minutes. It was raining on my way to the gym but that turned in to a mix of rain and snow. I am grateful for that moment.

#27: Diving Hawk

This week I am grateful for another beautiful sight that actually happened today. The sun came out today after about a week of dark grey clouds. I typically enjoy all weather patterns from rainy and snowy days to sunny days. But this week I actually missed the sun. I have been prescribed vitamin D in the past during winter time because I become deficient of it with less time in the sun and my skin tone. But the sun finally came out today. While on a walk, I saw a big white and brown hawk diving straight down with immense focus and agility.

I was captivated for a few seconds before it disappeared behind tall maple trees. The sun reflected really well on it’s brownish white feathers. The scene lasted a few seconds but it was breathtaking. I am grateful to having witness that moment today.

#28: Kenyan Tea

I am not sure if I have already wrote this is the past but I am very grateful for Kenyan tea this week. Tea is a big part of Kenyan culture. People are usually surprised when I share that I started drinking tea (with caffein) as young 3 years old. Most of my Kenyan friends and family members had the same upbringing. I LOVE Kenyan tea. I drink Kenyan tea every morning. When I am able to, I love to slow down and savor every sip. This brings me a lot of joy. There is a lot of scientific research that suggest savoring can be a big source of pleasure and increased happiness and wellbeing. So this week I am very grateful of Kenyan tea and the moment to savor it

#29: Brunch

Last Sunday I went to brunch with my girlfriend at a diner that is 4 minute ride from our apartment. Naturally, I brought my Kenyan tea with me. I ordered a western omelet which came with home fries and toast. My mouth is getting watery again thinking about it. It was so good!! Thank you so much local diner. You will be seeing me again soon.

Here it is…

#30: Finding Parking Just in Time

This week I had planned to visit my old place of employment. I was running behind on time and I wanted to bring donuts for my former coworkers. I was driving around for a while around the donut shop without any luck. Just before I gave up hope, a spot right in-front of the building became available. That allowed me enough time to get the donuts and make it there on time but I was cutting it close. It was wonderful to see my former coworkers. Thank you all for a very warm welcome back and for the pizza. You know me so well.

 

What are you grateful for this week? If you feel brave, leave it on the comment section. Feel free to also contact me directly.

See you next week…