Month: December 2025

This week I am grateful for…

151. Snow fight with my niece (and nephews)

152. Pancakes for breakfast

153. That after-workout feeling

154. Winning a battle with the insurance company

155. Knives Out 3

#151: Snow fight with my niece and nephews

We got about 2 inches of snow in Massachusetts today, just enough to turn the scenes into a postcard and the driveway into a battlefield. I found myself in a fierce snow fight with my nieces and nephews, fully sprinting for my life as an avalanche of snow came flying at me from their tiny gloves.

It was the kind of fun that makes you forget snow can be an inconvenience. For a moment, it wasn’t something to shovel or drive through, it was pure winter magic: laughter, chaos, and the sweet reminder that joy can be as exciting as snow in your collar.

#152: That after-workout feeling

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: there’s something unbeatable about breaking a sweat first thing in the morning and following it with a refreshing shower.

That post-workout feeling, equal parts accomplishment, calm, and “I can handle whatever today throws at me.” This remains one of my favorite kinds of confidence.

#153: Pancakes for breakfast

There are few things I love more than mischievous, protein-packed pancakes to start the day. Mine get the full treatment: berries simmered down on the stovetop until they turn into a warm, jammy sauce, then extra berries on the side for good measure.

And then comes the final step: a generous pour of maple syrup, straight from the cold mountains of Vermont—because if you’re doing pancakes, you might as well do them properly.

#154: Winning a battle with the insurance company

After a grueling month of going back and forth with my health insurance over an overcharge, I’m happy to report: I emerged victorious.

It wasn’t glamorous, and it definitely wasn’t quick, but it was one of those small life wins that makes you breathe out and think, Okay… I can stop carrying that stress now.

#155: Knives Out 3

One of my favorite movie series of all time is Knives Out, so the third installment felt like an event in my house. I’ve been looking forward to it for a year, and I’m not even a little ashamed to admit I’ve already watched it twice.

Some movies are meant to be savored. Some are meant to be re-watched immediately to catch everything you missed the first time. This one was both.

Weekly spotlight: Hidden Brain — “Being Kind to Yourself”

This week’s spotlight is NPR’s Hidden Brain episode, “Being Kind to Yourself.” It’s a powerful reminder to practice self-compassion—and to speak to ourselves with the same kindness we’d offer a friend.

Being Kind to Yourself

It’s thoughtful, grounding, and the kind of listen that sticks with you long after it ends.

This week I am grateful for…

246. Snow Day

247. A Saturday Morning Snowfall

248. Holiday Spirit

249. An upcoming Trip

250. A Red Cardinal at the Window

#246: Snow Day

Earlier this week, snow was in the forecast, and my coworkers and I turned into high schoolers all over again, sending updates back and forth until after 8 p.m., hoping the college would close. We watched other schools announce their snow days while we waited, impatiently refreshing our messages and the school website. Then, finally, at around 8 p.m., the notification arrived: “Due to inclement weather, the college will be closed…”
Our group chat erupted, and I did a celebratory, involuntary dance in my living room.

#247: A Saturday Morning Snowfall

As if one snow treat wasn’t enough, we got a gentle snow flurry on Saturday morning while I sat with my cup of tea. There’s something magical about snow when you don’t have anywhere to be, just soft flakes drifting down, turning everything quiet. A weekday dusting can be inconvenient, but a weekend dusting? Pure bliss. I know my luck is bound to shift once I need to commute in a snow shower, but for this week, I’m savoring the win.

#248: Holiday Spirit

The holiday season is easily one of my favorite times of year, right up there with fall. People seem kinder, lighter, and more patient. Add the fact that my birthday is right around the corner, the season feels even more special.

#249: An Upcoming Trip

I’m counting down the days to another escape to somewhere warm later this month. Just knowing sunshine is on the horizon gets me excited.

#250: A Red Cardinal at the Window

One morning, I spotted a bright red cardinal pecking at the snow for food. The moment was brief but grounding. This tiny bird persevering in the cold, reminding me to notice the small, quiet miracles of everyday life.

Weekly Spotlight

This week’s spotlight is a quote from Neil Pasricha’s The Book of Awesome, a gentle nudge to cherish the present:

“Life is so great that we only get a tiny moment to enjoy everything we see. And that moment is right now. And that moment is counting down. And that moment is always, always fleeting. You will never be as young as you are right now.”

Here’s to slowing down, savoring the small things, and remembering that now—this exact moment—is a gift.