Author: Peter

As winter settles in, this week has been a beautiful blend of small joys, meaningful connections, and reflections. Here are the moments that filled my heart with gratitude:

256. Sunrise After a Day of Snow 

257. Upcoming Holiday Break 

258. Family and Friends 

259. Short Commute 

260. Reaching 260 Grateful Moments 

#256: Sunrise After a Day of Snow

This week we have had freezing temperatures and a chilling breeze with temperatures well below freezing. We also had a 2-inch snowfall which sadly didn’t bring a snow day. However, the sunrise on fresh, bright white snow was pure magic. Sipping a hot cup of tea while admiring the snowy landscape this weekend was a moment of peace which I had the pleasure of cherishing this week.

#257: Upcoming Holiday Break

Working at a college has its perks, like an extended holiday break! From December 25 to January 1, I plan to unpack, tackle home projects, spend time with loved ones, and recharge. Knowing this time is just around the corner fills me with excitement and relief.

#258: Family and Friends

This week’s move reminded me how fortunate I am to have an incredible support system. Thanks to my family and friends, what could have been a daunting task turned into an efficient and joyful experience. Unloading a U-Haul in just over an hour? That’s teamwork! Thank you all for your love and support. Special shoutout to the “Relocation Engineer” (you know yourself)—your vision and  skills during the move were invaluable.

#259: Short Commute

One of the best perks of moving is my 15-minute commute. Late work nights have been much more manageable knowing I’d be home quickly. I’ve felt less tired and more present at work, which is a gift in itself. Short commutes truly save energy and time—something I’m especially grateful for this week.

#260: Reaching 260 Grateful Moments

This week marks a milestone: 260 moment of gratitude for the year! Documenting these big and small joys has been transformative. On dark days, this collection reminds me that life is filled with beauty and possibility. Thank you for joining me on this journey. Next week, I’ll share some of my favorite moments from 2024—stay tuned!

Weekly Spotlight

This week’s spotlight features an insightful and inspiring TED Talk by one of my all-time favorite psychologists, Professor Dan Gilbert.

What are you grateful for this week? Share your moments in the comments below—I’d love to hear from you!

If you liked this post, please subscribe below.

 

This week I am grateful for…

251. Endings

252. New Beginnings 

253. Sitting On a Couch After a Long Day

254. Family and Friends

255. A Slice of Cake When You Need It Most

 

#251: Endings

This week marks a big life change: my partner and I are moving to Central Massachusetts. I spent my teens and young adult lit in Central Massachusetts and now I am moving back! Moving can be a lot of work and can be expensive, so if you can avoid it, my advice is to stay put as long as possible! Amid the packing chaos, I’ve been feeling both nostalgic and grateful. For example, today is my last day at the Local YMCA—a community that has given me so much. While it’s bittersweet to say goodbye, I’m ready for this new chapter. Change can be intimidating, and that’s perfectly normal. There are always unknowns with big transitions. But I recently read a quote at work that resonated deeply: “Difficult paths lead to beautiful destinations.” Here’s to the journey ahead.

#252: New Beginnings

One of the most exciting things about our move? A much shorter commute. My current hour-long work each way will soon be replaced with a 15-minute drive. That’s over an hour saved every day! Long commutes have always been a source of stress for me, and I know I’m not alone. If you’re lucky enough to have a short commute, take a moment to appreciate it—you’re living the dream!

#253: Sitting on a Couch After a Long Day

Here’s a life lesson: don’t sell your couch before moving. In the name of “smart planning,” we listed our couch on Facebook Marketplace, thinking we’d have time to enjoy it before lowering the price if we had no offers. Within days, someone bought it, and now we’ve been couch-less for 2 weeks. I didn’t realize how much I relied on that simple comfort—especially after a long day—until it was gone. Pro tip: dining chairs don’t quite cut it for relaxing with your hot sip of hot beverage.

#254: Family and Friends

A huge shoutout to family and friends who showed up for us during this move. From lending hands to lifting boxes, you made the impossible manageable. Your love and support mean the world to us. I might do another shoutout next week!

#255: A Slice of Cake When You Need It Most

This week was hectic, to say the least, but my coworkers got me a slice of my favorite cake. Their thoughtfulness was a reminder that even the smallest acts of kindness can make a busy week feel a little lighter—and a lot sweeter. Here is the pic of the cake…

Here’s to endings, beginnings, and the little things that make life beautiful. What are you grateful for this week?

 

Weekly Spotlight

This week’s spotlight is a simple but powerful quote by Ann Voskamp

“No amount of regret changes the past. No amount of anxiety changes the future. Any amount of gratitude changes the present.” ― Ann Voskamp

What brought you joy this week? You can leave me a comment below.

Get the weekly post delivered straight to your inbox by Subscribing below.

This week I am grateful for…

246. A Sunset Glow

247. Leftover Restaurant Food

248. The First Snow of the Season

249. The Movie Wicked

250. The Holiday Season

#246: A Sunset Glow

After a rain-soaked day, I was greeted by an unexpected gift: a radiant orange sky, glowing in the aftermath of sunset. I paused for a few mindful breaths, savoring the fleeting beauty of the moment. Nature has this way of grounding us when we least expect it if we stop and notice, doesn’t it? My photo below doesn’t quite capture the magic, but it’s a reminder that sometimes, life’s simplest scenes leave the deepest impressions.

#247: Leftover Restaurant Food

A little shoutout to restaurants with generous portions—there’s nothing better than opening your fridge to find a second serving of your favorite meal waiting for you. It’s like a delicious sequel at no extra cost! Special thanks to the places that don’t skimp on servings.

 

#248: The First Snow of the Season

This Thursday, we received the first snowfall of the season in Massachusetts—just 4 inches, but enough to give students (and staff!) a snow day! Working at a college, I found myself behaving like a student again, obsessively refreshing my notifications. Then bing!—there it was: “Due to inclement weather, the college will be closed on…” That’s when I had an involuntary happy dance and a chorus of “Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!” It was great to watch the snow from the indoors and enjoy my morning cup of tea. Thank you Mother Nature for that amazing gift.

#249: The Movie Wicked

Confession: I’m not big on musicals, and I’ve never seen The Wizard of Oz. But this week, my girlfriend and I went to see Wicked, and let me tell you—I was pleasantly surprised. As a prequel to The Wizard of Oz, it weaves a captivating tale that had me invested from start to finish. Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo were mesmerizing in their roles, and now I’m low-key excited for part 2. I need to know what happens next!

#250: The Holiday Season

Ah, the holiday season—my second-favorite time of year (fall still reigns supreme). There’s something magical about the merry buzz in the air, the twinkle of lights, and holiday songs that seem to warm even the coldest of days. I adore hearing strangers exchange heartfelt “Happy holidays!”—it’s like a warm hug for the soul.

 

Weekly Spotlight 

This week, I want to share a poem often attributed to Nadine Stair, with the story going that she wrote it in her 80s. It’s a beautiful reminder to embrace life with a touch of daring and joy:

“If I had my life to live over, I’d dare to make more mistakes next time.
I’d relax, I would limber up. I would be sillier than I have been this trip.
I would take fewer things seriously. I would take more chances.
I would climb more mountains and swim more rivers.
I would eat more ice cream and less beans.

I would perhaps have more actual troubles, but I’d have fewer imaginary ones.
You see, I’m one of those people who lived sensibly and sanely, hour after hour, day after day.
Oh, I’ve had my moments, and if I had to do it over again, I’d have more of them.
In fact, I’d try to have nothing else. Just moments, one after another, instead of living so many years ahead of each day.

I’ve been one of those persons who never goes anywhere without a thermometer,
a hot water bottle, a raincoat, and a parachute.
If I had to do it again, I would travel lighter than I have.

If I had my life to live over, I would start barefoot earlier in the spring
and stay that way later in the fall.
I would go to more dances. I would ride more merry-go-rounds.
I would pick more daisies.”

— Nadine Stair

What brought you joy this week? You can leave me a comment below.

Get the weekly post delivered straight to your inbox by Subscribing below.