Author: Peter

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…

21. Healthy Baby Niece!

22. New Connection

23. Coworkers

24. Scrambled Omlet?

25. Familiar Bird Song

 

#21: Healthy Baby Niece!

This weeks I am very grateful that my brother and sister in law had a healthy delivery! I am very grateful for a new niece. I have 5 siblings, including myself, that makes a total of 6. With the birth of the newest member of the family, I now have a total of 9 nephews and nieces. I am very grateful for every single one of them. Welcome to the world adorable niece!

#22: New Connections

I am grateful for making a new connection this week. I was visiting a site for work and a started having a great conversation with the person at the front desk. He was very kind and helpful. On my way out, I continued the conversation with him. I learned that he is Somali but had lived in Kenya for a while. He told me that he moved to USA in 2010 and that he started losing his Swahili. He asked me to remind him a few words and I was impressed by how much he remembered. Thank you for the lovely conversation.

#23: Coworkers

I am very grateful for my coworkers! I believe strongly that the people you work with can make or break your experience at any career. This week I am particularly grateful that I have a very supportive team.

#24: Scrambled Omlet?

This morning I attempted to make an omelet. What I ended up with was scrambled and did not resemble a tradition omelet. Nonetheless it was delicious and exactly what I needed this morning. I am grateful for that scrambled Omlet.

#25: Familiar Bird Song

This morning I heard a song bird that I usually only hear in the spring and summer time. It is still January and hearing that bird made me feel like spring is around the corner. I am very grateful for that song bird. The moment was short but it brought warm feeling in my heart and a smile in my face.

16. Health

17. Havard Museum

18. Hot Chocolate on a Cold Day

19. Family

20. Workout

 

#16: Health

I am very grateful for health. A very close family friend just came back from a visit to Kenya a couple of days ago. He said he had a little fever when he boarded the plane but when he got home, he was feeling significant worse. He ended up losing his consciousness for over 24 hours. He woke up in the hospital with a doctor asking him if he knew where he is. He found out that he has Malaria. He has not had Malaria for over 20 years. Growing up, I used to get malaria a lot. It was perhaps the most common illness especially during rainy seasons. I am very grateful for health this week.

#17: Harvard Museum

This week I am grateful for Harvard Museum of Natural History. Saturday, my girlfriend and I went back to the Harvard Museum of Natural History. Reason I say we went back is because we had been there once before. But the first time we went, we only had about an hour to explore. We could not get through all the exhibits. This time, we had the whole afternoon. We found parking really close to the entrance and received a 50% discount from our library to enter. It was a great time. We viewed the glass flower gallery, the mineral gallery, and paleontology gallery to name a few. Here is one pic of the mineral “Crocoite” from Australia that we saw…

#18: Hot Chocolate on a Cold Day

I am very grateful for Hot Chocolate on a cold day. We left the museum at around 4pm. It was 19 degrees, snowing, and starting to get dark. We stopped at a coffee shop and I ordered some hot chocolate. That is exactly what I needed at that moment. I love hot chocolate especially when it is cold/ snowing outside.

#19: Family

I am very grateful for family. I will keep reminding myself how lucky I am to have such a loving and supportive family. I am always grateful for them.

#20: Workout

I am very grateful for being able to workout again. Last week, I woke having terrible pain in my neck. I cold not move my head at all. I am very grateful that I am feeling better and that I am able to move my body and to work out again.

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…

11. Friends

12. Doctor at Urgent Care

13. The Color Purple

14. Chocolate Chip Cookies

15. Smell of Coffee

#11: Friends

This week I am grateful for my friends Jay, Juliana, and Kezllin. Last weekend, they came over my place to hangout. It was snowy and Icy but they still drove over 40 minutes to see me. We had some pizza and wings for dinner. It is always a great time hanging out with them. We played a fun conversation game called “We’re Not Really Strangers” Thank you so much for visiting me. You all mean a lot to me.

#12: Doctor at Urgent Care

I am very grateful for the kind doctor at Urgent Care in Natick, MA. I woke up on Tuesday morning with a very bad neck pain. I could not move my head left to right or even up and down. I was in so much pain. The doctor at the Urgent Care in Natick was very kind. I felt heard. She ordered that I get an injection of a pain medicine which made my pain go away almost instantly. Thank you so much for treating me. It is incredible that in one hour I was able to access medical care that healed me of excruciating pain. I am very grateful for that.

#13: The Color Purple

I am grateful for the movie the color purple. My girlfriend and I went to the movie theater in Waltham, MA because it was the only theater that was still playing the movie. The music in that film was breathtaking. I am very grateful for being able to experience that moment.

#14: Chocolate Chip Cookies

I am grateful for some delicious chocolate Chip Cookies that I baked this week. I love hot chocolate cookies straight from the oven with FairLife milk. Even thinking about it now makes my mouth watery.

#15: Smell of Coffee

I am very grateful for the smell of Coffee. I personally do not drink coffee but I love the smell of freshly made coffee. My girlfriend has an Nespresso machine which makes really good coffee according to her. I do not like the taste of coffee but I love the smell of it. It never get old.

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…

6. Hot Chocolate

7. This Emotional Life

8. First Snow of the Season

9. New Experiences

10. Chance Encounter

 

#6: Hot Chocolate

This week I am grateful for hot chocolate.

I only enjoy hot chocolate during the winter season. This week I enjoyed a particularly delicious cup. The hot chocolate was from a beautiful cafe in Lenox Massachusetts.

#7: This Emotional Life

I am grateful for the TV show This Emotional Life on PBS. Hosted by one of my favorite researchers Daniel Gilbert, the show explores the highs and lows of human life. The third and final episode was particularly meaningful. The episode explored what really makes us happy. Thank you Professor Gilbert for always making me think.

#8: First Snow of the Season

I am grateful for the first snow of the season. We received about 4-6 inches of snow on Sunday. It was sunny on Monday morning and the scenery was breath taking. Here is a picture but it does not do it justice

This will probable not be the only time I say this but I love changing seasons. I enjoy experiencing all 4 seasons. Growing in Kenya seasons did not change as drastically and that might be part of the reason I experience the seasons in the way that I do.

#9: New Experiences

I am very grateful for new experiences. Like I mentioned on my first gratitude this week, I was in Western Massachusetts this week. My girlfriend took a road trip for the weekend. I enjoy exploring new places. It makes my heart full of gratitude with every new experience.

I am grateful for the breakfast we had…

I am grateful for beautiful art…

I am grateful for the friendly puppy…

I am grateful for the beautiful view of the town of Great Barrington

#10: Chance Encounter

I am very grateful for the friend we made. She owns a shop in Lenox, MA. We had a lovely conversation that ended up lasting about 40 minutes. We learned that she had recently gotten surgeries to both her arms because she was having a hard time gripping thing. We ended up helping her move one of her merchandise boxes to make her store more accessible. I also learned that she has been to Kenya on a Safari back in 1980s.

Thank you for the lovely conversation.

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…

1. Kind Stranger
2. My Mother
3. Break from Work
4. New Year
5. Sunset on Dec.26th

#1: Kind Stanger

This week, I am especially grateful for a very kind stranger I met at the Indian Market in Shrewsbury, MA. I was looking for corn flour to make Ugali, a traditional Kenyan dish, for my mother and brother, who were returning from Kenya. I searched all over the store but couldn’t find it. A woman in the same aisle was looking for millet flour for a traditional porridge. I mentioned what I was searching for, and she told me she hadn’t had any luck finding the corn flour there either.

I asked the cashier for help, and after consulting with the manager, they directed me back to the same aisle. The manager explained that if it wasn’t there, they didn’t have it in stock. Just as I was about to leave, the kind stranger called out to me—she had found the corn flour on a hard-to-reach shelf! I was so touched by her effort. Thank you so much for your kindness. My family was grateful too. I wish I had gotten your number to thank you properly.

#2: My Mother

I am always grateful for my mother but this week I am extra grateful. I wouldn’t be where I am today without her. She has single handedly been the biggest influence in my life. I love her and appreciate everything she has done and continue to do for me. She brought me some Kenyan tea from her trip back from Kenya. I am very grateful for her.

#3: Break From Work

I am grateful for the break we received from work. We got the week between Dec.25th-Jan.2 off. I am grateful I got a chance to hang out and catch up with Family and Friends. I am grateful for an opportunity to catch up on some sleep. I am grateful for an opportunity to watch my favorite shows and listen to my favorite Podcasts. I am grateful for an opportunity to rest and recharge.

#4: New Year

I am very grateful for a New Year! I hope to make some great connections this year. I am grateful for new beginnings and a fresh start. I will remind myself to be kind, compassionate, and grateful this year.

#5: Sunset on Dec 26th

I am grateful for the sunset on Dec. 26th. I went for a short walk that day at 4:15pm and I was fortunate to catch a beautiful sight on my walk. Here is the picture…

Nature can be breath-taking and I am grateful for being alive to experience some of nature’s beauty.

This week I am Grateful for:

1. Friends
2. Girlfriend
3. Running Water
4. Supervisor
5. Health

Friends

I am grateful for Friends. It was my 30th birthday this week and I sure have a lot to be grateful for. First, I am grateful for Friends. My girlfriend pulled off an amazing birthday gift. She secretly invited my close friends to a brewery so they can surprise me for my birthday. It was amazing to celebrate with them. I am very grateful for my friends who came to celebrate with me. A few drove over an hour to be there! Thank you

Girlfriend

I am very grateful for my Girlfriend. Not only did she gather my friends to celebrate my birthday with me, she also pulled off another great surprise. She took me to go watch the Boston Celtics. I am a huge Celtics fan and I had never been to a game before then. She bought us tickets and I got to watch my favorite team live. I am very grateful for her and for the Celtics haha (This is our year!)

Running Water

I am grateful for running water. This week maintenance turned off water at my apartment complex. It was unscheduled and unexpected. I forgot how much we depend on running water. From using the restroom to cooking and cleaning. I take running water for granted even though growing up that was not always a guarantee. Many times I had to go to the local stream to fetch water for cooking and cleaning. I am very grateful for running water this week.

Supervisor

I am very grateful for my supervisor at work this week. She is also the found of the organization that I work for and she gave everyone a Holiday bonus this week. I was not expecting it at all. I am grateful for all the work that she does and for finding me on LinkedIn and for hiring me.

Health

I am grateful for health this week. I was doing paperwork in preparation for a dentist appointment and there was a section where I needed to check off if I had any health conditions. I was completing the application on my phone but even then , I had to go on multiple pages to select if any of those ailments applied to me. This was a reminder to me that good health is not guaranteed. I am very grateful for health.

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…