November 3, 2024

November 3, 2024

This week I am grateful for…

221. Hot Beef Stew on a Cold Day

222. Canceled Meetings

223. Portable Tea Mug

224. Good Excuse for Eating Candy

225. Sunset View After Work

#221: Hot Beef Stew on a Cold Day

After a long, stressful day at work this week, I came home to an unexpected gift. Before I even opened the door, the delicious aroma hit me—I thought it might be from a neighbor’s apartment, but no, it was coming from inside. I walked in to discover my partner had prepared homemade beef stew and freshly baked bread from scratch. After a day filled with stress, this warm, comforting meal was exactly what I needed. Nothing beats hot beef stew and fresh-baked bread on a cold, rainy fall evening. It was a beautiful reminder of how much thoughtfulness and love can lift a person up. See the picture of it above.

#222: Canceled Meetings


Have you ever felt that creeping dread as a meeting approaches? You keep checking the clock—an hour turns to 45 minutes, then 30… Finally, you accept your fate and prepare yourself. But then, you hear that familiar “Bing” from your inbox: “I apologize for the late notice, but I won’t be able to make it…” And just like that, you’re doing an internal dance of relief and thanking the universe. You graciously reply, “No problem at all, we can reschedule…”—but what you really want to say is, “Thank you for saving us all!”

#223: My Portable Tea Mug


This week, my portable tea mug has been my best friend. On busy mornings when I barely have time to grab breakfast, it’s there, keeping my tea warm and helping me feel just a little more grounded as I head to work. You’ve kept me caffeinated and motivated, dear tea mug, and I’m so grateful for the comfort you bring.

#224: A Good Excuse to Eat Candy


Halloween was on Thursday, and I was more than happy to have a “real” excuse to indulge in my favorite treats. The weather was in the mid-70s—ideal for sharing candy with students at work and getting a few treats for myself. KitKats, Skittles, and Snickers found their way to me, guilt-free. It’s not every day you get to enjoy a mini-candy-fest without a second thought!

Sunset Views After Work


With the days getting shorter, I now get to leave work just before sunset. There’s something magical about stepping outside and being greeted by the rich oranges and deep pinks of the setting sun, especially as they cast their glow on the autumn leaves. Mother Nature, you’re an artist, and you make my commute infinitely more beautiful. Thank you for painting the sky each evening and reminding me to pause and marvel at your beauty. Here is one pic I took this week.

Weekly Spotlight

This week’s spotlight is a quote on gratitude:

“Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” – Melody Beattie

What are you grateful for this week?