This week I am grateful for…

206. Breakfast Pancakes

207. Fall Leaves

208. Apple Crisp

209. Red Tailed Hawk

210. Mindfulness Journey

#206: Breakfast Pancakes

This week, my partner and I whipped up some delicious protein pancakes, and let me tell you, they were a hit! We experimented with blueberry, chocolate chip, and plain varieties, all of which came out perfectly. Our favorite way to top these pancakes is with a mix of frozen berries reduced on the stovetop to create fruit syrup drizzled generously over the stack. Of course, we couldn’t resist adding some maple syrup and some whipped cream. Just writing this has my mouth watering all over again! Here’s a photo of our beautiful creation—doesn’t it just look irresistible?

#207: Fall Leaves

Fall is in full swing, and I’m loving every minute of it. The trees in my neighborhood are showing off their vibrant colors—some are still in the midst of changing, while others have already shed most of their leaves, looking like overachievers! The weather has been a perfect mix of cool breezes with the occasional day reaching the 70s, giving me the best of both worlds. I snapped a picture of one of the trees near my apartment this week. Here it is…

Every time I mindfully observe the changing leaves I feel a wave of seasonal bliss wash over me.

#208:Apple Crisp

This week, I made what might just be the best apple crisp of my life. Seriously! I used apples I picked fresh from the orchard last week, and they turned into a sweet, crunchy masterpiece. My girlfriend couldn’t agree more—she was just as enthusiastic about how delicious it turned out. I paired it with vanilla bean ice cream, and the combination was heavenly.

I’ll definitely be making this again soon!

#209: Mindfulness Journey

A few weeks ago, in Week 37, I mentioned enrolling in a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) course at Brown University. This week, I’m especially grateful for the amazing people in that class. The diversity of knowledge and experiences that has been shared so far has been truly eye-opening. I’m also incredibly thankful for our MBSR instructor, whose wisdom and support have been invaluable on this journey. Stay tuned—there’s more to come on this path mindfulness path.

#210: Red-Tailed Hawk

While outside at work this week, something extraordinary caught my eye. A massive red-tailed hawk came swooping down from a tree, gliding through the air with incredible precision. Unfortunately for the hawk, it missed its target, but the power of its wings sent a flurry of fallen leaves swirling into the air. It then soared back to the tree, but landed so low that one of my brave coworkers managed to get close enough to snap a picture. Here’s the stunning shot she captured—an awe-inspiring moment!

 

Weekly Spotlight

Thanks to the generous feedback I received from family and friends a few weeks ago, I’m excited to introduce this new section in my weekly gratitude posts! Each week, I’ll be highlighting something special—whether it’s a resource, a story, words of wisdom, scientific research on mindfulness, gratitude, and happiness, or even someone else’s gratitude moments. The goal is simple: to educate, inspire, and engage readers.

So, let’s dive in!

This week’s spotlight shines on an inspiring quote from The How of Happiness by the renowned Professor Sonja Lyubomirsky, a trailblazer in the science of happiness:

“[Optimism] is not about providing a recipe for self-deception. The world can be a horrible, cruel place, and at the same time it can be wonderful and abundant. These are both truths. There is not a halfway point; there is only choosing which truth to put in your personal foreground.”
― Sonja Lyubomirsky, The How of Happiness: A Scientific Approach to Getting the Life You Want

 

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